Bullet Points from OU vs. Tennessee
Posted on: September 16, 2014
Image via Soonersports.com
Finally had a chance to go back and watch the game. Here are a few thoughts:
– Jordan Evans is physical in coverage. Really like his ability to carry a receiver up field.
– Skill positions have to be better at not getting ankle tackled. I haven’t been very high on Durron but I have to say he showed some open field explosion that I began to doubt that he had.
– Blake Bell isn’t consistent in the run game but he’s actually got some nice pop off the line when he blocks. Can see the potential. But at this point he’s still very much a work in progress in my opinion. He had a rough moment late in the first quarter. At the moment, he looks more of an H-Back who blocks well in space and can make plays in the passing game and less like an in line TE…but I like that they want to develop him in line. He’ll get better. His hands are incredible. He showed some play-making ability against a back seven that is pretty darn good.
– Last week I mentioned that Chuka “quietly” had a good game and has been playing well. This week he was even louder. Is really looking good. Using his hands really well and firing off the ball with some explosion.
– If I’m an offense and I see OU in quarters or any kind of 3 deep coverage I’m attacking that space in the middle of field behind the LBs. OU has to get better there. Right now I get a little worried when Thomas is isolated in coverage. Teams like Baylor are going to get outside WRs taking an outside release and running 9 routes and they’ll let their inside WR run deeper middle routes all game in an attempt to isolate the FS in coverage. He’s going to get tested more and more unless OU’s front can continue to pressure the way they have been.
– Receivers need to a better job of finding open space when Trevor buys time with his legs because he is doing a tremendous job of buying time.
– Really liking KJ Young. He’s got a nice release and just has some deceptive length and really plucks the ball.
– With Geneo moving to the boundary OLB and Striker to the field I think going forward it’s going to be very difficult for teams to run the read option. Geneo gives you the physicality on the boundary to set the edge and help stuff the run. Herbstreit help talking about OU crashing down from the backside but Striker has enough quickness to pinch down on the hand off but if the QB keeps he’s got the quickness to change direction and bring the QB down. You could see times wear Worley could have probably kept the ball but even though Striker would make the back side play on the RB you can just tell even if Worley had kept it Striker would have been athletic enough to recover.
– Related to the point above, I really like the move of Striker to the field. Not only do you gain schematic advantages but you also put Striker in a better position to get drafted higher. That’s good for him and for OU’s recruiting.
– Perine has tremendous balance. Really special player. Always finds a way to get some yards. He can be big when he needs to and he knows how to be small and find that extra yard or two when there’s nothing there.
– Again, Thomas struggled a bit in this game. He’s so well protected by the front that when he gets his opportunities he’s got to make the most of them. In the first half he had a receiver lined up after Sanchez missed the tackle but he did close hard enough and ended up getting stiff-armed. In coverage, he’s doing a nice job of putting his hands on a receiver but he’s not using his feet when he does. It’s a common mistake among high school DBs. He has to keep his feet moving.
– Jordan Phillip’s development under coach Montgomery is unreal. He absolutely looks like a first round talent right now.
– Sterling is incredibly twitchy. Very difficult to press and very difficult to play off coverage.
– That 3rd and 1 where Perine gets that first down shows so much of what he brings…physical…great vision. He gets those yards despite 3 guys hitting him.
– I liked some things I saw from Dom Alexander…he’s reading plays well…playing with great instinct and getting downfield in a hurry.
– I’m gonna go ahead and say it…Geneo gets drafted in the first round. Just my opinion.
40 Comments
“Skill positions have to be better at not getting ankle tackled.”
I re-watched the game last night and this really stood out to me. Know why Durron hasn’t scored yet? This is why. He always get’s ankle tackled in the open field.
Ford has some issues with getting ankle tackled as well or he’d be even more dominant.
just curious………how does one learn a/o train to not get ankle tackled…….are there drills or techniques to use…………thxs
They need to lift their knees a little to avoid those trash tackles.
“– I’m gonna go ahead and say it…Geneo gets drafted in the first round. Just my opinion.”
Not bad for a converted 4th string TE :).
I think the middle of the field behind the LB’s has been a problem for OU for a couple of years now. But I think that with the young, athletic group we have now they will learn to adjust and correct that lapse in coverage.
