OU-TCU report card

BY GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer
Sunday, December 02, 2012
12/02/12 at 8:19 AM

OFFENSE

C+: Landry Jones, so good throughout November, was off his game in Fort Worth. He finished 22-of-40 for 244 yards, two touchdowns and a costly interception that helped a punchless Horned Frogs offense score for the first time. It didn't help that Jones' receivers dropped several passes they have been latching onto for weeks. Jalen Saunders was reliable, finishing with seven catches for 108 yards and a third-and-23 score. But everyone else was off a step or two.

What helped bail out OU's passing game was the Sooners' running game. Damien Williams carried 18 times for 115 yards, his first triple-digit effort since the blowout of Texas on Oct. 13. Brennan Clay added another 47, as the Sooners creased the nation's seventh-rated run defense.

DEFENSE

B+: Big plays - Brandon Carter's 80-yard catch and run, Cam White's 46-yard post and Trevone Boykin's 36-yard keeper - were a problem. Turnovers were hard to come by. R.J. Washington's sack of an in-motion-to-throw Boykin was OU's only takeaway.

But with the offense sputtering some and the game on the line in the final two minutes, the defense stiffened and finally showed the way to a victory. OU covered better generally, didn't miss as many tackles, and got a much more impactful game from its front four. The Sooners even worked in a few 4-3 sets, and got good pressure on Boykin from blitzing linebackers Frank Shannon and Aaron Franklin.

SPECIAL TEAMS

B-: OU's kick coverage was outstanding. Tress Way was even better, punting six times for a 49.5-yard average, unloading a 75-yarder and pinning TCU on its own 4 with another blast.

Michael Hunnicutt hit a 34-yard field goal to increase OU's lead to 24-14 late in the third quarter, but then pulled a critical 42-yarder wide left late in the fourth. That gave the Frogs a chance to tie the game in the final 2:49, something they nearly pulled off.

OU's biggest problem on special teams was Justin Brown. He flirted with disaster in catching a couple of TCU punts before muffing one midway through the fourth quarter. That gave the Frogs possession at the OU 31, a gift they turned into a 47-yard field goal and a 24-17 deficit.

Associated Images:

OU's Damien Williams scores one of his two touchdowns against TCU on Saturday in Fort Worth. STEPHEN PINGRY/Tulsa World

OU's Tony Jefferson puts pressure on TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin. STEPHEN PINGRY/Tulsa World