analyzing the play of our linebackers

[jkm, the stolen pifwafwi]

okay i'm going to try this again (browser locked up before)

i'm not going to spend much more time on this, but i broke out some plays from the game that explain what i've been talking about with regard to our linebackers. i may do a couple of more plays later to reinforce some points, but it will be depending on time and motivation (and browser not locking up)

http://www.ouportal.com/Portals/0/linebackerplay1.PNG

this shows the defensive formation and where the play was ran. notice how strong we are in that running lane.

http://www.ouportal.com/Portals/0/linebackerplay2.png

shows you the flow and how one of our linebackers is quicker off the ball than the other

http://www.ouportal.com/Portals/0/linebackerplay3.png

wort and the DL force a cutback by the running back.

http://www.ouportal.com/Portals/0/linebackerplay4.png

this has stuff written all over it. alexander has outside contain (enough to keep him from bouncing it outside anyway). the aTm lineman makes a mistake and takes the wrong angle on lewis giving him outside leverage. with nelson filling from the middle our positioning is perfect. for lewis this should be a simple oklahoma drill to get a TFL.

lewis has to maintain outside leverage because otherwise he exposes the green between him an fleming/carter (15 yard gain).

http://www.ouportal.com/Portals/0/Linebackerplay5.png

apparently our middle linebacker has no idea where the ball carrier is so he just attacks the lineman. remember, he has to protect the green but he exposes it. worse he gives ground and it looks like he's going to take out nelson as well

http://www.ouportal.com/Portals/0/linebackerplay6.png

and the coup de grace -> he gives up another 2 yards and takes out nelson. this is the basketball equivalent of getting picked by your own teammate. this is a perfect example of what i've been seeing all season in the trenches. this isn't on the defense as a whole, this isn't bad defensive positioning, its a player who doesn't have a clue of what it means to be a college linebacker much less an OU linebacker. however, the coaches play them so they have to share the blame.

[jkm, the stolen pifwafwi]

this is the same series a couple of plays later

http://www.ouportal.com/Portals/0/Linebackerplayb1.png

this is our formation. it ends up being a swing pass to the topside

http://www.ouportal.com/Portals/0/Linebackerplayb2.png

the play is well underway and once again one of our linebackers hasn't moved.

http://www.ouportal.com/Portals/0/Linebackerplayb3.png

the play develops and now its a chase to the boundary.

http://www.ouportal.com/Portals/0/Linebackerplayb4.png

okay, so this highlights where the play ends up. about 20 yards from where one of our linebackers is. it also highlights the time.

http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr182/alericmckearn/oucrap/Linebackerplayb5.png

wort overruns the play because he took a bad angle. the biggest thing to notice is how wide the gap is getting between the linebackers. if they were both running hard, wort overrunning the play would set up a monster hit for the other linebacker

http://www.ouportal.com/Portals/0/Linebackerplayb6.png

wort overruns and you see we have contain. where is the other linebacker?

http://www.ouportal.com/Portals/0/Linebackerplayb7.png

wort recovers. where is our other linebacker?

http://www.ouportal.com/Portals/0/Linebackerplayb8.png

still waiting

http://www.ouportal.com/Portals/0/Linebackerplayb9.png

ooo, we have a helmet

http://www.ouportal.com/Portals/0/Linebackerplayb10.png

ah, he finally shows up. hmm, 5 seconds to run 20 yards. if you see the video its worse, he's just jogging. and this is the other problem i have - taking plays off. champions don't take plays off.

[madillsoonerfan5353]

That's a good break down, but watch out I took some flack for asking if Lewis is NFL ready after this year. So calling him out my get yOU some red!;) Wort's young so IMO we can take so mistakes from him and Jefferson, but Lewis is a three year starter and should be in the right run fits most of the time.(see healthy RR)

[Bonehead]

The first play I see a little differently. Lewis doesn't get off the block, which he needs to do but the bigger problem is the less experienced Wort getting sucked up into the slop at the line of scrimmage.

[jkm, the stolen pifwafwi]

they can neg me all they want. i went through the tape and stopped at 22 plays where he either caused the big gain or took the play off. it was so bad that venables just started blitzing him and leaving wort in coverage.

[jkm, the stolen pifwafwi]

The first play I see a little differently. Lewis doesn't get off the block, which he needs to do but the bigger problem is the less experienced Wort getting sucked up into the slop at the line of scrimmage.

seriously? if that is your stance i can't help you. since when is the offside linebacker EVER responsible for offtackle on the far side of the formation?

