Oklahoma Sooners offensive line finally enjoys breakout performance, eradicates Alabama's defense
It has been a tough season for Oklahoma's offensive line. They've battled injuries in almost every game and have rolled out nine different starting offensive lines this season in 11 games. Yet when it mattered the most, this group came to play. They delivered a beatdown on the Alabama Crimson Tide in ways that hasn't […]
It has been a tough season for Oklahoma's offensive line. They've battled injuries in almost every game and have rolled out nine different starting offensive lines this season in 11 games.
Yet when it mattered the most, this group came to play. They delivered a beatdown on the Alabama Crimson Tide in ways that hasn't happened to the Tide in years. Oklahoma's offensive line was pulling off WWE finishing moves on Alabama all game long.
Oklahoma ran for 257 yards on the day, and it was the offensive line who paved the way forward for their ground game to take over. Their performance saw right guard Febechi Nwaiwu earn honors as the SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week.
This was their best performance of the season, without question. Oklahoma didn't pass often in this game, but it was just their fourth game this year without allowing a sack and the offensive line gave up just three pressures.
What changed? To me, it's two factors. One, they were able to have the same starting offensive line for the third game in a row, something they haven't had all year. Continuity is massive for offensive line play. Second, they are finally being asked to do what suits this roster.
I wrote in the preseason that Oklahoma needed to be a power-running offense. Their offensive line, across the board, was built for gap schemes with the size and physicality they built upfront. Instead, former offensive coordinator Seth Littrell insisted on them being an inside zone team. There wasn't a lot of creativity in the run schemes, and they often just spammed the same concept.
Under interim co-OCs Joe Jon Finley and Kevin Johns, the run game has evolved. They are running more gap and power runs than ever before, with pulling guards and counter runs paving the way forward for easy yards.
Look at how their running game has evolved since they fired Littrell:
That's what the Oklahoma Sooners are built for. They've been the masters of the counter play for a decade now, but they lost that identity to start this season. Them regaining their confidence is a great sign to see as the season draws to a close, as many of these players will return next season for the Sooners.
