Oklahoma Sooners Offensive Players to Watch in Week 10 vs. Baylor
To say the Oklahoma Sooners have had an up-and-down season would be an understatement. Their three-game losing streak earlier in the year coincided with inconsistency on offense, highlighted by quarterback Dillon Gabriel's absence in the 49-0 loss to the Texas Longhorns.
The Sooners' defense has been bad all year long, but the offense has had some bright spots, even in losses. While being in the bottom third of the league in the category, the Sooners still average 33 points a game and are middle of the pack in the Big 12 in yards per game.
Notably, they looked to have changed their style a bit with Gabriel coming back from his head injury. They have taken the load off him a bit and have rushed for 480 yards in the last two games.
RB Eric Gray
Oklahoma's offense has found its footing again thanks in large part to running back Eric Gray. He has had a stout last two weeks, rushing for 101 yards against a tough Iowa State defense and cutting the Kansas Jayhawks into ribbons to the tune of 176 yards two weeks ago.
The Sooners have gone more ground and pound recently and there have certainly been times where the Bears have struggled against the run this year. That said, the Bears are still the best team in the Big 12 against the run. Gray vs. this Bears defense will be intriguing.
LT Anton Harrison
Yes, yes, watch a lineman! The Bears pass rush looked as good as it has all season in Saturday's win over Texas Tech, sacking Raider quarterbacks six times and picking them off five times, with those errant throws coming from collapsing pockets. They bullied Tech's left tackle Caleb Rogers to the point where he must have considered retirement.
Oklahoma can get some big plays in the play-action game if they at least try to run the ball as much as they have in their last two games. If that is the case, Gabriel is going to need far more time than Behren Morton got against the Bears. With Gabriel being a lefty, Harrison isn't protecting his blind side, but he is consistently the best lineman the Sooners have.
QB Dillon Gabriel
I, and I think many Sooners fans, still don't know what to make of Gabriel week to week. He might be 100% for the standard of 2022 Dillon Gabriel, but he is clearly not the passer he was for Lebby when they were both at UCF. He certainly has been decent and he has taken care of the ball, with 14 touchdowns to just a single interception, but his arm strength has come into question this year after another injury.
If Baylor can control the clock and play from out front, it will put a lot of pressure on Gabriel to keep pace, something Brent Venables and the Sooners have tried desperately to avoid the last few weeks and have finally found success.
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You can follow Cameron Stuart on Twitter @RealCamStuart
Covering Baylor for Inside The Bears and the Locked on Baylor podcast. You can follow me for more Baylor content at @realcamstuart on Twitter. Originally from Rockland, Massachusetts and a Baylor alum, so I might mix the occasional bias and/or Boston sports tweet in there every once in a while.