[OUthunder]

I called Lewis out weeks ago. He's average at best. I got hammered for it by others but I'm pretty sure that my 9 year old daughter could block him.

[madillsoonerfan5353]

Yep, that's why I say we will take some lumps with Wort, but in the end I think he will be a great player in the end! My bother in law is a d coordinator and went to one of bv's coaching clinics and he said all the tape he showed Wort that bv said this is how you play linebacker! I know he is not perfect but he is 9 games into his career, and he has made some good strides IMO!

[swardboy]

This reminds me of the beauty of watching Cumby and Boz....they were sideline to sideline players. Others too I'm sure, but they stick out to me.

[madillsoonerfan5353]

Lewis might have Dom Franks problem about thinking about going to the next level and not wanting get hurt! So he might not go 100% all the time? It really make yOU appreciate player like RR and JW who give their all for the SOONERS on their chest!

[Collier11]

What you are saying is that the coaches more often than not are putting our guys in the right position (a stance I have long had) but the players arent helping them out

[Scott D]

Lewis might have Dom Franks problem about thinking about going to the next level and not wanting get hurt! So he might not go 100% all the time? It really make yOU appreciate player like RR and JW who give their all for the SOONERS on their chest!

he's never gone 100% more than 50% of the time in 3 years.

[cccasooner2]

The first play I see a little differently. Lewis doesn't get off the block, which he needs to do but the bigger problem is the less experienced Wort getting sucked up into the slop at the line of scrimmage.

A name that fits. :D

[btb916]

Nice post. Thanks for sharing.

[jkm, the stolen pifwafwi]

What you are saying is that the coaches more often than not are putting our guys in the right position (a stance I have long had) but the players arent helping them out

yep, compared with the m stoops years where we would get lined up horribly in games. however, the coaches have responsibility in this because they determine who walks out on the field. who gets to wear our jersey, etc.

the problem i'm having right now is that the defensive philosophy is sound, but the defensive execution sucks because of poor linebacker play. both of these are the direct result of the SAME COACH.

[Scott D]

too bad we can't find more years of eligibility for Chet...we miss him on that side

[AggieGirl2005]

Good analysis except for one point - that looked like a designed cutback by Sherman. Notice the Ag o-line pushing to their right. Also see the cutblock by our TE against your DE - he was setting up the lane.

[tulsaoilerfan]

So if Lewis loafs half the time like we all know he does then why the hell is he even on the field? This is a huge coaching issue and maybe it's the problem with some of the other problem positions

[Scott D]

because like it or not, he's the most talented athlete at the position. he's been like that for three years, and most of the time the positives outweigh the negatives. When there are games where the gameplan is to exploit his passive/aggressive play the negatives become glaring. When they don't gameplan for it (Iowa State Offense) he looks like an all-american.

[toast]

Good analysis except for one point - that looked like a designed cutback by Sherman. Notice the Ag o-line pushing to their right. Also see the cutblock by our TE against your DE - he was setting up the lane.

designed cutback or not...our lb had that gap responsibility, he let the OL take him out of the play.

[AggieGirl2005]

designed cutback or not...our lb had that gap responsibility, he let the OL take him out of the play.

Agreed - wouldn't have made a difference either way.

[toast]

they can neg me all they want. i went through the tape and stopped at 22 plays where he either caused the big gain or took the play off. it was so bad that venables just started blitzing him and leaving wort in coverage.

Where is the accountability to the coaches and to the other players? I would hope someone on the field would be in his face. Speaks to lack of leadership on/off the field.

[OU-HSV]

Very interesting JKM, thanks for posting all this

[OU-HSV]

Where is the accountability to the coaches and to the other players? I would hope someone on the field would be in his face. Speaks to lack of leadership on/off the field.

The problem is he is our leader on defense. He's the one that's always talking noise and trying to pump up the team and yelling like a wild man after several plays throughout each game.
As Scott D said, he is very talented and I assume BV doesn't want to bench him because the potential is there for him to be better than he is already (or is supposedly already as some would say)

[AggieGirl2005]

Very interesting JKM, thanks for posting all this

+1.

[toast]

The problem is he is our leader on defense. He's the one that's always talking noise and trying to pump up the team and yelling like a wild man after several plays throughout each game.
As Scott D said, he is very talented and I assume BV doesn't want to bench him because the potential is there for him to be better than he is already (or is supposedly already as some would say)

true, but I have a hard time believing that act would fly with a Rocky Calmus type around.

[OU-HSV]

true, but I have a hard time believing that act would fly with a Rocky Calmus type around.

