Offensive Line Woes Cost Oklahoma Bradford and Opening Game Loss to BYU

For two top 20 ranked teams, this contest between the Oklahoma Sooners and BYU Cougars proved to be a sloppy contest with multiple turnovers and lots of penalty flags. The inexperienced Oklahoma Sooners offensive line, which had to replace four starters from the dynamic 2008 team, had numerous problems in the season opener vs BYU.

The offense was flagged for 10 penalties, many of them against the offensive line, which either negated good plays or pushed the offense back in to less than favorable down and distance situations.

To BYU's credit, they were able to come up with zone blitzes that allowed defenders to come in untouched and place some licks on Heisman Trophy winning QB Sam Bradford, one of which knocked him out of the game in the final play of the first half drive.

Coleby Clawson came in and hit Bradford with a legal tackle, but the force of the hit and the impact of landing on the ground caused Bradford to suffer a sprained AC joint, and he will be out for conceivably two to four weeks.

Bradford's absence, combined with the loss of tight end Jermaine Gresham, means that Oklahoma has already been knocked out of the ranks of the unbeaten and will be seriously tested in September. Bradford enjoyed much better protection last year, when you realize that he was hit only 43 times out of 510 passes. That was not the case on Saturday.

Backup QB Landry Jones was forced in to action due to Bradford's injury and played the entire second half. He did not turn the ball over but did not lead the Sooners to any touchdowns either. The redshirt freshman quarterback's inexperience showed when Oklahoma had an important third down and one on BYU's one yard line, when they were nursing a 10-7 lead with 12 minutes left to play. Jones let the play clock expire.

That delay of game penalty forced OU to kick a field goal that gave them a 13-7 lead.  Conversely, BYU converted in a similar situation on the ensuing drive, as they had a delay of game penalty on the OU one yard line.

However, BYU QB Max Hall was able to make the big play, throwing a TD pass in the back of the end zone to a wide open McKay Jacobson for the game winner. Hall completed 9 of 10 passes for 84 yards in the winning drive.

Hall rescued BYU as their rushing offense proved to be anemic, as they gained only 27 yards on 32 carries. Somehow BYU held the ball 14 more minutes than OU did, which is a reflection on the offensive line problems.

Oklahoma's final drive resulted in regular punter Tress Way attempting a 54 yard field goal for the lead, but it fell wide and short with 1:23 left in the game. BYU was able to kill the remaining time to seal the win, 14-13. This game answered some questions, while raising some new ones instead.

BYU will now be considered a stronger player in the national hunt, as this is their first victory in 13 tries against a nationally ranked non-conference opponent. Max Hall looks to be ready for a fine season, as he completed 26-38 passes for 329 yards, 2 TDs along with 2 picks.

Oklahoma on the other hand will need to realize that this year's edition will not be the high octane offense that averaged 548 yards a game, which came out to seven yards/play and led the nation by averaging 51 points a game.

This team will have to bring the new offensive line together in a hurry and hope to win without a healthy Bradford or Gresham. It could be a long year for Bob Stoops and company, so their depth and resolve will be tested, along with the patience of the Sooner fans.