WTH was Ronnell not in on defense today ????

[Soonerus]

He would have personally stuffed their fullback ?? Weird and why ???

[stoops the eternal pimp]

not learning his assignments I guess..he worked at MLB all week but they didnt think he could get it done

[CatfishSooner]

F'n Lewis shoulda been on the damn field@!!!!

[Jdog]

saving him for Texas

[Blue]

saving him for Texas

DJaun Miller too...Yeah thats the ticket!

[sooner59]

Miller was on the field on the 4th down near midfield when Landry went to somebody over the middle and it was a bad pass. Miller is 6'4", and the guy defending him was tiny, probably around 5'10". Why we didn't just throw it deep to him is beyond me. Then again, I know nothing about the game of football, so I am wrong. :D

[rawlingsHOH]

Play Dejuan!

[TXBOOMER]

After all the hype about our LB's before the year I must say in 2 of the three games other than Lewis they have been very average. I wish Box was healthy.

[Crucifax Autumn]

I'm a big fan of a healthy box too.

[rawlingsHOH]

After all the hype about our LB's before the year I must say in 2 of the three games other than Lewis they have been very average. I wish Box was healthy.

Never seen guys, who had barely seen the field, get so much press before. Weird.

[delhalew]

I think they are still getting their heads right. Could be a great unit by years end.

[Al Gore]

They ran the Nickel Package all day? I guess they thought speed would have more success than Lewis trying to blow up things....

[sooner59]

That speed wasn't too effective at stopping the RB/FB off-tackle run. Probably the most simple play in all of football...TE and Tackle block down, RB/FB runs for 8 yards. Shouldn't be that easy.

[Leroy Lizard]

Lewis is a fan favorite. But fan favorites are not necessarily the best players on the team.

[stoopified]

I'm a big fan of a healthy box too.I am a fan of healthy Box and box.

[sooner59]

Lewis is a fan favorite. But fan favorites are not necessarily the best players on the team.

I'm not even saying the Lewis should have been the answer, more that a LB in general seemed like it would be over a nickle-back. But like I said in the other thread, if we truly don't have a LB that could have been effective against that offense and were forced to run a nickle, that alarms me, because one injury could really hurt us if that is the case, which is why I was hoping to God that Travis Lewis wasn't hurt.

[SoonerAtKU]

Uh, I don't know if Lewis is the answer, but getting Jefferson on the field is DEFINITELY the answer. If you have to run a nickel, dime, quarter, half-dollar, or whatever defense...he needs to be on the field. He's made a hell of an impact just 3 games into his career. If you have to sub out a guy who hits hard but can't get his head around the every-play game plan, then so be it.

[OK2U]

What is this, like the 3rd thread bitching about Ronnell not playing enough?


Ronnell Lewis (http://newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1&CANONICAL=Ronnell+Lewis&CATEGORY=PERSON) practiced some at middle linebacker last week but played only on special teams. OU coaches felt Air Force's complex option required playing their nickel defense with Tom Wort (http://newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1&CANONICAL=Tom+Wort&CATEGORY=PERSON) in the middle. Jeremy Beal (http://newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1&CANONICAL=Jeremy+Beal&CATEGORY=PERSON) also played most of the game, limiting snaps in the defensive end rotation.

