OU vs. Clemson Preview | Trench Warfare Edition
Posted on: December 26, 2014
Annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnd, we’re back!
Jumping right in, this is Clemson vs. South Carolina. It’s 5-on-5 to the right, but with the QB is involved in the run game, the offense has a plus one to the right side…
At this point on the true triple option, the defender I have circled has to make a choice to crash on the dive, take the QB or go to the pitch man. Really, though, he’s damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t. That’s the beauty of the triple option…
I never have been a big fan of the zone-read since it’s not really a true triple option. Here, you see the plus one advantage manifested. This is a good example of why you don’t have to have the best athletes to run the triple option. If your people are this wide open, you can make up for a lack of speed in places.
Clemson is pretty good at pass protection. What really flashes on film is their receiver’s ability to beat man coverage and get open. In this case they drop five into coverage…
And the receiver gets open on the corner route by a few steps. I’m very concerned about our ability to cover Clemson one-on-one. Their receivers all look like they’re eight feet tall and can hook it.
If there is a weakness up front for Clemson, it’s on the right side. I noticed the tackle to the strong side get beat a few times. The QB will stand in there and take a hit and is a tough guy, so we’re going to have to get to him quick and often…
Again on that same play we see the receiver putting a lot of space between the defender and himself. Clemson’s receivers get open, and they’re very big and very fast.
This is just a shot of the protection breaking down. You can also see the right side and up the middle is where it’s coming from…
Once again, the receiver beats tight press man coverage to battle for the ball and come down with it…
When Clemson does run it, they do scheme to numbers quite a bit. Here’s six on five, blockers to defenders, so you’re plus two with the back.
And here is the mass of humanity with a hat on a hat and the only defender who has a shot at making the play has to scrape all the way from the backside….
We’re going to have to come with it to beat these guys.
130 Comments
Not trying to be a negative Nancy but I have ZERO faith in Mike Stoops. We’ll make their third team qb look like an all american.
And then will come the post game press conference where you would think Mike just got beat by a QB named Brady, NOT!
And Mike will say something losery in the press conference like “they were a bad matchup and some days ya win and some ya lose…..oh well”
Yeah, you win some, lose some. A .500 record a?
That just isnt good enough at most big time school’s. Bob should be sick to his stomach to hear excuses like that.
We the fan’s are.
This team and staff needs to be focused on beating Clemson.
Thankfully so will Venables.
This game scares the spit out of me. However, the game against Bama also scared me. Guess we will just have to see if the lightning strikes twice.
Ah, Bama was favored and people assumed they have better talent than OU. This is game is different. OU should be assumed to be the better team on paper.
I have more faith in our front seven than South Carolina’s, and I have less faith in our secondary not named Sanchez. What formations do they like? Are they going to line a slot against Striker and take him out of the play like everyone else smart has?
Mike will take him out of the game by putting him in pass defense. Don’t understand why our best pass rusher is spending half the time tracking wide receivers.
I think this is a bit of a myth, and Mike Stoops even said as much. People get it in their head that Striker isn’t blitzing much, and it turns into he isn’t blitzing at all. Mike Stoops said he (Striker) probably blitzed more in 2014 than he did in 2013.
I think teams are trying to scheme against striker. Also this year he’s coming from the right side more which to me helps the qb be more aware of striker.
If Mike said it then it must be true. Just funny how it’s more noticeable. Anyhow, to save any face this year, Mike needs to bring the kitchen sink and then some against a 3rd string qb. No need to play soft and give him time. What’s to lose?
The game could be lost. What bothers me is that attacking the QB needs to be supplemented by tight coverage. On a number of plays a TE or WR is released by a DB or LB and the safety is either too late to tighten up on the WR/TE or is unaware that he has that zone. The latest example was Stoolwater’s TE being released by Alexander/Evans…
There’s no way in hell Striker blitzed more in 2014, much less even as much. Striker spent most of his time chasing WRs.
