Oklahoma Football: Lincoln Riley’s Running Back Conundrum

Jan 2, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Trevor Knight (9) huddles with his team against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second quarter of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

The Offense Will Take Some Time to Get Up to Full Speed

Installing a new offensive system means there will be growing pains, especially early on in the season as the quarterback and receivers develop a rapport and work on their communication and timing. So, it wouldn’t be surprising at all to see Perine get plenty of touches early on in the season, especially if the passing offense sputters. After all, what better security blanket for an offensive coordinator still grooming his passing game than a running back of Perine’s pedigree?

Another reason why this might transpire early on – say, the first quarter of the season – is that OU rarely shows the full offense before the annual tangle with Texas. Again, this situation means a simplified offensive scheme where the running backs, with Perine at the forefront, get the bulk of the work.

Of course, there’s the matter of that visit to Knoxville the second week of the season; if the offense is sputtering when the Sooners meet the Vols, there will be much bigger worries than who’s getting the majority of the touches. If the passing game is not clicking, OU may have to lean heavily on Perine to get through that game unscathed.

Next: The Defense Will Improve…Right??