“A win is a win.” Every University of Oklahoma player we spoke to after the game said that exact quote. It’s true – even though the Sooners won by four points despite leading by four touchdowns. But alas, the Sooners are 2-0, just as they should be.

Still, OU fans have every reason to be concerned right now, which leads me straight to my first conclusion.

OU is WAY behind schedule

Let’s start with the solution that should be the simplest. No more stupid penalties! A stupid personal foul stops the clock with less than a minute left and forces the Sooners to kick the ball back to the Cougars, giving Houston 29 seconds to win the game. You just can’t leave the door open like that. Especially not in the SEC.

Now for a more difficult solution: the problems on offense. All spring and summer, we heard how new offensive coordinators Seth Littrell and Joe Jon Finley were running the ball right down opponents’ throats. Instead, OU managed just 75 yards against a team that gave up nearly 200 yards to UNLV a week ago. Running back Gavin Sawchuk had four carries for four yards. After the game, Brent Venables attributed the problems in the running game to problems across the board.

Coach Venables said: “At times the game was definitely too much penetration. There’s no doubt we need to get a lot better,” he added. “We need to go back and see if we made the right cuts and sequences. We need to get people involved in the back as well – we need to make good plays throwing the ball as well.”

To make matters worse, the Sooners don’t have much time to get back on schedule. Tulane pushed a really good Kansas State team to the limit on Saturday and the Green Wave will be hungry when they come to Norman next Saturday.

OU officially has a 3rd down problem

Brent Venables had high praise for his punter after the game. Luke Elzinga had 8 punts and landed 5 of them inside the 20-yard line. Venables also laughed worriedly, almost in disbelief, because he realized that it’s probably not a good sign if he “comes to a press conference and brags about our punter.”

The Sooners were 1/12 on third downs last week. It was Week 1 and the offensive game plan was boring, so there was reason to believe it might be an anomaly. After they made 4 of 14 third downs this week, it’s time to sound the alarm.

I asked OC Seth Littrell about the problems after the game and he said, “I felt like we had a lot of opportunities and we didn’t capitalize on them… I need to get my act together and take a look in the mirror. When it’s all over, we’ll figure out if they were good or bad decisions. At the end of the day, we need to do better.”

The most notable struggle was a quarterback draw on 3rd and 11 in Houston territory early in the fourth quarter. The conservative play gained 5 yards and drew loud boos from the crowd. It resulted in a missed field goal.

An improved running game would help the offense stay on schedule and create more third-and-short and third-and-manageable situations. Crucial drops of backup wide receivers haven’t helped either. Sooner fans rightly can’t wait for Nic Anderson to get back on the field soon!

Defense wins championships … and apparently also close games outside the league

The defense didn’t always play well (see Houston’s 44-yard touchdown early in the second half), but in the crucial moments, the defense delivered its best plays.

Early in the fourth quarter, Robert Spears-Jennings dived off a hook route and intercepted a pass, pushing the offense into the red zone. If the Sooners scored there, the game could be completely decided.

But they didn’t capitalize on it.

Then, with less than two minutes left to play, Gracen Halton threw a safety in the backfield. Those were the only points OU scored in the second half. Plus, the Sooners got the ball back so they could run down the clock. STEAL CROWN.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Danny Stutsman’s 15 tackles, 12 of them solo. That’s incredible for an All-American linebacker who just seems to keep getting better. And one who is still hungry and said after the game he didn’t feel like he tackled particularly well.

Tulane comes with a vengeance this Saturday… Tennessee visits on September 21st.

The Sooners better wake up!