Tulsa World: Challenge awaits OU with Tulsa's offense

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Challenge awaits OU with Tulsa's offense

OU recruited Tulsa quarterback G.J. Kinne out of high school to play linebacker. Patrick Semansky/Associated Press

By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
Published: 9/19/2009 2:27 AM
Last Modified: 9/19/2009 4:30 AM

NORMAN — So much transpired for the Oklahoma offense during the first two weeks of the season, one might think OU defensive players and coaches have become bored.

They haven't. Especially not this week.

After a two-hour ride down the Turner Turnpike, Tulsa brings into Memorial Stadium an offensive pedigree unlike any college football team in the country.

Last year, Tulsa became just the 12th team in NCAA history to lead the nation in total offense in back-to-back seasons, the first since 1995-96.

Through two games this year — a 37-13 victory at Tulane and a 44-10 triumph at New Mexico — the Golden Hurricane is "on track again," said OU coach Bob Stoops. Despite losing its coordinator and its quarterback, TU (2-0) is averaging 450 yards per game. That's down a bit from the 544- and 570-yards-per-game averages the previous two seasons. But in two road games, some feel TU simply hasn't hit its stride yet.

That's a scary prospect for an experienced OU defense coming off a dominating performance against overmatched Idaho State.

"They have a lot to their offense," said OU defensive coordinator Brent Venables. "I think there's a reason why they've been rated one of the top offenses in the country the last two years. They're difficult to stop. They've got good personnel running it, too."

Two years ago, Paul Smith threw for 5,065 yards and 47 touchdowns. Last year, David Johnson threw for 4,059 yards and 46 touchdowns. In 2007, Tulsa averaged 173 rushing yards per game. In 2008, that average climbed to 268.

The quarterback this year is G.J. Kinne, a transfer from Texas to whom Venables offered a scholarship — as a linebacker. Kinne averages 260 yards per game passing, hasn't thrown an interception and leads the team with 124 rushing yards.

"Pretty much with those guys, you never know what you're going to get," said cornerback Dominique Franks. "You've got a great quarterback that's very mobile and they've got great receivers on either side. They've got a lot of playmakers at the receiver spot and also at the running back spot."

No. 12-ranked OU (1-1) is a 17-point favorite, but Bob Stoops and Todd Graham have been in this spot before.

When TU came to Norman in 2005, OU was a 27-point favorite despite crumbling to TCU the week before. Graham, then TU's defensive coordinator, put together a scheme that worked so well the Sooners threw zero second-half passes. Only after a tackle-breaking touchdown run by Adrian Peterson and an interception by Clint Ingram could OU enjoy a 31-15 victory.

When OU visited Tulsa in 2007, the Sooners were 22 1/2-point favorites, ranked No. 4 and had been unchallenged at 3-0. But at Chapman Stadium, Oklahoma found itself trailing for the first time and led just 35-21 in the third quarter before a kickoff return, a long pass and two fourth-quarter drives made it 62-21.

Tulsa's offense gained 344 yards against the Sooners in 2005, 398 in 2007.

Venables said Tulsa's offense "absolutely" has some carryover from the two years Gus Malzahn was offensive coordinator. "There's a lot of similarities to what they do" this year under Herb Hand's play calling.

As futuristic as the TU offense seems, there are some old-school principles at work.

"There's a lot to what they do mentally," Venables said. "That's why they do it. It's kind of like the old triple-option theories. It slows you down. They wear you out, and then they sneak somebody by you. They run the ball well enough that they get a lot of people on play-action passes. They're just really good at creating big plays that way."

Said Stoops, "As much as anything, they use all their pieces. They spread the ball around to everybody. They do a nice job run and pass, mixing it up, moving the pocket. They do a little bit of everything, so they give you a lot to work on."

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

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