As the Sooners head to Ames to tackle Iowa State this weekend, a 4-3 file shouldn’t be what the workforce had in thoughts popping out of the bye week. There are many alternative causes that issue into Oklahoma’s sluggish begin on the sector, however accidents undoubtedly depend as one.
After Dillon Gabriel went down, the quarterback place was clearly the best gap to level to on the workforce. In the identical sport that Gabriel went down with a concussion, although, the Sooners misplaced security Billy Bowman too. Bowman is arguably simply as necessary on the opposite aspect of the ball.
“We miss a really good player that makes plays, that communicates well, that’s one of our best players,” defensive coordinator Ted Roof mentioned Monday. “That’s part of the game.”
When Gabriel returned, the offense instantly seemed again in sync. The Sooners scored 52 factors in opposition to Kansas behind a balanced assault. Even although he’s struggled with accuracy at occasions this season, it’s clear the influence he has on the offense.
The protection, nonetheless, hasn’t fairly appeared to determine issues out simply but with out Bowman.
Bowman hasn’t performed a snap because the first quarter of the TCU sport and has been nursing a nagging knee harm. The Sooners and Bowman averted the worst, injury-wise, however Oklahoma’s protection has been hurting on the sector with out him. The unit has given up greater than 40 factors in every of the previous 4 weeks, and the secondary has repeatedly been torched by the Big 12’s proficient vast receivers.
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The good news, although, is that it seems like Bowman is predicted on the sector someday quickly. After Gabriel’s return jump-started the offense, Bowman’s return may tie issues collectively and assist the Sooners end out the season respectably. There are nonetheless loads of large video games left on the schedule.
“We’re hopeful he will get back sooner rather than later,” Brent Venables mentioned in his Tuesday press convention. “As of today, we don’t have an exact date for his return. He’s running around and trying to get in shape and have the kind of stability that he needs and the confidence that goes along with that too.”
It feels like his standing for the subsequent few weeks continues to be up in the air, as Venables was cautious about Bowman’s return. But the truth that Bowman is again at apply and operating round must be a terrific signal for the Sooners.
To put issues in perspective, the sophomore security has performed simply three video games and one quarter of soccer this season. He ranks third on the workforce in solo tackles at 22, tied for first on the workforce in passes deflected at 4, and has recorded one of many Sooners’ two fumble recoveries on the season.
Adding him again into the lineup anytime quickly could be a large win for the Oklahoma protection. It additionally could not come at a greater time.
“As you progress through that rehab, you continually push the limits, if you will, and start to do more and more things that are football-like,” Venables mentioned. “He’s starting to get more comfortable with that.”
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