Ahead of Oklahoma’s season finale, OU’s most constant unit on the sector is instantly riddled with query marks.
A pair of decide outs and a season-ending surgical procedure imply the Sooner offensive line will face off towards the No. 13-ranked Florida State Seminoles with a trio of backups.
Both beginning tackles — Anton Harrison and Wanya Morris — are skipping the Cheez-It Bowl to get a head begin on NFL Draft prep.
Harrison and Morris have arguably been the offense’s finest gamers supporting operating again Eric Gray (who can be absent from the festivities in Orlando).
At the guts of the road, Oklahoma may also be with out middle Andrew Raym who was shut down after Bedlam to endure surgical procedure to get a bounce on winter exercises and spring soccer.
Thankfully for offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby and offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh, two of the three replacements aren’t whole unknowns for the Sooners.
Veteran Robert Congel will exchange Raym, simply as he did in OU’s remaining two common season video games towards Oklahoma State and Texas Tech.
Thursday’s contest with FSU will mark profession begin No. 22 for Congel, with 9 of these coming over the previous two years at Oklahoma after transferring in from Arizona.
At proper sort out, Tyler Guyton is anticipated to make his fifth begin of the 12 months in reserve of Morris.
The TCU switch stands a powerful 6-foot-7, additionally weighing in at 320 kilos.
Oklahoma is happy about Guyton’s future, as he assessments off the charts in a mix setting, and he’s had robust moments all through the 2022 season.
But a real freshman is in line to start out throughout from Guyton at left sort out.
Oklahoma highschool product Jacob Sexton is in line fill the opening left by Harrison, as he’s listed because the backup at left sort out.
Sexton has performed sparingly this season, and he’ll have a formidable welcome get together to big-time school soccer within the type of a gifted Florida State defensive position.
Venables was nicely conscious of the uphill battle OU shall be combating within the trenches, however was optimistic that the additional bowl practices would assist get the brand new items on top of things.
“The young offensive linemen, along with Tyler Guyton, we’ll have a good group of guys at tackle that will do a good job and looking for opportunity,” Venables stated throughout his preliminary Cheez-It Bowl press convention on Dec. 4. “They’ll have almost a spring ball’s worth of practices, give or take, to refine their skills and get ready for this game and have a great challenge.
“They’re going to get baptized quickly because Jared Verse is one of the premier defensive end pass rushers in all of college football. They’re going to have length and speed and experience everywhere on both sides of the ball.”
And Venables is correct. Verse is the face of a potent Seminole go rush as he’s hunted down opposing quarterbacks for 7.5 sacks this 12 months and totaled 41 tackles.
Add in Patrick Payton’s 4 sacks and three.5 sacks from defensive finish Derrick McLendon II and it’s simple to see why Florida State it tied for twentieth within the nation with 2.83 sacks per sport.
Deploying Congel and Guyton in Lubbock, OU allowed three sacks to a Texas Tech protection taking part in with out star go rusher Tyree Wilson.
In Orlando, Oklahoma should decelerate a greater Florida State defensive position taking part in at full power.
But no matter who gobbles up the snaps within the trenches, Lebby’s expectation is the offensive line will nonetheless carry out at a excessive stage.
Scroll to Continue
“The biggest thing is we have guys that are capable,” Lebby stated throughout his press convention in Orlando on Monday. “They have not played a bunch, but they are capable. We feel great about where we are at.
“[I] have a ton of confidence in the guys that are going to walk out there first on the 29th, guys that are going to go play and play their butt off and do everything they can to go fight for a win.”
Even with out Gray, a method the OU offense can try and mitigate the stress is thru the operating sport.
Florida State permits 148.3 yards per sport on the bottom, placing the Seminole protection in the midst of the pack nationally because the 62nd-best staff defending the run.
True freshman operating again Jovantae Barnes is unproven as a function again, however he flashed loads of potential this season for the Sooners.
Barnes’ finest displaying got here in Oklahoma’s 55-24 loss to the TCU Horned Frogs.
He was handed the ball 18 instances, and he bowled his approach by means of the TCU protection for 100 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Though the Sooners trailed, Barnes carried the load for a lot of the fourth quarter after Gray was withdrawn.
But Barnes’ momentum was derailed a couple of brief weeks after his popping out get together in Fort Worth.
He was restricted by the Texas protection within the Red River Shootout, and ran for 69 yards and two extra scores on 21 carries towards Kansas earlier than lacking the journey to Ames with a hamstring damage.
Down the house stretch of the common season, Barnes obtained a mixed 17 carries towards West Virginia, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech, that means he ought to have loads left within the tank for the Cheez-It Bowl.
Behind Barnes, Oklahoma’s backfield is stuffed with unknowns.
Tawee Walker has simply 18 carries for 62 yards on the 12 months, and true freshman Gavin Sawchuk has solely performed three snaps all 12 months.
If the offensive line can provide OU’s younger backfield just a little little bit of daylight, the Sooners might be able to hold Florida State at bay with a balanced assault.
Because although there are many new faces up entrance, the sport plan received’t change a lot for the Oklahoma offense.
“I think it is also a big opportunity for new guys and what they are going to be able to showcase in what they do,” OU quarterback Dillon Gabriel stated. “We truly have a next-man-up mentality, so just being ready for that and letting them seize the opportunity.”
For Oklahoma, the sport will possible need to be received off the left arm of Gabriel.
But the competition might actually be misplaced within the trenches if the Sooners’ patchwork offensive line can’t give Gabriel sufficient time to seek out receivers downfield in Orlando.
Oklahoma will discover out if the offensive line can reply the problem on Thursday, as kickoff between the Sooners and the Seminoles is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
Want to affix the dialogue? Click here to develop into a member of the AllSooners message board neighborhood right this moment!
Sign up to your premium membership to AllSooners.com right this moment, and get entry to the complete Fan Nation premium community!
Follow AllSooners on Twitter to remain updated on all the most recent OU news.
Get your OU tickets from SI Tickets HERE.
submit credit score to Source link