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Passing the blame around
OU's latest struggling offensive performance was a collective effort.

OU's QB Landry Jones walks off the field after the Sooners lost to Texas Tech in Lubbock on Saturday. Jones threw for 262 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Stephen Pingry / Tulsa World

 
By GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer
Published: 11/22/2009  2:26 AM
Last Modified: 11/22/2009  6:31 AM

LUBBOCK, Texas — The Oklahoma offense found itself in a familiar position Saturday afternoon, sharing blame for a lousy effort away from Norman, where the Sooners have averaged 16 points while posting a 1-5 record.

Speaking specifically to OU's 3-of-13 showing on third down, quarterback Landry Jones said: "It was all my fault. We had a good game plan. I was comfortable with all the stuff we were doing. We just didn't execute."

All told, Jones went 18-of-35 for 262 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He threw high on some occasions, wide on others and locked onto receivers a few times.

Still, as in road defeats throughout the season, he didn't get much help.

"It's not all put on his hands," wide receiver Ryan Broyles recognized. "We've got to run the ball better than we did today, and definitely make the third-down catches that we should."

Like the one Adron Tennell couldn't pull in early in the second quarter. Jones rolled from pressure and threw into the end zone. Tennell leaped and stuck out his hands, but it glanced off one of them. A tough play, sure, but also makeable.

The Sooners couldn't make it, and a 10-3 lead became 6-3 after Patrick O'Hara's 22-yard field goal.

Back to the running game, OU rushed 26 times for 48 yards. DeMarco Murray, who did so much to break open last week's 65-10 victory over Texas A&M, carried seven times for 14 yards.

"The run opens up the pass," left tackle Trent Williams pointed out. "We were forced to play one-dimensionally a lot of the time."

OU quarterbacks coach Josh Heupel acknowledged that, but also said: "When we have a chance to drop back, we need to execute at a higher level."

That went for Jones on Saturday, as well as his offensive line. He was sacked three times for 30 yards, and was dropped at the worst possible time.

Trailing 17-6 to start the second half, OU drove to the Texas Tech 41. Jones dropped back to pass, held the pocket for a bit, then was chased and sacked by defensive end Brandon Sharpe.

An incomplete pass would have at least presented Bob Stoops a fourth-down option. Instead, facing fourth-and-18, Tress Way punted. Tech took over, drove 91 yards to a touchdown, and the rout was on.

Afterward, running back Chris Brown was asked about OU's running struggles. His answer explained a lot of Saturday's woe: "It just felt like it all crumbled."


Guerin Emig 581-8355
guerin.emig@tulsaworld.com
By GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer

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COMMENTS 
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6 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!

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Report Comment
seymore1965, Tulsa (11/22/2009 6:16:31 AM)
Patrick O'Hara's field goals, alone, aren't going to win games. He needs some help.
Report Comment
UptheMiddle, Playa del Rey (11/22/2009 1:46:30 PM)
Murray and Brown are decent backs, not great. Both lack explosiveness (Murray once had it, but not since the surgeries) and elusiveness. They often fail to beat linebackers and DBs one-on-one in the flat. Sooners deserve a Mark Ingram quality back - let's hope they recruit one next year. Broyles and Miller are going to be good, they need a more dependable running game to give them room to work downfield.
Report Comment
revjosie, McKinney (11/22/2009 3:42:37 PM)
I saw on one of the other news outlets where Wilson blamed the players for not listening. So, now it is the players' fault? Only a failure blames the troops. Joe C. needs to go to Bob and say, "You either need to make changes or I will."
Report Comment
Sooner transplant, Marion (11/22/2009 10:16:10 PM)
Hey Revjosie: If the coaches play the game, then yes, its the coaches fault. But last time I watched....in fact everytime I've watched.....it's been the players that "play" the game. Who are you to say that what play the coaches call is not the best call to make at that moment? You are NOBODY! That's why they are the coaches. Its often pointed out that a coach is brilliant when a plays works and an idiot if it fails. But its not always the result of the wrong play, but the play not being executed properly.
I can't stand people like you who think they know it all and have all the answers. Tell me, how many years of football did you play? Did you play at the college level? High school? Prep? Pee Wee? Or have you been around football all your life that you feel you are just an expert on it and have given yourself an honorary degree in "football coaching"?
Report Comment
The Masked Assassin, Parts Unknown (11/23/2009 8:18:46 AM)
While I agree that, at times, Wilson's play calling has been questionable, this team's offensive problems are mainly due to injuries (and the lack of depth at those positions) and poor execution. Period.
Report Comment
Brownster, Dallas (11/23/2009 9:03:22 AM)
We all could sit around and point fingers and blame others but it's not going to bring this season back to where you as fans would like it.
The season has been a tough one for everyone, and don't forget the circumstances that this team has had to go through this season.
You talk about Stoops leaving you are crazy.
You get rid of Stoops and that team would loose some of those players to the Longhorns for sure.
You think things are bad now get rid of Stoops and all hell will break lose.
Mack Brown would get every quality recruit in Texas.
Oklahoma might as well bring back Blake and Schullenberger.
The pain is almost over and the staff, players, and fans can begin their healing.
We will miss Sam, Germaine, McCoy, and the rest of those players that we will be losing.
They have done exceptionally well considering all things that happened this year.
This season is preparing this team for next year.
This whole experience will definately bring this team closer, and also the coaching staff will grow from this.
GO SOONERS FIGHT TO THE END.
SOONER FAITHFUL UNTIL THE END.
 

 
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