Oklahoma's offense hasn't been known for its ground game under Bob Stoops, but the unit is taking a different shape with Blake Bell under center, and the rushing attack has become an integral part of the Sooners' success this season. They've piled up more than 200 rushing yards in four of five games, including their win over TCU on Saturday.
TCU vs. Oklahoma reaction: Sooners fans enjoying newfound rushing success
Oklahoma’s offense has a different identity with Blake Bell at the helm, and that’s not a bad thing.
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Over at Oklahoma blog Crimson And Cream Machine, they’re relishing the added dimension to the Sooners’ offense.
The bottom line is that Oklahoma has shown that they can win games two different ways. If you sell out to stop the run then they have the receivers who can hurt you in man coverage. If you play to stop the pass then they can physically wear a defense down by pounding away at them on the ground. Its been a while since we’ve been able to legitimately say that about Oklahoma’s offense.
The Sooners have actually called more run plays (231) than pass plays (153), which points in part to the impact of Bell, who is much more of a dual threat than Landry Jones was. The last time Oklahoma called more runs than passes in a full season was 2008.
Next up for Oklahoma: a Texas team that gave up 550 rushing yards to BYU earlier this year.
TCU, meanwhile, isn’t off to the strong start that many thought the team capable of -- the Horned Frogs have dropped their first two Big 12 games, and they’re under .500 overall. That’s got TCU blog Frogs O’ War wondering if the team just has enough in it to get bowl eligible, but they’re optimistic about it:
Now at 2-3 (0-2) the question is no longer “Can the Frogs compete for a Big 12 title” but “Can the Frogs get back to a bowl game?”. I believe they can and will- getting Kansas and West Virginia at home is nice, and the State trifecta- Iowa State, Kansas State and Oklahoma State should see the Frogs win at least two of the three with the defense playing like it is.
TCU has had problems generating points in league play, and that’s one thing that will have to change moving forward if the team is going to turn around the season. The Horned Frogs were limited to 17 points in Norman, and they managed just 10 against Texas Tech. On the bright side, as Frogs O’ War notes above, the defense looks fine.
Here are the highlights from the OU victory:
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