Oklahoma football: What happens to uptempo offense?

Two big questions from OU fans after the Notre Dame game. Why not more uptempo, and why not abandon the running game, which largely was ineffective, in favor of the passing game, which at times was effective.

The two questions are not unrelated.

OU’s uptempo offense had some nice moments, early in the game and again early in the third quarter. But the Sooners scaled it back in the middle of drives.

And Bob Stoops said receiver fatigue was a major reason why. He pointed out that the receiver run 50 yards or more on some plays – running their routes, then sprinting back to the line of scrimmage. Do that three or four times in a row, and receivers are gassed.

“If you sub for them, everything stops,” Stoops said. “If you don’t, they’re running 50 yards each play. There’s only so much that you can do.”

OK, so why was the OU uptempo offense under Sam Bradford so more effective?

Well, here’s a reason. The Sooners with Bradford could run the ball better than the Landry Jones Sooners. Blocking for Sammy B. was Phil Loadholt, Duke Robinson and Jon Cooper. Even with Landry, the Sooner running game looks good when used three or four straight plays.

So OU could extend the uptempo by running more. Four or five straight pass plays puts the uptempo near the end of its string.