| 22 October 2009
Mid Season Review - Defense
If things seemed pessimistic on the offensive side well things are significantly better on the other side of the ball. For starters, right now OU has not lost anyone to a major injury, and a number of Sooners are having all conference years. OU's in the top five of almost every major defensive category, and looks like they could stay there all year long.
The only real concern on the defensive side is that there's a good chance OU could lose 8 starters putting them back in rebuilding mode on defense in 2010, and at some positions backups are not really getting much work at all. It definitely brings a level of concern that perhaps OU in 2010 might right the ship on the offensive side of the ball to only then have a rebuilding defense.
DT:
Gerald McCoy is playing as advertised, and while he's having a very good year at DT he's been clearly overshadowed by NU DT Ndamukong Suh to date. Adrian Taylor is having a solid year at the other DT spot. The only real negative would be that the DTs did not shut down the Miami running game which was a big reason Miami won that game. If there's a negative right now, it's that OU has really developed any depth here, and it's hurting in the 4th QTR (McCoy on BYU's final drive was clearly seen asking for substitution rest). So not establishing any real depth is hurting on the field, and it's hurting for next year, when one of our young DTs will have to start alongside Taylor. We've only seen glimpses of Walker, McGee, and McFarland to date. OU's recruiting here has been at a very high level, but it's going to be inexperienced talent. A very probably two deep could be Taylor paired with McFarland and then Walker/McGee. OU's current DT verbals are probably looking at redshirt years.
DE:
If OU has a defensive MVP it's got to be Jeremy Beal. Beal's been OU's best defender all year long. That's the positive side to this, the negative is that Beal's a real threat to leave early now. He's an ideal 3-4 outside LB in the mode of Lamar Woodley with the Steelers. If he returns next year he will be a great help to OU's young DTs. Austin English is having a good senior year. Not as good as his sophomore year, he's never quite reclaimed that super burst he had after the knee injuries. On a positive note, OU started playing Frank Alexander more during the UT game, and I think the 3 DE rotation did a better job keeping the pass rush fresh throughout the game. On the downside, I think all Sooner fans were hoping to see more of RJ Washington and David King after all the positive comments about both kids in the preseason. In limited play, you can see their potential, but if Beal leaves OU will be relatively inexperienced at defensive end.
Just like DT, there's talent and depth waiting in the wings, just needs some experience. OU has Jarrett Brown Redshirting and Chuka Ndulue verbaled. If OU were to get Jackson Jeffcoat, you'd have to think that he's at least got a shot at the DE rotation. Justin Chaisson (6-5,260 already with a frame for 280 easy) is currently redshirting and he could easily end up bulking up and moving to DT or being a hybrid DE/DT in OU's schemes. A bigger DE on run downs, or move inside to provide a pass rushing threat (OU did the same thing with CJ Ah You to great success). Also, if Beal stays I could easily OU using a 3 DE look with Beal playing the role of almost a 3-4 zone blitz OLB.
Something like this on passing downs
- DT: Stacey McGee or McFarland and Justin Chaisson
- DE: RJ Washington or David King
- Spinner: Jeremy Beal or (maybe someone like Ronnell Lewis)
LB:
Right now Keenan Clayton has probably just played his best game as a Sooner against UT (even with the dropped INTs) after struggling against BYU/Miami. Travis Lewis who everyone is predicting will leave early, isn't having the kind of season that would justify leaving early. Lewis' Miami game was just awful. We saw signs of last year's Travis against UT, let's hope he has dominant playmaking second half of the year. Ryan Reynolds back from knee surgery number 3 has had great moments stopping the run and defending the pass when he's near the line of scrimmage. However, Ryan's also been exploited middle of the field by TEs all year. It seemed like against UT that Venables finally has the tools/players ready so that he can pull Ryan on clear passing downs and put in a better coverage grouping for 3rd and long. It's also provided some good playing time to some key reserves. Joseph Ibiloye a potential Clayton replacement or a potential player at safety did a good job in his first real playing time versus UT.
In terms of LB depth for next year, Clayton graduates, Reynolds is waiting on an injury year appeal, and Lewis maybe leave. So OU could be without all 3 players next year. However, Austin Box got plenty of reps last year and looks great on special teams. JR Bryant is redshirting and actually outplayed Clayton last spring. Ibiloye should get more playing time in the second half of the year versus KU and Tech definitely. In addition, Ronnell Lewis has been a star on special teams and in limited mop-up action, and Tom Wort should be ready to play next fall as well. So OU finally has some really flexible LB depth to end this year and hopefully reload next year if need be. In addition, OU gets Rashad Favors on campus early and he should be ready despite his ankle injury for springball.
