The Oklahoma defense better be ready for everything and the kitchen sink Malzahn's no-huddle offensive attack has Tulsa running around like its hair is on fire Malzahn's no-huddle offensive attack has Tulsa running around like its hair is on fire
T ULSA — Brigham Young coach Bronco Mendenhall claims Tulsa pulled a fast one on his squad Saturday, saying trick plays contributed heavily to the Golden Hurricane's 55-47 win.
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"There were a number of trick plays and gadget plays and change-of-direction plays that worked,” Mendenhall, also the team's defensive coordinator, told reporters this week.
Except here's the real trick: All that, the gadgetry and misdirection, that isn't anything Tulsa drummed up for the Cougars. That's Gus Malzahn's offense.
"We just try to do everything we can to win games and put as many points on the board as we can,” said Malzahn, TU's first-year offensive coordinator.
Everything and anything.
And Mendenhall should have known as much, not so much from Malzahn's one controversial season at Arkansas a year ago, but from Malzahn's past.
Malzahn wrote the book, well, a book — literally — on the hurry-up, no-huddle offense while a head coach, piling up state high school championships in Arkansas. Now he's brought his philosophy on offense, which has been admiringly referred to as "recess,” to Tulsa.
Where Malzahn's approach was shackled with the Razorbacks, it's been embraced and encouraged by TU coach Todd Graham.
And if last Saturday is any indication, it's going to at least be entertaining on old Skelly Field and wherever the Golden Hurricane tread this season in Conference USA.
The Hurricane, who host No. 4-ranked Oklahoma on Friday night, piled up 595 total yards against BYU. Quarterback Paul Smith posted career bests passing with 454 yards and five touchdowns.
Inside those numbers, however, was a scheme that featured an array of possibilities.
The chance for a reverse existed on almost every snap, with wide receivers routinely circling the backfield. Linebacker Chris Chamberlain has appeared in the backfield, taking a direct snap against BYU and romping for an 8-yard gain on one play. Backup quarterback David Johnson, wearing No. 28 for the BYU game, fired a 36-yard completion off a reverse from a wide receiver spot. Smith lined up at wideout on another play.
Malzahn guessed that of TU's 70 snaps, more than half featured different plays and/or formations.
"Our goal is to keep defenses off balance,” Malzahn said. "You do that by misdirection in the run-pass game. You do it by different formations.
"We felt like we had to throw it all out there to win.”
Malzahn has the Sooners' attention.
OU's defense has dominated during a 3-0 start, but their victims were overmatched. North Texas and Utah State presented few challenges, and Miami was bogged down by inept quarterback play.
"From a complexity standpoint, it's gonna be 10-fold from what we've seen,” said Sooner defensive coordinator Brent Venables. "They've got a very good philosophy, a very good scheme, a good structure and very good players executing it, as much as anything.”
Smith, the trigger man, said running Malzahn's attack has presented its own set of challenges.
Now that he's got a feel for it, though, it's just like when he was a kid — "recess” is fun time.
"It's a blast,” Smith said. "I don't want to jinx myself, but I feel like I play best under pressure. I feel like I play best when the lights are on. When you send a play in and you've got about three seconds to snap it, run it, execute it... whether it be a fake punt and a pass or whether it be a deep throw down the field or whether it be just a handoff, I've got to be able to respond in a moment's notice.
"That's what this offense can do. That just makes it fun for me.”
Fun for everybody.
Trae Johnson, a true freshman wideout from Grand Prairie, Texas, said he was lured by the promise of Malzahn's offense.
"It was major,” said Johnson, who has caught a touchdown pass in each of TU's two games. "Just being able to spread it out like that, run all over, run vertical and do things that receivers dream about.
"It's a whole lot like playing backyard football. It's like our hair's on fire, the way we're running around.”
Whatever it takes.
Graham, whose history is on the defensive side of the ball, couldn't help but shake his head in admiration of his offense after the BYU game.
"I think that's pretty entertaining offense to watch,” Graham said. "That's what I like.”
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Oops, so much for the Miami offense sucking. Maybe OU's defense is that good. All Venerables has to do is have the safety spy the QB and have the corners stay home. TU will do a lot of running but go nowhere.
I am glad you post a spelling bee champion as the most recent post on this article. It sets the tone for the previous comments from Sooner fans. Geaux Hurricanes!
I am glad you post a spelling bee champion as the most recent post on this article. It sets the tone for the previous comments from Sooner fans. Geaux Hurricanes!
I am glad you post a spelling bee champion as the first post on this article. It sets the tone for the following comments from Sooner fans. Geaux Hurricanes!
I enjoy watching tulsa play and all the bell's and whistles.........I don't see anyone giving OU's defence the credit due them. Your high power offence isn't crap if your running for your life! Tulsa is going to face the best defence they see this year. Cut dry, end of sentence.
"and Miami was bogged down by inept quarterback play."
Neither Freeman nor Wright were the reason that Miami's offense was so inept. A porous offensive line coupled with horrendous play calling doomed Miami. Steve Young would have looked bad. When you have an experienced mobile QB, why just leave him in the pocket to get creamed? Sprints, rollouts and moving the pocket would buy Wright more time while getting him out into space where his legs could also make plays. Miami's offensive troubles against OU was not the lack of talent; it was weak coaching on the offensive side of the ball.
Glad to hear TU fans are happy. Lucky for OU, football is played on two sides of the ball. Tulsa will give OUr defense a nice test but Oklahoma will control the game with their running game. BOOMER SOONER!
I won't say " I told you so" but, I TOLD YOU SO!
I watched this guy do this at every level he coached in and it works--He can take an average athlete and make him look like superman if he buys into the concept.
Tulsa offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn helped the Hurricane to 595 total yards, and quarterback Paul Smith posted career bests passing with 454 yards and five touchdowns against BYU. BY MATT STRASEN, THE OKLAHOMAN
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Thank you for joining our conversations on NewsOK.com. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.
Leave a comment. Log in below or sign up (it's free).Editor's note: It is not our intent to offer comments on crime or fatality stories.
Neither Freeman nor Wright were the reason that Miami's offense was so inept. A porous offensive line coupled with horrendous play calling doomed Miami. Steve Young would have looked bad. When you have an experienced mobile QB, why just leave him in the pocket to get creamed? Sprints, rollouts and moving the pocket would buy Wright more time while getting him out into space where his legs could also make plays. Miami's offensive troubles against OU was not the lack of talent; it was weak coaching on the offensive side of the ball.
I watched this guy do this at every level he coached in and it works--He can take an average athlete and make him look like superman if he buys into the concept.