The Football Brainiacs

Image from Soonersports.com

A few of us Brainiacs have went back and reviewed the tape and took notes separately and, to be candid, we all came away thinking that Baylor’s O-line wasn’t quite as impressive as we anticipated. We also came back thinking that Lache Seastrunk, while excellent, doesn’t have the kind of start and stop that we expected. In fact where Lache did surprise us was in how much more physical and powerful he is in the run game than one might expect from a back his size. The bottom line for me is this isn’t a game where Oklahoma is outmatched in terms of talent. In fact I’d contend that we have better talent at most positions. Baylor is a true spread up-tempo team that takes advantage of mis-alignments, poor run fits, busts in coverage and all other sorts of mistakes a team can make when the speed of the game continually changes. We heard the players this past weekend talk over and over about being assignment sound. That is always true but it is especially true against Baylor. If Oklahoma plays their assignments they can win this game and I think they can win it comfortably.

Lets look at their O-line. Outside of their massive left guard, Cyrril Richardson I don’t see Baylor having an edge in talent anywhere on the line. Make not mistake Cyril is a monster at 6’5 335. He’s very powerful and he’s steamroller inside. But, again I think in terms of talent we matchup favorably everywhere else. I hate to keep coming back to this but if Jordan Phillips and Corey we’re playing, this wouldn’t be a game in my opinion.

The two players I think we can really take advantage of are at their left tackle and center positions. As I watched the K-State vs. Baylor game again the thought that immediately came to mind was that Eric Striker is going to have a big game for us.  Baylor’s left tackle just appears to be a tad slow footed and he’s a bit of a waist bender.  I truly believe that Striker is going to be able to exploit that matchup and cause some problems.

The center for Baylor appears to be a bit soft but they’re going to rely on Cyril Richardson to double team Jordan Wade in the run game. Jordan is going to absolutely have to play with outstanding pad level and technique.  If he gets too high, then he’ll get driven out of the play. But the flip side is that  I don’t think the center can play Wade one-on-one. If that’s the case and it forces them to dedicate Richardson to Wade it gives our LBs more opportunities for unblocked tackles. Our players on the outside, Tapper, Ndulue and Grissom are going to have to have big games for us but I think they can win their matchups. But our LBs are going to have to play sound in the run game, stay in their gaps and make tackles! Let me tell you and show you what they can’t do:

A play in particular that comes to mind is in the 1st quarter with 5:28 to go.  I noticed that the K-State linebackers didn’t attack the line of scrimmage at all.  What ends up happening is that the linebackers end up catching blocks instead of hammering up in there on their run fits.  Looking closer at why that was going on, the linebackers on the snap were still looking to the sideline trying to get the call.  Players have to know what they’re doing, or they hesitate and end up being indecisive and slow.

Here’s another example, which I’ll illustrate, how Baylor takes advantage of missed assignments. Martin’s 21 yard run to seal the game late in the 4th quarter against K-State was another busted assignment. The linebacker has to crash as soon as he sees that guard coming around.  He hesitates for whatever reason, and you’ll see in the next couple of pictures what transpires.

In the image below you can see that the linebacker still isn’t up to the line of scrimmage.  It’s very realistic to believe that had he stepped up where he was supposed to be here, he stops Martin for a short gain.  It’s 3rd and 5 here, and he most likely it forces Baylor to kick the field goal and go up 31-25, giving K-State one final opportunity.

Notice that Baylor’s line hasn’t gotten much push off the LOS and hasn’t gotten lineman into the second level. For K-State you’ve got more than one player including that LB that are unblocked and free to make the tackle.

Below you see the linebacker #53 and the safety # 22 in position and both don’t make a good play here.  The previous two pictures show where 53 is unblocked, and frankly that’s a linebackers dream.  Martin’s the aggressor and it pays off.  You know what they say…if they’re even, they’re leavin’.

I don’t want to pick on the safety but this wasn’t the first bust that led to a big play for Baylor. Four of the five td’s Baylor scored against K-State were busts.  Three big pass plays, and then this play.  K-State outplayed Baylor for 54 of 58 defensive snaps.  That’s why it’s imperative that we can’t give up the big play.  Baylor lives and dies by the big play.  They’re counting on you to make a mistake.  If our young freshmen can overcome their youth and play with discipline, then we will have an outstanding chance to win this game.

Again Baylor does not have the athletes to win one-on-one matchups in the trenches in my opinion except in a spot or two. All game against K-State Baylor made a living on big plays and busted assignments which is why it’s imperative that we are dialed in and assignment sound. We aren’t going to lose because of a disparity in talent. We’re going to lose if we aren’t sound.