I wonder if OU would dare put in Parker for Thomas for WVU. Thomas is a liability at the moment in pass coverage. It doesn’t look natural to him. The TD by Tenn wasn’t anything special. Thomas simply lost him because he looked back to the line of scrimmage. He was “out of phase” and didn’t play the receiver. He wanted to play the ball, yet the receiver was an arm length away from him at the point he looks back to the ball.
I was about to ask the same question. Did Parker play much safety against Tenn? I didn’t see him, to be able to judge, but all I heard up until that game was that Parker was better in coverage than Thomas/Byrd. IF that is the case, you would think there would be games (WVU, Baylor, maybe even OSU) where it might make sense to play Parker more?
Parker seems to have excellent cover skills for a safety but Im not sure if he has the quicks to stay with Baylors speedy WRs as a CB.
If Parker doesn’t have that ability, than Thomas surely doesn’t. If they are looking to keep a safety on the field, but have somebody capable of covering a WR, Parker should be the choice over Thomas every single time.
I could be wrong, but I think Thomas was not turning looking for the ball, but turning to look to see if it was a run. The way the reciever slowed down, I think that Thomas thought the play was either over, or it was a run. Thomas was not expecting a pass, and seen the ball too late to do anything.
Again, I could be off, but by reading the body language, I think Thomas that the play was over. He had good coverage up to the point the receiver slowed down, so he slowed down and just quit on the play. Needs to be reminded play to the whistle and always think the ball is coming to your guy.
It was a pass play. Thomas was playing pass coverage all the way. The Tenn receiver looks up (inside) for the ball as if a pass had been made. The receiver turns his upfield shoulder. At this point, Thomas should be playing the receiver because he is “out of phase” (he is behind the receiver). Instead, he turns the wrong way to play the ball, he turns inside.
Stoops commented on that play specifically. Said Thomas was “in good coverage, peeked back at the blitz … lost the ball.”
What about Dakota?
An additional note about not getting ankle tackled. Ford seems to want to make a move to get past people instead of simply running through the (arm) tackle. There was a play where Ford got tripped because he made a move to get through an arm tackle. If he had simply run through the Tenn player’s arm he might have gained more yards.
The above comment is from a person who has never played RB…
Geneo is a beast I agree with first rounder even if he somehow has a bad combine, he will be a 2nd at worst. I don’t think you (as a general manager) could pass up a guy with similar characteristics of Demarcus ware and clay Matthews.
I should have probably qualified that by saying “if he tests well” and I fully expect him to.
I agree. He looks to be in great shape, better than I thought he was last year. I couldn’t see him slipping when he’s getting ready for the biggest interview of his life.
I can’t see him not testing well. His athleticism is pretty incredible for a guy his size.
Right now, it feels like (Mike) Stoops is a little undecided on which safety he likes back there with Hayes. Ahmad is probably the best choice, but it’s clear he doesn’t have much experience. I do believe he has improved every week, and will continue in that direction.
Parker is also a stud, but does look a little bit like a deer in the headlights at times (to be expected).
Byrd is great in coverage, but doesn’t seem to have perfected his assignments just yet.
The good news is that all three are incredible talents, each with their own strengths.
I’ve been really impressed with Parker when he’s on the field. Looks really comfortable in every facet of the game. The film on him is limited because it’s early but definitely like the little I’ve seen.
How many potential 1st rounders are on this defense? Because I’m counting 7: Jordan Phillips, Charles Tapper, Charles Walker, Jordan Evans, Geneo Grissom, Eric Striker, and Zach Sanchez.
Based purely on projection and not so much on what they’ve proven I’d say: Phillips, Geneo and maybe Walker down the road would have a chance. Tap is doing well but needs to take the next step. He’s going to be interesting because of the diversity he brings. He’s up to 280 lbs right now and is still athletic so a team might take him early, assuming he tests well, based on the fact that they can move him around in different fronts. Evans has the upside but it’s too early to say IMO. Where Striker goes is a little up in the air for me. I think he could go high as the hybrid LB/safety. Sanchez isn’t a first rounder to me. For guys that don’t have elite size you need to have elite speed and technique like Verrett. Would be interesting to have our guy, Chris Trulove, really look at that since he scouted NFL players for so long. He’d certainly have a much better sense than I would.
I guess I should’ve add a “if they maintain a good development trajectory” qualifier to my post. I included Sanchez because of his cover skills, but now I have to agree with you because his size is so lacking. I can see Dominique Alexander having a Curtis Lofton NFL route, not drafted high because of presumed lack of measurables, but great production because of football IQ, instincts, and work ethic.
