Postgame Thoughts: Oklahoma 24, Michigan 13
The Oklahoma Sooners got a win to grow from on Saturday night against the Michigan Wolverines, 24-13.
A few observations about OU’s performance, based on the live viewing of the broadcast.
*The more I looked at this matchup as the week wore on, I became convinced that OU’s defense versus the Michigan offense would be the biggest mismatch in the game. This one played out as expected: OU holding Michigan’s success rate to 29% is the stuff of dominance.
The Wolverines did what they do by pounding the rock at a methodical tempo. It worked well enough in the aggregate as they totaled 146 yards on 32 rushing attempts. However, aside from a 75-yard touchdown run by Justice Haynes, Michigan averaged 2.3 yards per carry on the other 31 rushes. Michigan’s offensive line rarely moved OU’s defensive front.
Unable to lean on the Sooners with their running game, the Wolverines had to put their fate in the hands of freshman phenom Bryce Underwood. Brent Venables’ defense locked up the ultra-talented quarterback. Underwood completed just nine of his 24 pass attempts for 142 yards. That stinginess contributed to Michigan’s inability to cash in on money downs, converting only three of 15 attempts on third and fourth down.
*OU’s pass coverage had a huge hand in Michigan’s anemic throwing game. Underwood’s targets rarely created much separation. True freshman Courtland Guillory, in particular, showed why OU’s coaches were showering the cornerback with praise in the preseason. To be fair, star Michigan tight end Marlin Klein didn’t play, and the Big Blue wide receivers won’t scare many teams this year.
On the few occasions when the WRs did flash open, the Sooners often had Underwood under duress. The rookie QB scrambled well enough to hit a handful of big-time throws, but the OU D limited the damage when he did.
*Doubt many people predicted before the game that linebacker Owen Heinecke would lead OU with nine tackles in the game. The same goes for standout performances from defensive linemen Marvin Jones Jr. and David Stone.
Also, Kendal Daniels played extremely well in space throughout the game. That had to be exactly what Venables and company wanted when they landed the Oklahoma State transfer in the offseason.
*As for the offense, that was QB John Mateer playing hero ball to the hilt. His improvisational skills accounted for some of the game’s timeliest plays, including a scrambling heave to wide receiver Isaiah Sategna on a third down in the second half that gained 36 yards. Additionally, Mateer was the most effective runner the Sooners had, carrying the ball 17 times for 78 yards and two touchdowns versus Michigan’s rugged run defense.
Time for a quick reality check, though. You could make the case that Mateer put the Sooners in danger in a number of instances. He can throw with too much zip on short routes, and he has a tendency to put the ball on a line in cases where a little loft would help. The high pass that Michigan intercepted looked like a spot in which Mateer’s shaky mechanics were a negative.
Some of Mateer’s decisions on Saturday pushed past hubris into the territory of recklessness. The results turned out in OU’s favor, but prepare yourself to take some bad with the good this year.
*Mateer’s highlights shouldn’t overshadow some fantastic work by the OU receiving corps. Jaren Kanak may not block like a long-term tight end, but the former LB is a legitimate weapon catching and running with the ball. Deion Burks finally looked like the receiver who was promised when he transferred to OU last year. Keontez Lewis came up big multiple times on money downs.
If Javonnie Gibson lives up to billing once he’s healthy, the Sooners will have one of the better receiving units in the country.
*Javontae Barnes gets his fair share of criticism, but the senior running back demonstrated against Michigan that he does bring value to the offense by doing little things well. He remains a top-notch blocker in the backfield, and he came through in crucial moments late in the game.
*The changes made to the personnel on the offensive line from game one to game two clearly made a difference for the Sooners. Notably, left tackle Michael Fasusi played extremely well for a freshman making his first start in a college game.
Was it a great performance by the OL? No. The Sooners ran the ball well in spots, but not well enough from start to finish of the game. It was better than what we saw from the unit in the season opener against Illinois State, though.
Ultimately, Mateer won’t survive the season if the QB is OU’s top option in the ground attack. Getting more from the traditional running game will require the OL to start opening more holes for the RBs.
*I’ll take this opportunity to mention in passing that OL play across the country this season looks to be down appreciably.
*Finally, this was a fun win for the Sooners. It felt cathartic above all else, especially given the fact that it was a spotlight game in front of the entire country.
On the other hand, OU fans of years gone by would be moaning about the fact that the Wolverines were even in striking distance late in the game. A litany of mistakes by OU kept a solid Michigan team in the game. Fumbling a punt, botching a kickoff return, untimely penalties – it seemed as though the Sooners were trying to give away a win at times.
Better teams than Michigan await OU this year. This win makes for a good start to the season, but it also exposed multiple areas in need of immediate improvement.