I live in SC so I watch both Clemson and South Carolina quite a bit, and even though the ou secondary may not have been very good this year, I can promise you the SC secondary is worse. They are one of the worst I’ve watched all year. I would expect Clemson to run a speed sweep with their best receiver, Artavis Scott (#3), several times. SC couldn’t stop it and he had a field day on their defense to the tune of 185 yards and 2 td’s. But I have confidence in OUr boys in this game.
After seeing that, OU gets killed but i watched the Georgia Tech game. Their Oline isnt any good. Now dline, they have a pair of DT that can play
If they have time to throw OU is in trouble. That is how I read this. Please Mike Stoops, blitz Striker on every possible play.
Wait! Didn’t you read MS Tulsa W article? Striker rushed 70% of the time and “that may be too much!”
I typically dont read the TW or DOK. I look to TFB for my OU news!
No doubt. But as an OU fan in Hollywood CA, I try to read up on anything I can. TFB are the best no doubt.
I hear that
If ou forces Clemson to throw the ball, this game is in all likelihood over.. Cole stoudt is an int machine
The way I see things, is if perine and shep are able to be 100% then this shouldn’t be close. If one or both are limited then I worry about Clemson stealing a close game. I don’t think there’s any way they rout us.
If OU loses then heads need to roll the next day. They will have a qb that can bearly complete a pass
Correction: “They will have a qb that can barely complete a pass [until our atrocious safety play raises his draft stock from not-a-chance to Doug Flutie].” OSUck’s TE is still running open in the stadium parking lot.
You act like we have a QB that can complete a pass.
Summation: Don’t screw this up, Stoops et al.
Glad you’re back, JY.
Thanks man! Good to be back!
Thanks for posting, JY.
With their freshman phenom QB out, I expect to see a lot of their two TE sets and the depth of our DL to be tested.
On offense, with all on hands expected to be on deck I think we score at or above our season average.
OU finished the season with an overall team efficiency rank of #16 while Clemson’s overall rank was #77.
http://espn.go.com/college-football/statistics/teamratings/_/sort/offEfficiency/tab/efficiency
Clemson was better on defense than offense than OU playing a weak conference and non-conference schedule. OU was better on offense and ST than Clemson with the passing defense being the weakness.
I expect OU to win and to me the likelihood it is a blowout is greater than a close game.
I actually agree, so long as Trevor Knight stays healthy and doesnt have a pick 6
Too many variables to list, but TK’s health along with Shep, Ford and Perine’s will be critical.
With OU’s OL, along with Rip, the game will be on their massive shoulders.
And thats a good place to be.
Indeed!
I like OU’s chances.
Me too, as long as OU takes care of the ball.
Problem is that against good teams he has a tendency to throw a pick 6!
Yep. Curious enough, all three interceptions that were costly (all are actually) but the two pick sixes and Baylor’s were to a linebacker covering a zone to Knight’s right. Perhaps Heupel should eliminate those route options for Knight. You know, just to be on the safe side.
The team went into “here we go again” mode after the INT vs Baylor. You could see the game was over at that point.
This is why I think people are over reacting to how “bad” this team is. They just need to tighten some things up on offense and even though our run defense was solid, it can and needs to be better so on defense we can force 3rd and long instead of 2nd and 3rd and 3 or less. And the reason I point at the run defense is because they were first in the big 12 so the ranking can only get worse while the secondary’s ranking can only get better.
Exactly right.
OU’s defense ranked #11 nationally against the run, Clemson was #7, a difference of 12 yards per game. If they perform as usual against a Clemson offense which was ranked #82 nationally in rushing offense it will fall on the pass defense to perform above their national average.
Once again, I like OU’s chances.
The intangibles will also be at play, such as which team is the most fired up and plays with emotion.
Excellent points. Thanks. Excited for the game & future!
Part of the reason they were #1 run defense in the BIG XII is because they were so weak in pass defense nobody bothered to run the ball on them.