Read more: http://newsok.com/article/3496642#ixzz105K2yd3s

"The next guy we put out there wouldn't have played anywhere close to what (nickel back) Tony (Jefferson) could," said defensive coordinator Brent Venables (http://newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1&CANONICAL=Brent+Venables&CATEGORY=PERSON). "That's a spread option attack. It's not playing physical or setting the edge like we did against Stanford (http://newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1&CANONICAL=Stanford+University&CATEGORY=ORGANIZATION) ...
"(Their offense) requires you to be very fast, very athletic. You have to (cover) a lot of wheel routes and play-action passes. You have to adjust to all their multiple formations and play in space extremely well. It requires you to be much more fleet of foot than it does strength."
NO SERIOUS INJURIES FOR SOONERS
Center Ben Habern cramped up and didn't play in the fourth quarter, needing an IV after the game. Tight end James Hanna (http://newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1&CANONICAL=James+Hanna&CATEGORY=PERSON) suffered a hip pointer in the first quarter and did not return. Hanna will try to practice today. Defensive tackle Adrian Taylor (http://newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1&CANONICAL=Adrian+Taylor&CATEGORY=PERSON) played very few snaps as a precautionary move.
"One fear playing a team like that is you might lose guys for the year in a senseless way," Venables said. "They're going to mow you down every single play. They don't try to knock you off the ball. It's all angle, position blocking ... This wasn't a game where you wanted Adrian getting in a high/low position."
SEVERAL SOONERS RANK HIGH
Ryan Broyles (http://newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1&CANONICAL=Ryan+Broyles&CATEGORY=PERSON) ranks second nationally in receptions (31), fourth in receiving yards per game (127.3). ... Punter Tress Way is second nationally, averaging 48.7 yards per punt. ... DeMarco Murray (http://newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1&CANONICAL=DeMarco+Murray&CATEGORY=PERSON) ranks fifth with seven TDs, 13th in rushing (123.0 yards a game) ... Landry Jones (http://newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1&CANONICAL=Landry+Jones&CATEGORY=PERSON) is 15th in passing yards (283.7) but ranks 47th in passing efficiency.


Read more: http://newsok.com/article/3496642#ixzz105JzmZxm

[OU44life]

I am a fan of healthy Box and box.

You can never underestimate the power of a healthy box!

[85sooners]

:gary:

[KantoSooner]

What we saw on Saturday was not a big surprise, or should not have been to anyone who watched OU play in the 1970's and 1980's.
The option is an offense geared to getting a first down in three downs. If you can't stuff it on first down, they WILL get 4 or so and you're essentially screwed. Alternatively, however, if you do stuff it on first down, then the offense falls into an increasingly deep hole. Because, fogetting the big play here, it's an offense that needs all three downs to get the first and has trouble predictably producing more than say 4 a down.
I think Venables probably was fearful of his guys not being mature enough to understand something they had never seen and wanted to have more speed on the field to make up for inevitable mistakes.
There were a lot of things to be worried about but we got the win. I still don't really know if our team is pretty damn good or not. But we got the win. From what I've seen and heard about Cincy, we probably won't know after that game either.

[SoonerAtKU]

Uh, I don't know if Lewis is the answer, but getting Jefferson on the field is DEFINITELY the answer. If you have to run a nickel, dime, quarter, half-dollar, or whatever defense...he needs to be on the field. He's made a hell of an impact just 3 games into his career. If you have to sub out a guy who hits hard but can't get his head around the every-play game plan, then so be it.



"The next guy we put out there wouldn't have played anywhere close to what (nickel back) Tony (Jefferson) could," said defensive coordinator Brent Venables. "That's a spread option attack. It's not playing physical or setting the edge like we did against Stanford ...
"(Their offense) requires you to be very fast, very athletic. You have to (cover) a lot of wheel routes and play-action passes. You have to adjust to all their multiple formations and play in space extremely well. It requires you to be much more fleet of foot than it does strength."

My god, it's like looking into a mirror...

[budbarrybob]

Never seen guys, who had barely seen the field, get so much press before. Weird.

^^this

[OK2U]

Q Carter has always been known has a hard hitter. He used to lay people out as a frosh/sophomore. He's one of the best tacklers on the team but doesn't seem to go for K.O. anymore.
Not complaining, but would like to see opposing receivers fear him

[CatfishSooner]

Q Carter is a player....very consistent....

[rawlingsHOH]

Q Carter is a player....very consistent....

We are very solid at safety. Looking forward to conference play!

[goingoneight]

QC's the very least of OUr worries. If I'm Venables, I'm putting my guys through rigorous tackling drills ASAP. We're in position so many times so far and let guys slip right through OUr grips.

[pilobolus]

Venables explained it in today's Tulsa World.

[cccasooner2]

Never seen guys, who had barely seen the field, get so much press before. Weird.

With a handle like yours I'm surprised you don't remember someone named Rawls. :D

[OK2U]

_

Ronnell Lewis knows Jack
9/16/2010 11:28:43 PM

A new answer to the question "What position does Ronnell Lewis play these days?"

Jack.

