SoonerGrant
11/19/2008, 03:12 PM
There's no arguing that Sam Bradford is the central figure in Oklahoma's offense.
The strong-armed sophomore is the catalyst for the Sooners' fast-paced, no-huddle attack, which has produced more points than any other offense in the country this season. Bradford ranks among the top five in the nation in both passing yards (3,406) and passer rating (188.9), and he's thrown more touchdown tosses (38) than any other quarterback.
But Bradford, and OU's offense in general, probably wouldn't be nearly as explosive without such a productive running game. The Sooners rank second in the Big 12 Conference with nearly 195 rushing yards per game, and they've scored 30 touchdowns on the ground.
"I feel like our offense, we're at our best when we're balanced with the run game and pass game," said Bradford, whose No. 5 Sooners (9-1, 5-1 Big 12) host No. 2 Texas Tech (10-0, 6-0) on Saturday. "I think for us to establish the run game is going to be key for us."
There was a stretch earlier this season when the Sooners weren't able to do that. They rushed for only 25 yards on 36 carries in their final non-conference game against Texas Christian, and two weeks later, a feeble running game helped lead to OU's only loss. Texas held the Sooners to just 48 yards on 26 carries in a come-from-behind win on Oct. 11, and OU went without a rushing score for the only time this season.
Since then, however, the Sooners have been running the ball at will. They've racked up 1,000 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground in the last four games, with DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown both topping 100 yards in two of those contests.
In its last game two weeks ago against Texas A&M, OU churned out a season-high 328 rushing yards while passing for 325.
"It's just the fact that we challenge ourselves," said the 6-foot-1, 205-pound Murray, a speedy sophomore who was slow to fully recover from a knee injury suffered in last year's game against Texas Tech. "We have to help Sam, the receivers, the passing game and whatnot. We just have to keep being more physical at the line of scrimmage."
OU coach Bob Stoops said the running game, which benefits from a veteran offensive line that averages 6-5 and more than 300 pounds, is finally where he wants it to be. Murray and Brown, a 5-11, 210-pound junior, are the Big 12's third- and fourth-leading rushers, respectively. Murray has 804 yards and 11 touchdowns, and Brown has added 782 yards and 12 TDs.
Stoops hopes they can keep it up on Saturday, but he knows it will be a challenge. The Sooners' rushing struggles came against two of the nation's best rush defenses - TCU and Texas rank first and fourth, respectively - and Tech also has stuffed the run. The Red Raiders are allowing 107.4 rushing yards per game, which ranks second in the Big 12 and 20th in the country.
"It'll be tough again this week. They do a really good job up front," Stoops said. "But we hope to be able to execute it and have it be a strong factor in the way we move the ball."
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The strong-armed sophomore is the catalyst for the Sooners' fast-paced, no-huddle attack, which has produced more points than any other offense in the country this season. Bradford ranks among the top five in the nation in both passing yards (3,406) and passer rating (188.9), and he's thrown more touchdown tosses (38) than any other quarterback.
But Bradford, and OU's offense in general, probably wouldn't be nearly as explosive without such a productive running game. The Sooners rank second in the Big 12 Conference with nearly 195 rushing yards per game, and they've scored 30 touchdowns on the ground.
"I feel like our offense, we're at our best when we're balanced with the run game and pass game," said Bradford, whose No. 5 Sooners (9-1, 5-1 Big 12) host No. 2 Texas Tech (10-0, 6-0) on Saturday. "I think for us to establish the run game is going to be key for us."
There was a stretch earlier this season when the Sooners weren't able to do that. They rushed for only 25 yards on 36 carries in their final non-conference game against Texas Christian, and two weeks later, a feeble running game helped lead to OU's only loss. Texas held the Sooners to just 48 yards on 26 carries in a come-from-behind win on Oct. 11, and OU went without a rushing score for the only time this season.
Since then, however, the Sooners have been running the ball at will. They've racked up 1,000 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground in the last four games, with DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown both topping 100 yards in two of those contests.
In its last game two weeks ago against Texas A&M, OU churned out a season-high 328 rushing yards while passing for 325.
"It's just the fact that we challenge ourselves," said the 6-foot-1, 205-pound Murray, a speedy sophomore who was slow to fully recover from a knee injury suffered in last year's game against Texas Tech. "We have to help Sam, the receivers, the passing game and whatnot. We just have to keep being more physical at the line of scrimmage."
OU coach Bob Stoops said the running game, which benefits from a veteran offensive line that averages 6-5 and more than 300 pounds, is finally where he wants it to be. Murray and Brown, a 5-11, 210-pound junior, are the Big 12's third- and fourth-leading rushers, respectively. Murray has 804 yards and 11 touchdowns, and Brown has added 782 yards and 12 TDs.
Stoops hopes they can keep it up on Saturday, but he knows it will be a challenge. The Sooners' rushing struggles came against two of the nation's best rush defenses - TCU and Texas rank first and fourth, respectively - and Tech also has stuffed the run. The Red Raiders are allowing 107.4 rushing yards per game, which ranks second in the Big 12 and 20th in the country.
"It'll be tough again this week. They do a really good job up front," Stoops said. "But we hope to be able to execute it and have it be a strong factor in the way we move the ball."
http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/111908/spo_357554343.shtml