The Football Brainiacs

Image from The Oklahoman (Photographer: Chris Landsberger)

– And the Endy package is back! Last week it was the Eagle front on third downs and this week it was Chuka playing the nose with an Endy package that was incredibly effective. I guess technically its sort of a modified Endy since Chuka isn’t a pure D End anymore but you get the point.

– Eric Striker continues to prove he is an incredible pass rusher. When he starts to finish those tackles it will start showing up on the stat sheet. When he’s against an OT one on one without a line shift or a chip or anything its just unfair for the other team.

– We saw a true masterpiece in defensive effort last night. Not a single first down until the middle of the 3rd quarter? Unreal. If anyone questioned whether Coach Mike Stoops knows how to scheme against Big 12 defenses they got their answer. A true savant.

– If Jordan Phillips had been playing TCU would have been moving backwards. The combination of him collapsing the interior part of the line (which he would have done) and forcing double teams (which he would have required) and Striker coming off the edge would have been something to see.

– Torrea and Jordan did a decent job. Both of them had moments. Jordan MIGHT have the edge in terms of strength and I don’t think I’ve seen enough to say for certain but accounting for Jordan’s age I think I’d give it to Jordan. But Torrea gets off the ball quicker. There was a play when Torrea flashed that explosiveness I remember seeing in high school but it needs to happen more consistently. Wade flashed his strength at the POA when he stood up the center and shed him late in the game.

– As I said in my notes last week Tapper may end up being a first rounder and he showed it again this week with his freakish speed in the open field.

– We’ve ended the last 4 halves of games beautifully going on long drives and the drive at the end of the first half of this game made the difference in the game.

– What a huge difference it makes when Striker isn’t on the field. On the first scoring drive (FG) for TCU Striker was out for a few plays and we just couldn’t muster a pass rush. When Striker comes off the edge that quick he changes everything for everybody.

– Frank Shannon played lights out at inside and outside LB. He gives you good coverage. He gives you a pressure guy. But more than anything he gives you a real run stuffing smart physical LB that can fit well and make plays in space.  TCU tried to big boy us for all of a 2 plays and Shannon had a great play that Hayes will get credit for (and he certainly deserves some) but Shannon reads the QB keeper and fits perfectly forcing the pulling TE to choose him or Hayes to block which ultimately frees both of them. If he gets sucked inside there the TE has a clean block on Hayes and Boykin is gone. Instead the play goes no where thanks in large part to Shannon. Later in the game (3rd quarter) TCU tries to zone read and again Shannon reads it perfectly and stones the ball carrier for no game.

– Can’t say enough about Shannon. Very next play TCU does a great job of clearing us out at the 3 tech allowing the tackle to get up on Shannon immediately but Shannon sheds him and manages to make the tackle on the ball carrier. Physical and fast. Tough combination to find.

– A guy who’s been quietly playing well in my eyes is Kass Everett. Haven’t heard much about him since that sack/fumble but he’s pretty good in coverage and physical at the line. I remember him absolutely stoning again when he pressed him at the line on a 3rd down. I think it shocked the receiver.

– Dom Alexander is still showing his youth (which is to be expected) but there are some little things that I like. A great example was early in the second half. Boykin tries to run out side. He comes on an inside blitz but realizes Boykin is running outside. He could have taken a path inside to get to Boykin but Boykin would have bounced the ball outside and got up field. Instead of being impatient and trying to make the tackle he spills the play back inside where he’s got help and Boykin is stopped for no gain.

– Dom is fitting better but he’s just got to form tackle better. He had a couple great fits but couldn’t make the tackle because the technique just wasn’t there. But where OU really needs him to step up is in his physicality in the open field. Too many times I see him getting walled off by O-linemen. He’s too athletic to let that happen and then allow the O-lineman to stay on him. Again he’s still young but making strides.

All in all great game. 200+ yards on the ground and OU only gave up 17 points and 210 yards. Compare that to LSU. They ran for just under 200 yards and gave up 27 points and 259 yards. For a defense that was supposed to be the problem child of the group that’s pretty nice.