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Coach Speak: Oklahoma Focused on Corralling QB Run Game, Want to 'Mix it Up' With Arnold

Oklahoma offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby and defensive coordinator Ted Roof previewed the Sooners' Big 12 opener with Cincinnati on Monday.

Ryan Chapman

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NORMAN — Oklahoma is on to Cincinnati.

The No. 16-ranked Sooners (3-0) will once again take their show on the road, as the Bearcats (2-1) are excited to host the program’s first Big 12 game.

OU rolled Tulsa 66-17 in its final non-conference test of 2023, but everyone in Norman is intent on proving this year’s unblemished start is different from the 3-0 run Brent Venables’ ripped off in 2022.

Offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby and defensive coordinator Ted Roof held their weekly press conferences on Monday to preview the trip to Cincinnati:

Hey Arnold!

FB - Jackson Arnold, SMU Mustangs
Oklahoma's short yardage package with backup quarterback Jackson Arnold has sputtered so far.  :: SARAH PHIPPS / THE OKLAHOMAN-USA TODAY NETWORK

The unnamed Jackson Arnold package simply hasn’t worked against SMU and Tulsa.

Oklahoma’s true freshman carried the ball four times for 11 yards against the Mustangs, and didn’t get a yard on his single carry last Saturday against Tulsa.

He also passed out of the short yardage package, pelting tight end Blake Smith with a fastball that ricocheted to the turf at H.A. Chapman Stadium.

Still, Lebby maintained that the coaching staff will work to find ways to include Arnold in the game plan.

“We’ll continue to find ways to mix it up and put him in positions of success when he’s in the game,” Lebby said. “The other day, looking back, wish I would’ve done maybe a couple of different things with him in there.

“Felt good about the two things we had in the game plan, which were obviously the ones that got up, but again, we’ll find ways to put him in positions of success moving forward.”

In mop up duty against Arkansas State and Tulsa, Arnold has flashed all the potential of his 5-star billing out of high school.

He connected with Nic Anderson for a 50-yard strike against the Golden Hurricane in his first normal snap at quarterback, but there’s still work to do to get the short yardage package off the ground.

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Corralling Emory

FB - Cincinnati Bearcats, Emory Jones
The OU defense will have to stay disciplined to keep Cincinnati quarterback Emory Jones in the pocket :: Carter Skaggs / The Enquirer-USA TODAY NETWORK

Tulsa quarterback Cardell Williams provided a different look on Saturday.

Replacing Roman Fuller, who started the game by throwing three first quarter interceptions, Williams was able to use his feet behind the line of scrimmage to hurt the OU defense.

Williams led the Golden Hurricane offense on three straight scoring drives after entering the game before Oklahoma adjusted.

“He had more mobility than their starter so certainly an adjustment,” Roof said. “The quarterback run game was in play. You have to take all those things into consideration when you’re preparing to make those adjustments during the course of the game.”

The Sooners will get a similar look from the jump against Cincinnati.

College football journeyman Emory Jones leads the Bearcats attack, and he’s shown he has the ability to hurt defenses with his feet in his previous stops at Florida and Arizona State.

“He’s really mobile. Explosive,” Roof said. “Makes explosive plays with both his arm and his feet. He’s not just a running quarterback. He’s a guy that can read coverages and throw it. And he throws it accurately. Strong arm can make all the throws.

“And on top of that, the athleticism, the ability to tuck it down and run to extend plays with his feet. So defensively that presents a lot of problems and that’s something from a contain standpoint we’ve got to limit his area of operation.”

Venables and Roof were able to enact the correct adjustments in Tulsa to shut down the Golden Hurricane offense in the third and fourth quarters, and they’ll have all week to prepare the defense for four quarters of Jones.

Rapid Rotation

FB - Andrel Anthony, Tulsa Golden Hurricane
OU wide receiver Andrel Anthony joined Jalil Farooq and Nic Anderson in totaling over 100 yards receiving against Tulsa.  :: Nathan J. Fish / USA TODAY Sports

OU’s wide receiver depth was on full display last Saturday.

Three receivers — Jalil Farooq, Andrel Anthony and Anderson — all went over 100 yards on the day which is the first time a Sooner offense has had three pass catchers cross the century mark since Bedlam in 2012.

Ten different Oklahoma players caught passes against Arkansas State in Week 1, but the rotation tightened against SMU.

As conference play opens, Lebby hopes to continue to utilize all of the depth wide receivers coach Emmett Jones has built coming off a strong showing for the group against Tulsa.

The pace of the offense can make subbing difficult, but constant conversation throughout every possession can help both Lebby and Jones exploit matchups throughout Big 12 contests.

“Yeah, just through great communication on the headsets,” said Lebby, “from position coach to just me being upstairs to making sure we’re talking through when there is stoppage or when it is slowing down. Being able to roll guys and get guys in, being able to change personnel, change personnel throughout drives.

“On Saturday, when it slowed down, we had opportunities to do so. We’ll continue to look at that in the flow of it and in the middle of games.”

Cincinnati’s defensive front is the best unit Oklahoma’s offense has encountered so far. Lebby and the entire offensive staff hope a healthy rotation will simultaneously keep the Sooners fresh while wearing down the Bearcats this weekend. 

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Ryan Chapman
RYAN CHAPMAN

Ryan is managing editor at Sooners On SI and covers a number of sports in and around Norman and Oklahoma City. Working both as a journalist and a sports talk radio host, Ryan has covered the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma City Thunder, the United States Men’s National Soccer Team, the Oklahoma City Energy and more. Since 2019, Ryan has simultaneously pursued a career as both a writer and a sports talk radio host, working for the Flagship for Oklahoma sports, 107.7 The Franchise, as well as AllSooners.com. Ryan serves as a contributor to The Franchise’s website, TheFranchiseOK.com, which was recognized as having the “Best Website” in 2022 by the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters. Ryan holds an associate’s degree in Journalism from Oklahoma City Community College in Oklahoma City, OK. 

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