OU to ‘evaluate’ QBs after Arnold benched in loss

Dave Wilson, ESPN Staff WriterSep 22, 2024, 02:57 AM ET

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Dave Wilson is a college football press reporter. He formerly operated at The Dallas Early Morning News, San Diego Union-Tribune and Las Vegas Sun.NORMAN, Okla.– No. 15 Oklahoma still hasn’t discovered its offensive footing this season, and during a 25-15 loss to No. 6 Tennessee on Saturday, an annoyed Brent Venables made a switch at quarterback, benching Jackson Arnold for freshman Michael Hawkins Jr.The offending troubles sank Oklahoma’s very first SEC game, and Venables stated after the contest that the Sooners (3-1) are going to” examine “the position and” figure out who the best guy is to get us to No. 4, discover our fourth win.”The Sooners travel to Auburn next week then deal with No. 1 Texas on Oct. 12 after a bye.Arnold, the No. 3 overall possibility in the 2023 ESPN 300, won the task this spring

following the transfer of Dillon Gabriel to Oregon. But he struggled in the first half, going 7-of-16 with 54 passing backyards and an interception before the Sooners made the switch to Hawkins in the 2nd quarter, who finished 11-of-18 for 132 lawns and a touchdown.Editor’s Picks 2 Related The Sooners ‘very first four drives of the 2nd quarter netted -28 lawns with 2 fumbles by

Arnold, both on the first play following turnovers by Tennessee, including one at the Volunteers 6-yard line. On another, following a fumble required by a Trace Ford sack of Nico Iamaleava, Venables stated Arnold made the wrong continue reading a run-pass choice on the following play.Arnold kept the ball and threw to his left behind the line of scrimmage, but the ball avoided, was ruled a fumble and was recovered after a 21-yard loss by Tennessee’s Jakobe Thomas.” We come right back and have a lateral behind the line on an RPO that the read is run it all day,”Venables stated.”We do not have any backwards RPOs.

“The Sooners defense required a punt on the next drive, however the Volunteers pinned Oklahoma on the 4-yard line. The Sooners had an incorrect start that backed them approximately the 2, and then Jovantae Barnes was stuffed in completion zone for a safety. “That’s 12 points in a game like that,”Venables said.” Every point matters. Just didn’t feel good. There was inadequate other evidence that we’ll be just great. “Oklahoma failed to score a touchdown in the first half at home for the very first time given that a 30-13 loss to Notre Dame in 2012, according to ESPN Research, and Arnold was 1-of-6 for 12 backyards and an interception on passes tossed 10 or more lawns.”Truly a bad half of football, “Venables stated.”So obviously we made a change there. Simply felt like we needed to. Quit 12 points off of turnovers there in the first half.” Hawkins, a real freshman from Frisco, Texas, played the remainder of the way, confessing to butterflies in his very first extended playing time in front of 84,071 fans before settling in.”I felt pretty comfy simply getting those drives going and then finally getting points on the board, “stated Hawkins, who tossed a two-yard touchdown pass to Barnes after a 10-play, 68-yard drive with 8:25 left in the fourth quarter.He provided the Sooners life with his legs, leading the team with 22 hurrying backyards, when Tennessee’s pass rush pressured Oklahoma on 49% of its 45 dropbacks, the highest pressure rate the Sooners have actually enabled over the previous 5 years, according to ESPN Research. Both quarterbacks combined to go 2-of-12 for 14 backyards under pressure.First-year offensive planner Seth Littrell shared Venables’frustration after the game, taking duty for the struggles and miscommunications and stating he was going to get back to work at finding the right option.

“They’re both young [quarterbacks] that’ve got to continue to mature, “Littrell stated.”I’m searching for a guy who can handle the game, that can perform at a high level, and once again, I’m not saying that about anyone. I’m going to evaluate it for myself tomorrow. It starts with me.”Venables stated he just requires his quarterback to”carry out the fundamentals of our offense consistently,” which he said is not really made complex.”We’ve got a good enough group to still have an actually good year,”Venables said. “You got a great deal of football in

front of us, however we got a great deal of improvement to make as well. And that goes without saying.”