No. 8 Oklahoma's (9-2) defense led the way once again as the Sooners smother No. 22 Missouri in a 17-6 victory.
OU head coach Brent Venables had high praise about his defense saying “It’s a grimy group of guys, and that’s the way I love it. They’ve got a relentless mindset, incredible intensity, and they’re together, you can feel it. They know how to play together, and that really personifies this football team. It’s not pretty, but this is not a beauty contest. This is football.” But for those who love defense, this is must watch television.
Three times the Sooners stonewall the Tigers in the red zone, preventing Missouri from scoring touchdowns and having to settle for field goals. The Sooners defense stood strong holding the nation’s leading rusher, Ahmad Hardy to 57 yards on 17 carries. The Sooners also had two interceptions in the game. In their last three games, the unit has forced eight turnovers. What is scary is the defense is performing this well while missing their star pass rusher R. Mason Thomas.
While they has been dominant, the Sooners offense has been inept. Once again Oklahoma could not find a rhythm both on the ground or through the air. John Mateer threw for two touchdowns and finished the game with 172 yards in the air on 14-of-30 passing for 46.6 percent, his worst completion percentage since his redshirt freshman season at Washington State when he completed 33.3 percent of his passes in a 44-6 loss against Arizona.
In his last five games, Mateer has thrown for over 200 yards just once in the loss to Ole Miss where he threw for 223 yards.
On the ground, the Sooners were not any better. OU had to rely on the legs of Mateer who led the team with 60 yards. Xavier Robinson added 42 yards on 12 carries and the Sooners were unable to produce a score while rushing.
The Sooners running backs have rushed for 100 yards four times this season Robinson twice and Tory Blaylock has also rushed for 100 yards twice in games this season.
The offense continues to be a disappearing act and that must change for this team. The Sooners are all but a shoe in for the College Football Playoffs and they are leaning heavily on one of the best defensive units in the nation.
But at some point, the offense needs to deliver if not it will be another season of what ifs for the boys in Norman.
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