Three keys to a bounce-back victory for Oklahoma when it takes on TCU
For the first time in his very short coaching career, Brent Venables is tasked with rallying his troops after a loss. This Oklahoma team hasn’t reached its potential, and that’s OK for a football team at the end of September. However, as it gets deeper into conference play, it will have to evolve and find a new gear to tap into. Otherwise, any chance of playing in the Big 12 Championship game could wind up off the table.
The first opponent it will see after the loss is the TCU Horned Frogs. Last year in Norman, Oklahoma dominated TCU’s defense and put up 52 points en route to a 52-31 win. TCU no longer employs long-time head coach Gary Patterson, who helped the Horned Frogs to 11 bowl victories in 21 seasons.
New head coach Sonny Dykes has the Horned Frogs off to a 3-0 start. They come into the game feeling great after beating SMU, their Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex rival.
It will not be easy for Oklahoma on Saturday afternoon. TCU has looked pretty solid for the most part. For a team that comes in with a defense carrying a bruised ego after the rushing clinic the Wildcats put on, Oklahoma takes on a TCU team with the 27th-ranked passing offense in the country.
Here are three keys to a Sooners win on Saturday.
Up next: Set the tone
Set the tone early
Aside from Week 1 against UTEP, Oklahoma hasn’t had many fast starts this season. Every other game has seen it give up the opening touchdown on defense or not score on its opening drive on offense.
Against Nebraska, the Sooners took a body blow with the early touchdown and then found another gear. They ran off 49 unanswered points in a dominating win.
Last week, Kansas State smacked Oklahoma in the mouth early and went up 14-0 quickly. Can Oklahoma get out to an early lead or at the very least just stymie TCU early?
Either would go a long way in flushing any lingering doubts after its previous performance.
Up Next: Let Dillon Cook
Let it fly
TCU may have a nice passing attack led by quarterback Max Duggan, but its secondary can be diced up via the passing game. Its defense ranks 107th in passing yards allowed: Teams are averaging 12.77 yards per completion vs. TCU.
Sooners’ offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby’s identity leads with the run game, but this may be a time to let Dillon Gabriel sling it around the yard. Gabriel has some missed throws, which didn’t help OU’s efforts against Kansas State He is looking for a big opportunity to atone for the mistakes he made.
Theo Wease, Marvin Mims, Jalil Farooq, Brayden Willis and Drake Stoops are the primary playmakers for this Sooners team in the passing game. All five could be huge factors against TCU.
Up Next: Rediscover the Rush
Find the pass rush
After a forgettable performance against a strong, veteran Kansas State offensive line, Brent Venables must call on his defensive line and his linebackers to generate pressure much more effectively than against K-State.
Duggan hasn’t thrown a pick yet this season, but do the Sooners have enough in their bag to generate pressure on Duggan, make him uncomfortable and potentially force him into his first interception?
Duggan has been sacked seven times this season, including five against SMU. This could be a good week for the Oklahoma Sooners’ pass rush. However, if the front seven repeats the performance they had against the Wildcats, Oklahoma may get picked apart worse than a high school biology experiment.
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