The Oklahoma Sooners offense delivered one of its better, more efficient performances of the season on Saturday. The Sooners dominated the No. 24 Florida Gators 23-7 in Gainesville.
Oklahoma totaled 351 yards of offense. Quarterback John Mateer completed 21-of-33 passes for 207 yards and two scores. He also led the team with 56 yards on the ground. In total, Oklahoma gained 144 yards on the ground. The 351 yards were the fourth-most total this season, and the 144 yards on the ground were the third-most in a game.
The most impressive part of the performance might have been how much the Sooners spread the ball around. In total, Oklahoma had five players with three or more catches. Head coach Brent Venables said that's how offense should be.
"That's
what it looks like," Venables said. "To get a lot of guys involved early. What does that do? Guys start playing a little bit harder. They start straining a little more. They finish with a little more urgency. They're a little more detailed when you get playmakers involved early."
Getting multiple playmakers involved could be an important piece of Oklahoma's offensive turnaround. When defenses have to account for several receiving threats, it becomes more difficult to key in on Mateer or take away one primary target. That balance also gives the Sooners more opportunities to create favorable matchups and keep opposing defenses guessing.
The next step for Oklahoma is making that approach a consistent part of its offense. The win over Florida offered a glimpse of what the unit can look like when it spreads the ball around and complements the passing game with an effective rushing attack. If the Sooners can continue building on that balance, they could make big strides over the remainder of the season.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Brent Venables raves about the offensive performance against Florida