Well, Jack linebacker.

Well, let Bobby Jack Wright explain…

"He played about 20 snaps last week at the Jack linebacker in our dollar package," Oklahoma's defensive ends coach said.

The Sooners go to "dollar" when they know the opponent is going to pass. They take a defensive tackle out, put Lewis in, and then have Lewis sort of lurk around the line of scrimmage.

Last week against Florida State Lewis wound up as an outside pass rusher on several of these downs. Other times, he held his spot at the line of scrimmage and kept an eye on FSU quarterback Christian Ponder.

"And he played two or three series at defensive end," Wright reminded. "He graded out pretty well. It's just a learning process. The more he's there, the more snaps he takes, the better he's getting. He's going to be a really good defensive end for us."

It seems about the only thing Lewis isn't doing is playing Sam (strongside) linebacker, which is where a lot of folks figured he would play heading into preseason camp.

The problem is so many of OU's opponents spread the field with receivers that OU doesn't really have a need for its 4-3 base defense. And if you aren't playing a 4-3, you aren't playing a Sam linebacker.

There was an idea that with option-oriented Air Force coming to town this weekend, Lewis might get some time at the Sam. Until Wright cleared that up: "Even this week, we won't play the Sam linebacker a lot. We'll play the nickel a lot, because they're a flybone team with double wideouts. They don't necessarily come in with tight ends. We'll have our nickel package out there more than our base defense with the Sam linebacker."

-- Guerin Emig

[cvsooner]

Q Carter has always been known has a hard hitter. He used to lay people out as a frosh/sophomore. He's one of the best tacklers on the team but doesn't seem to go for K.O. anymore.
Not complaining, but would like to see opposing receivers fear him

I suspect his very ability is the reason teams are staying away from him. The corners are, frankly, more suspect and they're working there...or throwing into the middle in that overlap between linebackers and safety.

AFA threw well into the middle...again. Seems like that problem will never be solved. :(

[StoopTroup]

Ronnell blows but someday Venables is gonna make him a man.

[rawlingsHOH]

I suspect his very ability is the reason teams are staying away from him. The corners are, frankly, more suspect and they're working there...or throwing into the middle in that overlap between linebackers and safety.

AFA threw well into the middle...again. Seems like that problem will never be solved. :(
Play action. Safties (and corners) are doing a great job not giving up the homerun, but there is simply going to be room in the middle for completitions. It's the nature of the bend but don't break philosophy.

[btb916]

My god, it's like looking into a mirror...

FIRE SOONERAtKU!

[goingoneight]

Jefferson threaded the needle on the passes he completed. IMO, when a guy is right there and makes a tackle, it's better than missing or not being there in the first place allowing for a bigger play.

[OK2U]

Sounds like Ronnell is getting as frustrated as we are:



NORMAN (http://newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1&CANONICAL=Norman+%28Oklahoma%29&CATEGORY=CITY) — Ronnell Lewis (http://newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1&CANONICAL=Ronnell+Lewis&CATEGORY=PERSON) doesn't care what position he plays.

[/URL]

