Published: October 11, 2009 11:37 pm         

Stevens boots better but offense needs finish

NORMAN — Good news, bad news for the Oklahoma Sooners.

Placekicker Jimmy Stevens, a liability a year ago, has already kicked more field goals after five games of the 2009 season (9 of 10) than he kicked all of his redshirt freshman year (8 of 12).

The bad news is it shows one significant weakness for the 3-2 Sooners — the inability to score touchdowns within the red zone.

All four of Stevens field goals against Baylor (35, 25, 21 and 24) came after Sooners drives stalled inside the 20, including three inside the eight.

Stevens’ two field goals in a 14-13 loss to Brigham Young came after OU drives stalled at the 18 and five. His two field goals in a 21-20 loss to Miami came after drives stalled at the four and 21.

A year ago after five games, Stevens had to attempt only one field goal (36 yards).

OU coach Bob Stoops preferred to see the positives of Stevens’ stats going into Saturday’s Red River showdown with Texas.

“It was pleasing to see him hit so well,’’ Stoops said. “I am not surprised because I have been pleased with him through the year, just overall and in practice, he has been very consistent. I would say a year ago, even at practice, sometimes he was too inconsistent.’’

Stoops, though, admitted OU needed to score more touchdowns in the red zone. The Sooners had needed seven plays (helped by a Baylor roughing the passer penalty) to score from the Bears 7 on their first touchdown.

“We will work on that,’’ he said. “It gets down to execution, and blocking. We had a drop or so where we had opportunities to catch it.’’

Offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson, like Stoops, tried to emphasize the positives from the Baylor win.

The Sooners — held to 25 yards on 15 carries rushing in the first half — had 178 yards on 35 carries in the second half.

DeMarco Murray had 95 of his 113 yards after intermission. Chris Brown had 57 of his 70 yards in the second half.

“I really challenged our backs to run hard and to pick it up,’’ Wilson said. “At halftime, I told them to stay patient and that it was going to come. I told them to keep going and to play through it and let’s keep building.’’

Wilson said he was on everybody about attitude at halftime with OU clinging to a 14-7 halftime lead.

“I think our guys have been pressing. We have not had things go our way and we need some positive energy. The deal today was to stay aggressive and keep coming and keep building on it.’

Murray agreed with Wilson’s theories.

“We have to be better on the line and be better as running backs,’’ he said. “There were two times where I missed two big holes. I take blame for that part, but we just have to be smarter and continue to be more physical.’’

OU’s defense showed a turnaround in the second half. The Bears had only 96 yards in the second half after having 166 in the first half — 42 yards of that came on a Blak Szymanski pass to David Gettis on Baylor’s last possession.

The Bears managed only three first downs in the second half.

“I thought that we responded really well in the second half,’’ said OU defensive coordinator Brent Venables.

“For the most part, they played well. I think that when we didn’t, they really took advantage of it. It will be good for us to teach from the regards of beating yourself, but that’s nothing to take away from Baylor. They came in and did a couple of things that kind of surprised us. They threw it a little bit more times than in the past.’’

Baylor quarterback Nick Florence, who was 16-of-23 passing for 164 yards in the first half was only 6-of-18 for 56 yards the second half.

“We didn’t change anything up,’’ said OU defensive back Dominique Franks. “We were in the right positions. We knew what was coming, we just weren’t making the tackles. We just had to clear up a lot of stuff at halftime. We did that and shut them out in the second half.’’

Franks has filled the big play capability of injured Ryan Broyles as a punt returner.

Franks, who had a 51-yard punt return against Miami last week, had four returns for 100 yards, including a 51-yard return to the Baylor 41. OU did not take advantage of that field position.

“It’s not just me back there,’’ he said. “It’s the other 10 guys being able to hold up and giving me a chance to catch it. They are holding onto their blocks and letting me cut into them. All of us, we work hard to get the offense in better field position.’’

Franks said the win, marking the return of Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford from the injury list, was a confidence builder for the Sooners.

“At the same time, we have to come in tomorrow and clean up our mistakes,’’ he said. “Texas is a great football team and we can’t give up the same things that we did today.’’