Post Practice Notes and Quotes with the Defense
Posted on: November 25, 2013
Coach Mike Stoops
– Talked about how the team played better the second half. Said that they busted some coverage and got beat in the 2nd quarter and that’s something the defense cannot do, especially against OSU.
– Said that they were determined not to let them run the football and said that they overloaded the box. Said the plan was good in the run game but the pass game was a little disappointing.
– Said that Aaron Colvin gives them confidence and stability in the secondary. Said that they really don’t have much experience on the back end so when he’s back there “it seems to settle everyone down…and he gives us an outstanding cover guy.” When he’s out…”you’re trading off a top level NFL player for someone who hasn’t played much…its pretty evident what you’re losing.”
– Said that the whole season has been uncomfortable with his shoulder. Sounds like the shoulder thing has been something bothering him all season that he has fought through. “He’s a fighter and I’m sure he’ll want to play a great game here in a couple weeks”
– Talked about the pick/rub routes that WRs have been running/setting on our DBs to get open and said that some are by design to give a receiver an advantage. Said “We got hit with it again…it’s really been a little bit of an issue for us this season.” Also said, “it’s just getting in a better position to see it and cut it off before it happens.”
– When asked about whether the picks are legal Mike said…”they’re not supposed to be…direct picks aren’t legal obviously in any football situation that we play in whether its NCAA or NFL…they’re all subjective to what the referee sees” (clearly this something that needs to be addressed when it comes to teams like Baylor)
– Said that the extra week to prepare for OSU will hopefully help them slow OSU down. Said that OSU is “hot” right now and “they’re making all the plays right now…we’ll have our hands full that’s for sure”
– Said that OSU just seems more comfortable with who they are…said they are seeing things very well and getting in a rhythm
Eric Striker
– Was asked about what OSU does well and said, “they do a lot of things well…executing their plays…and they don’t really make a lot of mistakes…they’re real sound at what they do…they know what they’re doing. They’ve got juniors and seniors across their O-line.”
– Praised their running backs and talked about OSU’s physicality but said “that aint nothing…it got nothing to do with talent…just go head up!” Basically the usual Eric Striker we know and love showed up today and while he gave credit to OSU he also refused to back down an inch…which we love.
– Said the extra week off does help prepare and it helps them heal up with injuries and whatnot.
Aaron Colvin
– Said that OSU always has athletes but this year they are playing particularly well as a unit.
– Said that the 2011 loss does give them a narrative to use in order to just add to the motivation and preparation.
– Said that they’ve got a lot of guys banged up and said that he will definitely take advantage of the extra time off.
– Said that he felt like he had to play on Saturday. Said that it was tough but he had to because “we have too many injuries this year…too many key injuries…I couldn’t be another one of those.”
– Said that his injury has been nagging throughout the year. Said that the coaches have done a great job of keeping him safe but he feels like has to suck it up and play.
– Said that KSU was looking for Tyler Lockett on every play and he knew he had to make plays whether he was in pain or not…”at the end of the day the job had to be done so I did it”
Dom Alexander
– Very excited to be part of his first bedlam game but said it doesn’t matter because you still have to go out on the field and execute.
– Said that the upperclassmen have emphasized to the younger guys who important this week of practice and preparation is and how this needs to be one of their best weeks of practice.
– Talked about how as soon he got to OU Aaron Colvin took him under his wing. In fact he said that he lived with AC in the summer. (again, as I’ve said before there is great character on this team)
Zack Sanchez
– Was asked about his tackling in the KSU game he said that it was one of his better games tackling but was also self deprecating about being beat on some plays. Said in this league there are a lot of explosive players and tackling is paramount.
– Said that the rub routes are tough to deal with but said “we have a technique to play it…and when we play it right we usually don’t have problems with it. As a DB you get yourself in a bad position more than a receiver can put you in one. If we stay with our technique and read our keys we’ll be fine.”
– Said that they feel confident that the guys up front can plug the run against OSU and said that it will be important for the DBs to be disciplined against the play action.
