Sooners look to snap scoring slump vs. Kansas
NORMAN — D’Shawn Jamison didn’t even bother to look at Davis Beville.
Beville got the start for OU against Texas last Saturday in Dallas, although the redshirt junior quarterback spent a large part of the day lined up on the outside. The Sooners frequently turned to the wildcat package with Brayden Willis, Jalil Farooq, Eric Gray and Marcus Major all taking snaps.
The decision to run the wildcat subsequently banished Beville to an island along the sideline, where he broke out into a casual jog on every play and didn’t receive any attention from UT defenders, such as Jamison.
“I did feel like the wildcat stuff gave us a chance to create an advantage,” OU offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby said on Monday. “(I) felt like that was what was going to create an edge for us.”
OU still suffered a 49-0 loss, and it’s in danger of another embarrassing defeat if quarterback Dillon Gabriel isn’t able to suit up for the team’s home game against Kansas at 11 a.m. Saturday.
Gabriel is inching toward a return after entering concussion protocol in a Week 5 loss to TCU. OU head coach Brent Venables said Gabriel didn’t suffer any setbacks in the days leading up to the Texas game, and Gabriel could be seen warming up in pads and a helmet before kickoff.
“There’s nothing more important than being mindful of our players’ health,” Venables said. “But he actually felt great.”
If Gabriel can’t play against Kansas, OU will have to explore all of its options once again.
That much is certain after Beville delivered an unimpressive performance of 38 passing yards and one interception against Texas.
“Davis, you know, he wants a couple of things back,” Lebby said. “I think I could have done a better job of creating a little bit of rhythm for him and a couple of things that maybe would have put him at ease a little bit.”
The wildcat package remains an option for the Sooners.
The biggest beneficiary of that formation is Farooq, who ran the ball five times for 60 yards against Texas. The sophomore wide receiver also returned four kickoffs for 123 yards against TCU, making him one of OU’s more dynamic playmakers.
“He’s been good when the ball has been in his hands,” Lebby said of Farooq. “He has to continue to stress and strain as we continue to try to get him the football.”
OU also has a few options outside of Beville in the quarterback department. The Sooners opted to turn to Nick Evers for the final drive of their loss to the Longhorns.
The four-star freshman didn’t reinvent the wheel. He handed the ball off to running back Jovantae Barnes twice and threw an incomplete pass to Gavin Freeman for a quick three-and-out.
Still, Evers has the highest ceiling in OU’s quarterback room. He also appears to have earned more trust from Lebby than junior-college transfer General Booty, who has yet to play this season.
“Nick (Evers) has done some really good things,” Lebby said. “He’s put himself in a situation to be right in the mix as well. That’s why I wanted to get him some reps, get him a little bit of time out there to create that experience for him.”
Regardless of who handles snaps for OU, the team is intent on snapping its scoring slump.
“We have to do whatever it takes to find a way to score points,” Lebby said. “I think all those guys understood that in the room. They’re great teammates and incredibly unselfish. They want to do whatever is best for the football team. Getting them to that point was important for us, and those guys have stayed true to that.”
Pulling punches
Willis saw nothing but open field in front of him.
OU trailed late in the first quarter of its 55-24 loss to TCU on Oct. 1, when the fifth-year tight end caught a pass from Gabriel and sprinted along the sideline. Willis was finally chased down, but not before he reached the Horned Frogs’ 1yard line for a gain of 78 yards.
That was the last time the Sooners completed a pass of more than 20 yards.
OU failed to surpass that benchmark in its most recent loss to Texas.
This extends its drought to seven quarters.
“The last two weeks, the biggest frustration ... we’ve created no explosive plays in the throw game, which has not been us ever,” Lebby said. “That’s something we’ve got to get better at.”
OU has been reluctant to let it fly during Gabriel’s absence.
Beville has gone 13-for-28 through the air for 88 yards and an interception during that time. His longest completion has been for just 16 yards.
This has left few opportunities for OU’s playmaking wide receivers, and the biggest example is Marvin Mims. The junior wideout caught one pass for minus-2 yards against Texas.
“With the flow of the game, and the way things worked out, those guys not getting many opportunities is how it played out and part of the situation we were in,” Lebby said of Mims and the receivers.
Rejuvenated Jayhawks
Regardless of who is at quarterback for OU, its offense will be tested by Kansas’ defensive line on Saturday.
The Jayhawks are tied for the most sacks (16) in the Big 12, and they’re led by Lonnie Phelps. The redshirt junior defensive end boasts six sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss.
Kansas’ defense is a far cry from the group that surrendered an average of 486.9 yards per game last season. It’ll look to cause problems for an OU offense that already has a list of in-house issues to address.
“This is a group that’s playing with a ton of confidence,” Lebby said of Kansas’ defense. “It jumps off the tape. Those guys have done an unbelievable job creating belief and energy and juice. And they’re playing with it right now.”