By John Shinn
Statistics are everything to some and nothing to others. However, Oklahoma has identified three it will be studying like a scientist this season.
Penalties, turnovers and big plays (plays from scrimmage that gain over 20 yards) are weighing heavily on the Sooners’ minds as the 2006 season nears. They see winning those three categories as essential.
There’s plenty of evidence to support the theory.
From 1999-2004, OU went 60-2 winning at least two of the categories. The record dipped significantly to 10-10 when only winning one or less.
“That’s been an emphasis on both sides of the ball,” defensive coordinator Brent Venables said. “I know it’s accurate because I just saw it on the board before I came out here again.”
After last Saturday’s scrimmage, OU coach Bob Stoops cited the lack of penalties as a positive sign. He also liked the fact there were no fumbles.
Of course, Venables was bemoaning that fact.
“We need some more big hits and cause some fumbles,” he said.
Creating turnovers is the mantra of the Sooner defense. Stripping the football is a part of every drill and every play run in practice.
Last season, OU came up with 23 turnovers. It would like that number to rise dramatically this season.
The Sooners would also like to see last season’s turnover total of 24 take a huge dip. There were three interceptions last Saturday, but Wilson said rewards come with risks.
“There were three picks but none of them were forced,” Wilson said. “We didn’t have a fumble and our deal was to emphasize that.”
But big plays were few and far between though. Of 75 plays, only a handful went for more than 20 yards. That will have to change.”
“A big thing for this offense is making big plays,” Wilson added. “You can’t throw it deep, you have to complete those. We have to be better there.”
Last year, OU wasn’t.
In its four losses to TCU, UCLA, Texas and Texas Tech, the Sooners were on the losing side of the big-play category three times. OU managed to tie the Horned Frogs with just two apiece.
Perhaps that will change this season with a healthy Adrian Peterson and a wide receiver corps that has gained a valuable year of experience.
The statistics should tell the story. They have before.
SI picks OU No. 14
The Sooners were selected No. 14 in Sports Illustrated’s 2006 College Football Preview. The magazine cited the dismissal of Rhett Bomar and J.D. Quinn as the reason the Sooners weren’t ranked higher.
“Boasting arguably the nation’s best defense and inarguably the nation’s best running back in Adrian Peterson, the Sooners were viewed as national title contenders with Bomar, who set an Oklahoma freshman record for passing yards and had developed into a steady quarterback by year’s end,” the article reads, “Now, with the inexperienced (Paul) Thompson (73 career passes at OU) and a line that was a major concern even before Quinn’s dismissal — Oklahoma’s getting to the BCS title game will be much tougher.”
Sooners remain behind closed doors
The remainder of OU’s scrimmages and practices will be closed to the public. The Sooners’ second preseason scrimmage is scheduled Saturday and a third could be held prior to the Sept. 2 season-opener against Alabama-Birmingham, though both will be conducted behind the curtain.
John Shinn366-3536jshinn@normantranscript.com
