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Strategy strengthens OU

OU receiver Ryan Broyles stretches out to make a catch in front of Cincinnati's DeAngelo Smith on Saturday. Broyles had seven catches for 141 yards as the Sooners went with a five-receiver, no-back set. MICHAEL WYKE/Tulsa World
 
By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
Published: 9/8/2008  2:08 AM
Last Modified: 9/8/2008  3:26 AM

 Oklahoma has a new weapon.

No, not Ryan Broyles, who did add a certain Mark Clayton element to the Sooner passing game.

This new weapon is a formation, a five-wide receiver, no-running back set. Coaches call it "empty" because there's no one in the backfield with the quarterback.

Saturday against Cincinnati, the Sooners ran empty 11 times — including the first play of the game — and had remarkable success with it. Quarterback Sam Bradford completed 9-of-11 passes for 85 yards with four first downs and a touchdown.

"It's just kind of another wrinkle to our offense," Bradford said. "I thought we executed very well when we were in empty today."

The Sooners didn't go empty once last year with Bradford as a first-year starter. In 2006, behind Paul Thompson, OU emptied its backfield just 14 times all season — but none after the Missouri game in late October. Offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said he didn't use it last week against Tennessee-Chattanooga because he wanted to hold it for Cincinnati.

"We just had a lot of respect for Cincinnati's defense coming in," Wilson said. "We thought we needed to throw a lot at them to be successful."

It's all a testament to the Sooners' offensive versatility and talent. Twice immediately after using the empty set, Wilson called for an I-formation, two-tight end package — without substituting.

An empty backfield and no tight end does leave a quarterback more susceptible to physical punishment, but spreading five wideouts across the line of scrimmage actually simplifies things.

"When you have tight ends and backs in the backfield, you have more blockers, but because you have more blockers, you have the blitz threat, whether they come or they don't come," Wilson said. "If I'm not going to use the tight end or the running back as a blocker, there is merit to getting him out of the picture because it cleans out the picture for the linemen to see what's going on. And it cleans it up for the quarterback as well."

Oklahoma already had one of college football's best offenses. Now it's gotten better.

"It's nice," Bradford said, "having five receivers already out there."



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

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CrippledShark, LLC, Sand Springs (9/8/2008 8:20:31 AM)
That's great, going 5 wide....

Now, let's see what happens when you deploy that against a team that has speed on the edge and power up the middle. I suspect that you can only use "The Empty" when you play teams that don't match up.

What I need to see is improvement on special teams and defense. Another weapon on offense is great but we need several weapons on D/ST.

A good win none the less and against a good Big East team. I suspect that we will beat the Huskies by doubling them as well (note to defense - watch out for Jake).

Hated to see Grutzka break his ankle but he'll be alright.

OU 42 Washington 21

"Boomer Sooner" all the way.........
 

 
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