OU practice report: Aug. 11
The Sooners are working on adding a defensive wrinkle, and it involves Ronnell Lewis and true freshman Tony Jefferson.
But first, this is what the base defense currently looks like:
DE: Beal
DT: A. Taylor
DT: McFarland/McGee/Walker
DE: Alexander
SLB: R. Lewis
MLB: Wort/Box
WLB: T. Lewis
CB: Fleming
CB: Hurst
FS: Nelson
SS: Carter
However, I expect OU to feature this defense a lot, especially against teams who favor throwing the ball:
DE: R. Lewis
DT: Beal/Alexander
DT: Taylor/McFarland/McGee/Walker
DE: Beal/Alexander
SLB: Tony Jefferson
MLB: Wort/Box
WLB: T. Lewis
CB: Fleming
CB: Hurst
FS: Nelson
SS: Carter
Essentially, this is a 3-4 set, with Ronnell playing stand-up end (similar to what the NY Giants did with Lawrence Taylor).
This lineup gets the defense’s best players (R. Lewis, Jefferson) on the field, and allows OU to only have to play one DT, a position where the Sooners aren’t as good as maybe other positions.
The other thing interesting about this lineup is it puts a ferocious pass-rushing group on the field. Not only do you have to deal with Beal coming off the edge on one side, but Alexander and R. Lewis on the other. Plus OU could bring T. Lewis or Jefferson on blitzes.
Other news and notes from practice:
* The starting DEs are obvious with Beal and Alexander. Pryce Macon, whom Venables calls one of the most improved players in a year he’s ever seen, is the top backup, followed by David King. Ronnell should take a lot of snaps from the reserve ends, though.
* Ronnell is up to 245 pounds and is built like a tank. He’s much stouter than I remember him from last season, which is saying something.
* Speaking of impressive looking players, Tony Jefferson doesn’t look like a true freshman. Maybe a junior. He’s very imposing, and just looking at him you can see why the coaches feel physically he’s ready to play now. Jefferson is battling Joe Ibiloye and Marcus Trice for the nickelback spot.
* The competition at middle linebacker is ongoing. Austin Box and Tom Wort are going at it, and Daniel Franklin is in the mix, too. Should be a competition that runs all the way up to the opener, but I expect both Box and Wort to play a lot of snaps this season.
* The starting secondary is SS Quinton Carter, FS Jonathan Nelson, Field CB Demontre Hurst and Boundary CB Jamell Fleming. Right now, it sounds like Nelson will remain at safety, however, against teams that run 4-5 wide sets, Nelson will come up and be the third corner. Ideally, DB coach Willie Martinez would like to leave Nelson at safety in base sets, because of how prolific he was there last year. Nelson is a big luxury for this defense because of his ability to play either safety or corner.
Javon Harris is backing up Nelson at FS, while Sam Proctor is the top reserve at SS. Gabe Lynn is vying to be the third corner (although in reality, that spot will be held by Nelson). Freshman Aaron Colvin, out of Owasso, is someone who could see time.
“He’s playing with a lot of confidence,” Martinez said. “He has a lot of ball skills, instincts.”
* Adrian Taylor is still coming along, but Brent Venables said it’s a gradual process. We probably won’t know for a couple weeks if Taylor will be ready for the opener.
-JT
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Comments
As far as pass coverage, its a great idea and for the nay sayers im going to yield to the professionals and i agree that it will be a good move especially with the personal we will put back to man up and defend the pass which really beat us in 08 and 09. Oklahoma and run defense has been pretty much taken care of though never great in the past few years. But considering we were able to beat a predominantly running team in Stanford (even though Oklahoma didnt really shut down Toby Gerahrt who is a wonderful player to any extent) but i do believe teams that try and stretch to the sidelines and look deep against the secondary. With the athletes Oklahoma will have in the back 4, and the size in the front 7 is a force to be reckin’d with.
Is Jaydan Bird still a sooner? No kid has worked harder and did every thing the coaches have ask, yet every article and every thing you write has no mention of him at all. is he just a practice player, or are we ever going to see what he can do on the field? Be fair, give the kid a shout!
Let the season begin….this pre-season hype is not good for my heart…This should be a tremendous year for the sooners if they can avoid the injury bug…LET’S GO SOONERS!!!!!