3 Sooners Takeaways: Oklahoma 'Not Satisfied' After Workmanlike 20-6 Win

It all depends on what kind of football you like as to whether you thought Oklahoma's 20-6 win over Cincinnati was entertaining.

If you really loved the high-scoring battles of the mid-to-late 2010s, then Saturday's contest from Nippert Stadium might have left you thinking you were watching a Big Ten game.

On the other hand, if you really like good defense, this one was a treat -- "a great day for a lot of young cornerbacks," News 9 Sports Director Dean Blevins said on The Blitz.

Takeaway 1: The improvement In Oklahoma's defense is clear.

The Sooners' results so far on the defensive side of the ball have a little something for everybody.

Scoring defense: Through four games, OU has allowed only three touchdowns. The Sooners are allowing only 8.5 points per game.

That will win you almost any ball game.

Rushing defense: Cincy was a Top 10 team nationally on the ground, and yet Oklahoma held the Bearcats to almost 100 yards less than average (141 rushing instead of their usual 239.3).

Third-down defense: The Sooners held UC to 3 of 15 on third down and 1 of 4 on fourth, for a combined 4 of 19.

DB Dasan McCullough, who notched seven tackles on Saturday, said the Sooners were focused on not being complacent.

"We definitely were getting momentum, but our process was to not get satisfied. Like, that's all we were preaching on the sidelines, 'Don't be satisfied. There's still game to play,'" McCullough said.

His secondary counterparts Billy Bowman and Key Lawrence each picked up interceptions, too.

Takeaway 2: The Oklahoma offense still seems to be a bit uneven.

Dean Blevins and Dusty Dvoracek gave Oklahoma a C- on offense for Saturday's effort, noting that the Sooners scored only 20 points and committed three fumbles. There could have been a costly fourth on a ball that slipped from Dillon Gabriel's hands deep in Cincinnati territory only to waddle out of bounds.

However, that's not in any way taking away from the emergent plot line involving Oklahoma's wide receiver corps.

They're good. They might be REALLY good.

Andrel Anthony caught seven balls for 117 yards, his second straight game with at least 100 yards. Nic Anderson nabbed his fourth touchdown in two games. In all, nine different Sooners caught passes from QB Dillon Gabriel.

Speaking of the Sooners signal-caller, he has been terrific to start the year. While there were some missed deep passes against the Bearcats, Gabriel's running game was a difference maker, especially his would-not-be-denied 1-yard touchdown with 5:23 to play in the third quarter.

But the rest of the Oklahoma running game has been a bit perplexing. One week it's Tawee Walker and Marcus Major, and the next it's Gavin Sawchuk and Jovante Barnes.

Neither Barnes nor Sawchuk saw the field against Cincinnati.

If the pattern stays the same, it would mean that only Barnes and Sawchuk would play against Iowa State, leaving Walker and Major to battle Texas in Dallas.

The results, however, weren't what Oklahoma fans are used to: Only 128 yards on the ground altogether, with Major picking up 63, Walker 15, and the aforementioned Gabriel 23.

Perhaps it's just a matter of time before the Sooners running game finds its groove.

Takeaway 3: Field position battle always something to improve upon.

Every position counts. Every player is important, and field position is a vital, strategic element of the game. Yet most of the time, we only notice the team's punter when they haven't had the best of days.

Josh Plaster is a redshirt senior who came to OU from Arizona State, and by all accounts he didn't have his best game on Saturday against the Bearcats. Dean and Dusty gave the Oklahoma special teams a C+ Sunday night with Dean adding, "Can't punt it far or high."

But we thought you might be interested in some statistical details. Overall, Plaster is averaging 40.5 yards per punt, which ranks No. 90 of 117 in the FBS. Against Cincinnati, he punted six times for 232 yards or a 38.7 yards per punt average.

Against SMU, Plaster punted the ball three times for 128 yards for an average of 42.7 yards per punt. Against the Ponies, his longest punt went 46 yards, and against Cincy, it was 45.

Plaster only got one try against Arkansas State and Tulsa, respectively, booting it 50 and 36 yards.

Definitely room for improvement, especially when the offense isn't moving the ball as briskly as hoped. However, let's offer a wee bit of context here. The difference between Plaster being No. 90 nationally and being a Top 25 punter in college football is just 5 yards per punt on average.

Overall, regarding OU's 20-6 win, Dusty Dvoracek echoed the 'always room to improve' sentiment.

"It's a good win to me. You go on the road against a Big 12 opponent. You win by two touchdowns. You should feel good about that. It wasn't perfect. (There are) things to work on," he said.

Oklahoma is back in action Saturday at 6 p.m. against Iowa State from Norman.