Tramel: Impressions of OU's 48-0 victory over Missouri State

The OU-Missouri State game was more of a scrimmage in which coaches weren’t particularly interested in seeing first team vs. first team.

The Sooners won 48-0 after leading 41-0 at halftime, so it seemed like a spring game. A couple of times, I focused on the scoreboard, to make sure we hadn’t adopted a running clock.

I didn’t cover the game -- Jenni Carlson had those duties -- and I sat in the stands, so I didn’t even chart it like I normally do. But like always, you can tell a few things. Here’s what I saw:

• Spencer Rattler certainly lived up to his billing. He moves exceptionally well. More Kyler Murray than Baker Mayfield, and Mayfield was really mobile. Rattler’s throwing was on target; he completed 14 of 17 passes, and two of his incompletions were dropped touchdown passes.

I liked the way Tanner Mordecai moved. Big quarterback who is fairly mobile. Big arm, too. The end-zone interception was inexcusable, but he’s a backup trying to make things happen. I sort of understand.

True freshman Chandler Morris has quite the mobility, too. Picking him up late in the recruiting was a good get by Lincoln Riley.

The offensive line wasn’t impressive, even considering a bunch of blockers were sidelined by COVID or contract tracing. You get no slack when you’re playing Missouri State. But the running lanes were minimal. OU tailbacks combined for 100 yards on 26 carries. And while the quarterbacks often had a bunch of time to throw, they occasionally were under attack. Missouri State had four sacks, including three of Rattler. That’s three sacks of Rattler in 20 called pass plays. Not good. He held the ball a little long a couple of times, but still. OU’s offensive line had some issues.

I loved true freshman receiver Trevon West. He’s from Arlington Lamar and hasn’t made a ton of waves. But man, he had four catches against Missouri State, and a couple of them were contested. He really seemed to compete. Keep an eye on him.

I’m with everyone else. I like Marvin Mims. The injury to Jadon Haselwood has opened a door for a young star, and Mims seems to be the man. He had three catches for 80 yards and looked good returning punts.

OU might not use a ton of four-wide-receiver formations this season. Lincoln Riley’s commitment to his tight end/fullback hybrids is higher than ever. Three played extensively -- Austin Stogner, Jeremiah Hall and true freshman Mikey Henderson -- and Brayden Willis didn’t even play. Henderson had four catches, and Hall made a sliding catch for a 24-yard reception.

Nose guard Perrion Winfrey, the highly-acclaimed junior-college transfer, looked good and needs to. The Sooners are not deep on the defensive interior. But Winfrey needs guidance on jersey number. Number 8? That’s unsettling, especially when Ronnie Perkins returns as a defensive end wearing No. 9.

The pregame introductions highlighted something I hadn’t thought about. Four defensive starters are from Tulsa -- lineman LaRon Stokes and Isaiah Thomas, cornerback Tre Brown and safety Pat Fields.

The pass rush was good but perhaps meaningless. That Missouri State offense wasn’t much.

Linebacker Brian Asamoah made a bunch of plays. Not real big but really fast. I have no idea if Asamoah is a playmaker against legitimate competition, but he looked good against Missouri State.

The Sooner secondary seemed to be in the right place. But only one takeaway -- Delarrin Turner-Yell’s interception -- was disappointing. This was a game when the Sooners could have created some defensive momentum.

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