OU's running back depth will be 'tested' moving forward
NORMAN — After two pivotal road wins at Tennessee and Alabama, Oklahoma is in prime position to make the College Football Playoff.
But there will still be some uphill battles over the final two weeks of the regular season. For the offense, there’s a big question — how will things shake out at running back?
The Sooners have found their one-two punch in the backfield with Xavier Robinson and Tory Blaylock. However, the picture became blurry after the Alabama game. Robinson spent time in the medical tent with an apparent ankle injury, while Blaylock’s lingering shoulder injury has limited him to just five carries for one yard in 29 snaps the past two weeks.
Those injuries leave the Sooners with serious questions about the depth at running back.
“It’s going to be tested. No question,” OU coach Brent Venables said Tuesday. “So, hopeful we can stay healthy and we’re probably going to spread it out a little more to kind of manage the next few weeks.”
It’s not ideal considering the running back depth is concerning, at best. No other OU running back outside of Robinson and Blaylock has appeared in the lack three games.
Jaydn Ott (21 carries, 68 yards) has played just 66 snaps this season and has been ineffective when he’s been on the field. He was essentially benched after dropping a pass against Texas, and his last action came in garbage time against South Carolina.
Jovantae Barnes — who was the starter to open the season — would be the clear No. 3 running back, but his situation has been cloudy since early in the season. He hasn’t played since the Auburn game on Sept. 20, nearly two months ago. Venables said Barnes suffered an injury during pregame warmups against Texas, but his absence could be attributed to his ability to redshirt at the end of the season.
Since the Texas game, he’s been listed as questionable on nearly every SEC Availability Report before eventually being ruled out by kickoff.
Outside of Barnes and Ott, the Sooners don’t really have anybody. Taylor Tatum has one carry in one appearance this season. He’s been inactive in almost every game. Gabe Sawchuck has seen some spot snaps in garbage time, but he’s clearly the fifth running back on the depth chart.
It’s unclear who the Sooners would even play in the event that Robinson and Blaylock are unable to play. OU offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle didn’t offer much insight on the running back depth.
“Just as the season continues, you’ve got to see those guys every day in practice, how their process is going, how their body’s feeling and ultimately how they look throughout the week,” Arbuckle said. “Those are tough kids. That room is a bunch of tough kids in that room who want to play football, who want to be out there for their team and so, just as the season continues, we have to continuously every single day see how they’re doing and see how they’re practicing, lean on the medical staff.
“But yeah, I’m excited to watch those guys practice this week and watch them get after it this week.”
The good news for the Sooners is that Robinson did eventually return late against Alabama. And despite suffering a shoulder injury early in the season, Blaylock has appeared in every game. Robinson has rushed for 316 yards and four touchdowns over the last four weeks, while Blaylock leads the backfield in carries (98) and yards (402).
However, the Sooners struggled against the Crimson Tide, recording just 76 yards on 28 attempts. It’s not gonna be any easier this Saturday (11 a.m. ABC) against a Missouri defense that ranks 19th in rushing defense (107.6 yards per game) and 21st in opponent yards per carry (3.36).
The Sooners have to hope Robinson and Blaylock are healthy enough to be productive on the field. If not, there will likely be more of a burden on quarterback John Mateer.