The Football Brainiacs

Moving on

After it’s win over Army, defensive coordinator Mike Stoops says his defense quickly turned the page to focus on Baylor.

“There is certainly no carry over from last week and that’s probably a good thing unless they come out and run the option,” Stoops said. “You just have to transition from Army into Baylor. We put that game behind us and put the majority of our time Sunday and Monday focusing on correcting mistakes and moving on to Baylor.”

Balanced attack

The Baylor Bears offer the Sooners a much different challenge than the run orientated scheme of the Black Knights. In four games Baylor has rushed for 720 yards while passing for 1,240.

“They’re very multiple. They have great receivers. They’ve been playing two quarterbacks, it looks like they might have gone to one (Charlie Brewer). He’s a talented kid, moves around well. Makes plays,” Stoops said. “The receivers are very talented. The backs are. It’s a very complete offense. I think they are third or fourth in the league in offense. They are close to 500 yards a game. They’ve been moving the ball pretty good.”

Deep threat

Baylor has four receivers with more than 140 yards receiving on the season. Their top pass catcher is is Jalen Hurd, who has compiled 22 receptions for 311 and two touchdowns.

“He’s transitioning. They played him a little bit at running back,” Stoops said. “He’s moved into the slot. He’s a big body, moves around well. He has good mobility in there for a guy who’s played running back, shows you how talented the kid is.”

Dealing with big wideouts

Hurd is 6-foot-4, 217 pounds. He is one of seven receivers and six tight ends on the Bears roster who are at least 6-foot-2.

The last time the Sooners secondary faced a receiver that big was Hakeem Butler for Iowa State. He racked up 174 yards on five catches.

According to safety Kahlil Haughton, the Sooners have to learn from the game on how to play against bigger wideouts.

“It’s just moving on from that, working on the details. Working on our physicality. Making sure we put ourselves in the best position to play,” Haughton said. “Big guys like that, you have to be physical at the line and get some pressure. That is one of our main points.  We need to be as physical as possible. There is no meter for it. Just going out there and making sure we’re coming to the ball with some attitude. Making sure we’re working on tackling and pursuit drills.”

Pressuring QBs

One way to slow down a team’s passing attack is to get pressure up front. While the Sooners front seven have accounted for only seven of the team’s nine sacks, they have been able to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

“They have really come together,” Stoops said of the defensive line. “You can see the continuity, the chemistry those guys play with. Kenneth Mann, Amani Bledsoe, Neville Gallimore, Dillon (Faamata). Ronnie Perkins is joining. We get Que (Marquise Overton) back. It has really been a great effort from those guys, we needed those plays all year long. They have really come through in a big way. Just really proud of the way those guys go about their business and hard they work and how important it is to them.”

Mann improvement

Mann is fourth on the team with 23 tackles. But he leads the Sooners with three registered quarterback hurries and is second with one interception.

“It’s a lot of growth in his confidence and his game,” Amani Bledsoe said. “Just to see his leadership step up and just how explosive that he is, not just in the run game, but the pass game. We’ve always known he’s had nice hands since I first got here. But after that Rose Bowl game and Spring ball and now in the season, just seeing his confidence emerge.”

Closing ranks

Coming out of the last week the Oklahoma defense received criticism despite coming away with the win. The Sooners said they don’t pay attention to it and are not using it as motivation.

“There are always going to be haters,” Bledsoe said. “They’re always going to find the negative in the things you do. What you do is just keep your head down and keep going to work. Because you don’t really have to worry what’s on the outside. All that matters is just who is in this room.”

Walking wounded return

Mike Stoops made note that Marquise Overton, Tyreece Lott, and Tre Brown will all be available this weekend. Lincoln Riley confirmed yesterday that Marcelias Sutton is also set to return.