Which Sooners are in the crosshairs vs. WVU?

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Coming off a loss to Baylor, OU looks to recapture some momentum when it takes on West Virginia at 11 a.m. Saturday in Milan Puskar Stadium.

The Mountaineers are reeling themselves, having dropped three consecutive games.

Here’s a quick look inside the game in this week’s edition of Four Downs:

First Down: Sooner in the Crosshairs

Defensive end Reggie Grimes Grimes started the season with a bang with five tackles for loss and four sacks in the first two games.

Since, Grimes has been a virtual non factor.

Last week, Grimes had his first tackle for loss in nearly two months.

While Grimes has kept a positive face, saying he feels comfortable with his play and that he’s opened up room for others, it’s still been somewhat frustrating not to have plays opened up for him.

West Virginia has allowed just 14 sacks this season, so it won’t be easy, but the Sooners need their defensive line to be impactful, and having Grimes be one of those impact players would be advisable.

Second Down: Number to know

2: The number of players currently on the OU roster who have played in Morgantown.

Tight end Brayden Willis and linebacker DaShaun White are the only Sooners who appeared in OU’s 59-56 win at West Virginia on Nov. 23, 2018.

“I just remember a really fun atmosphere, really hectic atmosphere,” Willis said. “They do a really good job.”

White’s memories mainly center away from the game.

“I remember they had some good, sweet cornbread,” White said. “I’m looking forward to getting back and getting some of that cornbread. It’s got way too much sugar in it.”

The Sooners’ scheduled 2020 game in Morgantown was first postponed due to COVID issues with OU, and then canceled two weeks later due to COVID issues with the Mountaineers.

West Virginia has been a much different team at home than on the road this season.

Away from home, the Mountaineers are averaging just 21.6 points per game.

At Milan Puskar stadium, West Virginia is averaging 45.3 points per game.

Third Down: Three questions Cornerback C.J. Coldon Are the recent interceptions — the Sooners have seven in the last four games after recording just three in the first five games — helping give the secondary confidence?

“Yes sir, definitely in the back end. The whole defense really. We’ve just got to play confident week in, week out. That’s all it is. Just coming into the game very confident by our preparation and listening to our coaches and being prepared every week, every day.”

After watching film from the Baylor loss, where can you improve individually and as a group?

“Tackling better. Being more detailed. Alignment. Just be more detailed, more focused on a game plan. And it starts in practice out here. Just being prepared. In meetings, practice, writing everything down. Just being super detailed in the mental aspect and physical.”

What can you learn from the pass interference you had against Baylor?

“I panicked. I knew that right then and there. I just panicked from the game plan. I thought it was gonna be something different, and you can’t guess out there. So definitely a good learning experience. A bad play by me, but it’s something you can learn from and get better from.”

Fourth Down: This day in Sooners history Nov. 12, 2016

This edition of the Sooners struggled defensively, including a few weeks earlier when it allowed 854 yards — 734 through the air — in the famous Baker Mayfield/Patrick Mahomes showdown in Lubbock.

The defensive numbers weren’t great in the 45-24 home win over Baylor on Nov. 12, 2016, but OU’s defense overcame those struggles by forcing three turnovers.

Two came on interceptions by linebacker Jordan Evans.

Near the end of the first quarter, Evans picked off Seth Russell just outside the end zone. The Sooners’ offense responded with an 11-play, 91-yard touchdown drive that put them up 21-0.

Evans nearly scored on his second interception, this one coming in the third quarter.

Instead, Evans was stopped at the Baylor 1 after a 23-yard gain and Samaje Perine ran in on the first play of the drive to put the Sooners up 35-10.

Mayfield threw for 300 yards and two touchdowns — both to Dede Westbrook.

Joe Mixon had a big day, with 124 yards and a touchdown on the ground and five catches for 63 yards through the air.

Perine ran for 100 yards and two scores.

NATHAN J FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN Baylor’s Blake Shapen, left, throws the ball as Oklahoma’s Reggie Grimes tries to block in the first quarter of last Saturday’s game at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman.