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Practice key for OU offense

OU's DeMarco Murray runs through Idaho State's defense on Saturday. Murray and the Sooners ran four basic formations that accounted for 56 of their 72 plays. Stephen Pingry / Tulsa World
 
By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
Published: 9/14/2009  2:24 AM
Last Modified: 9/14/2009  4:50 AM

 Oklahoma utility man Brody Eldridge told reporters after losing to BYU last week that the Sooners would get better.

The next question seemed natural enough: How?

"Practice," Eldridge replied. ("Dummy," Eldridge thought.)

But Brody, didn't you just come off a solid month of practice, with the result being that atrocity against BYU?

Eldridge stared.

OK, it sounds simple enough. If a team plays poorly, they address any apparent deficiencies in practice, right? That would certainly seem to answer a good portion of why the Sooners buried Idaho State 64-0 a week after the BYU debacle, right?

Not necessarily.

Last Wednesday, the Sooner offense ran a 20-play scrimmage against the scout-team defense lined up in Idaho State's sets. In those 20 plays, offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said, "we had 12 of the busts we had the other week, with penalties and drops (dropped passes) and sacks. We had 12 of 20. We showed it to 'em at Thursday's practice and said, 'Wait a minute, now, this needs to stop.' "

Against Idaho State, Wilson reassessed and slimmed down his sometimes sprawling game plan, a shrewd decision that allowed players to think less and play more.

"Everything gets back to practice and discipline and how you develop," head coach Bob Stoops said. "But I also understand, it's gonna get more difficult the more difficult the opponent. We're very aware of that."

OU ran four basic formations — I backfield with two tight ends,
one back with two tight ends, one back with three wideouts, and shotgun with three wideouts — that accounted for 56 of the Sooners' 76 plays. Wilson picked the last two 33 times.

When Wilson needed a run, he dialed up I-double tight. Of the 14 times OU lined up in that set, there were 12 runs and two passes (both incomplete). That kind of simplifying resulted in cleaner execution for offensive linemen and receivers who are still learning how to play.

The Sooners' first possession was a David-and-Goliath goal line stand, on which mighty OU was felled by little ISU on four shots from inside the 2-yard line. Eventually, that puzzle was solve, with the Sooners converting five third- or fourth-and-short situations.

"It was nice to see us later respond and punch those in," Wilson said. "But that first one was disappointing."

John E. Hoover 581-8384
john.hoover@tulsaworld.com
By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer

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4 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!
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007, (9/14/2009 7:35:00 AM)
Go OU, you showed that unranked ISU who was boss with that Don Juan mustache and slapped them around like the silly b!^@#$ they were!!!
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AtlantaSooner, Atlanta (9/14/2009 9:21:29 AM)
Too much was made of us not punching it in on that first possession. The entire offensive line was far more focused on not jumping off sides than they were on getting off fast on their block. The offensive line will end up being a strength on this team!
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OU@BVAR, Bella Vista (9/14/2009 1:09:05 PM)
I am glad to see all the positive comments from our fans. It is easy to see what is going wrong when you sit in the stands with nothing else to do. Some players show up to play better than others. I really think it is harder to rebuild in the Big XII than any other league. I like to think we will do well the rest of the year. Go Sooners
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TK1, (9/15/2009 6:19:32 AM)
What are we talking about here--we're talking about practice.
 

 
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