I’m no expert but I think Tap could be a devastating 3-4 OLB in the NFL. So strong and didn’t he chase down a speedster in the Sugar Bowl? Striker can play special teams so that improves his NFL chances. I think OT Williams is underrated. Walker is tremendous but I have a suspicion his speed is straight line in limited film and based on how he is built not sure his lateral movement is commensurate. But he is just a baby (hulk man baby) yet. Agree about Sanchez. Plays his heart out, but one of the reasons he gets interceptions is because they challenge him. His knack for playmaking though is a la JT Thatcher. Remember that guy? Always in the right place
really good points, K. Funny you mention Durron, I’ve been wondering about him, also. Watching him, I kept thinking he needs to be one step faster, if he’s gonna get behind guys. But, maybe he’s one of those guys that is faster than he looks. He did say he’s been working on it, and he sure made a nice open field run. Obviously, other than the pure speed issue, he’s a quality runner. I wonder if we might see K.J. get behind folks, he appears to have some serious quickness.
There was one play where he split a couple defenders and it was the first time I’ve ever thought “wow” when watching him.
exactly…
OT:
St John got on the field for a few plays when Thompson hurt his leg. He didn’t get smoked. OT depth, along with with MLB depth, was one of the key question marks for this team.
Neal – with his build, I would like to see more quick routes that would allow him to run. He is built like a RB so he should be able to break some arm tackles for large gains.
We are missing is a WR w/speed who can stretch the defense.
Last note, due to being vanilla, I haven’t seen to many posts or corners. Mainly go routes for any type of longer passes to date.
-The middle opens up when a QB extends the play because the young LBs are too aggressive in leaving their zones.
– The safety position has me a little concerned because that position can be exposed in a hurry by a good offense(and a bad one too) but I think by the time we roll around to the second part of the season the pups will have grown up a bunch.
-You mentioned WR needing to do better when TK buys time… True, BUT TK needs to do better at not hanging those boys out to dry so often.
– TK needs to be more consistent in reading the defense… locks in on one guy too often it appears.
– Someone please tell Sterling to stop jumping all the time and run under a ball.
– that was the first screen pass I’ve seen this defense not read.
Shepherd – he catches the ball against his body a lot. Even on the go routes, he jumps and traps it against his body. He needs to extend and catch with his hands.
TK needs to see the field better in his reads. Said it before, we have quick guys so throw it as they are coming out of their breaks.
Yeah, I noticed the same thing with TK. He is gonna get either Shepard or Bell killed this year. He has put many passes out there that really could have gotten those guys just wasted, luckily the defenses we played didn’t take advantage.
I think we should give Parker or Byrd a shot at starting the safety spot. They (especially Parker) have shown they can cover and Byrd just has an undeniable size intimidation. Also I’ll admit I had doubts and wasn’t big on Q. Hayes but he has made a believer out of me
Agree. I like Parker even more than I thought I would. Not sure if Thomas can hold off Byrd and Parker for that spot if it’s truly open for competition unless he gets a lot better. And he might get a lot better. After all it’s only his 3rd game with significant playing time so I’m sure he’s still adjusting.
Hayes probably played his best game as a Sooner on Saturday. I have been a huge doubter of him as well, but at this point he is definitely our best safety.
I agree bro, I use to think he was timid and not much help especially in run support but he has really raised his game and I can’t think of a situation where he shouldn’t be on the field
I’m surprised you didn’t talk about the O.line…with 3 NFL types I thought run blocking was terrible at times…Dalton really is raw…I get the 8 men in the box but thought our line just didn’t do well at times hence field goals…I’m appalled Flowers isn’t getting more touches…coaching…especially Josh was terrible…the good is that Josh recovers well and tends to really show out in the next games
this is one of the better teams I have seen 3 games in….the defense cannot be on the field that long in the future
There’s a lot of hinting by the coaches that JH was intentionally staying fairly vanilla last game, which I think would explain our run troubles, as we weren’t able to break out the plays to make them pay, so they just stacked the box. Flowers is one of the guys we’ll see much more of as the season goes on.
I left that for JY 🙂
I’m not trying to go there but how close is shep to being as good of a receiver as broyles was while at OU? I think they both do many things well I think he’s close and that’s what makes me excited to watch him this year and next.