Ideally, Reynolds gets an additional year to mentor the young LB corps (including his backup Ronnell Lewis)flanked by Box/Wort and Bryant/Bird, and on passing downs Bryant or Box moves to the MIKE position, and Ibiloye comes in as a nickel/dime LB/safety with OU adding an additional CB in the secondary as well.
Regular 4-3:
- Mike: Ryan Reynolds, Ronnell Lewis, Jayden Bird
- Will: Austin Box, Tom Wort
- Sam: Bryant, Joseph Ibiloye,
or
Nickel:
- Mike: JR Bryant
- Will: Austin Box or Tom Wort
- Nickel: Ibiloye
Safety:
Sam Proctor's had a tough start with some busts in coverage but also he's been making some plays. For the UT game when UT went 4 wide he got pulled often for an additional CB in Jonathan Nelson. It's hard to argue with the results of that move, however late in the game Proctor made a couple of key stops as well. Quinton Carter has been hurt lately, but is having an somewhat uneven start at safety. He's been pretty good in coverage, but he's been missing some key tackles lately. Also, he's not been the physical presence that many thought he would in defending the middle of the field. I think we will probably see more of Nelson at safety to provide more pass coverage, but the key game for Proctor and Carter will be OSU where the Cowboys will want to run the ball and complete deep passes as well. OU will need both safeties to play very well in that game both in run support and coverage. I think next year we will see some pressure put on both players by Kevin Brent, Javon Harris, and maybe Gabe Lynn. Eddrick Loften is also have a huge senior year so he's a possibility as well. Ibiloye if moved back to Strong Safety as , Ibiloye would be a threat to start.
Brent's scheme versus UT might mean even more situational groupings at LB/Safety/CB for next year. OU's certainly recruiting more interchangeable pieces lately;
- Marcus Trice 5-8, 170, 4.5 (nickel cornerback)
- Aaron Franklin 6-1, 200, 4.5 (LB/SS)
- Jarrett Lake 6-2, 210, 4.5 (LB/SS)
- Julian Wilson 6-2, 180, 4.4 (FS/CB)
- Quentin Hayes 6-1, 185, 4.45 (CB/S)
- James Haynes 6-2, 185, 4.4 (CB/S)
- Gabe Lynn 6-1, 190 4.5 (CB/S)
- Aaron Colvin 6-0, 180, 4.5 (CB/S)
CB:
It's been a strange story at CB for OU. Dominique Franks has had ugly early struggles leading to big plays for BYU and Miami. This seems to be out of sync with the rumors that Franks is looking to turn pro. Franks has certainly not been playing like the Thorpe Award candidate he was labeled as preseason. He did have a good game versus Texas though. On the other side, Brian Jackson has been playing like an award candidate most this year. He just finished playing an excellent physical game that took OU killer Jordan Shipley totally out of his game. He's getting interceptions, and nearly was the Sooner savior on Saturday before Colt McCoy knocked him of what was going to be a sure pick six. Brian Jackson like Clint Ingram and Quentin Chaney is a big reminder of why you cannot always write players off after a year or two, Jackson was nowhere on the Sooner roster after recovering from a knee injury. Now, he's been a quality two year starter at CB for OU. Kansas is going to be a huge test for both CBs as it's not stopping 1 WR threat but 2. Both CBs are going to have play at a high level for OU to beat the Jayhawks. If Franks does leave early for the NFL, OU will again be restaffing the CB position early (just like 2008 when Walker graduated and Reggie smith left early). Of all the defensive positions, we have actually seen some backup work at CB from Demontre Hurst, Marcus Trice, Jameel Fleming, and Jonathan Nelson this year. In particular, Demontre Hurst has looked very good subbing in at CB, and Nelson the last two weeks has looked very good subbing in at safety and playing some nickel safety. In an ideal world, a rededicated Franks returns to OU and Demontre Hurst takes over at the other CB spot while Nelson provides CB depth. This would give OU's CB prospects an additional year to get ready to take over. If Franks does leave, I think Nelson would get first shot at his starting position.
