By John Shinn
My, how times have changed.
When Oklahoma last met Baylor, words like “getting better” and “finding consistency” were never mentioned. OU was on the verge of its second straight undefeated regular season.
What the Sooners would have to do to win was an afterthought. Winning by enough to impress pollsters was all that mattered.
From one season to the next, all of that has changed. When the Sooners (3-3, 2-1 Big 12) meet the Bears (4-2, 1-2), the outcome will have zero impact on the BCS.
Both teams, in fact, share at least two goals heading into Saturday’s 6 p.m. kickoff at Owen Field: Both seek to get better and advance a step closer to bowl eligibility.
“We’re working hard this week to try to establish some consistency in our discipline and our effort,” OU coach Bob Stoops said Tuesday at his media luncheon. “We realize we’ll need to improve this week to be able to go out and win this week. So that’s what we’re going to try and do.”
The fact it’s Baylor coming to town brings little comfort to a team still seeking back-to-back victories.
Until the Sooners find some offensive consistency, every game has the potential to go either way.
OU has flashed some offensive potential this season. Rhett Bomar threw for 241 yards against UCLA and the Sooners rushed for 232 a week later against Kansas State.
However, an abysmal performance against Texas squashed any momentum. It carried over to the first half of OU’s 19-3 victory over Kansas last week.
Defense carried the Sooners until they finally hit an offensive stride in the fourth quarter.
Bomar finished with 210 yards through the air and OU finished with 306 yards of total offense against one of the Big 12’s best defenses.
“We had a lot of growth in the second half and we need to build on that growth coming out of the game,” offensive coordinator Chuck Long said. “I’m very proud of the way we ended that football game … We’re focusing on the building off of that this week.”
The Sooners remain last in the Big 12 in passing offense (142.3 yards per game), 11th in total offense (290 yards per game). And there’s still no indication whether Adrian Peterson, who did not practice Monday or Tuesday, will play against the Bears.
But overcoming injuries is part of the game. One missing ingredient shouldn’t bring everything to crashing halt, even when it’s Peterson.
“You can only play the guys that are available and ready to play and that’s what we’re doing,” Stoops said. “It’s challenging, but … what I want the players to realize is evidenced by what we were able to do in the second half (against Kansas).
“We should be able to do that regardless of who’s in there”
To Stoops, it’s a matter of finally putting together a complete game. He said his team has shown potential in wins over Tulsa, Kansas State and Kansas, and Bomar’s passing was a positive against UCLA.
“We have to get it consistently and through four quarters. That’s what we’re pushing for,” he said. “We have had signs, I think, throughout the year, but we need to establish some consistency with it.”
Despite the struggles, Baylor coach Guy Morriss still sees some similarities with the previous two OU teams that have outscored the Bears a combined 76 to 3.
“They’re kind of like a sleeping giant right now, especially offensively,” he said. “They’ve got the talent. They just haven’t put it together yet.”
Perhaps Saturday will be the day.
John Shinn366-3536jshinn@normantranscript.com
