Oklahoma offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson sounded a bit like the character Howard Beale in “Network” when talking about the offense’s penchant for turnovers this week.
He never said, “I’m mad as hell,” but he made it clear he’s not going to take it anymore.
“Bottom line is: We’re going to need greater attention in practice if we think our guys are careless in a game,” Wilson said. “If a guy makes a mistake, he’s going to come out.”
He stopped short of issuing a zero-tolerance policy toward fumbles. But the level of tolerance will be microscopic when the Sooners return to the field Nov. 3 against Texas A&M.;
The edict is out of necessity. Fumbles by running backs Allen Patrick and DeMarco Murray last Saturday at Iowa State ran the Sooners’ turnover total to 15 for the season.
Wilson estimated those giveaways have resulted in 34 points for opponents. The fact the point total isn’t higher is credit to the Sooner defense, which has been put in some tough spots over the last two games. Two of OU’s three turnovers against the Cyclones came on the Sooner side of the field.
One resulted in a touchdown. The other two failed to yield points.
“That’s, basically, every time you turn it over you might as well put three on the scoreboard, is what it equates to,” Wilson said. “But in reality, you keep doing that enough you’re going to keep teams in the game. We got their crowd involved the other day.”
Want to know the main reason the Sooners have struggled in both Big 12 road games? Six turnovers (three at Colorado and three at Iowa State) had a lot to do with it.
Wilson’s message hasn’t fallen on deaf ears.
“We have to stop letting the ball hit the ground, stop throwing interceptions,” said quarterback Sam Bradford, who has thrown five picks this season. “The ball is the most important thing in the game and when you turn it over you lose a lot of time with the ball. So I think that is the main area we need to start with. Once we do that, I think we will be fine.”
That could be the case.
The Sooners are ranked No. 6 in the latest BCS standings. The five teams ahead of them — No. 1 Ohio State (14), No. 2 Boston College (12), No. 3 LSU (8), No. 4 Arizona State (11) and No. 5 Oregon (11) — have all committed less turnovers than the Sooners.
OU’s problems are nothing new. It committed 33 turnovers in 14 games last season. Averaging 1.9 through the first eight games is actually an improvement. Still, it’s not good enough. If they want to win a Big 12 championship and play for a national championship, the Sooners know mistakes must be minimized.
It was a big point of emphasis during OU’s off week and will remain one the rest of the season.
“We can’t keep beating ourselves,” wide receiver Malcolm Kelly said. “Those turnovers, fumbling the ball, you can’t do that and win, especially these next four games. With the goals we have for this season, if we keep playing like that, we’re not going to reach them.”
OU Sports
Seeking a turnover turnaround
Sooners have to take care of the ball
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