Trench Warfare: Run the Damn Ball!

Oklahoma football’s run game renaissance lasted all of one week. Rob, JY, and Alex break down how the Sooners went from pounding South Carolina on the ground to abandoning everything that worked against Ole Miss.

From the film room to the analytics dashboard, this episode exposes the painful truth — Oklahoma’s offense is broken by its own choices. The crew dissects John Mateer’s missed reads, Ben Arbuckle’s obsession with quarterback runs, and how Brent Venables must take control before another collapse.

They pull up film on blown inside zone reads, duo runs that should have worked, and wide-open touchdowns left on the field. The tone is raw, passionate, and full of hard truths.

Topics include: • The return and disappearance of Oklahoma’s downhill identity • Why Air Raid coaches refuse to commit to the run • John Mateer’s mechanical and mental breakdowns • How poor game management cost the Sooners points • The film proof that duo and inside zone still work • The path forward heading into Tennessee

 

00:00 – Show open 07:15 – First half decisions and the hurry up fiasco 14:30 – Why the call sheet ignored the run and QB mechanics talk 21:45 – Identity vs game plan and the case for duo and inside zone 29:00 – Designed swing screen and structure over hero ball 36:15 – Third and one blown read and offensive line notes 43:30 – Fourth down choice into the boundary and route design critique 50:45 – Duo touchdown, EPL technique, and blocking details 58:00 – Inside zone chunks and how to build the drive starter menu 1:05:15 – Third and ten checkdown window and situational awareness