Five Takeaways From the Sooner Football Loss to Texas

Oct 10, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) throws in the pocket against the Texas Longhorns during Red River rivalry at Cotton Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Baker Mayfield Cannot Do It All

Statistically, Baker Mayfield’s performance against Texas was fine. Mayfield was 20 for 28 for 211 yards and a touchdown, completing 71 percent of his passes and garnering a 146 quarterback rating. Not a bad day, at least by the numbers.

But there is more to an analysis of Mayfield’s performance than just statistics. In the face of a ferocious Texas pass rush, Mayfield spent most of the day running away from pressure. Many times, Mayfield simply tucked the ball and ran when he couldn’t immediately find an open receiver, instead of extending plays with his feet and waiting for someone to get open. On many of those plays, Texas defenders tackled Mayfield for little to negative yardage.

Back to statistics for a moment: It is telling that in Mayfield’s two least productive games – against Tennessee and Texas – he averaged six yards per attempt. In his best games, Mayfield’s yards per attempt more than doubled, to over 12 yards per attempt. Clearly, Texas did a masterful job of neutralizing Baker Mayfield’s ability to extend plays and complete passes for long gains. Moving forward, Lincoln Riley will have to figure out a way to keep Mayfield from having to constantly run for his life and get him into a rhythm. One solution will fall on Mayfield’s shoulders. He is going to have to get rid of the ball faster.

Next: Lincoln Riley Wilts in the Limelight