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Raiders run all over defense
Sooners give up a season-high 161 rushing yards.

OU's Brian Jackson tries to break up a pass to Texas Tech's Alexander Torres on Saturday. STEPHEN PINGRY / Tulsa World
 
By GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer
Published: 11/22/2009  2:26 AM
Last Modified: 11/22/2009  6:26 AM

 LUBBOCK, Texas — It was fourth-and-1 in Saturday's third quarter when Baron Batch, all 5-foot-11 of him, ran through the Oklahoma defensive line for 6 yards. The Sooners knew it was coming but were powerless to stop him, and for a few seconds after the play, All-American defensive tackle Gerald McCoy lay on the Jones AT&T Stadium turf. It was a minor injury; he returned after a couple plays.

The Sooners' pride hurt much worse.

"They were able to run the ball on us, plain and simple," said linebacker Travis Lewis after OU's 41-13 loss. "When you're able to run the ball on somebody, your whole offense comes to life. That's what they did and they got anything they wanted. We didn't work a lot on them running the ball during the week because we felt confident in our front seven to stop the run.

"But obviously we came out here and laid an egg."

Batch came in averaging 58 yards rushing, with a season- and career-high of 123 against Kansas. He finished with 136 yards on 25 carries, running a zone play out of the shotgun formation that Mike Leach has used, and OU has defended, for the past nine years. Batch ran it in Norman last year. He gained 47 yards, and Tech fell, 65-21.

OU came to Lubbock with a much stronger defense, ranking fifth nationally against the run. Tech had a much weaker offense, supposedly, and was fourth-to-last in rushing. The only teams worse were Duke, Miami of Ohio and Bowling Green.

Saturday, the Red Raiders rushed for 161 yards. It was the most anyone had gained on the Sooners' run defense since Florida cranked out 249 in last year's national championship.

"We just didn't do anything very well today, starting with the coaching," OU defensive coordinator Brent Venables said. "Guys just didn't play with the sense of purpose that they have all year. Lacked a lot of discipline, focusing on your job, technique or reads, things like that."

Could he explain that?

"No, I can't," said the despondent Venables. "I can't."



Defensive collapse

Texas Tech’s 549 yards of total offense on Saturday was the fourth-most yards allowed by Oklahoma’s defense under Bob Stoops:

1. Notre Dame, 1999 566
2. Texas, 1999 553
3. Kansas State, 2008 550
4. Texas Tech, 2009 549
5. Colorado, 1999 537
6t. USC* 2004-05 525
6t. W. Virginia*, 2007-08 525
8. Kansas State#, 2003 519
9. Oklahoma State, 2002 506

* bowl game
# Big 12 title game

— BY JOHN E. HOOVER, World Sports Writer

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

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COMMENTS 
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3 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!
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Report Comment
JR, (11/22/2009 9:05:07 AM)
Tech was ready.. We were not....
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UptheMiddle, Playa del Rey (11/22/2009 1:49:21 PM)
How many times do we have to hear the coaching staff say they were "out-coached" before they actually do something to stop "getting" out-coached?
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eglkeeper, Cooder Bluff (11/22/2009 4:30:18 PM)
Readily predictable loss /season, lack of shut-down corners, no bonafide receivers that actually want to catch the ball, no O lineman, lack of emotion and no athleticism at QB position equates to losses that are predictable. These losses are not upsets as they only unveil the known to those of us who aren't wearing crimson and and creme glasses. Shouldn't go to a bowl but with 6 wins Big 12 mandates an appearance somewhere. Fire up the DC-3, were off to Shreveport...
Seee Yaaahhh-
 

 
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