OU football OL Joshua Bates needs 'to be way better' after late penalty vs. Houston

OU football OL Joshua Bates needs ‘to be way better’ after late penalty vs. Houston

Posted by Admin September 10, 2024 Football

NORMAN — Joshua Bates showed remorse following OU football’s close win over Houston on Saturday night.

With 35 seconds to play in the fourth quarter after a kneel down on third-and-8, Bates took his helmet off in frustration after a Houston player appeared to dive on Sooners quarterback Jackson Arnold, and was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. Bates’ penalty stopped the clock, giving the Cougars the ball with 29 seconds down four points after the punt.

“I need to be way better in that moment,” Bates said after practice Monday night. “I have dealt with it with my team. I have apologized to the team and my number one thing is to make sure I gain the respect of my teammates back. And that’s something I’m still down about.”

OU held off Houston’s upset bid, securing a 16-12 victory, but Bates knows his mistake could have proved costly. Besides the late penalty, Bates has largely held his own at center after Branson Hickman and Geirean Hatchett’s injuries.

“It’s something that I cannot do in that moment,” Bates said. “Emotions got to me. That stuff will never happen again. I’ve apologized to the team. I’ve apologized to the coaches. I made it clear I’ll do anything I can to fix that mistake and move on.”

More: OU football bowl projections 2024: Where are Sooners entering Week 3 vs Tulane?

Bates’ mistake is just one example of the offensive line’s inconsistencies. The Sooners’ group, — missing Troy Everett, Hickman, Hatchett who underwent season-ending biceps surgery and Jake Taylor for part of the game — along with the rest of the offense, has failed to find an identity.

The line failed to create push up front for the run game as OU averaged 2.6 yards per carry. One of the Sooners’ starting running backs, Gavin Sawchuk, rushed four times for four yards.

“As a team and as a group we need to be better,” Bates said. “Offensive line-wise we showed flashes but then again we need to be better in the moment. We need to be able to execute at a high level like the standard at Oklahoma is. And that starts with me. It starts with all five of us up front and it starts with everybody in that room. We need to be at our best and be able to execute at a high level.”

The pocket was clean at times for Arnold to throw from but he’s taken snaps from four different centers in two games. He’s tossed for 315 yards, six touchdowns and an interception in two games behind seven offensive line variations.

Running back Jovantae Barnes said Arnold has been more vocal and has stood out as more of a leader since Saturday’s offensive performance.

More: How OU football DL Gracen Halton, defense bailed out Sooners in win vs. Houston

Even with the shuffling due to injuries on the offensive line, Bates said the group needs to improve by playing as a group and with a “1-0 mentality” each week. He has confidence the unit can improve as a group.

Bates said it starts with him at center and one thing is for certain, when OU hosts Tulane at 2:30 p.m. Saturday on ESPN, he’ll work to play with more discipline.

“We’re tight,” Bates said. “We’re a group that we all hang out together. We love each other. We’ve gone through these summer workouts with (strength coach Jerry Schmidt). We’ve done all the winter stuff. We feel like we’ve bled, we’ve sweat, we bleed together. And that’s something that over the last couple of years we’ve struggled with.

“And this year this group is tight. But it comes to getting on the field and being able to execute at a high level.”