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Oklahoma Football: Final unit, player grades vs Houston
The Oklahoma football season is off to a rocky start, and here are our grades for the team’s first performance against the Houston Cougars.
OklahomaSooners23
If you didn’t believe the Houston Cougars were the real thing after beating Florida State in the 2015 Peach Bowl, you’d best believe it now.
The Big 12 wannabe team from Houston did everything right against an Oklahoma football team which once again failed to live up to some preseason hype. There were few bright spots in the game for Sooner fans, and most of the occurred in the first quarter.
Outside of a few nice passes, quarterback Baker Mayfield looked less than the immortal one seen last season, and the Sooner defense was obviously missing Eric Striker, Charles Tapper, Dominique Alexander and Zack Sanchez.
Although this was a non-conference loss, it’s going to be an uphill climb for the Sooners to get back into the playoff hunt with a very tough Big 12 schedule staring them in the face, as well as a date with No. 6 Ohio State in two weeks.
Here are the final grades for the Sooners on both sides of the ball, as well as some individual grades for key players.
Offense
Oklahoma Offense
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Things looked great in the first quarter, and the Sooners took an early 10-3 lead. It semmed like both Baker Mayfield and Joe Mixon were going to start their Heisman campaigns on fire.
However, the offensive line was the low spot of the entire offensive unit. They allowed Ed Oliver and the Houston defense to dictate things at the point of attack all afternoon.
Despite two grade-A running backs, the Sooners were only able to muster 70 yards on the ground. The inability to run put a lot of pressure on Mayfield and the Sooner wide receivers. Two crucial turnovers only added to the offensive misery.
Baker Mayfield
Baker Mayfield
QB, Oklahoma Sooners
By the time Houston figured out that OU wasn’t going to be able to really generate a sustained running attack, it was too late for Baker Mayfield. The Cougars had him on the run for most of the afternoon, and his receivers weren’t doing him a lot of favors either by dropping some very catchable balls.
On the day, Mayfield’s stats weren’t terrible, going 24 of 34 for 323 yards and two touchdowns, but those padded stats didn’t help the final score nearly enough.
Joe Mixon
Joe Mixon
RB, Oklahoma Sooners
That left the running to Mixon, and after rattling off a few big runs, he too was shut down by a tenacious Houston defensive front.
In addition to his 47 rushing yards and touchdown, Mixon also grabbed five passes for 77 yards, and was key to keeping the Sooners in the game. It’s good to have a versatile back like Mixon, especially if Perine can’t go.
Sep 3, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Cougars quarterback Greg Ward Jr. (1) looks for an open receiver during the second quarter against the Oklahoma Sooners at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Defense
Oklahoma Defense
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The second half wasn’t as kind
Houston quarterback Greg Ward Jr. was slicker than the greased up deaf guy, and it seemed every pass he hung in the air was snagged by a Cougar receiver. The Sooners pass defense was incredibly exposed, and some Big 12 teams are undoubtedly licking their chops now.
The run defense was much better, allowing only 89 rushing yards to a team who has one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the nation. The front line of this defense looks solid, but the linebackers and secondary are going to give Sooner fans ulcers before this season ends if things aren’t fixed.
Sep 3, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Cougars cornerback Howard Wilson (6) catches a missed field goal attempt and returns it for a touchdown during the third quarter against the Oklahoma Sooners at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Special Teams
Oklahoma Special Teams
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Kick Six.
A missed Austin Seibert field goal in the third quarter turned into six points for the Cougars, as Houston did their best Auburn impersonation when Brandon Wilson ran the kick back 100 yards for the score.
Other than that major gaffe, special teams were fairly solid. No long kick returns were allowed, and the punting game was excellent, pinning the Cougars back several times.
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Sep 3, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners head coach Bob Stoops before a game against the Houston Cougars at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
This wasn’t the opener Bob Stoops had envisioned coming in as the No. 3 team in the nation, and he’s got a lot of work ahead of him trying to patch together what looks to be a pretty porous defense.
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Even so, there were some good things happening on the field, and Sooner fans can look forward to a good season, just not the undefeated season many believe will be needed to reach the playoffs out of the Big 12 this year.
Mayfield won’t be facing defenses like this every week, and he had a good game despite some struggles late in the contest.
The big worry for Stoops and the Sooners right now has to be Ohio State, who rolled over what was thought to be a pretty competitive Bowling Green team 77-10 on Saturday. If the Buckeyes pass offense – which had J.T. Barrett throw for 349 yards and six touchdowns against the Falcons – runs with any amount of efficiency at all, it will be a long day for the Sooner secondary.
Two losses – non-conference or otherwise – could spell an end to any hopes the Sooners have of returning to the College Football Playoff in 2016.
Next up for Oklahoma will be a home game against the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks at 7:00 pm on Sept. 10 at Memorial Stadium.
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