I agree

[Chiliman]

Watching wort gives me heartburn. I don't understand why BV hasn't given Box more of a chance, since coming back.

[TXBOOMER]

The first play I see a little differently. Lewis doesn't get off the block, which he needs to do but the bigger problem is the less experienced Wort getting sucked up into the slop at the line of scrimmage.

Wow bro......Wort closed down his gap and forced the play outside...the end forced it inside and 28 got owned....period.

[TXBOOMER]

Watching wort gives me heartburn. I don't understand why BV hasn't given Box more of a chance, since coming back.

Box has lost all of his quickness....the injuries have done him in....the few plays they have let him in he literally has looked like he is wearing concrete shoes.

[TXBOOMER]

He has had some good games and plays well in spurts but he can't get off of a block away from Norman! I'm not sure he would even get drafted at this point. You find out who the gamers are and are not on the road.

[Scott D]

if Keenan Clayton can get significant playing time for the Philadelphia Eagles, then Travis Lewis will get drafted.

[proudsoonergal]

Thanks for posting JKM, and thanks for all the comments, guys and gals! I like reading more about the Xs and Os (versus the FIRE <fill in the blank> posts) - posts like these are much more informative.

[cccasooner2]

Couldn't/shouldn't the other defensive co-captain bitch slap Lewis into setting a good example? :D

[rainiersooner]

Thanks for posting JKM, and thanks for all the comments, guys and gals! I like reading more about the Xs and Os (versus the FIRE <fill in the blank> posts) - posts like these are much more informative.

This ^^^. I don't know that I've got an opinion, but I feel a lot smarter either way. Thanks JKM.

Now fire Venables (just kidding).

[mightysooner]

In the first series of pics, notice how Quentin Carter recognizes it's a run play but stays put guarding a patch of grass and doesn't close on the running back at all. Also, Lewis just stands there and lets his blocker come block him 5 yards back and he doesn't appear to make an attempt to get off the block at all. In fact it looks to me like Lewis is trying to block the linemen.

[westbrooke]

This is awesome stuff. I love seeing the game broken down like this. Thanks, JKM.

[Collier11]

Threads like this are the reason SFs is good, threads like we saw lastnite are not...

[soonerbub]

The problem is he is our leader on defense. He's the one that's always talking noise and trying to pump up the team and yelling like a wild man after several plays throughout each game.
As Scott D said, he is very talented and I assume BV doesn't want to bench him because the potential is there for him to be better than he is already (or is supposedly already as some would say)



The problem is he's the prototype 21st century "athlete"
I don't question his heart but goin half *** is more accepted these days
thanks to the t.o. and moss factor
maybe I'm just gettin old :(

[StoopTroup]

Kind of makes you want to puke when JKM lays it out huh?

If he can see it...other Coaches see it. It exposes the reason some of you would see us let a team go 60-70 yards and then finally clamp down. I don't know how many times I've heard folks ask why can't we stop them on a 3 and out instead of letting them go all the way down field and suddenly get nasty?

We still can be better and hopefully it will get better. I have always thought Travis was a bigger self-promoter than a leader on D.

[OUthunder]

Kind of makes you want to puke when JKM lays it out huh?

If he can see it...other Coaches see it. It exposes the reason some of you would see us let a team go 60-70 yards and then finally clamp down. I don't know how many times I've heard folks ask why can't we stop them on a 3 and out instead of letting them go all the way down field and suddenly get nasty?

We still can be better and hopefully it will get better. I have always thought Travis was a bigger self-promoter than a leader on D.

You put it into word that I could not have. He is a self promoter like Bosworth was, but with only half the talent and drive.

[cccasooner2]

The NFL scouts and evaluators look at film too.

[CBUS_SOONER]

I'm getting tired of Travis Lewis talking noise during games as our defense continues to get shredded.

[delhalew]

I can't think you enough JKM. I love it when you have time to post.

Seeing laid out in front of you is the only way for someone like myself to understand how this happens. Now if only I could understand how he gets away with being so talented, yet half-assed.

[Stealth]

I think that Lewis is slow to diagnosing plays and re-direct for misdirection. Because of this, he gets caught flat-footed evaluating at times when the play begins and does not know which direction the play is heading after it starts. When he loses it, I think he gives up and decides "I can't get there, I'll let someone else make the play."

He is a tremendous athlete (which is why he stays on the field), but his play is wildly inconsistent. Our best linebackers have always been instinctive guys who may not be as athletically gifted as Lewis, but always seemed to be able to get to the point of attack and make a play.

