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NORMAN — In what has become a lost season for OU, barring a surprise finish, there are no shortage of problem areas for the Sooners in 2024.
Most of the issues have come on the offensive side.
Going into Week 12 action, the Sooners were No. 117 nationally in total offense at just 326.8 yards per game.
Last season’s team averaged nearly that (324.8 yards per game) through the air alone.
So with OU on a bye, we take a look at the five biggest things that have gone wrong for the Sooners this season and five ways they need to address their issues this offseason.
More: How OU football kicker Zach Schmit found perfection through accepting imperfection
Five things that went wrong for OU
1. Picking the wrong quarterback
Sooners coach Brent Venables said he didn’t know Dillon Gabriel would consider transferring to another college and didn’t know he would have a chance to convince Gabriel to stay.
But while the plan all along was for Gabriel to depart after the 2023 season and for Jackson Arnold to take over, Gabriel’s success should’ve had Venables and his staff doing everything they could to retain Gabriel.
With Gabriel, the Sooners would’ve been a more attractive option for offensive transfers, and could’ve helped cover some deficiencies in the offense.
Yes, it might’ve meant Arnold would’ve transferred but that’s the reality of college football these days, and Arnold could well leave after this season anyway.
The Sooners’ quarterback situation — and Gabriel’s success so far this season — is yet another indication that it’s better to stick with the known vs. the unknown.
— Ryan Aber, staff writer
2. Promoting Seth Littrell
This one goes hand-in-hand with the first.
Seth Littrell and Arnold had a strong relationship, so it made some sense for Venables to promote the offensive analyst to…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/whats-gone-wrong-ou-football-123107195.html
Author : The Oklahoman
Publish date : 2024-11-17 12:31:07
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