We’re back to competence.
Not heading into the game, because that ship’s sailed and how could it not considering the 12 names the Sooners put on Thursday night’s injury report, two were offensive linemen Michael Fasusi and Heath Ozaeta, listed questionable, though neither played last week, and two others were Ryan Fodje and Eddy Pierre-Louis, listed out.
Pierre-Louis you may remember from SEC media days, earning the trip on his apparent leadership skills, before first playing poorly and second not playing at all, and Fodje you may remember from last week, when he continued to play into the fourth quarter despite having only one leg to stand on, a reality lost on line coach Bill Bedenbaugh, offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle and head coach Brent Venables all at the same time.
Fasusi, of course, hasn’t played since the first quarter of the UTEP opener and Ozaeta managed to get himself hurt in a walk-through prior to the Texas game, only to then play all four quarters, before sitting out to the same injury last week.
Do you think it’s possible Venables practices good on good at full speed — ergo, recklessly — in the name of keeping his defensive front seven sharp even as it lays waste to his never-had-any-real-depth-in-the-first-place offensive line?
It’s a thought, one we may never get a detailed answer to, just as we failed to get a detailed answer to how Fodje remained in the game last week.
But I digress.
Just competence, from the opening kick to the clock striking zero.
It means saving trick plays unless they’re all you’ve got and you’ve got to make something happen, rather than wanting something to happen when Tate Sandell’s an automatic three points … and not running a double reverse flea-flicker when you were moving the ball just fine already.
So, yeah, start there.
It might help because the defense run by the head coach tends to keep the Sooners in all games and this one’s likely to be no different, even if all-world Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor (turf toe) is able to play, despite being listed questionable as of Thursday night; even if top running back Fluff Bothwell (left foot), 5.4 yards per carry, is able to play, despite also being listed questionable.
Know what else would be competent?
If John Mateer commits an early turnover, replace him with junior Whitt Newbauer or freshman Bowe Bentley, you choose, whoever’s more likely to get the job done and send him out for a couple series and see what happens. Because you can always bring Mateer back and, as he proved again against Kentucky, one turnover frequently leads to two or three, meaning giving him a short rest might wind up winning you the game by not losing it.
It might mean Arbuckle eating part of his press conference transcript from Tuesday, when asked why the coaching staff remains confident in Mateer …
Yeah, I mean, just throughout everything he’s done, the player that he is, the preparation that he has — pause — we believe that John Mateer gives us the best chance to win.
… except what Arbuckle said makes no sense because “everything he’s done” would lead most quarterbacks to lose their jobs and “the player that he is” can typically be defined by “everything he’s done,” which, if you missed the first part of this sentence, would lead most quarterbacks to lose their jobs.
Talk about a not ready answer.
There’s more to the Sooner injury report.
On Wednesday, running backs Tory Blaylock and Xavier Robinson were both listed questionable. On Thursday, Blaylock was upgraded to probable and Robinson was downgraded to doubtful.
Raise your hand if you’d like neither to be available, if only because it would limit Oklahoma to its two best running backs, Lloyd Avant and Jonathan Hatton, perhaps not in that order, yet if the Texas game is any judge quite likely in that order.
For three seasons, not only has the coaching staff been unwilling to identify a bell cow among its running backs, but to even settle on two running backs whose trading carries might offer the best chance to win.
So why not hope the choice is taken out of the coaches’ hands, leaving OU limited to two running backs, Avant and Hatton, who might run so well in Starkville the coaches can’t help but practice competence, even if everybody’s healthy, the following Saturday against South Carolina.
What else?
How about getting Manny Choice back on the field after hardly giving him a chance prior to his catching five balls for 98 yards against Kentucky. And maybe let Rocky Beers own the middle of the field, because did you know only three previous Sooner tight ends caught at least 60 passes — Jermaine Gresham (66), Mark Andrews (62), Trent Smith (61) — and if Beers (26), who seems to catch everything, is to get there, feed him even more now.
Maybe that’s it.
No dumb play calls, especially if they’re trick plays.
Sit your QB before he goes on another turnover bender.
Run your best runners like you mean to, even if they’re the only ones available.
Play your best receivers, too.
Take advantage of the tight end who catches everything.
Oh, yeah, don’t play anybody else at any position who’s utterly out on their feet, or who’s bound to be ruled out next week for an injury already suffered, because it makes you look dumb, out of touch, unemployable anywhere but Norman.
It shouldn’t be so hard.