The Football Brainiacs

Something the Sooners had a great deal of success doing in games one and two were twists, and pressure from a lot of different places.  To start the game it looked like it would be no different as Kenneth Murray hit the A gap while Tre Norwood came in through the hole he opened up to heat up the Cyclone QB.

 

 

 

Kyler faked the shovel pass to Hollywood before handing it off to Trey Sermon.  It went for a nice gain, but I just wanted to point out everything you can do off of this look.  If the D end over by Kyler crashes down on Trey, Kyler can keep it.  You can turn this into a pass out there too.  Look at all of the open space to the outside Kyler has as well.

 

 

 

Something that should terrify defensive coordinators is that Kyler Murray is getting better.  In games one and two, he struggled making throws to his left.  Not the case on Saturday.  He made several key throws in big spots to the left.  This one went for a 1st down.  Look at how square Kyler is, and look at his feet making this possible.

 

 

 

Another thing is how comfortable Kyler looks in the pocket.  Standing tall and calm.  After rewatching this game, I really appreciated how good of a player Kyler is becoming.  It’s clear he’s working on the little things.  Lincoln is opening up more of the offense for him as well.

 

 

 

Hollywood had 9 catches for a million yards.  If I got to choose a superpower it would be to be like the flash.  It’s unbelievable how fast this guy is.  He’s showing a lot more shake to his game as he gets more comfortable as well.  Nice block by Sermon to spring him, and Calcaterra’s hustling downfield to help out.

 

 

 

Jonathan Alvarez whiffed badly on a quick swim by the Cyclone d tackle.  Kyler proved unflappable as he stepped up into the blue arrow and whipped a strike for a 1st down.  After this series we saw Creed Humphrey come in and we’ll see him there barring injury for the rest of the year.

 

 

 

I still believe the defense is better than it was last year.  There’s speed at every level of this defense, and outside of two plays where the Sooners demonstrated how not to tackle, the score is 37-13.  The turning point in this game was the Calcaterra fumble as it was 10-3 with the Sooners in complete control.  If they get a score and go up 17-3, this is lights out early.  Still with this young secondary, this game will serve as a good learning experience.  They HAVE TO TACKLE BETTER.  Especially this week against a hard nosed Army offense.  Broiles just completely flew out there and shut this down after the corner did a great job forcing it back into the pursuit.

 

 

 

If Kyler presses the hole here a bit more, it keeps the defenders inside and sets up Sermon to hit the edge.  Trey still got the 1st down, and Kyler may be under orders not to take any hits.  This was the play that popped against Florida Atlantic.

 

 

 

Here’s another shot of Kyler getting his feet set.  This is a bootleg, with Powers pulling around on the right.  Kyler is getting better and better.  As this offensive line gels, now the lineup is set, it may get scarier and scarier.

 

 

 

I mean look at this dime he dropped to Hollywood.  I don’t know if there’s a qb in college football that has better touch on the deep ball.

 

 

 

This is the same formation that the Sooners used on the Lee Morris touchdown against Ohio State last year.  Since the Cyclones are in man, the Sooners are counting on the defender not being able to get across all of the traffic to get out there on Tease.  Here is another example where Kyler got better and hit a throw to his left in a big spot.

 

 

 

Look at all of the running room Sutton had up in there.  Great job by the recievers making blocks as well.

 

 

 

 

Here’s another reason I think Oklahoma is still light years better defensively this year.  On 3rd and 1 after going up 10, The Sooners get penetration and swarm to stuff the Cyclones for a loss.  Another non-holding call on the lineman blocking Kenneth Murray.  There were a lot of non-calls Saturday.

 

 

 

When the Sooners d-linemen were turned loose finally in the 4th quarter, they started getting pressure.  I know it’s the design of the defense, but that mush rush has to go.  Twists and stunts will work, and I hope that we’ll see more of it.  Bledsoe broke loose and got pressure on what I thought should have been intentional grounding

 

 

 

Neville Gallimore got immediate pressure here on the wildcat that gave the Sooners fits last year against these guys.  He forced the cutback and shut this play completely down.  Look at him and Mann playing in the backfield.

 

 

 

 

Then look at all of the Sooners swarm to the ball.  I know everyone was up in arms over giving up the points to Iowa State, but again, two plays have it as 37-13, while three plays(the Calcaterra fumble) probably blow it wide open.  This team is still better and the outcome would have been the same with last years defense.  I think it is a great wake up call for em going into Army week where they’ll have to tackle better.  Boomer!