By Wendell Barnhouse
Big12Sports.com Correspondent
Oklahoma entered the season with a deep and talented group of running backs who had limited experience. But as the Sooners have rolled to a 3-0 start, sophomores Keith Ford and Alex ross along with freshman Samaje Perine have been an effective trio.
For the near future at least, make that a duo.
Sooners coach Bob Stoops announced Monday that Ford would be sidelined for the next two to three weeks because of a a small, slight fracture on a non-weight bearing bone in his leg. Through three games, Ford was OU’s leading rusher with 194 yards and also had 100 yards receiving on six catches. He has five rushing TDs and one receiving.
"He won't play this week for sure. After that it's a little unsure," Stoops said. “It can be two weeks to three, you just don't know for sure.”
After a 34-10 victory over Tennessee, the Sooners will travel to Morgantown to face West Virginia (2-1) Saturday night. The last time the teams met in Milan Puskar Stadium, Oklahoma won a 50-49 shootout.
Ross, who was the starter in the season opener before being replaced by Ford in the starting lineup, figures to be the running back when the Sooners’ offense takes the field for the first snap against the Mountaineers.
Perine, though, could be a factor. He has 177 yards on 32 carries, so he has been nearly as active and productive as Ford. After Saturday’s game, Stoops was asked if Perine was ready for a bigger role.
“Oh absolutely. We love him. You saw him out there tonight. He’s an excellent runner. Even when there’s not much there he finds a way to make something happen with his power.”
Here’s A Solution/Suggestion
One of the topics in the offseason involved the pace of play in college football. There were some coaches (who will not be named here) who wanted a rule change that would prevent teams from snapping the ball as soon as it was marked ready for play.
In West Virginia’s victory at Maryland Saturday, the Mountaineers ran 108 plays on its 18 possessions. Terps coach Randy Edsall climbed on the soap box after the game. “I think there’s a problem in college football, I really do, with that many plays,” Edsall said.
West Virginia had nearly a 10-minute edge in time of possession and converted 11 of 24 third down opportunities. Maryland was just 4-of-15 on third downs and failed to convert on its last 10 third-down chances.
In 2013, WVU averaged just 74 snaps a game. This season, they're at 91, with only two teams running more plays so far.
"It's easier to call plays when you're making first downs," said West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen, whose team had a 33 to 16 edge in first downs. "We're really just executing better.”
Instead of complaining about how the other team plays, maybe it works better if your offense and defense “executes” at a higher level.
Short Yardage
* ESPN.com has developed a Football Power Index and in the defensive number crunching the Big 12 has four of the top eight defenses in the country – TCU is No. 1, Oklahoma is No. 3, Texas is No. 6 and Baylor is No. 8.
* If Oklahoma can win at West Virginia Saturday, Bob Stoops will become the first coach to win 100 regular-season Big 12 games.
* Iowa State offensive lineman Jacob Dunning (ruptured patellar tendon) and wide receiver P.J. Harris (broken bone, leg) are scheduled to undergo surgery for their injuries. Both are likely out for the rest of the season but Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads said that there’s a chance Harris could recover in time to play late in the season.
* West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen said that the Mountaineers are “as healthy as it’s been all season.” Linebacker Wes Tonkery, who missed the Maryland game with a leg injury, is expected to return for the Oklahoma game.
* Baylor has won its last two games easily even though it has been without its four starting wide receivers. Coach Art Briles said that Antwan Goodley, Clay Fuller and Corey Coleman could all be back in time for the Big 12 opener at Iowa State on Sept. 27. Levi Norwood, the other starting wide receiver, might need more time to get healthy.
Coach Speak
Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads on his team’s 20-17 victory at Iowa: “I’m a teacher. I love lessons. Through two weeks, we’ve had a lot of lessons to learn from. That (Iowa) game was won between the ears. One of the things for the week was that we couldn’t have any doubt we would win the game.”
Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy: “We’re a very average football team. We’ve gotten a little better. We have to establish the running game and we need to develop depth on defense.”
Texas coach Charlie Strong after his team’s loss to UCLA and an upcoming bye week: “This last game was a tough loss and I think it kinda stung. They worked so hard. Now, they’re getting a week off and there’s a chance for (the loss) to set in and burn a little more. I kind of like that. You always think of the last game. We’ll be more prepared going into the Kansas game.”
Tennessee coach Butch Jones after his team’s 34-10 loss at Oklahoma Saturday: "The thing they do such a great job of is moving the front, applying pressure because they're so big, physical and can run. They have suddenness and are very explosive. They're just so disruptive, but they can also match you up on the back end and play man-coverage. Their team speed is very good. They also execute their scheme very well.”