By Wendell Barnhouse | wendell@big12sports.com
Big12Sports.com Correspondent
NORMAN, Okla. – Bob Stoops and his Oklahoma players had spent the week since the opener hearing about how the 31-24 victory over Utah State wasn’t good enough.
To recall and paraphrase a comment made by Mark Twain, rumors of the Sooners’ demise has been exaggerated.
No. 10 Oklahoma (2-0) left no doubt Saturday. With No. 17 Florida State in town, the Sooners had their chance to beat a ranked team – a task they had little success with last season. Last season is last season and last week is last week. Oklahoma folded, spindled and mutilated the Seminoles, 47-17. But for touchdown drives to start and end the game, Florida State (1-1) had little success on offense.
“It’s pleasing overall, we came out and played well,” Stoops said. “I thought we would. I wasn’t worried about last week.”
There were no doubt some Nervous Nellies wearing OU colors after Florida State drove 70 yards in 11 plays to counter the Sooners’ opening TD drive. The Seminoles appeared capable of turning a sunny Saturday into a shootout.
On the visitor’s next nine possessions, they punted seven times and had two interceptions.
“This was a total team effort,” Oklahoma linebacker Travis Lewis said. “We fed off what the offense was doing. They did their job, we did our job, special teams did their job. This is what we’re capable of doing.”
Florida State finished with 345 total yards but managed only 204 yards as the Sooners’ offense found its passing gear. Last week against Utah State, Oklahoma’s defense gave up 441 yards with 340 of those produced on 12 plays.
“After the first drive, our guys just settled down and we adjusted to what they were trying to do,” Oklahoma defensive coordinator Brent Venables said. “We played like we’re capable of playing. Hopefully, our guys will now see what the standard is.”
Venables said that the Sooners’ defenders needed the “affirmation” that their ability could equal performance on the field. The same could be said of sophomore quarterback Landry Jones, who had perhaps the best game of his career.
Jones, who started 10 games last year in place of Sam Bradford, completed 30-of-40 passes against Florida State. He finished with 380 yards (321 of those came in the first half) and four touchdowns.
The Sooners’ offense unveiled a “pistol” formation. The running back lines up behind the quarterback who is in the shotgun. Offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said the alignment helps with OU’s running game.
Against the Seminoles, the back – DeMarco Murray or Mossis Madu – often went in motion to the flat. Jones delivered the swing passes and bubble screen passes with uncanny accuracy. While Oklahoma gained just 93 yards rushing, a number of the short passes were in essence running plays.
In addition to his accuracy, Jones kept the Sooners’ offense in fast-break mode. The quick-snap attack that helped Bradford win the 2008 Heisman Trophy was missing most of last year because of Jones’ inexperience and the offensive line’s injury woes.
“That no huddle offense is harder than you think but they handled it well,” Stoops said. “There are a lot of alignments and adjustments that have to be made in a short period of time. I was pleased we had that kind of tempo without having any penalties.”
The two TD drives that provided separation for the Sooners were vintage. Oklahoma went 54 yards in six plays to make it 21-7 on Cameron Kenney’s 36-yard TD reception. Jones threw across the field and hit Kenney, who was well covered. OU followed that with an 80-yard drive in five plays that left the Seminoles spinning. Jones found tight end James Hanna up the seam for a 46-yard scoring pass that was aided by a downfield block from Kenney.
“I’m getting more comfortable with the no huddle,” Jones said. “We pushed the pace a lot.”
Oklahoma has won a school-record 32 consecutive games and under Stoops OU is 15-0 against ranked visiting opponents with the average score 43-15. Some might say the Sooners made a statement but week-to-week in college football can be volatile – ask Kansas, ask Virginia Tech, ask BYU. The Cougars beat Washington last week but lost at Air Force Saturday.
Air Force and its option attack visits Oklahoma next Saturday.
“We’ve won two games,” Stoops said when asked if beating Florida State made a statement. “I’m not worried about (making a statement). We’ve got a lot coming at us. It’s really tough and challenging. We’ll play a defense against them totally different than anybody we’ll face this year. It will be really hard.
“But we’ll be judged on the whole year.”
And next week is next week.