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Five Things Bob Stoops’ Sooners Must Do to Win at Houston

By Chip Rouse

Oct 3, 2015; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) looks to pass against the West Virginia Mountaineers in the second quarter at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 3, 2015; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) looks to pass against the West Virginia Mountaineers in the second quarter at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 31, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Houston Cougars quarterback Greg Ward Jr. (1) runs with the ball against the Florida State Seminoles in the third quarter of the 2015 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at the Georgia Dome. The Cougars won 38-24. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Houston Cougars quarterback Greg Ward Jr. (1) runs with the ball against the Florida State Seminoles in the third quarter of the 2015 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at the Georgia Dome. The Cougars won 38-24. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /

Don’t Let the Dual-Threat Houston QB Beat You

Spoiler alert: The Sooners historically have not played well against quarterbacks who are mobile and can beat you both throwing the ball as well as tucking it and taking off by foot. Houston senior quarterback Greg Ward Jr. presents that very problem for the Oklahoma defense.

Ward connected with his receivers for 2,828 passing yards last season and ran for an additional 1,108 yards. He was one of only two quarterbacks in the country a year ago to pass for 2,000-plus yards and exceed the 1,000 mark in rushing yards. The other was Deshaun Watson of Clemson, and Sooners fans are all-too-familiar of the havoc he caused for the Sooners in the College Football Playoff last season.

Ward is actually more dangerous when he gets out of the pocket and takes off with the football. Therefore, the Sooner defense needs to put pressure on him, keep him in the pocket and force him to get rid of the ball quicker than he wants to. OU will be infinitely better off forcing Ward to beat them by passing the football than allowing him to run around and create big-play opportunities.

The 5-foot, 10-inch, 165-pound Houston quarterback accounted for 281 yards of total offense per game in the Cougars’ 13-1 season a year ago. That was good for 27th best in the nation. (By comparison, OU’s Baker Mayfield was 13th nationally in that category, averaging 315.8 yards of total offense.)

Houston averaged 40.4 points a game last season with Ward at the controls of the offense. The Sooners can’t let that happen on Sept. 3 or they will begin the season 0-1.

Next: Don't Get Out-Coached

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