Oklahoma Sooners spring game 2015: Five things we learned
By Sixto Ortiz
Apr 11, 2015; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners running back Daniel Brooks (34) runs the ball during the spring football game at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Red wins 20-7 over White. Mandatory Credit: Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports
3. Lincoln Riley Will Not Abandon The Running Game
Sooner fans hoping the arrival of the Air Raid will not hamper the running game have reason to hope after today’s game. Even though Samaje Perine saw very limited action and both Joe Mixon and Keith Ford were absent, the running game still showed plenty of punch.
Oklahoma ran the ball 48 times and gained 231 yards for a healthy 4.8 yards per carry. The story of the day at running back was Port Lavaca, TX native, junior Daniel Brooks, who led all rushers with 154 yards. The only blemish on an otherwise stellar day was a lost fumble near the end zone that negated a score. Brooks is a shifty, speedy runner who can quickly separate in space.
Alex Ross also enjoyed a solid performance; Ross gained 62 yards on seventeen carries and scored a touchdown. And even though he is largely regarded as a speed guy, Ross ran with authority between the tackles.
But, fans should keep in mind that Lincoln Riley did not want to show too many bells and whistles during this game, so the decidedly vanilla scheme meant more running plays. That said, Riley surely realizes the abundance of talent that the Sooners enjoy at running back. The biggest problem the coaching staff will face come opening day is how to distribute the carries among all the running back talent on this roster.
Next: The Defense Was Opportunistic…and Inconsistent