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5 takeaways from Oklahoma’s loss to TCU: Slow offensive start, porous defense doom Sooners

Oklahoma suffered its worst Big 12 loss in eight years and fell to 0-2 in conference play.

In head coach Brent Venables’ first Big 12 road test, he and his Sooners were hoping to avoid digging themselves into another hole like they did last week vs. Kansas State.

However, they fell into a much deeper hole against TCU, falling 55-24 to the Horned Frogs on Saturday at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth.

The Sooners gave up 27 first-quarter points and junior quarterback Dillon Gabriel left the game in the second quarter with an injury and did not return.

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It’s the first time the Sooners have lost to the Horned Frogs since 2014.

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Here are five takeaways from the Sooners game on Saturday.

Slow offensive starts continued

After creating a 14-0 deficit last week, Oklahoma’s offense could not get out to the quick start Venables was hoping for.

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The Sooners won the toss and elected to receive, hoping they would get into a rhythm.

On the first drive, Gabriel hit junior wide receiver Marvin Mims on an out-route, but after a few steps, the ball was fumbled and TCU recovered.

It was just the second turnover of the season for the Sooners.

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TCU responded with a four-play drive and quarterback Max Duggan’s ninth touchdown pass, this time to wide receiver Savion Williams.

The Sooners’ following series did not generate much more, being forced to a three-and-out.

Then the Oklahoma secondary blew coverage as TCU wide receiver Taye Barber was left wide open for a 73-yard touchdown pass.

Costly overthrows and the offense without Gabriel

In multiple situations when Gabriel needed to make the throw to continue a drive, he could not.

He finished completing seven of his 16 passes for 126 yards, 78 of them on one completion to senior tight end Brayden Willis.

With Gabriel exited, backup quarterback and Pittsburgh transfer Davis Beville entered. After starting the game three for 10 passing with 17 yards, he led one Oklahoma scoring drive, ending with a 1-yard touchdown run from Freshman Jovantae Barnes.

Barnes led the Sooners in rushing with 90 yards and two touchdowns.

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Secondary overwhelmed by TCU’s offense

It took Duggan one quarter to have more passing yards than Kansas State’s Adrian Martinez did last week.

He accounted for 218 yards and three touchdowns, two of them with his arm.

Leaving All-Big 12 wide receiver Taye Barber open was a decision the Sooners chose to make and a 73-yard touchdown fell into TCU’s lap.

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Duggan continued to excel as he hit receiver Gunnar Henderson, who was left wide-open for a 62-yard touchdown pass.

Through the first half, he had 281 yards and three touchdowns.

Oklahoma’s defensive line was overwhelmed

Not only was the secondary struggling to cover, but the defensive line gave Duggan little to worry about.

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The Sooners had just two quarterback pressures and zero sacks. Meanwhile, the Horned Frogs rushed for 361 yards on 41 carries. Oklahoma allowed 275 rushing yards from Kansas State last week.

Kendre Miller finished with 136 yards on 13 carries and two touchdowns.

Sooners struggled tackling in the open field.

The combination of blown coverage and losing at the line of scrimmage was already enough. Add on broken tackles and that summed up the Sooners’ performance.

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TCU amassed over 470 total yards in the first half. The Horned Frogs had four touchdowns of 60 or more yards, including a 67-yard Duggan touchdown run.

It’s the second-straight week Oklahoma has given up over 550 yards of offense. Venables will have to adjust with a gauntlet Big 12 schedule upcoming.

The Red River Showdown looms as Oklahoma plays Texas at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Cotton Bowl.

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