Brunt: Oklahoma rolls past UTEP, but things aren't perfect heading into Michigan showdown

Brunt: Oklahoma rolls past UTEP, but things aren't perfect heading into Michigan showdown

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Brunt: Oklahoma rolls past UTEP, but things aren't perfect heading into Michigan showdown
Brent Venables

Brunt: Oklahoma rolls past UTEP, but things aren't perfect heading into Michigan showdown originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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NORMAN, Okla. – After Oklahoma’s offense slowed down a bit in the second quarter of the season opener against UTEP, a reporter who will remain nameless said with disdain bordering on disgust that he felt Sooners quarterback John Mateer hadn’t been successful throwing down the field.

The scribe seemed to question if the veteran quarterback could even make the necessary throws.

Responding as though he'd heard the complaint and taken it personally, Mateer threw touchdown passes of 34 yards to Isaiah Sategna and 48 yards to Virginia transfer Trell Harris in the first seven minutes of the third quarter. The second of those touchdowns put the Sooners up 41-0 and erased one of the few lingering questions that might have been manufactured during an otherwise dominant first half.

The reporter, who still will remain nameless, later gave credit where due. He said Mateer put the ball where it needed to be in the third quarter, and the receivers almost had no choice but to score. Mateer finished with three touchdown passes, and Oklahoma went on to beat the Miners 51-0.

While the long plays solved one problem, another remained.

Oklahoma’s offensive line got a solid push in the run game early. Colorado State transfer Lloyd Avant gained 32 yards on his first three carries, and a crowd that watched the Sooners struggle to move the ball on the ground at times last season cheered loudly.

They really didn’t run the ball well the rest of the game. After those first three rushing attempts, Oklahoma gained 138 yards on 36 carries, with much of that coming from backups after the game was out of reach.

Avant ran for 79 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. He clearly is a talented player who adds a spark to the offense. He wasn’t the problem.

It’s human nature to relax after early success, and those early runs might have convinced the offensive line that it would be an easy night. Whatever the reason, the lack of a consistent push must be fixed.

To be fair, a different problem just as obvious as the past run issues might be on the path to being solved, too.

Sategna was electric, as usual. He finished with 215 all-purpose yards, including an 88-yard punt return for a score and the 34-yard touchdown grab.

But the more important plays for Oklahoma’s season might have been Harris’ touchdown and Rocky Beers’ score. Beers, whose sister, Raegan, was a star for the women’s basketball team last season – caught a 40-yard touchdown pass from Mateer in the first quarter. The Colorado State transfer leaped over a defender near the goal line before finishing the play.

If Harris and Beers can make more plays like those, it might be more difficult for defenses to focus as much on Sategna this season.

MORE:Recap: Oklahoma 51, UTEP 0

Overall was a solid day for the Oklahoma offense. The tools to improve the run game quickly exist. And since Oklahoma played on Friday, there is an extra day to prepare for Michigan.

The Sooners need to take advantage. Showing up in Ann Arbor with anything less than a great effort up front likely will lead to an early loss with a schedule that includes games against Georgia, Texas, Ole Miss, Texas A&M and Missouri. 

A win is a win, but now, the preseason is over. It’s Michigan week.

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