Sooners' Quarterback Struggles Highlight Offensive Woes in SEC Debut

The University of Oklahoma's (OU) football team faced a tough challenge in their SEC debut against the Tennessee Volunteers, with quarterback Jackson Arnold struggling to find his rhythm. The Sooners fell 25-15 in a game that exposed the team's offensive inconsistencies, raising questions about the quarterback position and the overall direction of the offense.

Sooners Seek to Regain Offensive Prowess After Disappointing SEC Debut

Quarterback Woes Plague OU Offense

In the loss to Tennessee, Arnold completed just 7 of 16 passes for 54 yards and an interception, finishing with a quarterback rating of 59.6. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Arnold's overall grade for the game was a dismal 30.7 out of 100, the lowest PFF rating for an OU quarterback playing significant snaps in a game in quite some time. The last time an OU quarterback had a lower PFF grade was in 2015, when Trevor Knight graded out at 28.7 in a game against TCU.The struggles of the OU offense were not limited to Arnold, as the team's offensive coordinator, Seth Littrell, also faced scrutiny. Sooners head coach Brent Venables acknowledged the inconsistency in the offense, stating, "There's some times that Jackson (was) inconsistent. That inconsistency led to us not being in any kind of rhythm." Venables also noted that the team would need to evaluate the situation and determine where the "ownership lies" in order to make the necessary adjustments.

Offensive Line and Receiving Corps Contribute to Offensive Woes

The offensive struggles were not solely the fault of the quarterback, as the Sooners' offensive line and receiving corps also faced their own challenges. No other OU offensive player graded out below 45 on the PFF scale, suggesting that the issues were more widespread than just the quarterback position.The Sooners' backup quarterback, Michael Hawkins Jr., did manage to grade out at 52.3, providing a glimmer of hope for the offense. Hawkins' 46-yard pass to Jaquaize Pettaway in the fourth quarter was the team's second-longest passing play of the season, indicating that he may be able to provide a spark if given the opportunity.

Defensive Bright Spots Overshadowed by Offensive Struggles

While the offense struggled, the OU defense managed to find some success, with defensive end Trace Ford standing out. Ford was used in a different role against Tennessee, and his performance was impressive, as he graded out at 90.0 – tying the best on the Sooners' defense – in 27 plays. Ford finished the game with three solo tackles, two for loss, a sack, and a forced fumble.The defensive performance, however, was overshadowed by the offensive woes, leaving the Sooners with more questions than answers as they prepare for their next challenge against Auburn.

Redshirt Tracker Highlights Promising Young Talent

The OU redshirt tracker revealed that several freshmen have already seen significant playing time, with six players appearing in all four of the Sooners' games so far. This includes defensive backs Michael Boganowski and Jaydan Hardy, defensive linemen Jaydan Jackson and David Stone, wide receiver Zion Ragins, and running back Taylor Tatum.Defensive back Eli Bowen also played in his second consecutive game, grading out at 80.3 – the third-best on the defense. Venables praised Bowen's performance, stating that he "plays with fantastic technique and he's a highly skilled guy" and that he "probably should have played a little bit more."The redshirt tracker highlights the Sooners' commitment to developing young talent, which could pay dividends in the long run as the team looks to rebuild and regain its offensive prowess.