That’s true. They wanted to take the free 8 yards instead of the free 4 yards.
Not true. Our yards per attempt against the rush was 10th in the nation, I believe.
Try again.
They were 11th with 416 attempts for 1315 yds for a 3.2 ypr average.
And only 16 teams in the top 50 in rush defense had fewer rush attempts by their opponents.
TFB, the gift that just keeps on giving, and it’s FREE!! Thanks for the breakdown JY. We just need to make sure this gets to MS now. Happy New Year everyone…..can’t wait to Monday and another OU game…then the withdrawals start and I will need TFB even more.
Other than NSD, I hate the off season.
3rd and Stoudts ( as he’s known by Clemson fans) being in the game should really help our defensive effort.
Stoudt, any relation to former Dallas Cowboy QB Cliff Stoudt?
Not sure.. but I promise the Dallas cowboys, or any other nfl team for that matter, are not in his future.
Edit: yes, his father is cliff stoudt
Not even Cleveland?
Haha maybe Cleveland, they would probably take anybody at this point.
No idea but looking at Clemson fan comments, he’s always good for a few int’s and 3 and outs.
His Daddy is Cliff Stoudt and he has a QB brother that was at Ole Miss.
From Wackypedia:
There is also Zach Stoudt, tried QB at Louisville and Ole Miss, but left the team supposedly due to back trouble.
http://www.redcuprebellion.com/2012/6/7/3070174/zack-stoudt-no-longer-a-part-of-team
Clemson’s Senior Day featured Georgia St as their opponent. Gst was 1-11 for the season and in every game, including their only win, their opponents scored more than Clemson did.
http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/_/id/2247/georgia-state-panthers
I wouldn’t trade the problems the Sooners have for those of most schools in D-1, certainly not Clemson’s….or their barf inducing uniforms.
I must say, the commentary here is making me more and more optimistic about this game. Here’s to hoping we beat the hot mess out of Clemson in prime time. 500+ yards on offense. Hanging half a hundred. Eating their OL’s lunches. Kissing the QB’s mama. And 2015 recruits jumping up and down to volunteer and wash off the enemy’s blood with a garden hose.
“Pee-rahn hawngreh.”
I was watching some 2011 Sooners highlights, the last year or one of the last years Venables was a coach. Man, that defense had some attitude. It wasn’t the greatest but he had those guys ready hit and celebrate big plays. This year it feels like there isn’t much attitude, it’s more mechanical as in, make play and get back to your spot. This is fine and all but attitude and celebrating can honestly pump up a defense more than coaching can at times.
The defense wasn’t so bad as the inability of the DC to make in game adjustments, IMHO. Taco Tech springs to mind.
You’re right. I just haven’t seen that attack mentality from very many players with this squad.
I have seen it only rarely since the WVU game.
Seemed to be a loss of confidence.
Agree 100%.
Coaching not to lose can take away aggressiveness, also not being aggressive can give the appearance of coaching not to lose. Hard to find the truth right now.
Well said.
The young inexperienced players in the secondary, their learning curve is still on the ascent.
Just watched the Sugar Bowl again. Yeah, they gave up a lot of points. But those guys were flying to the ball. Swarm tackling. Challenging every short yardage Bama run. Playing free and fierce. Where did those guys go? Mike Stoops over think it perhaps? Just like with offense. Turn em loose!
Do we have a true read on OUr injuries?
Perine’s nasty sprain will likely slow him down, Shep’s chronic groin injury must still be tender, I don’t see them playing a full game. Then on D we’ve lost some key players. Not to mention TK’s fragile spinal issues.
I think our unknown-names, the youngsters who have yet to step up and contribute will have to perform. Otherwise it could be a nail biter.
(Especially if we use another soft defense, but I’ll whisper that so I don’t jinx it.)
Daryl Williams says Perine looks like Perine in practice.
