Entering the 2013 season Bell was expected to replace four year starter, Landry Jones, as the Sooner starter. However, just weeks before the season opener Head coach Bob Stoops named redshirt freshman Trevor Knight as the Sooner starting quarterback. The announcement was a shock to most fans and local talking heads. But, Bell took the news in stride. he supported Knight as a starter but kept himself prepared in the event he was called upon to play.
Trevor Knight was obviously a superior running quarterback. Knight led the Sooners with 103 rushing yards on only 13 carries in his first start. However, Knight struggled in the passing game hitting on 43% of his passes in the first two games, and his misses were horrible. He had thrown 3 interceptions in the first two games. Knight suffered a knee injury in the second game of the season against West Virginia. Bell played in the second half but only attempted one pass. The following week against Tulsa, Bell would get his first official start. Against Tulsa Bell was superb passing for a Sooner record 413 yards hitting 27 of the 37 passes he threw. Bell also rushed for 24 yards on 10 carries. After the game the obvious questions began to surface. Why was Bell not tabbed as the starter, he looked far better than Knight passing and he could run a little. Stoops brushed off the questions, but named Bell the starter going forward. The Sooners had a bye week coming up and then, a trip to South Bend Indiana and a date with Notre Dame. We would know a lot more about Bell in two weeks.
Bell again played a brilliant game against the Fighting Irish. Bell completed 22 of 30 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed 12 times for 59 yards, good for second on the team. The most important stat, Bell had not turned the ball over since becoming the starter. The decision to start Knight over Bell was becoming increasingly difficult to understand. On the field, Bell looked like a top ten quarterback. He was mobile, accurate and took care of the football. In two games Bell had a completion rate of 73% on 49-67 passing. He had thrown for 645 yards, 6 touchdowns and no interceptions. He also ran 22 times for 83 yards, a 3.77 average. Stout numbers for a backup quarterback. What were we missing? What did the coaching staff see that the fans and talking heads didn't?
The answer came quickly. By the second half of the TCU game Bell looked appeared to be a shell of the player that defeated a good Notre Dame team on the road. Bell only threw for 152 yards and no touchdowns in a 20-17 win over TCU. Granted, TCU was playing a stout man to man coverage but Bell looked uncomfortable and indecisive for the first time since putting on an Oklahoma uniform. Bell's next outing against Texas was even worse. He managed only 133 yards against a defense that had been beaten horribly on two previous occasions earlier this season. Bell's completion percentage dropped to 46% and he threw his first two interceptions of the season. In addition to an inept passing game, Bell ran 7 times for -27 yards. The Kansas game was better but not enough to keep the fans and talking heads to start serious conversations about replacing Bell with Trevor Knight or the fully recovered, Kendall Thompson. In both games against Texas and Kansas, Bell looked uncomfortable, indecisive and frantic at times. Against Texas Tech, Bell started the first quarter in much the same fashion as he had played the previous two and a half games. Late in the first, Trevor Knight was seen warming up on the sidelines. Was a switch coming? It didn't and we may never know if it was planned because Bell snapped out of his funk on the next series and ended the game with 249 yards, 2 touchdowns and a completion percentage of 64%.
Blake Bell has started 6 games for Oklahoma this season. Three great starts and three clunkers. In his three starts against Tulsa, Notre Dame and Texas Tech, Bell was 63-89 for 894 yards with 8 touchdowns and no interceptions. His completion rate in those starts was an astounding 71%. In those games Bell also rushed 31 times for 127 yards, a 5.06 average. In his clunkers against TCU, Texas and Kansas, Bell was 47-83 for 416 yards, 2 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. His completion percentage dropped to 54%. In those games he rushed 33 times for 108 yards dropping his average to 3.27 yards per carry. How could two sets of games, three in each set, have such opposite stats from the same player?
Is Bell simply inconsistent? I hope not. Inconsistency at this level will not win championships. Is it a confidence issue? Possibly, but with who. Is Bell lacking confidence or are his coaches lacking confidence in him. Could it also be a lack of consistency in play calling. Could the blame fall on the shoulders of Josh Heupel. I think it's a combination of all of these factors.
It would be difficult for me to believe that a player of Bell's caliber and pedigree can be that inconsistent. He obviously is a capable runner and passer. At times he looks exceptional. Most inconsistent quarterbacks are at least as bad as they are good, in other words, average. Blake Bell is not average. Nor is he completely developed mentally or physically. He has a great upside.
Confidence is the reason for the inconsistency. Not just Bell's lack of confidence but the coaches as well. It would appear that Stoops and Heupel have him on a rather short leash. I believe that the offensive coaches are concerned that if he shows any weakness in the passing game that they shut it down. When Bell senses a lack of confidence in his ability from the coaching staff, it has to affect his own confidence. I believe the coaches thought Trevor Knight gave them the best chance to win. With Knight out, they seem to want Bell to manage the game not to lose. The relationship came to a break point in the first quarter against Texas Tech. It would appear Heupel decided to let him play and let the chips fall where they may. Most of us like where they fell.
You must have tough skin if you are going to play or coach at OU. One week you're a King that can't be challenged, a week later you're a skunk that shouldn't be allowed to wear the coveted Sooner jersey. Perhaps Blake listened to a little too much public opinion over the first few games. He believed he was a King after Notre Dame and couldn't believe the same fans were calling for his head after the Texas game. Such is life as a Sooner. Better get used to it or leave because it will not change. Remember, these same fans wanted Stoops to replace Heisman winner Jason White with converted wide receiver Paul Thompson in the National title game vs LSU in 2004. A game that the Sooners and White almost tied in the fourth quarter.
Blake Bells overall numbers are not bad and he is 5-1 as a starter. He has a completion rate of 64% and has 10 touchdowns and only 3 picks. His yards per carry average is a respectable 4.14 yards. He has young receivers and the play calling has been very suspect at critical times this season. Bell seems to play better when he is allowed to play. He seems to have the respect of his team mates and hopefully proved to the coaching staff that he belongs the starter with the impressive manner in which he played against Texas Tech. Bell also seems to play better against strong competition. He played his best games against ranked opponents Notre Dame and Texas Tech.
The Sooners travel to Waco Texas next week to take on the 5th ranked Baylor Bears. This should be Bells toughest test yet. If the right plays are called and the coaches let Bell play, a win is a very real possibility. The statistics back up that theory. Let's hope they are right.
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