September 10, 2022 Issue, Page 4 of 12

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Sports 4 - The Elk City News September 10, 2022 OU football: Sooners offense Sooners’ offense looking to build after flashing shows versatility fast tempo against UTEP in win over UTEP Tarik Masri, The Norman Transcript “He creates versatility,” Oklahoma offensive Jesse Crittenden, The Norman Tran- While there’s always an emphasis on tem- coordinator Jeff Lebby said about Willis. “He’s script po, Lebby said it’s going to be important for Oklahoma’s offense took over for its second a versatile player and he’s a guy that we talked him and the offense going forward to know possession of the game inside its own 10-yard about in the locker room. The football Gods will —Since the beginning of spring practices, when to increase the tempo and when to slow the fast tempo of Jeff Lebby’s offense has been it down, line. take care of you and they'll reward you. ‘This a point of emphasis for Oklahoma. Before the Sooners could get rolling again, a guy's been the same every single day. He works “It absolutely was very intentional [that false start moved them back even further. Fac- his butt off, he’s prepared like a real pro and for ‘That was on full display in the Sooners’ 45- drive] about running the football and making ing a 2nd-and-10 two plays later, the Sooners him to go out and to play the way he did today, 13 win over UTEP Saturday. sure we went down and got us a touchdown were whistled for another false start. no surprise, but I’m excited for him.” It took the Sooners just five plays and 1:17 before half, and playing in a way where we of game time to score their first touchdown Now facing a second and long from their Gabriel targeted seven different receivers in were still playing fast but we weren't playing of the season, before following that up with a own four-yard line, Bric Gray took the handoff the opener and had four players with at least quite as fast as we were in those first couple of and went 35-yards up the middle of the defense four targets each. Mims led all receivers with six-play, 93-yard drive that took less than two series. Understanding that is very critical, and for a first down. 81 yards on three receptions and Theo Wease minutes. that’s my job,” Lebby said. Dillon Gabriel then took the snap and found finished with 37 yards receiving, including a ‘The Sooners led 21-0 less than nine min- “You've got to understand where we're at utes into the game, and their three touch- from a tempo standpoint and what we need to Marvin Mims deep down the right sideline for a 33-yard catch while tip-toeing down the left 31-yard completion that put the Sooners deep downs came on just 13 plays of offense. The of- do. Maybe get the other side a break so they sideline. into UTEP territory. Two plays later, Gabriel fense held the ball for just 21:27 of game time. can catch their breath.” Wease missed almost all of last season with ‘That's not only less time compared to any found tight end Brayden Willis for an 8-yard an injury. Lebby mentioned the need for both the of- touchdown. other OU game last season — OU’s time of fense and the defense to play “complementary “Theo, he’s been a pro,” Lebby said. “He's possession dipped below 24 minutes just once The scoring drive was a sign of things to done a great job, he’s been the same guy every football”, though OU coach Brent Venables come, as the Sooners used a balance of the run in 2021 — it was the second lowest time of said the offense doesn’t need to worry about single day and he’s a great teammate. To me, at possession of any team in the country Satur- and the pass to down UTEP 45-13 in the season the end of the day, he’s going to get rewarded day. The Sooners also scored more than the their impact on the defense. opener on Saturday. for that and i feel like he was today. I'm proud UTEP held the ball for nearly 39 minutes Oklahoma rushed for 259 yards on 38 car- other teams that finished in the top five of of him.” lowest time of possession. Saturday, but the Sooners’ defense kept the ries and had 233 yards passing on 23 attempts. Miners at bay outside of their touchdown ‘The Sooners took a 21-3 lead into the sec- Lebby was mostly pleased with the offen- “Being committed to that run game and drive in the second half. The Miners finished running the football when they know you're ond quarter, but the Miners’ offense was able sive tempo, though there are still some things with just 28 rushing yards and had just two going to run is a tough thing to handle defen- to get the chains moving through their passing to improve. game. UTEP ran eight pass plays during an 11- “T really thought we were close,” Lebby said plays of 20 or more yards. sively,” OU coach Brent Venables. “I think im- play touchdown drive early in the second quar- Monday. “I thought from a tempo standpoint, ‘The offense’s fast tempo could mean the posing your will when you can is a good thing defense is on the field more. But for Venables, and we did see that.” ter. we played pretty fast when we got the first Meanwhile, Oklahoma’s run defense never first down. That was probably the most disap- that’s not an issue. The Sooners came out of the gates and “We don’t need to be worried about what's scored three touchdowns in their first three allowed a run longer than eight yards and only pointing thing, the two three-and-outs [in the had nine runs longer than five yards. UTEP fin- second quarter]. We have to continue to clean going on on offense,” Venables said. “Your job possessions of the game. The Sooners first is to stop the other team. Stop making excus- three drives lasted 13 plays and encompassed ished with 28 rushing yards and picked up 0.9 up what we call our ball mechanics, making yards per rush. sure the ball is getting back inside and not be- es. Not that they were [making excuses], but I 223 yards in just 3:05 of game time. ing left on the ground or left on the sideline.” want to make sure that that narrative doesn’t Quarterback Dillon Gabriel, in his first start ‘The Sooners had 261 yards on the ground ‘The ball mechanics Lebby mentioned is get inside of our walls. It’s important that you as a Sooner, completed six straight passes af- for 7.1 yards per carry. Bric Gray led all backs key, and refers to how detailed the Sooners are have a tough mindedness about you. You know ter an early incompletion. Gabriel went on to with 16 carries for 102 yards. with their tempo. During practice, the Sooners what? A lot of bad stuff is going