Oklahoma Football: 3 Takeaways from win over Baylor

Oklahoma football knocked off Baylor on Saturday and here are three takeaways for the Sooners.

Just one season ago, Baylor and Oklahoma football would be one of the most anticipated matchups of the Big 12 conference slate.

The first matchup last year featured Baylor getting out to an early 28-3. Only for Oklahoma to storm back and win, 34-31. Their second matchup was in Arlington for the Big 12 title and was another instant classic.

With Charlie Brewer getting injured, Baylor would attempt to pull off the upset with backups Gerry Bohannon and Jacob Zeno. Oklahoma would once again prevail, 30-23. Not much has changed for Oklahoma since then, as with a 27-14 win, would clinch their spot in the Big 12 title game.

For Baylor, it has not had the same success. Baylor has gone 2-5 this season and had a complete rebuild in the coaching staff, when Matt Rhule left to be come the Head Coach with the Carolina Panthers.

Oklahoma would start fast early, driving down the field and scoring on their first drive. The Sooners and Gabe Brkic would settle for a 20 yard field goal to give them the first points of the night.

Baylor would move the ball on its first drive, but would not capitalize with points. Kicker John Mayers who was the hero against Kansas State, hitting a 33 yarder to win the game last week, could not do the same as he missed a 47 yarder on the Bears first possession.

Oklahoma immediately got a three and out and shanked a punt, that was good for 12 yards. Mayers haunting first quarter would not get any better as he once again was short on another 47 yarder.

Oklahoma football came out of this game ugly and somewhat, rusty after playing great over the past few weeks, especially on offense as Baylor was getting into the backfield early.

Baylor had four sacks in the first half alone to a Sooners unit that is ranked in the Top 10 in the nation, according to PFF. Oklahoma would make its first big play by intercepting Brewer as CB Trey Norwood would return the ball up to midfield.

Once again, Oklahoma’s offensive struggles would continue. Oklahoma had the least amount of yards in the first quarter on the season against the Bears. Spencer Rattler’s day would get from bad to worse as he would throw an interception inside the five to Safety Christian Morgan.

Baylor’s lack of run game sets up Oklahoma football in perfect position to score, inside the 30 off of a below average punt. Rhamondre Stevenson would find paydirt and the first touchdown of the game from three yards out. To begin the second half, Oklahoma would get fully back in sync, driving and in the end zone.

Rattler would find Theo Wease in the back of the end zone, to put Oklahoma up 17-0 and out of reach just minutes into the second half. Baylor would get on the board with a deep ball to WR TyQuan Thornton for a touchdown.

This is a game where it seemed like Oklahoma slept walk through the first half, but did just enough to not make this game close.

Oklahoma would put the nail in the coffin with a near interception, that ended with a Braden Willis touchdown. 27-7 with a little over five minutes to go would seal it.

A Charlie Brewer run late would put the Bears in the end zone, but was not enough as Oklahoma would hold on to win, 27-14. Here are the takeaways:

1. Oklahoma’s offense struggled early mightily

Oklahoma’s 60-game streak of 28 points or more would fall as the Sooners never seemed to be their normal selves. Rattler would end up getting sacked five times and Oklahoma as a team only rushed for 76 yards.

The Sooners love to design plays to set up wide open deep shots down the field. Although Rattler only threw the football 28 times, he could never find a deep shot. The deepest pass of the game was a 25 yard pitch and run to Theo Wease. The longest play in general was just 28 yards.

Baylor’s lone bright spots has been defense and had that touchdown to Willis been an interception, the score might be much different than what it was.

2. The defense contained Brewer after a career day last week

There are normally questions with Oklahoma when it comes to defending the pass and giving up big chunk plays. Although the Sooners did give up a few 25+ yard plays, they also made Brewer pay. They forced two interceptions and suffocated an already injury plagued run game.

Right before the game, it would be announced that RB’s John Lovett and Qualan Jones would not make the trip. Alongside Squirl Williams tearing his ACL against Iowa State, the run game was already going to be a major issue.

The Bears managed just one yard per play on the ground on 26 carries. That is a testament to Oklahoma’s defense. On a day where the Offense wasn’t sharp, it was the defense that carried it’s own weight, against both the run and the pass. Brewer threw for 263 yards on the day for the Bears. However, that was also on 54 attempts as he had just 4.6 yards per completion.

Even with the offensive woes, it is encouraging to see the defense picking up the slack and putting on an impressive performance.

3. Not a good sign for Oklahoma, with Iowa State looming in two weeks.

The Sooners have a red hot Cyclones team, that is coming off a thrashing of West Virginia. While Oklahoma has some question marks, that hopefully need to get fixed. Not only before Arlington, but before next week, as they travel to face West Virginia. West Virginia’s rushing attack is much better than Baylor’s, as Leddie Brown is a Top 3 running back in the conference.

The next couple of week won’t be easy, just like this season up to this point in time. Iowa State have been playing their best football, since falling 21-10  in the first half to Baylor.

Rattler made some good plays, but was held in check in beating the Bears deep. A defense that would replicate that would be Iowa State’s unit, especially, the linebacking core. If Oklahoma football wants to make it a sixth straight championship, finding a rhythm on offense against a much stingier defense in the Cyclones

Next for Baylor, they will play their final conference game at home against Oklahoma State. Oklahoma will finish their season with a road game against West Virginia.