BLAKE BELL MAKES MOST OF TULSA TIME

OKLAHOMA 51
TULSA            20

   

 

"So much for your (quarterback) controversy! It didn’t last long, but you can’t deny what he just went out there and did today. I’m proud of him and excited for him, and again I think it speaks to his character because he was a guy that was ready for it. He never got down, never changed his attitude, and he got his chance and took great advantage of it.” - Bob Stoops

Trivia Question:

Prior to Blake Bell's debut this last Saturday, 

can you name the last OU starting QB to wear #10?

 (ANSWER IS AT BOTTOM OF POST)

 

From Flag to Finish

 

Before Blake Bell could even touch the football in his first start at QB, the offense had lost five yards.  The illegal participation penalty, while minute in regards to its effect, was largely symbolic of what laid ahead.  600 total yards and 51 points later proved that flag to be prophetic...because Tulsa was truly out-manned in this one from the start. 

 

 Better than Sam, I am

 

If the Sooners were to have any shot at beating Notre Dame in South Bend in two weeks or to be part of the Big 12 title conversation...they we're going to need drastic improvement in their passing game. 

 

27 of 37 for 413 yards with 4 touchdowns and no interceptions...Mission accomplished.  Not only was Blake Bell's passing performance a drastic improvement over what the Sooners accomplished through the air in the first two games, but his 413 passing yards also broke Sam Bradford's school record for passing yards by a QB making his debut.

How to Win Friends and Influence Receivers-  

“It ain't no fun if the homies can't have none.”  

― Snoop Dogg

 

Blake Bell completed passes to 10 different receivers on Saturday. Obviously, Bell did a good job of reading the defense, going through his progressions and then distributing the ball to the open man. No better way to keep everybody happy than to get em' the rock occasionally. On a side note...every tight-end listed on the roster tied their season high in catches with absolutely frickin' none.

 Good From the Get-Go 

 "To change one's life: Start immediately. Do it flamboyantly." 
- William James

For the first time this season, OU scored on its first possession of the game.  In my opinion, this was huge. Considering the struggles the offense had last week against WVA, scoring on the opening drive was like a big therapeutic group hug.  The 12 play, 74 yard drive had to be a shot of confidence for not only Bell and the offense, but also for offensive coordinator Josh Heupel. 

Third Downs the Charm

“When it's third and ten, you can take the milk drinkers and I'll take the whiskey drinkers.” - Max McGee Green Bay Packers

 

The Sooners converted 12 of the 16 third downs they faced on Saturday.  Most teams hope to convert somewhere around half of their opportunities...so 75% is impressive.  Two of the third downs the Sooners were able to convert occurred on the opening drive.  Facing third and 6 from their own 44, Bell hit Sterling Shepard across the middle for 9 yards.  The significance of this play was that Shepard was not the first option.  Bell had to check off his first receiver.  When I saw his head move and look in another direction, I almost fainted.   

Then later in the drive, the Sooners found themselves with third and 10 from the Hurricane 29.  Bell rolling to his right, shrugged off a defender, then cut back across the field for 11 yards and a first down.  Having a QB that looks to throw first; but is mobile enough to run and strong enough not to be arm tackled is a very nice weapon. Glad we decided to use him.

In all, the Sooners had 27 first downs in the game: 15 by way of air and 12 via the ground...that kind of balance is a beautiful thing for offensive coordinators.

Protect the Pig

"Gentleman, it is better to have died a small boy than to fumble the football"
- John Heisman

If I had to name one thing that Bob Stoops liked most about Blake Bell's performance Saturday it would be: Zero Turnovers.   

Selecting System over Sooner

'The OAS QB Conspiracy Theory'
“The trouble with conspiracies is that they rot internally.”
― Robert A. Heinlein
 

When Blake Bell brought the offense to the line of scrimmage for the first snap, the Sooners were lined up in a 4 receiver set.  I did a double take to make sure that Blake Bell was really Bell and not Landry Jones standing five yards deep. (Now come on people, things haven't got so bad that you miss the 'stach do you?)  That's when it hit me...

In hindsight it is so obvious that I'm almost embarrassed by the simplicity.  It took me all of one play Saturday to realize that OU wasn't so much waging a QB competition this summer and fall...as much as they were an offensive system competition.
I don't doubt that the QB competition was close; in fact it was probably so close that the coaching staff decided to go with the offensive that they most wanted to run.  When that turned out to be that read-option pistol thing, it made Trevor Knight the winner by default.  Knight is the quicker, faster runner, therefore the more suited of the two to run that style of offense. 

While Knight's injury certainly made it less controversial, Bell was going to start this past week regardless.  Going back to a more 'conventional' style offense, if you can call a 4 receiver set conventional, gave Bell and the Sooners the best chance to succeed not only Saturday, but for the rest of the season as well.

Ready to Roll

"Things turn out best for those who make the best of the way things turn out"
- John Wooden

Certainly, that is what Blake Bell has done in this situation

 

Next Up: The Notre Dame Irish

 

I'll be honest, I had written off the Notre Dame game as a loss...and while that still might end up being the case...at least now there is some hope for the Sooners.  The Irish claim that good fortune comes to those who find a 4-leaf clover.  On September 28th, the Sooner Nation will rely on four receivers instead of clovers to supple the good fortune...after all, shouldn't Sterling Shepard be easier to find?

Trivia Answer:  The last OU starting QB to wear #10 was Steve Collins back in 1992.

Just the opinion of one mildly interested guy

The Overweight Armchair Sooner

Buddy Putty