Oklahoma enters the Red River Showdown a notable underdog, facing a top-ranked Texas and starting a true freshman at quarterback. But leaning into the skills of that quarterback might just be the ticket to victory for the Sooners.
That’s what SEC Network analyst Cole Cubelic thinks, at least. He doesn’t think the Sooners will be able to make it a low-scoring, defensive battle, and therefore need to re-tailor the offense around Michael Hawkins , who will be making just his second career start.
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Cubelic explained some more of his thinking with On3’s Andy Staples and Ari Wasserman .
“First and foremost, the offense for Oklahoma has to change,” Cubelic said. “It has to be built around the talents of the quarterback and what’s available to the team. Tennessee game, it was all compressed. It was tight ends and bunch formations, close to the line of scrimmage and my immediate thought was you have this offensive line that’s banged up, that’s not good right now and a young quarterback who’s just entered the game, get those people away from the football. I don’t want them near my guy. Get ’em away from me, let him breath a little bit and let’s get some stuff going and then you get inside the 10 and it’s like, ‘Here come the read plays, here come the jet motions.’ Where’s that between the 20s? With that guy? If they can build the offense that way, around him and his talents, because Ari’s right: It’s not going to be an 80-year pass at the end of the game to win this game.”
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Hawkins was inserted at quarterback late in the 1st half against Tennessee in Week 4 and started against Auburn a week later, a win. After a week off, Cubelic is hoping the Sooners staff has taken time to reshape the offense.
And he thinks getting a bit unorthodox, and perhaps run-happy, will be a key to vexing Texas enough to make it a close game.
“So, the path is a design offensively that maybe Texas has not seen a lot of, which that has been negated this year because of the iPads — and that’s a conversation for another day, but the iPads have been massive for teams this year — to be able to fool the defense some, allow your quarterback to be athletic,” Cubelic said. “At least Deion Burks has to be back. Has to be. Because he needs some quick, high percentage throws that can go the distance.”
Cubelic also said the Sooners defense will need to step up. They won’t be shutting out Texas, he thinks, but need to come up with a handful of key plays from key players.
“ Danny Stutsman needs to be Danny Stutsman,” Cubelic said. “ Billy Bowman needs to be Billy Bowman. And go out there and make plays. Because whether it’s Roy Williams ‘ Superman, Rocky Calmus , this is the game those guys make those plays. And those Oklahoma guys have to make those plays in this game.”
Because Texas, Cubelic thinks, is as good a team as they come.
“They’re not going to stop Texas that many times. They’re not. This offense is too explosive with high percentage plays and an elite, elite, elite game caller. And their defense is pretty damn good,” Cubelic said of the Longhorns.
The post Cole Cubelic reveals Oklahoma’s best path to victory in Red River Showdown vs. Texas appeared first on On3 .
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