Fixing problems is key to a strong finish for 2007

By Jake Trotter

Published: October 13, 2007

NORMAN — Tonight, the college football world will find out if unbeaten Missouri is a paper tiger.

Likely, however, it'll take more than just one game to find out if Oklahoma's national championship aspirations are a paper tiger, too.

Like everyone else — including LSU — the Sooners have flaws, far outnumbered by OU's many strengths.

But it's those few shortcomings — like Ohio State's lack of perimeter speed last season — that will make a difference in January.

OU's first six opponents have revealed three flaws. How the Sooners deal with them will determine OU's bowl fate:

OU has two outstanding running backs and an outstanding offensive line.

So why can't OU run at will?

It's puzzling, especially when defenses like Colorado remain in cover two, a scheme designed to stop Malcolm Kelly and the pass.

Against Texas, Allen Patrick had just 13 yards on 10 carries by halftime.

Part of the solution lies not with the offensive line, but with the tight ends and receivers.

Offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said the tight ends didn't block well at Colorado, one of the reasons no Sooner back rushed for more than 100 yards for the only time this season.

When they block well — for example, Joe Jon Finley's clear-out block on DeMarco Murray's 65-yard touchdown — the Sooners tend to run more effectively.

To keep Missouri's explosive offense off the field, OU will need to control time of possession by running the ball for all four quarters, not just a half.

OU defensive coordinator Brent Venables is committed to stopping the run, and his players have embraced that mantra.

But inexperience at linebacker and safety has left open seams down the middle of the field for quarterbacks to pick apart.

Texas quarterback Colt McCoy exploited OU's linebackers overplaying the run with 175 yards passing to streaking tight ends.

Tulsa scored twice over the top; Colorado scored its game-tying touchdown by throwing over Marcus Walker to a receiver Walker thought was coming in on a crack block.

OU's back seven players can't get sucked into stuffing the run so much that they overlook preventing big pass plays.

This should come with more game experience for players like linebackers Curtis Lofton and Ryan Reynolds, and safeties D.J. Wolfe and Lendy Holmes, all starting their respective positions for the first time.

"Some of it is me,” Venables said. "Some their inexperience.”

Tonight, OU must be alert because it's facing the best playmaking offense on the schedule.

And the Tigers can score in a variety of ways.

Missouri is 24th in the country in rushing (199.0 yards per game), fifth in passing (357.6), fourth in total offense (556.6) and 11th in scoring (41.8 points per game).

The Sooners were supposed to excel at specials teams. But that hasn't happened in all phases.

On punt returns, OU hasn't provided enough running lanes for Reggie Smith.

OU is just a block or two away from springing Smith loose for the big play that is yet to happen.

Kicker Garrett Hartley, once a Groza Award candidate, has missed two field goals inside 40 yards and three extra points.

Bob Stoops said earlier in the week that coaches are working on refining Hartley's mechanics, which apparently have deteriorated from last season.

"He's fine physically. Hopefully he'll hit it better,” Bob Stoops said. "There's some things we're working on this week, as far as filming him to make sure his technique hasn't strayed a little.”

Like at Colorado, tonight's game could come down to a field goal. If so, OU will need Hartley to return to his clutch ways.

How OU improves in these areas — run blocking, pass defense and special teams — will determine if these Sooners are for real.

And if their national championship dreams are, too.

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