Bad news here:
Hate to hear that about Romar, hoping everything is negative.
That makes bofus.
Romar’s biggest fan is Coach Montgomery, he said he wished he had a bunch like him.
Watching the practice report right now on FSSW, good to see Shep running around.
Just watched it and Shep was running routes, making cuts. After so much time to heal and hopefully getting good treatments he is good to go.
Coach Heup did say Quick has been battling a groin injury, though.
Yeah, I believe he said most of the receivers have been banged up for a while.
Always like to have a full arsenall but I would trade Shep for quick for one game. Then again quick would likely start in the slot.
Good news!
Awesome, thx.
Word from Shep.
http://newsok.com/article/5379424?slideout=1
perine will be okay. i will wait and see with shepard. i know he’ll play the first series. shead is out.
Question: Is Frank Shannon coming back next year?
Haven’t heard from Shannon hisownself, but most people seem to think he will, FWIW.
I hope. Thanks, EasTex.
Me too.
Coach Stoops thinks he will.
http://newsok.com/bob-stoops-frank-shannon-expected-to-return-to-sooners/article/5376861
Ol’ Bab Stoops. When will he ever lose that “O-hay-o” accent?
Better than a UPer or *gag**spit* nuevo york.
I think he might but it may depend on off field incidents this off season. Even though there were big story lines about off field incidents last year, it was somewhat “more quiet” as far as number of issues. As long as there’s no assault allegations between January and July then I think there’s a good chance he will be allowed back.
Gotcha, Zack. Thanks for clearing things up for me.
I say that because I think boren is still going to be against shannon being back. I think stoops and joe c probably feel the punishment doesn’t fit the “crime”
Why would you think that?
OU has certainly done more to assuage any DoEducation concerns, far more than FSU has.
I think Boren should keep out of the whole issue or at least as much as he can. I get he (Boren) wants character a lot more than talent but at some point he’s going to need to trust Bob to control the character and actions of the players he chooses to bring in.
I would think Boren’s involvement in this ended when the Shannon punishment was announced. Terms were given and to change the terms after the fact would reflect badly on Boren’s character, not Shannon’s.
Well the rumor was that boren wanted Shannon gone for good.
Not familiar with those rumors. If true, and he couldn’t get his wish then, it would seem like that ship has sailed if Shannon has done all the things asked of him to be reinstated.
If OU/Boren reneged on the punishment now and wasted a year of Frank’s life in the process I would encourage Frank to sue. He can either be “made whole” by letting him return or paying him a big chunk of change.
Bingo! You said what I was thinking.
Well and based on the info that was released to the public, Shannon took the punishment for all the mistakes going on around the program as far as the violence against women. I hope he gets to finish his career at OU but you never know.
Well fwiw, Daniel Brooks said Joe Mixon is back on via Twitter. Posted a something above about it.
I think this might be a Stoops vs Boren situation. Bob knows Shannon is a good kid and a good football player and that Frank has met all the criteron to be reinstated. However, I preceive Boren sees the polically correct thing to do is not let him return to play.
Today I think it is about 50/50. But Boren always has the tie breaker.
I think the matter resides completely with Shannon. of I remember correctly he was suspended from the school not expelled; therefore, no reinstatement is required once he has set out his time and has met the criterial of his suspension. To change the rules and process now would be dishonorable.
Lots of Sooner greats have dropped to say Howdy to the Sooners.
Aaron Colvin, Ray Hamilton, Ontei Jones and Corey Ivey.
Saw a pic of a slimmed down Hamilton, he’s not “Sugar Bear” these days.
LOL!
He was a good’un.
….for the whitfield groupies, fwiw, he recommits to tu…..
I would wish him well, but he will be a star wherever he goes.
….well, we keep playing tu and we’ll see if we missed out, or not…….
He passed my eye test months ago. He is also very bright.
Were I him I would take the West Point offer, but he may want to go pro.
