Sooners have plenty of work ahead

<br>NORMAN, Okla. (AP) _ After a week off, Oklahoma was rested and ready for South Florida, an opponent that figured to provide the third-ranked Sooners an opportunity to roll confidently into Big 12 play.

Sunday, September 29th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) _ After a week off, Oklahoma was rested and ready for South Florida, an opponent that figured to provide the third-ranked Sooners an opportunity to roll confidently into Big 12 play.

It didn't happen that way. The Sooners lacked consistency, again struggled to run the ball effectively and generally were disappointing in a 31-14 victory Saturday night.

``I felt like we took a step backward, probably,'' quarterback Nate Hybl said of the offense.

Coach Bob Stoops struck a more general theme.

``There's too much out there today that isn't good enough if we're going to be the kind of team we hope to be this year,'' he said.

The Sooners (4-0) have to get better quickly. They play their first true road game this week against Missouri _ they played at Tulsa to open the year, but three-fourths of the stadium wore crimson and cream _ then travel to Dallas on Oct. 12 to play No. 3 Texas.

``We've got an awful lot we need to get better at if we're going to have a chance compete in the Big 12,'' Stoops said.

Start with the ground game. The Sooners gained 49 yards on nine first-quarter carries against South Florida (2-2), but ended the night with 45 yards on 33 carries, including three sacks that cost them 17 yards.

This against a South Florida team that had given up 355 yards on the ground in its previous game, a 42-3 loss to Arkansas.

Stoops was clearly frustrated with the offensive line.

``Very average, and I think I'm being polite,'' he said.

Oklahoma punted on its first four possessions before Antonio Perkins returned a punt 82 yards for a touchdown. The Sooners then put together two touchdown drives, each set up by South Florida turnovers, to take a 21-0 halftime lead.

The offense slowed again in the second half _ Oklahoma netted 30 yards in the third quarter and just 17 in the fourth. After a 45-yard drive for a third-quarter touchdown, a drive assisted by two South Florida penalties, the Sooners had 17 yards and two first downs the rest of the game.

``We weren't able to run it, throw it, we weren't able to pick up first downs and move the football,'' Stoops said. ``You're not going to win many football games if you can't do that.''

One person on offense who is playing up to par is Hybl, Stoops said. Hybl, who became the starter again in the second game after Jason White blew out a knee, was 19-of-30 for 177 yards and two touchdowns against South Florida.

Hybl was a favorite target of critics last year when Oklahoma's offense bogged down late in the season, but Stoops said his quarterback is performing well. He has thrown 84 passes without an interception this season.

``I'm very pleased with what he's doing,'' Stoops said. ``He's very smart with the football and he's throwing it well. We've got to give him opportunities to make some things happen.''

Perkins, who now has two punt returns for touchdowns this season, continues to be a highlight of the special teams. But punter Blake Ferguson had a tough night, averaging just 32 yards on 10 attempts.

The defense appeared on its way to its third shutout of the season before South Florida scored twice in the final 1:59 against second- and third-teamers.

Stoops said he was happy with the victory, but not much else.

``I don't know what the answer is, to be honest with you,'' he said. ``We'll re-evaluate everything we're doing _ the way we're practicing, and the attitude and toughness of our team, and see if we can't make some improvement. We need to.''