Open Post | Weekend, April 24th-26th
Posted on: April 24, 2020
Maintaining Perspective on the Defense
– Super K
Ever since Grinch has come on board there has been these massive shifts in sentiment among some of the Sooner faithful.
At some points last year, the tone was, “oh man! It’s more of the same”
And at other times it was, “move over Alabama, this is Oklahoma defense”
I think most level headed fans realize that Grinch certainly improved the defense, installed a sound scheme and got the players to believe in themselves more than ever before.
But would also agree that it’s not there yet. And, I think most realize that this has a lot to do with the talent level that Grinch inherited.
So, folks get understandably upset when the Sooners don’t land key players.
But I want to offer a quick note of additional perspective and it’s nothing earth-shattering. In the 2018/2019 playoff game against Alabama, the Sooners defense couldn’t stop a leaky faucet let alone the attack of the Crimson Tide. Just about everyone in the stands and on the field (on defense) wants to forget that game. And Parnell Motley was certainly no exception. He struggled mightily. It really looked like he had learned almost nothing in his time at Oklahoma.
Motley came into OU as a guy with great instincts. In fall camps he was always the player with the most interceptions. He occasionally flashed moments of that brilliance on the field. Remember the Ohio State game interception?
This final season, under the tutelage of Grinch and Manning, he was much improved. Instead of a liability he actually became a strength of the defense.
So, I want you consider that and then remember the kinds of number he put up during the OU pro day testing.
40-time: 4.5 secs
Vertical: 30 inches
Shuttle: 4.47
Broad Jump: 9 ft
Outside of the 40 time which at 183 lbs is decent, those numbers are not eye-popping. They don’t scream explosive.
Now I want to consider the kinds of players OU brought in during Grinch’s first year.
Kendall Dennis – about the same height as Parnell but far more explosive. And, if you thought Motley’s ball skills were good, wait till get a load of this guy.
Joshua Eaton – Tall! Long! And runs like a gazelle. And plenty of bounce. He’s the prototypical looking corner OU wants.
Bryson Washington – Again, big DB that can flat out run. Both he and Eaton are track guys that just look different than most of the guys OU has had on the back end.
DJ Graham – Another 6’+ kid that can run and was already impressing the staff before the Corona virus shutdown.
My point here is that while the recruiting needs to continue to improve, keep in mind how, in terms of pure athleticism, OU is already making major upgrades on the back end.
Now, I’ll concede that doesn’t always translate. We don’t know how these guys are going to pan out. But in terms of the raw tools, there are more of these kinds of guys coming into the program.
Even the best athletes OU has had on their defense, have had real liabilities whether it’s height, stiffness, lack of ball skills or lack situational awareness.
The pool that Grinch will draw from in the 2020 class looks a lot more complete in my estimation.
But again, I mention this because I want you to consider how much they got out of Parnell despite some physical limitations and then look at what they’ve already brought in.
For too long OU was compromising on athleticism. OU was literally taking small slow footed players, in some cases. The pool to draw from inside the program is changing. You’re either big and fast or you are fast, loose and explosive. It isn’t to say OU is getting all their top targets but they’re getting better athletes and so in the future, I think you can expect to continue to see better and better defensive performances.
The Latest | 2021 LB Trenilyas Tatum
– Charlie S
The Sooners hosted 2021 linebacker Trenilyas Tatum (6’2″ 208) out of Jonesboro, GA back in late January.
Following the visit, he gave the Sooners rave reviews and all but locked in an official visit.
“So while he gave the visit rave reviews, I wanted to know how much of an impact the Sooners made in his recruitment. I asked him if OU had made a move in his process and he confirmed they did by saying “OU will most definitely get an official visit.”
In later conversations, he told me he was likely to make it to Norman for the Spring Game.
Since the time we found out that the Spring Game would not go off as planned, I had been reaching out to Trenilyas for several weeks without hearing back from him.
K was able to get in touch with him late last week and Tatum mentioned to him that he has not been hearing much from OU of late.
So it feels an awful lot like the Sooners have at the very least put the brakes on their pursuit of Tatum at this time.
If you are looking for reasons why that could be the case right now, you may need to look no further than the potential of Kobie McKinzie (6’3″ 227, Lubbock, TX) reclassifying to 2021 and how the Sooners feel about where things stand with Kendall Daniels (6’4″ 190, Beggs, OK) and a guy like Danny Stutsman (6′ 2.5″, Winter Garden, FL).
If OU lands Daniels, who is a linebacker to the Sooners but is also multiple, Stutsman, and if McKinzie is in the ’21 class, Oklahoma has their inside linebackers and that would leave them to focus on a RUSH candidate.
I am not saying things are completely done with Tatum, but based on our interactions with him, things have slowed down between him and OU quite a bit and it certainly does not appear that the Sooners are pushing here right now.
We will keep following this obviously.
TFB Talking Point | Draft Predictions
– Charlie S
The 2020 NFL Draft begins tomorrow night. (last night)
James has already brought you Lincoln’s breakdown of the draft and his thoughts, now it’s my turn.
I’m going to list the guys who I think have a chance to get drafted and the round I think they will get chosen.
Leave your predictions in the threads.
