OU Talking Points
BY ERIC BAILEY World Sports Writer
Thursday, September 27, 2012
9/27/12 at 6:01 AM
Will the offensive tempo ever be full speed, exclusively?
Oklahoma seemed to have had success when the offense used a fast-paced tempo this season. Bob Stoops even admitted as much during Monday's news conference, saying "We have executed better in the hurry-up and we're aware of it." So why does it stop? Stoops said OU's personnel changes and opposing defenses have sometimes dictated pace. Then he also said speed doesn't matter as much as execution. "Like I've said for a number of years, whether you're fast or not ... execution is what allows you to move the ball and to succeed, whether it's fast or slow."
Sterling Shepard's emergence
Shepard looks like he could become a special player at Oklahoma. The true freshman was the lone bright spot in the Kansas State loss, catching seven passes for 108 yards along with his first touchdown. He became only the seventh Sooner freshman to eclipse 100 receiving yards in a game. If he keeps developing, Stoops hinted that Shepard could move into the slot more often and help Stills return to an outside receiver role, where he played before Ryan Broyles' injury last year.
More stops needed behind the line of scrimmage
Oklahoma's once-considered-fierce defense hasn't been able to register many tackles for loss or sacks in its first three games of 2012. OU ranks 105th out of 120 schools in tackles for loss and has six sacks, which ranks 58th. "We've got to do a better job as a D-line. The secondary can't cover all day. We can't give the quarterback six or seven seconds to throw the ball," defensive end David King said.
By the numbers
1: Turnovers produced by Oklahoma defense through three contests.
7: Freshmen in OU history with 100 receiving yards in a game, including Sterling Shepard against Kansas State.
18: Consecutive victories for OU immediately following a regular-season loss, dating back to 2003.
105: Games that have passed since Sooners have lost consecutive games in the same season (final two games of 2003 season).
OU vs. Texas Tech: the past five meetings
2011: Texas Tech 41, OU 38 - The Sooners' 39-game home winning streak is snapped.
2010: OU 45, Texas Tech 7 - Landry Jones tosses five touchdown passes, including three to Ryan Broyles.
2009: Texas Tech 41, OU 13 - The Red Raiders capture their most lopsided victory over Oklahoma.
2008: OU 65, Texas Tech 21 - The fifth-ranked Sooners hammer No. 2 Texas Tech in Norman.
2007: Texas Tech 34, OU 27 - Graham Harrell throws for 420 yards as the Red Raiders upset OU.
STATISTICS
| OU | OPP |
| Scoring |
112 |
44 |
| Per game |
37.3 |
14.7 |
| First downs |
76 |
41 |
| by rushing |
32 |
19 |
| by passing |
41 |
18 |
| by penalty |
3 |
4 |
| Rushing yards |
642 |
481 |
| Avg. per game |
214 |
160 |
| Passing yards |
833 |
371 |
| Avg. per game |
277.7 |
123.7 |
| Offensive plays |
217 |
183 |
| Total yards |
1,475 |
852 |
| Avg. per play |
6.8 |
4.7 |
| Avg. per game |
491.7 |
284 |
| Kick returns-Yds |
6-169 |
13-248 |
| Punt returns-Yds |
6-132 |
6-87 |
| Interceptions-Yds |
1-1 |
2-(-1) |
| Fumbles-Lost |
7-3 |
2-0 |
| Penalties-Yds |
19-160 |
15-127 |
| Punts-Avg. |
13-31.4 |
23-33 |
| 3rd downs |
16-36 |
13-46 |
| 4th downs |
1-1 |
1-3 |
| Sacks by-Yds |
7-27 |
7-54 |
Individual leaders
Y/A=Yards/attempt; Y/G=Yards/game
| RUSHING |
No. |
Yds |
Y/A |
Y/G |
TD |
| D. Williams |
30 |
293 |
9.8 |
97.7 |
5 |
| D. Whaley |
30 |
168 |
5.6 |
56.0 |
1 |
| B. Clay |
16 |
103 |
6.4 |
34.3 |
2 |
| R. Finch |
6 |
61 |
10.2 |
20.3 |
1 |
| PASSING |
C-A-Int |
Yds |
Y/G |
TD |
| L. Jones |
68-107-2 |
772 |
257.3 |
5 |
| B. Bell |
4-5-0 |
61 |
20.3 |
0 |
| RECEIVING |
No. |
Yds |
Y/A |
Y/G |
TD |
| K. Stills |
22 |
301 |
13.7 |
100.3 |
2 |
| J. Brown |
12 |
135 |
11.2 |
45.0 |
0 |
| S. Shepard |
10 |
156 |
15.6 |
52.0 |
1 |
| T. Metoyer |
10 |
90 |
9.0 |
30.0 |
1 |
| PUNT RETURNS |
No. |
Yds |
Avg. |
TD |
| J. Brown |
6 |
132 |
22 |
0 |
| KICK RETURNS |
No. |
Yds |
Avg. |
TD |
| R. Finch |
3 |
87 |
29.0 |
0 |
| B. Clay |
2 |
69 |
34.5 |
0 |
| PUNTING |
No. |
Yds |
Avg. |
Lg |
| T. Way |
12 |
515 |
42.9 |
51 |
| PUNTING |
FG |
PATs |
Lg |
| M. Hunnicutt |
3-4 |
13-14 |
38 |
| DEFENSE |
Tackles |
TFL |
Sacks |
INT |
FR |
| T. Jefferson |
25 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| J. Harris |
24 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| T. Wart |
16 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| A. Colvin |
14 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| C. Ndulue |
13 |
2 |
1.5 |
0 |
0 |
| C. Nelson |
11 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| R. Washington |
11 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| D. Hurst |
11 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| J. McFarland |
11 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
| D. King |
9 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| A. Franklin |
8 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| G. Lynn |
7 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
UP NEXT
Oklahoma (2-1, 0-1) at Texas Tech (3-0, 0-0)
2:30 p.m. Oct. 6
TV: TBA
Radio: KTBZ am1430, KMOD fm97.5
SCHEDULE
Tickets: soonersports.com
Sept. 1: at UTEP W, 24-7
Sept. 8: vs. Florida A&M W, 69-13
Sept. 22: vs. Kansas State L, 24-19
Oct. 6: at Texas Tech 2:30 p.m.
Oct. 13: vs. Texas TBD
Oct. 20: vs. Kansas TBD
Oct. 27: vs. Notre Dame TBD
Nov. 3: at Iowa State TBD
Nov. 10: vs. Baylor (FOX) 6 p.m.
Nov. 17: at West Virginia (FOX) 6 p.m.
Nov. 24: vs. Oklahoma State TBD
Dec. 1: at Texas Christian TBD
Associated Images:
OU freshman Sterling Shepard, being tackled by Jarard Milo of Kansas State, was the lone bright spot in OU's loss Saturday. Shepard caught seven passes for 108 yards and scored his first touchdown. MIKE SIMONS / Tulsa World
OU's Demontre Hurst tackles Kansas State's John Hubert. MIKE SIMONS / Tulsa World
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