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Scoring machine
Sooners seem to have complete offensive package

OU's Chris Brown (left) and Juaquin Iglesias jump in celebration of Brown's touchdown run against Chattanooga on Aug. 30. The Sooners have found the end zone almost 90 times this season MICHAEL WYKE/ Tulsa World file

 
By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
Published: 12/6/2008  2:22 AM
Last Modified: 12/6/2008  2:31 AM

 KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops says "there's no question" that this year's edition is the best OU offense in his 10-year history.

Actually, these Sooners are making a case as the best offense in NCAA history.

If OU can be moderately productive in the chill of Arrowhead Stadium Saturday night against Missouri — a win there would be an unprecedented third Big 12 championship in a row and their sixth overall, and would likely send the Sooners to the Bowl Championship Series title game — then the Sooners' offensive numbers this season will reach unparalleled heights.

"We've got some great offenses in this league," Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said. "But they're probably playing as good offensive football as anybody in the nation right now."

The Sooners lead the nation in scoring at 53.3 points per game, but the breadth of this team's productivity goes far beyond even that.

OU already has tied Nebraska's 1983 NCAA record for total touchdowns (89), and has topped the Cornhuskers' mark (84) with 86 TDs rushing and passing.

If Chris Brown gains 12 yards rushing against Missouri (DeMarco Murray has 1,002), the Sooners will become the first team in NCAA history with a 4,000-yard passer and two 1,000-yard rushers. (Prepare to add Juaquin Iglesias, who has 967 receiving yards, to the equation as well.)

If the Sooners maintain close to their current averages, they'll become just the second team in NCAA history to average more than 300 yards per game passing and 200 yards per game rushing (Tulsa this season could be the third).

Only two teams in NCAA history have scored 700 points in a season — Harvard (765) in 1886 and Minnesota (725) in 1904. The Sooners this season have a school-record 640 and are closing in on the Big 12 record of Texas (652) in 2005 and the modern-day NCAA record of Hawaii (656) in 2006.

Oklahoma's current four-game streak of 62, 66, 65 and 61 points ties an all-time record and is the first such run of sustained scoring excellence since Tulsa did it in 1919. No one has done it five times since Houston in

'

89.

The Sooners could challenge the NCAA record for fewest turnovers per game, set in 2000 by Notre Dame (0.71).

"They've just got everything going," Pinkel said. "Every aspect of the offense is going at the highest level. That's why people have been struggling with them."

Stoops was asked if, in all his years as a defensive wizard — that would encompass some record-setting offenses at Kansas State and Florida — if he'd ever seen an offense like this one.

"That kind of efficiency, no, I've gotta be honest, I haven't seen. And production. And balance," he said.

Five factors stand out for these Sooners: an unmatched run-pass balance (202 yards per game rushing, 354 passing), a singular focus on avoiding turnovers (two fumbles and seven interceptions) and converting red-zone chances (a nation-leading 62 TDs in 71 trips), a talented and experienced senior-dominated offensive line (190 starts between them, and all five earning All-Big 12 honors), the poise and ability of quarterback Sam Bradford (a nation-leading 46 TDs with just six interceptions) and the fast-forward speed of coordinator Kevin Wilson's no-huddle offense (a 215-30 scoring advantage in the first quarter).

Pinkel said, "You start up front. You look at that experienced offensive line."

Stoops said: "It all begins with Sam Bradford. You have such confidence in him to throw the ball anywhere, any time."

Bradford said, "It's really just 11 guys buying into the system that coach put in front of us during the spring."

Murray said, "I think that comes from us as a team, not being selfish, caring about the bigger prize instead of the individual prize."

Wilson said it's mostly the product of a mature team that values the football, but everyone deserves credit.

"It's a complete deal," Wilson said.

"Those guys block well and give you a chance to run it and throw it, and I think our receivers end up playing good without the ball in being good blockers and keeping us on schedule, and our backs and tight ends have done a good job with the blitz pick-ups, and I think all the receivers are excited because they know if they're open, Sam will see 'em and he'll get it to 'em. He makes it all go."

Said Iglesias, "I think it's everything. Without one of those things, it's not as good."



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

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2 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!
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Dewd, Cache (12/6/2008 8:40:41 AM)

I hope we're not making joyful noises too soon, we Oklahoma fans. It's happened before, visions of sugar plums dancing in our heads as Christmas draws near only to be disappointed in the "Big Game," the one for all the marbles. I'm holding my heart in my hands, afraid to believe what I'm seeing.

Are we to believe there was nothing flukish about beating the Red Raiders, the team that brought mighty Texas down? And the Cowboys? Boy howdy! those guys are soooo good. I've never been scared.

I'm still having nightmares about that game, the one that saw Sam Bradford elevate the definition of "Skill" to levels of new departure.

But, then, maybe Sam Bradford could be expected to do greatness with easy grace. After all, he's the offspring of an ancient and mighty people, a race of people that remembers the trail of tears.
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Arbythree, Tulsa (12/6/2008 4:23:24 PM)
Fingers and toes crossed for a big scoring night!! Oklahoma has scored 60 points in the last 4 games. If they do that number tonight, it will be an NCAA record.

BOOMER SOONER!!!!!!
 

 
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