Stormin in Norman
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Oklahoma football: Defense must show up if OU is to win at Baylor

By Chip Rouse

NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 29: Quarterback Charlie Brewer #12 of the Baylor Bears scrambles against the Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 29, 2018 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated Baylor 66-33. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 29: Quarterback Charlie Brewer #12 of the Baylor Bears scrambles against the Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 29, 2018 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated Baylor 66-33. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
(Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

Keys for an Oklahoma victory

The Sooners continue to lead the country on offense (587.3 yards per game), with a No. 1 ranking in yards per play (9.3), yards per pass attempt (12.6) and passing efficiency (210.2) and No. 2 in scoring offense (48.4) and rushing yards per play (6.9).

Quarterback Jalen Hurts, a Heisman contender as well as semifinalist for the Maxwell and Davey O’Brien Awards, is the main cog in the OU offense, completing 73 percent of his passes for 2,742 yards, 24 touchdowns and four interceptions. He is also the Sooners ‘ leading rusher with 869 yards and 15 touchdowns. In all, Hurts has accounted for 39 of Oklahoma’s 55 touchdowns this season.

While Hurts is the one who commands most of the headlines, what makes his 2019 performance so extraordinary is the wide array of playmakers and talent on offense that surrounds him. Junior wide receiver CeeDee Lamb has been on a roll in recent weeks. His 13 receiving touchdowns ranks No. 2 nationally, and he is ninth among FBS players with 109.2 receiving yards per game. Lamb ranks second in school history with 22 catches of 40 or more yards. The Baylor defense is going to have to locate Lamb on Saturday if it is going to slow down the Sooners.

Passing is but one of the weapons Oklahoma hopes to unleash on Saturday at Baylor. The Sooners will be without the services of running back Trey Sermon, who is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury, which means that Kennedy Brooks, who averages a Big 12-best 8.2 yards per carry, will be asked to carry most of the load in the run game. But he will have ample backup with Rhamondre Stevenson and sophomore T.J. Pledger, and let’s not forget, there is also Hurts to content with.

The Sooners want to be able to establish their running game to set up the explosive Air Raid aspect of the offense. This will be a big challenge against Baylor’s strong defensive line.

The difference maker for Oklahoma in this game will not be how well the offense plays, rather whether the Sooner defense can get off the field on third down and hold down Baylor on the scoreboard, two things Alex Grinch’s defensive unit has not shown the ability to do in the last two games.

Oklahoma has given up 14 touchdowns, 89 points and allowed 903 yards of offense in splitting consecutive games against Kansas State and Iowa State, two of the Big 12’s better teams.

That can’t happen this week against Baylor if the Sooners are going to win.

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