Tulsa World: Offense must stay strong

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Offense must stay strong

OU offensive lineman Brandon Walker (right) is among three remaining linemen who helped the Sooners run for 238 yards in a win at OSU in 2006. MICHAEL WYKE/Tulsa World

By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
Published: 11/24/2008 2:28 AM
Last Modified: 11/24/2008 3:17 AM

Jon Cooper, Duke Robinson and Brandon Walker were sophomores the last time Oklahoma visited Oklahoma State. Trent Williams was a freshman.

Now, those Sooner offensive linemen are among the most experienced in all of college football.

Their effort and productivity on Saturday night in Norman lifted OU to a stunning 65-21 victory over Texas Tech.

The Sooners have scored 60-plus points in three straight games.

But just when this year's O-line might start to feel proud of its prolific accomplishments, it only needs to look back to its last visit to Boone Pickens Stadium for a humbling refresher.

The Sooners ran the ball at will that day, gaining 238 yards on the ground and averaging 5.1 yards per rush.

At will, that is, until they really needed to run it.

After taking a 27-14 lead into the fourth quarter, the Sooners' final three possessions were a waste.

OU ran on eight of its final nine plays, but never got close to a first down. Its longest run in the fourth quarter was 2 yards. The fourth-quarter tally: seven rushes for 1 yard.

Because the Sooners couldn't get keep the football, OSU made it 27-21 and was throwing into the end zone on the last play of the game.

The Sooners held on and played the following week for the Big 12 championship. There, the same lesson was relearned.

In the bitter cold of Kansas City, OU prevailed 21-7 but in the fourth quarter, trying to milk the clock, OU ran nine times and gained just 18 yards.

At the time, offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said he was glad to have won both games, but was disappointed that his unit didn't finish stronger.

Reminded of that on Sunday, and asked if this week's return to Stillwater could provide a measure of redemption for the offensive line, Wilson said each season is different, though learning can happen from any experience, positive or negative.

"Really strong teams play well at the end," Wilson said. "We've been trying to emphasize to our guys for weeks (that) as well as we've been playing, we still think our best ball's in front of us."

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

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