[jkm, the stolen pifwafwi]

okay, one more that ended up in a loss.

http://www.ouportal.com/Portals/0/Linebackerplayc1.png

so this one is just a stretch play to the outside. it looks like the zone blocking scheme gives it two possible alleys (blue and red) depending on defensive leverage.

http://www.ouportal.com/Portals/0/Linebackerplayc2.png

i've circled the key to the play. an outside slant by mcfarland that gives him excellent leverage on the offensive guard. the coaches have the perfect stunt on the for the play called.

http://www.ouportal.com/Portals/0/Linebackerplayc3.png

blue denotes the running lane as blocked by the zone blocking scheme
black is OU players that are doing good
red are doing poorly

at this point, it looks like they've sealed the edge and we are about to get toasted

http://www.ouportal.com/Portals/0/Linebackerplayc4.png

and then fuller loafs on his block and gives fleming the outside again. mcfarland and alexander pushes the running path farther into the backfield increasing the chance for a TFL.

and then there is the tackle on lewis (in red). he is in the perfect positon to block lewis had the running lane not been disrupted by mcfarland. lewis takes the shallow angle around him which is exactly how the play is designed. why? because there is no way at that angle that lewis can intersect the ball carrier on a normal angle.

http://www.ouportal.com/Portals/0/Linebackerplayc5.png

at this point, this play is toast. the question is how many yards of a loss it is. as you can see, lewis is in perfect shape to shoot the gap except for one thing - there is a lineman pushing on him. what you see next is that he flattens out and allows gray to get back to the LOS.


http://www.ouportal.com/Portals/0/Linebackerplayc6.png

lewis gets the tackle, but a 3-4 yard loss becomes no gain.

the more worrisome part of this play is the design. they were counting on lewis to dive low so that he'd have a bad angle on the running back. this normally results in a glancing blow that running backs just shrug off. the reason it didn't work is the great play by mcfarland and the fact that fuller blocks in name only.

[jkm, the stolen pifwafwi]

oh and i had to look at this pic like 18 times rewinding this play. it was like getting hit by a stoneburner

http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr182/alericmckearn/oucrap/omgmyeyes.png

[ousooners182]

awesome breakdown..everything you post on here is very informative! thanks

[Sam.England]

Thanks for this! Fed up of Wort getting toasted week in week out when its not always his gap responsibility or his fault! Dont get me wrong, every player, him included has made mistakes, missed tackles but still only in his first full season of game time!

I agree to someone else, would much rather see these kind of posts than all the moaning!

[Collier11]

Thanks for this! Fed up of Wort getting toasted week in week out when its not always his gap responsibility or his fault! Dont get me wrong, every player, him included has made mistakes, missed tackles but still only in his first full season of game time!

I agree to someone else, would much rather see these kind of posts than all the moaning!

and this is why it is uber frustrating for some of us when people go off ripping certain players or coaches.

The simple fact is, we DONT know if a player busted which in turn caused the play to fail which makes the coach look idiotic.

We dont know when the coach had said player in the right place but he ends up looking bad cus he was trying to cover someone elses screw up.

We simply dont know, so for anyone to act like they do and the answer is clear, they are wrong

[delhalew]

and this is why it is uber frustrating for some of us when people go off ripping certain players or coaches.

The simple fact is, we DONT know if a player busted which in turn caused the play to fail which makes the coach look idiotic.

We dont know when the coach had said player in the right place but he ends up looking bad cus he was trying to cover someone elses screw up.

We simply dont know, so for anyone to act like they do and the answer is clear, they are wrong

This is why I have never been on BV's case. I can tell what's happening better on offense however. Wilson is an *******.

[delhalew]

Thanks for this! Fed up of Wort getting toasted week in week out when its not always his gap responsibility or his fault! Dont get me wrong, every player, him included has made mistakes, missed tackles but still only in his first full season of game time!

I agree to someone else, would much rather see these kind of posts than all the moaning!

I'd say most of us still have high hopes for Wort. His attitude is a huge positive. He hopefully will quite taking bad angles and getting beat as he matures.

[dwarthog]

Hopefully Corey Nelson isn't learning too much from Travis Lewis based on this very informative post.

[Sam.England]

Hopefully Corey Nelson isn't learning too much from Travis Lewis based on this very informative post.

Nelson, on the few plays he has been on looks very promising, always around the ball and has good instincts!