He just wants to play.
"As long as I'm on the field, I'm OK," Lewis said following Monday's practice. "I want to help the team the best I can. As long as we're winning and on track, I don't care where I play."
Going into this season, big things were expected out of the hard-hitting sophomore from Dewar, who ended last year with a breakout performance against Stanford (http://newsok.com/ou-defender-ronnell-lewis-wants-to-get-on-the-field/article/3497054?custom_click=lead_story_title#ixzz108qnRIS d) in the Sun Bowl (http://newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1&CANONICAL=Sun+Bowl&CATEGORY=MISC).
But this season, "The Hammer" has been on the shelf. With the Sooners (http://newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1&CANONICAL=Oklahoma+Sooners+%28Football%29&CATEGORY=ORGANIZATION) almost exclusively running a nickel defense with nickelback Tony Jefferson (http://newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1&CANONICAL=Tony+Jefferson&CATEGORY=PERSON), Lewis' position, strongside linebacker, has been largely obsolete. Keeping Lewis off the field.
The Sooners have auditioned Lewis at defensive end to try and get him in the rotation there. And on the field. Last week, they also practiced him at middle linebacker.
But against Air Force's triple-option attack, Lewis didn't play a single defensive snap, at end or linebacker.
"Once again, that's with the coaches. They put me in, I would've gone in. I don't know what really happened. What I did or anything," Lewis said. "It was their decision."
Lewis has still been a force on special teams, where he's become a fan favorite unloading bone-rattling hits. But he said he's hoping for a bigger role on the defense.
"I know my time will come. You just have to be patient," he said. "Hopefully, it will work out and good things will happen. I can't let this to get my head. Just ready to get out there and shine, do my thing and show them, 'Hey, I could have been doing this.'"
Defensive coordinator Brent Venables (http://newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1&CANONICAL=Brent+Venables&CATEGORY=PERSON) has said Lewis would play strongside linebacker against teams that rely on a power running game. Problem for Lewis is, no opponent fitting that description remains on OU's schedule.
"I haven't heard wind of anything. I'm kinda lost in this situation," Lewis said. "I'm at practice every day bringing it, trying to show them. I'm trying to improve every day at the different positions."
But Lewis pointed out that manning three different positions — strongside linebacker, middle linebacker and defensive end — has added to his frustration.
"In practice, I'm bouncing back and forth. It gets overwhelming," he said. "Of course a guy is going to mess up here and there. I'm doing the best I can. Trying to focus the best I can. If I do mess up, I can't make that an excuse. (The coaches) won't use that as an excuse. Just got to go hard every snap."
Lewis said his preference is to play middle linebacker. But that's a position currently held by Tom Wort (http://newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1&CANONICAL=Tom+Wort&CATEGORY=PERSON). And, when he returns from a back injury, Austin Box (http://newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1&CANONICAL=Austin+Box&CATEGORY=PERSON) as well.
When asked if he could take solace in the possibility of taking over for senior Jeremy Beal (http://newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1&CANONICAL=Jeremy+Beal&CATEGORY=PERSON) at starting defensive end next season, Lewis said he "wouldn't mind that.
"But that's next year. I'm trying to get out there now. I mean that's two years down the drain, like 'Where did it go, where was I playing at?' That's gonna be in my mind the whole time.
"I'm not waiting for next year. I'm trying to get out there this year."


Read more: [URL]http://newsok.com/ou-defender-ronnell-lewis-wants-to-get-on-the-field/article/3497054?custom_click=lead_story_title#ixzz108qjQ9Y g

[Leroy Lizard]

He sounds a little selfish.

[Crucifax Autumn]

Sounds to me like he wants to contribute however possible and do his best.

[Collier11]

He sounds a little selfish.

:rolleyes:


Sounds to me like he wants to contribute however possible and do his best.

This ^

Cmon Leroy, did you ever play sports? Ronnell is a super competitive, his name was called all spring and summer as someone who will have a huge impact by coaches, he has done everything they have asked of him and is frustrated that he isnt able to help his team as much as he was made to believe. He doesnt understand why he isnt playing more, he didnt bad mouth anyone.

Personally, I want all 85 people on the roster to be pissed anytime they dont play cus that means they care and they are busting their arses and they want to help the team

[Collier11]

Play action. Safties (and corners) are doing a great job not giving up the homerun, but there is simply going to be room in the middle for completitions. It's the nature of the bend but don't break philosophy.

the issue I have is that we rarely make adjustments when we need a big stop against a good team, the middle is always open against us

[Crucifax Autumn]

Maybe we should look for a 12 foot tall, 15 yard wide dude to play between the backers and line.

[Collier11]

I like that idea

[Crucifax Autumn]

He doesn't even need to be very athletic if he fits the size requirement.

[Collier11]

but could small receivers run between his legs?

[Crucifax Autumn]

nah...They'd get tangled in his sack.

[Collier11]

maybe this guy?

http://www.motifake.com/image/demotivational-poster/1002/stretch-armstrong-stretch-armstrong-demotivational-poster-1265288142.jpg

[Crucifax Autumn]

Nah, half our problems on D come from dumbazz arm tackles as it is.

[sooner59]

He sounds a little selfish.