…west pt would be an honor, but good pt…….I thought ou might, at least, offer him as an athlete then find where he might fit….it’s also interesting, none of the other area ‘big boy’ came thru for him, to date
Once again I’m baffled, this time by no offer to Whitfield. Safety, LB or WR, kid is a winner.
Having grown up in Spiro, I was hoping he would end up at OU as well. Always nice to see small town players make big time programs.
It’s nice that the new coach at tu was willing to honor the offer. I think he’s better than a conference usa or whatever they are now.
Yep. I heard some say the low quality of opponents made him look better than he was but I kept thinking Ronnel Lewis played eight man football and he turned out pretty well.
I remember Super K posting a short video and write up of Whitfield at a camp and he did quite well.
The acedemy would be a top notch education and guaranteed job after his military obligation was completed. The academy alums and Fortune top 100 gobble up the service academy grads like no other.
From what I’m getting from players, it seems Joe Mixon may have been reinstated. Still working on clarifying.
Reinstated for the bowl game? Or for next season?
Either way I’m happy for the kid, looking forward to watching him play
Assuming it’s for next season. Haven’t seen a forMal announcement yet.
Read that DGB is not on the Orlando trip. Mayfield is. Any reports on an ankle/foot injury to Baker? DGB is gone.
http://newsok.com/oklahoma-football-notebook-matt-romar-leaves-practice-in-ambulance/article/5379432
We will learn what DGB’s plans are soon enough, no need to speculate.
The explanation for that came out yesterday and I see EasTex has already posted part of the article.
We need the receivers to step it up not named Shepard, quick is coming on nicely but how many dropped pass have we seen this year? The secondary need to step up and be in position to make the play along with the lb time and time again blown assignments the middle is vacated I like Alexander and Evans but it seems they get lost some times and dont know their dept in coverage.
Quick’s status is uncertain, according to yesterday’s practice report he has been nursing a groin injury.
And yes, far too many dropped passes this season.
I expect Clemson to load the box and run blitz. I hope we play action often and find Bell in the vacated areas of the field. Behind Shep, I trust Bell’s hands more than any other receiver right now.
Almost forgot about bell he seems to be the only sure thing other than shep hopefully it comes down to the belldozer formation to pull out a late 4 th qt victory or a blowout would be fine as well
Having TK back is huge because not sure if we can win with CT in.
Ty Darlington got dominated against Baylor hopefully he has a big game. I see that as only weakness in the line.
Clemson’s Defense is very, very good. They rank top 10 nationally in:
-Total defense (1st)
-Passing defense (3rd)
-Rushing defense (6th)
-Scoring defense (6th)
-Team sacks (4th)
-Team tackles for loss (1st)
-3rd down conversion % defense (3rd)
They are very good but keep in mind they did face offenses like wake forest (127th in points scored), Syracuse(121st), Georgia state(103rd), and Boston College(86th), and also South Carolina State.
Good point. I do think they have the rush defense to make us one dimensional.
The good news: Cole Stoudt has really struggled this year.
Agree completely that they can make us one dimensional.. Tough to run the ball when the opposing defense knows it’s coming. And yes, Cole Stoudt leading their offense should help us greatly.
I don’t think they will be a push over, just not feeling their defensive ranking based on the quality of their schedule.
If OU is able to be two dimensional and they can’t load the box their defensive numbers get skewered.
FWIW, the on air announcers for the bowl game will be Mike Patrick and Ed Cunningham, with Jeannine Edwards prowling the sidelines.
Thank the Good Lord it isn’t the crew covering the Cincy~VaTech game…IMO.
Oh no, not Ed Cunningham, please. He is horrible. Has no idea what is going on in the game most of the time, in my experience.
Clemson likely will be able to move the ball ‘at will’ against the OU defense.. Think the trend of this game will be set in the 1st Q and Clemson will have the game in hand by halftime…Final score is what Clemson will want it to be………….Clemson 45……OU 20