By John Shinn
Transcript Sports Writer
Oklahoma’s running game needed a jump start after dropping its season opener to TCU. The revamped offensive line failed to open holes for Adrian Peterson. It was something that had to change.
In the two weeks since OU’s shocking season-opening loss, running game coordinator Kevin Wilson has moved around players like pawns on chess board. The shuffle worked and the Sooners rushed for 227 yards in their 31-15 victory over Tulsa last Saturday. They also found out they had more depth than they thought.
True freshmen offensive tackles Branndon Braxton and George “Duke” Robinson saw significant time against the Golden Hurricane. They’ll see more when OU faces UCLA at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.
“Both of those two young guys — big Branndon Braxton and Duke Robinson — both played hard, have a lot of size and both have some natural ability,” Wilson said. “They are gaining on it, but they have a long way to go.”
Braxton and Robinson turned heads when they arrived on campus. Both were highly touted recruits who already possessed the size to play. At 360 pounds, Robinson is the biggest player on the Sooners’ roster. The 6-foot-5 Atlanta native is 40 pounds heavier than Braxton, who’s the second biggest offensive lineman and stands 6-6.
Both figured to integral cogs in the Sooners’ future, but getting them ready to play has become a necessity.
Last year’s tackles, Jammal Brown and Wes Sims, were both drafted into the NFL. Akim Millington, who was a projected starter, and. Brandon Keith, a junior college transfer who figured to contribute, also left the team.
It became apparent if OU is going to have any depth at tackle, it’s going to come from the freshmen.
Wilson took a gamble last week and moved Davin Joseph from left tackle to left guard. He’s also started rotating Braxton and Robinson with junior Chris Messner at the tackle spots.
“After the first drive, coach said he was going to get us rotating,” Robinson said. “I was like, ‘This is my chance to get the ball rolling,’ I had a really good feeling that we where going to get in there and help.”
However, things will get a lot tougher for both against UCLA.
OU was as one-dimensional as could be against Tulsa. The Sooners didn’t attempt a pass in the second half. They won’t have that luxury against the Bruins.
“That’ll probably be the hardest thing to get used to coming from the high school level,” Braxton said. “The pass rushers are a lot faster. Pretty much, run blocking is a lot of effort. Getting off real fast and knowing your assignment. Pass blocking is a lot harder. You’ve got to have good technique.”
And that’s why Wilson is still antsy about throwing Braxton and Robinson to wolves so early in their careers.
“They are big people that can move piles,” Wilson said. “We are not going to be a power team all the time.”
That’s true, but OU coach Bob Stoops said the tandem has proved they can play and have started to lay a foundation for future success.
“They’ve got excellent size; they’re still learning and improving as they go,” Stoops said. “They played with some attitude and toughness that we needed, and I believe that we’ll build off of that.”
John Shinn366-3536jshinn@normantranscript.com
OU Sports
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