Mailbag – Answering your Mathew Romar and Charles Walker Questions?
Posted on: November 21, 2013
In this mailbag I’m going to tell y’all a little bit about Charles Walker and Mathew Romar. I had a chance to get a look at them in fall camp and I’ll answer a couple questions based on what I saw:
1. We’ve had a number of folks ask us where Mathew Romar and Charles Walker will play in Oklahoma’s new 30 front. Some folks have speculated that one or the other would play the nose guard position and some have said the 4i DEnd position.
I obviously can’t tell you the future with certainty but I can say that in this past fall camp both Romar and Walker we’re taking their reps at the 4i DEnd position. I saw that myself. Them playing the DEnd position makes sense, at least at this point, since both of those guys would have probably been 3 tech B gap players in the old front. The 4i is a B gap player as well.
2. Also, had someone ask what our thoughts are on both of them and where we see them ending up. I have not seen them practice since fall camp but I can tell you that I was very impressed by them in camp.
Charles Walker – Looked really really good. I’m definatly curious to see him this spring. People do not realize just how quick his initial step is. And he has great hands. He may have one of the brightest futures of all the recruits from last years class. Walker feels more like a one gap penetrating player so my guess would be he’ll stay at the 4i DEnd spot. But I should know for certain this spring.
Mathew Romar – I liked Romar as well. He’s got good overall athleticism. But believe it or not, I could see Romar shifting to a nose guard. I think because of the combination of great size and athleticism he could develop into a 2-gap player. That would obviously be great because those guys are so hard to find. But, again I should know for certain this spring.
I think it’s safe to say that the plan is to really bulk up the defensive front. Instead of having a NG and two 40 front DEnds we’ll be 3 big men across but as a single gap player those DEnds will be more athletic big men like Walker.
As always we appreciate the questions and encourage y’all to please feel free to comment, send suggestions, questions or criticisms whenever you like.
19 Comments
Good stuff Ace.
Could Onouha move to TE? Good track record of former bballers at that
position. Also any reports of who the scout team stars have been? Last
year we were already hearing about Knight and Woods.
Awesome!
So where does that leave tapper and Grissom? Also, where will onuoha play?
Good news is that Tapper’s a junior next year, and Grissom wil be a senior. I know that Mike would love to move Tapper around and get him being a spinner type player, and these kids developing will help him get more creative for sure. More depth is never a bad thing. With Tapper, Bond and Striker coming from all over, Jordan Phillips and Wade squeezing the pocket, and then Geneo and these young bucks getting good reps, man this Defense could be filthy.
If we can get some size at Strikers position with athleticism at DE, that will also allow for some pretty nasty twists. If OL is caught off guard with those, there may be some QBs needing some smelling salts.
No doubt man. Striker’s a speed mismatch all day, and from what we’ve seen out of Bond’s film, he’s an animal. Usually you have one maybe two really good pass protectors. Not many offensive lines in the Big XII will be able to handle that kind of pass rush.
And Ward? I’ve seen him listed anywhere from 6’2-245 to 6’4- 260 Do you know his approximate height/weight?
@Matt Onuoha is looking to play a similar position as Eric Striker. During Fall Camp I saw the explosiveness everyone has raved about since his junior year in HS at Santa Fe. We have to remember that he is really ripe as a player. He is the classic case of an undersized PF in basketball that made the transition to basketball. His initial first step is incredible for a man his size, however for Onuoha to be able to turn the corner (pun intended) is to literally turn the corner. Once he gets up field on his initial two steps he does not have the hips to get around a LT or RT for that matter. OU has been working just two different moves with Onuoha this year, he has around a 6’9″ wing span so a “bull rush” technique will go along with his speed rush. Coaches have been high since Onuoha stepped on campus, but they also know he is very raw at this point and needs more work in the weight room.
As far as Tapper and Grissom they will be the starters, Grissom will be a Sr. next year and overall has played the 4i well. It is no secret though that OU has always loved to have depth at the D-line position and rotating their top 6 guys is ideal especially when the 4i is capable of getting a double team on any down.
Thanks Ace. Was Onuoha backing up Striker during camp?
If Striker were to go down, Aaron Franklin would most likely come in because of his ability against the run. Ohuoha still has awhile to go against anchoring against the run. Franklin though wouldn’t be able to give the pass rush that Ohuoha would give, and from what I saw in the Fall he would come in as a situational pass rusher.
When I saw Onuoha in spring, I got reminded of Aldon Smith with the 9ers, but maybe that is bit of a stretch. So, can they use him similarly? as a 3-4 outside LB?
Talked to Ace last night and he said that’s exactly how they were using him
If Striker were to go down, Aaron Franklin would most likely come in because of his ability against the run. Ohuoha still has awhile to go against anchoring against the run. Franklin though wouldn’t be able to give the pass rush that Ohuoha would give, and from what I saw in the Fall he would come in as a situational pass rusher.
Guys, once again, awesome analysis and I love it when you bounce questions off one another. That is why I remain on this site constantly. In five minutes I learn more here than I do in a week on another OU site I pay for! Thanks.
Thanks man, we all really appreciate it! Keep on coming back!
JY
You can count on it as I continue to tell all Sooners to come over here.
Could Onouha move to TE? Good track record of former bballers at that position. Also any reports of who the scout team stars have been? Last year we were already hearing about Knight and Woods.
We’ll try to find out for you 🙂 Should be good stuff in the bowl game prep.