The defense passed the first thing resembling a pressure-packed test in the fourth quarter when faced with a short field following an Oklahoma turnover. OU forced two three-and-outs on the Cougars' opening two possessions, which is something that hasn't happened since November. That defense was nowhere to be seen for much of the victory over Houston. Read more Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts smiles after the win over the Steelers at Lincoln Financial Field.
His childhood years spent on the east side of Houston define him. That's especially the case after considering that the Sooners allowed 54 points to Georgia and 45 points to Alabama, respectively, in the last two CFP losses. Its a homecoming for Jalen Hurts as the Eagles visit NRG Stadium to play the Texans on Thursday. If the defense plays like that again, it is difficult to envision Oklahoma as a challenger for a national title, even with Hurts. The Sooners hired him this offseason after his time at Washington State and Ohio State the past four campaigns, and they presented him with a defense that was 108th nationally in yards allowed per game and 96th in points per game last year. Passing the first test is a sign of things to come for a new-look group under defensive coordinator Alex Grinch. Last couple years it often felt like they played tentative. Stewart Mandel getting after it on defense. One of those starters was dual-threat quarterback D'Eriq King, who scored 50 total touchdowns in 2018 and has the shiftiness to make even power-conference defenders miss. The Cougars may be in the American Athletic Conference, but they finished fifth nationally in points per game last season (43.9) and returned a number of key starters. Giving up 31 points doesn't necessarily jump off the page for a defense, but there is plenty of context required for Oklahoma's matchup with Houston. Oklahoma Defense Flashes Potential to Be Vastly Upgraded in 2019 Hurts had an answer every time Houston seized even the slightest momentum and set the stage for yet another Oklahoma Heisman run under Riley.
The Big 12 isn't known for a daunting gauntlet of defenses either, so the stats will be there all season. The games will get bigger for Hurts at Oklahoma, but the combination of his arm strength and the running back skill set isn't going anywhere. He ties Jamelle Holieway's performance in 1985 against Kansas. Cliff Brunt to Oklahoma Sports Information, Jalen Hurts' 128 yards rushing matches a school record for a QB in a first half.
0 kommentar(er)
