Open Post | Weekend, August 28th – 30th
Posted on: August 28, 2020
Team Notes | Sourced | Managing Depth
– Super K
***Let me begin by saying, one of the big things I’ve taken away from my conversations with various sources at different programs is that this season is going to test your depth.
***The most obvious way is by the number of Covid cases show up on your team but that doesn’t account for what seems to be the bigger issue when it comes to having players available to play.
***While staffs like OU’s and Texas are announcing Covid numbers, there is something different going on behind the scenes. Many of these Covid cases aren’t positive tests. They’re simply kids being held out for contact tracing. If you are held out for contact tracing it means no questions asked, you’re done for two weeks.
***The Sooners have had to deal with this already. In fact, Tre Norwood remains out of practice and has been out of practice for quite some time due to contact tracing. Other programs are dealing with this, as well.
***And the issue with contact tracing is that, again, you can get hit with it over and over. Until you have a positive test result, you are subject to the contact tracing rule.
***Obviously, you hope that your players don’t come down with the virus at all. But that just isn’t likely now that players are on campus.
***You would think based on reports that OU has already had over 30 cases. As I understand it, they have not. Between confirmed cases and contact traces, they have had over 30 cases. But, again, if you’re hit with a sit out for contact tracing, that can happen again during the season.
***For the most part, I do know the names of guys who have tested positive and those who have been hit with contact tracing but I’m obviously not going into that level of detail.
***But what I do what to give you is a sense of how this plays out as you look at a position group.
***So if you look at Texas’ defensive back group, for example, I know of at least three starters in their secondary (that’s 3 out of 4) that have had confirmed cases. Meaning they will not be held out due to Covid, any longer.
***Whereas, OU, I believe has had zero actual positive cases in the secondary.
***Again, that means you don’t have starters who are free from the contact tracing rule.
***You’ll recall a week or two ago, after the scrimmage, I mentioned that the defensive line was so depleted that they had to use a walk-on OL, right? Well, as I understand it, only one (perhaps two) actual defensive lineman had Covid, the rest were contact tracing issues.
***Again, this is where you’re going to need your team to be incredibly vigilant. Because one player actually getting it can spell big issues on the field due to the contact tracing rule. For example, if your starting linebacker is roommates with your other starting linebacker and one of them gets it, you lose both for at least one game (10 days out of for the positive test and 14 days out for the contact trace).
***And this is also why you are going to need to develop your younger players. You will see plenty of freshman play this year.
***More team notes later…
Media Availability Highlights | Bedenbaugh & Manning
– Charlie S
Sooners Offensive Line Coach Bill Bedenbaugh
*** Praises Creed Humphrey. Talks about his leadership and says he is primed for a big year
*** Says the OL group, aside from centers, has been fluid with all the guys missing time for one reason or another
*** Says Raym has played all over the line and could see significant time if he continues to progress
*** Bedenbaugh is much happier with the depth this year as opposed to last year
*** Notes Ealy, Wilkins, Harrison, Felix and Nelson have all gotten looks at LT. Harrison is the one constant.
*** About the interior of the OL: “I feel really really good about our depth inside…as good as I have since I’ve been here.” (THAT is a massive statement)
*** Believes OT will get to that level in the near future
*** Along with Creed, Bedenbaugh believes Ealy is set to have a really big year
*** Bedenbaugh notes Wilkins has moved back and forth, but of late he has been at LT, and that’s his fit. Has been very impressive over that last 3 practices or so.
*** Gives a shout to Brey Walker and says is making a push at right guard
Corners Coach Roy Manning
*** Talked about the lack of depth last year and only playing 3 guys was difficult
*** Much more encouraged about the guys he has now
*** Points to Tre Norwood as a standout
*** Manning drilling home ‘No excuses’. Doesn’t matter who has missed what (spring, COVID etc), they cannot be what they were last year.
*** Very impressed with Tre Browns development. Wants to see him take it from the practice field to the game.
Fast Five: Team Notes | Part Two | Sourced
– Super K
***On Bryson Washington was told, he is raw (as expected) but his rawness leads him to hesitate a lot. In some cases, you’ll have a very decisive player who will often do the wrong thing but they’ll do it at 100%. Criddell was like that as a freshman. He may have been dead wrong but man you couldn’t tell from his body language.
***Washington is hesitant but that doesn’t mean he’s soft or isn’t flashing. What I gather is that the staff feels like when Washington does get a handle on it, he’s going to absolute shine. Was told that in the moments where he knows what he’s doing and is decisive it’s a thing to behold. In fact, I heard he lit someone up just recently.
***I get the sense the staff is very excited about his potential. He’s physically so gifted and once he gets comfortable with what he’s seeing and doing, the Sooners will have a dude.
***They’re looking for one of the young cornerbacks to emerge. In the spring it looked like it would be DJ Graham. But right now, Eaton has a slight lead over Graham and Dennis.
***I’m told Dennis is back (he was dealing with a pulled muscle or something like that). The word on Dennis is he is by far the most athletic. But because Dennis was so athletic in high school, he could rely on that. He’s now learning that there is a period of break down and rebuild in order to refine the technique needed to be successful at this level. The quicker he’s able to get that down, the quicker you’re going to see him athleticism impact the Sooners defense. But no matter who you are, you can’t simply rely on your athleticism at this level.
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