That means he is basically Gandhi. :rolleyes:

Come on, this guy is doing everything he is told, and is a great talent, but our coaches don't know how to get him on the field. Due to our tackling problems, I don't know if that is due to our great amount of talent or great lack of brains by the defensive coaches. If Lewis ever sees the field long enough to give him a decent evaluation, maybe we can tell whether or not he is worth putting out there.

[Collier11]

What about this person, I think they could be lethal to other teams

http://www.moillusions.com/wp-content/uploads/photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5639/2020/400/Untitled-2.jpg

[Crucifax Autumn]

I think that's the brother of that chick lineman from ohio state.

[Leroy Lizard]

That means he is basically Gandhi. :rolleyes:

Come on, this guy is doing everything he is told, and is a great talent, but our coaches don't know how to get him on the field. Due to our tackling problems, I don't know if that is due to our great amount of talent or great lack of brains by the defensive coaches. If Lewis ever sees the field long enough to give him a decent evaluation, maybe we can tell whether or not he is worth putting out there.

Yeah, those damn coaches not letting us properly evaluate the talent on the team. :rolleyes:

[Leroy Lizard]

Personally, I want all 85 people on the roster to be pissed anytime they dont play cus that means they care and they are busting their arses and they want to help the team

That depends on whether they care more about winning or earning playing time.

His quotes are probably printed out of context, so it's hard to tell. But he needs to be careful and avoid whining about playing time. Once a player starts complaining to the media about it, coaches start to become annoyed really fast.

And the media will only run with it. They do not mind controversy and they especially have no qualms about initiating it. Ask Switzer.

I trust the coaches to play whomever they think is best. If Lewis only sees special teams, very well. I just want the team to play as well as it can, whoever is out on the field.

[soonerbub]

Well now I'm gonna have to listen to the press conference today so I can hear Stoops rip Jake Trotter a new one for stirring up all this horse****

You put the best 11 on the field w regards to formation and tendencies--right now Ronnell isn't it but last time I looked he is a SOPHOMORE--plenty of time to improve. I think the guy has NFL potential if only on special teams

[KantoSooner]

I don't see him in practice, I have never spoken with him. Thus I don't know how 'ready' he is or was to adapt to what was predictably a very confusing job for defenders used to straight forward spread offenses.
Further, I don't know if he's really crossed the line into being a discipline problem due to frustration....or if he's just fired up to get on the field but still taking direction from the coaches in practice.
I would like to see him on the field, playing well and destroying people. But I'm more than happy to let Venables make that decision (for all of our complaints about him, he's still a pretty elite Dcoordinator).
Folks, we won the game. We were also about two or three breaks away from making it a blow out. We should not be sinking into whininess.


Whinging, moaning and the use of the words 'woe is us' are also explicitly forbidden.

[OK2U]

Well now I'm gonna have to listen to the press conference today so I can hear Stoops rip Jake Trotter a new one for stirring up all this horse****

You put the best 11 on the field w regards to formation and tendencies--right now Ronnell isn't it but last time I looked he is a SOPHOMORE--plenty of time to improve. I think the guy has NFL potential if only on special teams

Only if Jake has the balls to bring it up, and ask Stoops about Ronnell.
He probably won't..On to the next story!

[OUthunder]

He sounds a little selfish.

Most people who are successful or what to become successful are.

[OK2U]

Stoops:
Ronnell has missed a lot in spring, summer and two-a-days with some academic issues and an ankle issue.

[Leroy Lizard]

Most people who are successful or what to become successful are.

Yeah, but we tend to keep our selfishness out of the media. That is NOT the mark of success.

[BoulderSooner79]

Stoops:
Ronnell has missed a lot in spring, summer and two-a-days with some academic issues and an ankle issue.

Concise answer. Can't control the injury thing, but hit the books, Ronnell, and make sure you don't miss critical practice time next year for the same reason.

[Collier11]

sure he wasnt talking about Jazz Reynolds, I dont think Ronnell has had any academic issues?

[Leroy Lizard]

I wish coaches wouldn't bring up "academic issues." Just say he missed playing time for various reasons and leave it at that.

[stoops the eternal pimp]

He was talking about ronnell

[JLEW1818]

u just worry bout your cheese, lamb fries, and garlic bread