Oklahoma football: Film study shows Jalen Hurts can succeed at OU

2016 – 25-yard completion to Calvin Ridley vs. Auburn

Up by only one point in the waning minutes of the first half, the Crimson Tide faced a third-and-8 from its own 36 yard line. With a third-and-long situation, Auburn wisely chose to run a blanket zone defense and force the freshman to beat them with an accurate throw.  Hurts stood in the pocket and waited for Calvin Ridley to settle himself into a crack in the coverage. The pass required both touch and timing to work as Hurts floated the ball over the head of one defender while still putting enough zip on it to keep the safety over the top from being able to have time to come over and make a play. It was an NFL-caliber throw in a big rivalry game that kept the Crimson Tide on the field to drive for a field goal before the half. The Crimson Tide’s running game allowed them to keep their freshman quarterback out of a lot of high-pressure situations like this in 2016, but this was a time when they had put a crucial play on Hurts’ shoulders and he delivered with his arm.

2016 – 38-yard touchdown pass to ArDarius Stewart

The Crimson Tide found themselves in a crucial fourth-and-four with an 11-point lead and holding on to a 20-9 lead in the Iron Bowl. One might think the Tide would punt in that situation, pin the Tigers deep and bet on the defense that had held their rivals out of the end zone all game to this point, but the Bama coaching staff had enough trust in Hurts to roll the dice and go for it. Hurts rolled to his right on what looked to be a run-pass option play. With everyone covered he bought time, retreated and found Stewart with a perfectly-placed pass on a crossing route. Not only did Hurts thread the needle and hit his receiver between the defender and the sideline, his throw left enough room for Stewart to turn upfield and all of a sudden a nice 6-yard completion on fourth down turned into a 38-yard score. Yes, Stewart’s athleticism was a major part in the play breaking open, but that doesn’t happen without Hurts’ throw. Imagine Hurts making throws like that to the Sooners’ absolutely loaded receiving corps next year.