Knee-Jerking: Oklahoma Sooners 38, Kansas State Wildcats 17
If only Dede Westbrook was healthy six weeks ago.
I kept thinking that on Saturday during Oklahoma’s 38-17 win over Kansas State. OU’s senior wideout roasted KSU’s secondary for 184 yards and three touchdowns. In the past three games, he caught 26 balls for 574 yards and eight touchdowns.
The first three? 17 catches, 154 yards, zero scores.
According to Bob Stoops, No. 11 didn’t get over a hamstring injury until the bye week before the TCU game. If so, that would help explain his slow start and subsequent explosion.
The defenses that he has faced in the past three contests could also have something to do with Westbrook’s breakout. Whatever the case may be, he has played like one of the best receivers during that stretch. Not coincidentally, OU’s offense is growing into one of the more potent, diverse attacks in the country.
Other (abbreviated) thoughts:
*The aerial pyrotechnics are getting the headlines, but OU’s performance on the ground was more noteworthy to me. Despite Samaje Perine sitting out most of the game with a leg injury, the Sooners still ran for 4.2 yards per attempt on 33 carries. That easily topped the highest mark allowed by KSU this season (3.5 versus Stanford in the season opener).
Joe Mixon bounced back from a terrible game against Texas the week before. More importantly, OU’s rapidly improving offensive line got the better of a solid K-State front.
*The Sooner D was… there. Frankly, not much stood out on that end to me.
Matt Romar played well on the interior. Ogbonnia Okoronkwo got his. Freshman cornerback Jordan Parker didn’t really bust anything too badly.
The D wasn’t great. It wasn’t abominable. It just was.