Last year I was pretty close…had Hollywood in early second and Cody in late first (flip-flopped) and was off on Bobby Evans as I thought he would go later.
So let’s go:
WR CeeDee Lamb: – Early-Mid 1st round: Most complete WR in the history of Oklahoma and for my money…should be the first receiver off the board. He may not end up being the first receiver taken, but if I were a GM and I needed a WR…he’s my guy. CORRECT
LB Kenneth Murray: – Mid-Late 1st round: I didn’t think I would be typing these words…but there it is. Murray has all the physical tools and then some. I had previously believed his film would be his Achilles heel. I think his athleticism and mentality keep him in the first round. CORRECT
DL Nevillie Gallimore: – 3rd round: Set the world on fire during the senior bowl practices but didn’t flash much in the game. Had a ‘good’ combine and has tremendous speed and good athleticism. Film will do him little favors. Yes, the highlights are great but on a play to play basis there are some issues. One of the best young men to go through Norman and I hope he goes higher than my prediction.
QB Jalen Hurts: – 3rd round: I know there is a lot of buzz around him right now…but I simply can’t justify taking a solid citizen who has some decent running ability and questionable passing accuracy (on intermediate and deep passes, IMO) any higher than the third round. I know it is a quarterback league…which only furthers my opinion that he shouldn’t be taken higher as I don’t see the ability to be a franchise QB based on his decision making and style of play. If he goes higher than the 3rd, his year in Norman under Lincoln Riley will be the determining factor.
CB Parnell Motley: – 5th round: Motley got snubbed from the combine and had a decent pro-day (did not wow anyone IMO) but…his film will most certainly help him from last year. motley was the definition of a lockdown corner as he had an incredibly under the radar year, apparently, in the league’s eyes. He shut down every receiver he was faced with and even progressed in his run defense (not spectacular but a willing effort most of the time). I was tempted to project him in the 4th round and I wouldn’t be surprised if that is where he goes.
Those are the five guys I see being drafted. I know there is talk about WR Lee Morris being a selection, but I think he will be an UDFA who gets an offer rather quickly.
One guy I thought there would be more buzz on following the OU pro-day was running back Marcelias Sutton. I thought he really stood out and has that quick twitch ability and good speed. I wouldn’t be shocked to see him go as an UDFA at the very least.
Looking forward to your thoughts!
Injury Update | Jadon Haselwood
– Charlie S
We were made aware of a report by SoonerScoop last night during the draft which indicated Sooners WR Jadon Haselwood had suffered a leg injury while working out at home.
I reached out to K and James to see if they could confirm the report.
James got back to me and can confirm that multiple sources indicated that Haselwood suffered a lower leg injury while working out on his own.
Sources told James that Haselwood has yet to see a doctor in order to get the proper testing done to diagnose the injury.
Will update when we get more.
5-Star DL Korey Foreman | Quick-Hitter
– Super K
***As you may know by now, 2021 5-star DL, Korey Foreman has decommitted from Clemson.
***I’m sure many of you are wondering what the Sooners status is in this one.
***Prior to his commitment, Thibodeaux was his primary recruiter. At the time it didn’t sound like the Sooners were much of a threat.
***However, with him opening things up, I fully expect coach Jamar Cain to take over the recruitment.
***Cain likely has a relationship with Foreman but also has relationships with people in California. I would temper expectations for the moment. Right now the goal isn’t to score a touchdown. It will be to get a first down – getting Foreman locked in for an official visit in the fall.
TFB Talking Point | Spring Football Season?
– Charlie S
Earlier this week, I came across this tweet…
It got me thinking…and when that happens…I wind up all over the place.
With that said, after sitting on the thought of a spring football season, I tweeted out…
College football, and the money it generates, is the lifeblood of many colleges.
The money generated supports virtually every other sport, aside from basketball in some cases and maybe a few strong gymnastic programs.
If college football is postponed until the spring semester…to me…that would mean it would be almost impossible for any other sport to take place on the collegiate level until that season is complete.
That would mean no basketball season, no wrestling season, no soccer, no gymnastics, no softball, no baseball…no nothin’.
The financial hit to institutions would devastate many schools…like to the point of possibly shutting them down.
Without the money generated through football, many coaches in the athletic programs will not be able to be paid, scholarships will not be able to be honored, recruiting budgets and support staffs will be depleted and worst of all, a ton of student-athletes will be left without an opportunity, at least in the short term.
Why couldn’t other spring sports be played if the football season was moved to the spring?
Well let’s take a look at what would be affected… the schematics of scheduling, transporting, training, facility usage, maintenance, staffers for the events, training support…the list goes on and on.
If Spring Football is moved to the spring, it would have to be at the forefront for every school and get preferential treatment (as it should since it pays the bills).
Am I wrong?
Is there a way you could envision a spring semester which has Football, Basketball, Baseball, Softball, Gymnastics, Wrestling, Track and Field…and all the other sports I didn’t mention?
Everything I mentioned above does not even take into account the notion of basically one month off for the football players before they start getting ready for the following fall.
What is a better solution?
As this is a real-time pandemic, obviously none of us know the answer…but I’m willing to hear your thoughts!
