Postgame Thoughts: Oklahoma 23, Mississippi State 15
The Oklahoma Sooners got back on the winning track on Saturday, knocking off the Mississippi State Bulldogs, 23-15.
The Bulldogs were overmatched from the start of the game as it quickly became apparent star quarterback Kamario Taylor rushed back from a turf toe injury. Backup Parker Puckett stepped in for Taylor in the first quarter and proved incapable of mounting sustained drives against OU’s swarming defense. However, what should have been a comfortable win for the Sooners in Starkville turned into a one-score affair thanks in large part to a series of missed opportunities and sloppy gaffes.
Here are a handful of thoughts about what transpired based on a live viewing of the broadcast.
*You could interpret this result in two different ways. On the one hand, this felt like a game that OU controlled from start to finish. The Sooners had a 10-0 lead at halftime, and MSU didn’t cut the lead to one score until two minutes remained in the second half. OU also outproduced the Bulldogs in total yardage, averaging 6.7 yards per offensive play to MSU’s 5.6.
On the other hand, OU’s inability to finish drives with touchdowns prevented it from building a more comfortable margin. Keep in mind the Sooners were facing a mediocre defense that ranks No. 68 in Defensive SP+. The fact they only mustered 23 points feels disappointing.
*Compounding the issues with OU’s lack of touchdowns, we can say placekicking has officially become a problem. Tate Sandell, the Lou Groza Award winner as the best kicker in the country last season, made just three of his six attempts. His three misses came from 45 yards, 45 yards and 41 yards, so it’s not like coach Brent Venables was asking him to make audacious kicks.
For the season, Sandell has connected on 10-of-16 field goals. Not horrible, but not the level of reliability that gave Venables such strong faith in Sandell’s leg.
*We shouldn’t get carried away with how we describe left tackle Michael Fasusi’s impact on the offensive line. The unit probably gave its best effort of the season, though, even considering the quality of the opposition. His absence clearly had the OL back in the first half of the year.
*Tory Blaylock sparked the running game with a net of 71 yards on 12 carries. His 47-yard gain to open the second half was the kind of thing OU has been missing from its ground attack this season. Lloyd Avant also ran with authority.
*The catch-and-run TD by Isaiah Sategna highlighted the receiver’s stellar day, which included eight receptions for 164 yards. He also added some punch to the running game, generating 24 yards on three carries to help keep the MSU defense honest.
*Quarterback John Mateer played a steady game, which likely had something to do with the quality of the MSU defense. Tight end Rocky Beers, however – that was a howler.
*A solid showing overall by the defense – not impenetrable, but still good.
*Was this defensive end PJ Adebawore’s best game as a Sooner? His stat sheet includes 1.5 sacks, but his impact went beyond the numbers. He was a menace to the Bulldogs OL whenever he was on the field.
*Safety Peyton Bowen is writing a compelling story about the OU coaching staff’s ability to help players reach their full potential as players. He played an all-around great game versus MSU, headlined by an interception that put a stake through a promising drive for the Bulldogs.
It seems unlikely another safety around the country is playing as well as Bowen right now.
*Final analysis: The OU team that took the field in Starkville on Saturday showed glimpses of a squad that can win the remainder of its games in the regular season this year. That seems unlikely, of course, because it would require a level of diligence that the Sooners have yet to demonstrate this year. No better time than the present to get started on that, though, if OU plans on doing it..