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Oklahoma Football Spring Game 2017: 5 things to watch for

By John Buhler

Oct 29, 2016; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) is seen on the field prior to action against the Kansas Jayhawks at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2016; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) is seen on the field prior to action against the Kansas Jayhawks at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Oklahoma Sooners should have one of the better Power 5 teams in the country this fall. Here are the five things to watch in the 2017 OU Spring Game.

2016 was a successful, albeit disappointing year for the Oklahoma Sooners. They won a second consecutive Big 12 Conference Championship and thrashed the Auburn Tigers in the Sugar Bowl. Despite going undefeated in Big 12 play, out of conference losses to Houston and Ohio State wrecked Oklahoma’s College Football Playoff chances before they even began.

That being said, Oklahoma has laid the foundation to be one of the best teams in the Power 5 this fall. One would expect Oklahoma to be ranked in and around the top-five of the initial AP Top 25 Poll when it comes out. It’s really College Football Playoff or bust with this Big 12 powerhouse.

Oklahoma plays its annual spring game on Saturday for Boomer Sooner Nation’s enjoyment. Here are the five biggest storylines heading into the 2017 OU Spring Game.

5. Get that pass rush going

As Oklahoma’s offense has flourished these last few years in Lincoln Riley’s Air Raid attack, the defense of Mike Stoops has clearly fallen to the wayside. Oklahoma shifted to a 3-4 base back in 2013 and that has not yielded satisfactory results for the Sooners.

While Oklahoma’s defense has speed in the 3-4, it can’t get after the passer. Since tackling is optional in Big 12 secondaries, Oklahoma hasn’t been able to keep teams off the field in recent years. Fortunately for the Sooners, Stoops has opted to go back to a 4-3 base to see if that can’t help generate a pass rush.

Oklahoma is usually one of the better teams in the Big 12 because of the Stoops Brothers defense. When Oklahoma wins in the trenches defensively, they are the toughest team in the Big 12 to beat. This change in scheme could help in run stuffing based on 4-3 alignment alone.

While Oklahoma has the offense to routinely win shootouts, terrorizing Big 12 offensive lines with a greater push from up front could help the Sooners on their quest to reach the fourth annual College Football Playoff. The scheme switch should be a work in progress, but good competition out of it in the spring game would be a good start for this fall.

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