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How will the running backs get used at Oklahoma?
The best part of the Oklahoma offense last season was the running game.
So, what's to become of it now that Oklahoma has hired a new offensive coordinator who's focus and expertise is passing the ball?
“They threw the ball around a lot,” said OU center Ty Darlington to The Oklahoman. “A lot of times. So when coach (Lincoln) Riley came in, I’ll admit, I was hesitant a little. Like, how’s things going to work?”
Lincoln Riley came to OU after leading the East Carolina offense a season ago. The Pirates threw it 68 times in their bowl game loss to Florida. Meanwhile, OU running back Samaje Perine ran for a Big 12 best 1,713 yards a season ago.
Said Darlington to The Oklahoman of last season's team, “I loved the mentality — though it probably wasn’t the best; we would have liked to be more balanced at the end of last year — that we were going tight ends and fullbacks. We weren’t going to throw the ball, we were going to run the ball with a tank behind us. I like that stuff.”
Riley says the run game will be used plenty this season.
“There’s going to be some games where we have to run it a lot, we get the opportunity to run it a lot and we’re going to,” Riley said to The Oklahoman. “And there’s going to be some games where people load up on us, that we’re going to have to throw the ball well, and I think our guys are confident that we’re going to get it done.
“Another thing we’ve pushed with them is unselfishness. This is an unselfish offense. Everyone will get involved. Not always every ballgame. But throughout the year, a lot of people will get involved. If they stay unselfish and play hard, the mentality will be right.”
(H/T The Oklahoman)