to happen to finish with 233 yards through the air while Marcus Major ran for 54 yards on seven at- emphasize hurrying the ball back to the line of you. Your job is to respond.” completing 15-of-23 attempts with three total tempts and found the end zone twice. scrimmage after each play instead of tossing It was evident the Sooners have worked on touchdowns. “It’s just good to see because we've talked it to the official in an effort to keep the fast playing fast since the spring. Now, the focus is Gabriel found Willis again in the second about him a ton,” Lebby said about Major. “We tempo going. on improving it. quarter on a play-action pass that left the 6-4, talked to the media about hima ton, we talk to While the fast tempo worked in their favor “I definitely think we were pleased with the 240-pound tight end wide open in the middle everybody about it a bunch, about who is and Saturday, the Sooners’ lone scoring drive of tempo we were playing at, kind of firing on all of the field. Willis had just one man to beat af- what he’s done for us. I’m so excited for him to the second quarter was a little more methodi- cylinders in that aspect,” OU receiver Drake ter making the catch near the 15-yard line and be able to go score two touchdowns in the home cal. Following back-to-back three-and-outs in Stoops said. “And then I think we did a lot of juked his defender on the way to the end zone. opener and get off to a good start.” the second quarter, the OU offense closed the positives... Could have done a little bit better half with an 11-play, 85-yard drive that took on some 3rd downs, some stuff like that, but nearly five minutes of game time. ‘The Sooners four drives before that posses- I think we checked a lot of the boxes we were looking to check and it’s definitely a good first With his grandmother in the stands, Grimes plays career sion totaled 5:11 of game time. game to build on.” Providing comfort and, Supportfor End of Life chotces game against UTEP Hospice care provides medical services, emotional support, and spiritual re- Jesse Crittenden, The resides in Tennessee but is al- played. He had a day today sources for people who are in the last stages ofa serious illness, such as cancer Norman Transcript ways at Grimes’ games. How- and he deserves it for every- ever, her presence Saturday thing he’s going through and or heart failure. Hospice care also helps family members manage the practical There's a certain phrase meant more than usual. I couldn’t be more proud of details and emotional challenges of caring for a dying loved one. that always sticks with Reggie She was diagnosed with him.” Grimes. cancer for a second time back For questions regarding hospice service or eligibility, contact: “Be who you are.” in April, and she’s unlikely to Grimes saw limited playing The Oklahoma defensive attend games this season as time last year, starting in five Carrie Perry, RN/ Adminsis rator end writes that phrase on his she undergoes additional che- games, though he stepped up wrist tape before every game motherapy treatments. as a leader at the end of last and at the top of his notes ev- But it was important to her Pat Welsh, RN/ Coordinator of Patient Care ery day. It’s a phrase that he to be there for the Sooners’ season. Since then, he’s been a leader for the team on and off hears often from his grand- season opener. the field. Some of the most common conditions are: mother, Barbara. “She put her chemo and Defensive coordinator It’s a reminder for him to radiotherapy off to come see * Cancer * Failure to Thrive * End Stage Cardiac Disease (CHF) be the best he can be, and it’s me play today, so it was really Ted Roof said the OU coaches * End Stage Cerebrovascular Disease (CVA) * End Stage Amyotrophic what helped him play one of special and really important knew his circumstances head- Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) * End Stage Pulmonary Disease (COPD) his best career games during to have a [good] day that al- ing into the game, which only the Sooners’ 45-13 win over lowed me to play free knowing added to the significance of his * End Stage Liver Disease * End Stage Renal Disease * AIDS/HIV ¢ UTEP Saturday. that I wasn’t [just] doing it for performance. * End Stage Neurological Disease such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s “That’s one of the things the guys in the locker room, I “] thought he played really she’s told me to do,” Grimes wasn't [just] doing it for my- well,” Roof said Monday. “Ob- said after the game. “That's one self, but I was also doing it for pearrle viously, you mention the pro- erry, RN7 Professional, Passionate of those things she’s expressed her,” Grimes said. just the way she lives, the way “As far as just having duction, and certainly, that's Advance, Attentive... my entire family lives, so just Mama here, it was important, something you shoot for every week, to produce, and he did being who you are. I think to- it was great, I loved it. At the Our Difference Is Our Care day, especially today, I think us same time, it’s bittersweet be- that. That was a result of his as a team showed that, I think cause today might be the last preparation. He’s been a grind- y me as a person showed that as time she gets to see me play in er throughout camp. Played well.” person. It’s really one of those well. Expect him to play better Have you ever considered becoming The redshirt junior led things where in the moment the way for the OU defense it's amazing but afterward, I'm this week.” a hospice volunteer? against the Miners, finishing going to go see her, I'll prob- Saturday was an important A fulfilling experience in the spirit with a career-high 2.5 sacks to ably cry a little bit.” game for Grimes in more ways go with 2.5 tackles for loss and Grimes’ teammates praised than one, and he knows he'll of giving and receiving. a forced fumble. him following the win for lead- continued to be relied on for It was a special individual ing the defense, especially giv- the rest of the season. performance for Grimes, but en the circumstances with his “Just to have the kind of his grandmother being in the grandmother. performance I had today de- stands at Oklahoma Memorial “There’s some circum- Stadium was the most memo- stances in his corner and he’s spite everything, I think it was rable part of it. responded well, man,” OU really touching, and it was re- Barbara, who Grimes and linebacker Danny Stutsman ally a great moment,” Grimes his family refer to as ‘Mama’, said. ‘I'm pumped for how he said.