Oklahoma’s offensive line had a resurgent yr in 2022.
New offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby took cost desirous to lean on the run sport, and Bill Bedenbaugh’s unit delivered.
The Sooners changed a pair of 2021 starters in Marquis Hayes and Tyrese Robinson, and barely missed a beat.
OU’s dashing assault completed ranked No. 10-overall within the nation, averaging 219.4 yards per sport, and operating again Eric Gray posted the ninth-best season on the bottom in program historical past operating behind the regular unit up entrance.
Bedenbaugh’s offensive line helped the Sooners end as the highest dashing offense within the Big 12 regardless of having to make use of a couple of totally different faces up entrance.
2022 OU Report Cards:
- Wednesday, Jan. 4: Defensive Ends
- Thursday, Jan. 5: Offensive Line
- Friday, Jan. 6: Defensive Tackles
- Saturday, Jan. 7: Tight Ends
- Sunday, Jan. 8: Linebackers
- Monday, Jan. 9: Wide Receivers
- Tuesday, Jan. 10: Cornerbacks
- Wednesday, Jan. 11: Running Backs
- Thursday, Jan. 12: Safeties
- Friday, Jan. 13: Quarterbacks
- Saturday, Jan. 14: Special Teams
- Sunday, Jan. 15: Coaching Staff
Right sort out Wanya Morris missed the primary two video games fo the season, and TCU switch Tyler Guyton stuffed in admirably.
The redshirt sophomore flashed elite athleticism on the correct aspect of OU’s offensive line, additionally stepping in to contribute within the common season finale towards Texas Tech and OU’s 35-32 Cheez-It Bowl loss to Florida State.
Tyler Guyton (60) began 4 video games for the Sooners at offensive sort out this season, together with OU’s remaining two video games of the yr
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Oklahoma additionally pulled off a key Bedlam victory to clinch bowl eligibility with out beginning heart Andrew Raym.
The Broken Arrow product missed the ultimate three video games of the yr, shutting down his season after Bedlam resulting from surgical procedure, and veteran Robert Congel took the helm.
Since successful the Joe Moore Award, the trophy handed out yearly to the very best offensive line within the nation, in 2018, the Sooners have been chasing down these heights.
Oklahoma took a small step again in 2019 earlier than disappointing by Bedenbaugh’s requirements in 2020 and 2021.
The return of power and conditioning coach Jerry Schmidt appeared to assist on the level of assault, as Oklahoma was in a position to enhance its dashing yards per sport by 31.4 yards per sport this yr.
OU was particularly dominant up entrance in wins over Nebraska and Kansas this yr, dashing for 312 yards and 298 yards respectfully within the pair of victories.
There had been nonetheless holes in cross safety, nevertheless.
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Oklahoma allowed 2.38 sacks per sport in 2022, which was tied for No. 81-overall within the nation.
Early on, Lebby positioned some blame on quarterback Dillon Gabriel for holding onto the ball too lengthy, however there have been nonetheless psychological errors that allowed free cross rushers via late within the season.
Oklahoma’s offensive line was additionally nonetheless plagued with psychological errors at key factors in drives this yr.
The line was referred to as for 4 false begins towards Kansas State, together with a pair of back-to-back calls that turned a fourth-and-1 right into a fourth-and-9, turning a possible gamble to go for it right into a 41-yard area aim.
Raym was flagged for a private foul simply earlier than the half towards Baylor that pressured the Sooners right into a 55-yard area aim try that Zach Schmit missed.
Another false begin turned a fourth-and-1 within the first half towards West Virginia right into a fourth-and-6 (which the Sooners didn’t covert), and one other false begin put OU behind the chains in Lubbock on what changed into a primary half area aim drive.
Perhaps essentially the most encouraging efficiency for the way forward for the unit got here within the finale towards Florida State.
Down each starter save McKade Mettauer, Oklahoma posted 496 yards of complete offense towards the Seminoles, together with 253 yards on the bottom.
The Sooners are going to have to interchange loads of manufacturing alongside the road in 2023, however the returns from one yr underneath Schmidt and Lebby will present optimism as Bedenbaugh breaks in a brand new unit this upcoming spring.
Grading the offensive line:
- Hoover: A-
- Chapman: A-
- Callaway: A-
- Lovelace: B+
Offensive line GPA: 3.6 (A- on a 4.0 scale)
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