– Praised ACs toughness and his character and leadership. Said that AC fighting through the pain doesn’t surprise them because that is the kind of player and leader he is. “He doesn’t say much. He’s going to go out there and show you with his play.” Said that both Gabe and AC rallied around him at half time and told him to go out and make up for what happened. (again, leadership is great on this team)
– Said that, while Tyler Lockett is great, the fault was on himself…said that his technique was the problem…said that he opened his hips a step early on the post route and missed the ball by 4 or 5 inches. Credited Tyler but said that the issues were things Zack could have prevented.
– Said that AC does bring a fire and energy when he’s on the field. Said that everyone just feels more comfortable when he’s out there.
– On Bedlam, “it’s exciting…huge game…not only for them but for us…we’re going to use this week to prepare and get healthy so we can take it to them in two weeks”
– Said that the extra week helps them prepare but also having the extra tape of OSU against Baylor and seeing the new things they did against Baylor will help a great deal with their preparation for bedlam.
– Said his favorite thing about Thanksgiving is being with his family
NOTE: I know I sound like a broken record but it was just made even more clear how much the injuries affect a team. The fact that the defensive staff has had to deal with so many “key” injuries (as AC put it) really says a lot about what they are doing and about the future of this defense. Also, just wanted to reiterate the point I made last week about the character of this team. You can see it and hear it in the personalities of the young guys like Sanchez and Dom. It’s clear that the goodness of guys like AC and Lynn are being passed down to them. Again, this is why the recruiting process is about so much more than just physical talent. A defense is only as good as the leadership allows it to be.
9 Comments
That sounds like a labrum issue. I had a stretched labrum when I was a SR. It is something you can play with but at times it will jsut go dead on you.
Lesslie, pardon my ignorance, but what does it prevent you from doing specifically?
The labrum adds extra stability to what’s a pretty shallow joint socket. When that tears, you not only lose a lot of stability, but your motion goes into the toilet.
There are different types of labral tears, but Colvin most likely has a Bankart tear caused by shoulder separation. I’ve worn a similar stabilizer I saw he and Julian Wilson sporting, and my guess is without him addressing the issue and even letting it heal, he’s in pain city.
Outstanding sir. Thanks for the assessment! Nice to have an ortho specialist on board!
Still that sucks for both of those guys. Speaks volumes to the character, desire and toughness of both of them.
No problem. As an aging powerlifter, I’ve become an orthopedic expert after many injuries and surgeries. 🙂
Even if his labrum isn’t torn, the collagen required to heal even what was once a mild separation doesn’t have time to form, and Aaron’s continuing to aggravate his injury. I sure hope he gets it fixed, but even if surgery isn’t required, he’s going to need a good few months before it feels better again.
I’m following your footsteps! Pretty sure I had a partial torn labrum from falling on it (tackling) and years later reagrivated it benching. Might shell out the $ for the MRI one of these days, but they told me it was only 50/50 an MRI could even detect it.
You could probably rehab it on your own, and be surprised at the range of motion you’ll get back. I had a nasty shoulder issue a couple of years ago, and was ready to get it cut open, but I was patient, started prehabbing and changed the way I do my benches, and they feel pretty good, today.
If it’s not getting better, then at least go to a dr. that knows shoulders, and he/she can give you a better idea of a direction to go. Before your MRI, they can inject a dye in your shoulder that helps detect tears to the cuff and other soft tissue, but an MRI can actually tell the dr. quite a bit of stuff. Also, they can do range of motion tests that can help them diagnose better.
I wish you luck and take care of those shoulders. Us guys are stubborn with over use exercises.
Mike Stoops and his staff have done an outstanding job this year putting in a complete new defense, coaching up the pups, all while dealing with huge injuries. Watching the growth of Striker and Dom throughout the year has been impressive. great job by ZS on squatting on the hitch and finally catching one of those. As the pups gain more experience and Coach Mike can get more versatile and add more wrinkles, this D will be nasty.
We feel the same way. We’re sooooo excited about having De’vante Bond opposite of Striker. If Phillips and Nelson can come back with the added strength, development and experience of these pups, then words like nasty, filthy, stingy and all of the above will most definitely apply.