[stoops the eternal pimp]

thanks for doing this in pics jkm...we've been talking about this for a while concerning lewis..the problem is that people love stat lines..I could bump countless threads over the last couple of years that we've mentioned this.

from just the nfl standpoint, lewis will get drafted..he'll test out well, the measurables will be ok...and its all correctable by a nfl lb coach and veteran players around him who will put a foot in his crack...and if he wants to go the travis wilson route, he'll be out of football in a couple of years..

yelling loud and talking smack doesn't make you a leader....never has...never will

[sooner518]

cool breakdown. As someone who doesnt know jack crap about how football is really coached, this was very informative and educational.

[NormanPride]

Okay, we've only got a couple games of him left. That's fine with me. How has Nelson looked? I know we don't have much film on him, but it's telling that he gets snaps already.

Unfortunately, I think we're stuck with Lewis for now because he makes all the calls. Both he and the coaches know this, so he doesn't feel any pressure of getting benched.

[Bourbon St Sooner]

I figured we were in trouble we TL made that "We thought we were on top of the world" comment after the USU game. Any guy that went through last year should realize that you can't just show up and win football games. And this from a guy that's supposed to be a leader.

[...sooner]

thanks for this! nice breakdown.

[cccasooner2]

Absolutely the best posr I've seen on any board. Thanks

[oumartin]

Hey, I don't know x's and o's and appreciate this thread but here is what worries me. This has been a recurring theme for 5-6 years now that teams have been able to move the ball it seems at will on this defense. If the gameplan is sound and it possibly is then why is this a recurring theme? These aren't the same players that were getting beat 5 years ago. These are different players. I understand there is probably fault to go around but here is my problem. Ultimately it's the coaches who put the players on the field. It's the coaches who are to teach these kids to be disciplined in their assignments. There is an issue on the defensive side of the ball IMO. Now, maybe it's not all on Venables but there needs to be some changes made. Whether it's how they recruit players, who's teaching them(position coaches) or maybe they just aren't getting through to the kids.
Seems to me they are recruiting pretty high level talent but something is getting lost in the translation from the practice field to the playing field.

I may not be explaining myself well enough but just in my eyes there is just something outta kilter on the defensive side of the ball. Something that needs addressed and I don't think it will be addressed.


Same could be said on the offensive side after the abortion in the red zone the other night but I'm more concerned with how the defense looks

[jkm, the stolen pifwafwi]

Hey, I don't know x's and o's and appreciate this thread but here is what worries me. This has been a recurring theme for 5-6 years now that teams have been able to move the ball it seems at will on this defense. If the gameplan is sound and it possibly is then why is this a recurring theme? These aren't the same players that were getting beat 5 years ago. These are different players. I understand there is probably fault to go around but here is my problem. Ultimately it's the coaches who put the players on the field. It's the coaches who are to teach these kids to be disciplined in their assignments. There is an issue on the defensive side of the ball IMO. Now, maybe it's not all on Venables but there needs to be some changes made. Whether it's how they recruit players, who's teaching them(position coaches) or maybe they just aren't getting through to the kids.
Seems to me they are recruiting pretty high level talent but something is getting lost in the translation from the practice field to the playing field.

I may not be explaining myself well enough but just in my eyes there is just something outta kilter on the defensive side of the ball. Something that needs addressed and I don't think it will be addressed.


Same could be said on the offensive side after the abortion in the red zone the other night but I'm more concerned with how the defense looks

2 issues that we've seen over the last 5 years

1) when mike stoops left, we didn't have jack squat talent in the secondary. that was in 2003. that forced us to play a lot of true freshmen that just weren't physically ready to play. these kids got hurt which forced us to play MORE true freshmen in the secondary that weren't ready to play. it is only over the last 2 years that we actually have enough depth that only truly talented freshmen are getting on the field.

2) the linebackers as a corp have been sub-par since loftin and chet left. for the first 8 years of the stoops tenure, we've tended to have one great linebacker and one young great linebacker (calmus/lehman, etc).

when your secondary sucks, you tend to give up a ton of deep and/or boundary side passes with no drops/pass breakups/INTs. if you chart our INTs you'll see they've steadily dropped off since mike left. not because of scheme, but because of talent.

when your linebackers suck, you can't stop the run or the crossing patterns.

[oumartin]

So, we've had lapses in recruiting, first in the secondary and then in the linebacker area? I understand recruiting is not an exact sceince but does something need to change in how they grade these guys? Who they are looking for in this scheme?

How can a program like TCU, who obvioulsy gets good athletes but not the caliber OU should pull in be so dominant on the defensive side of the ball for the most part with "less talented" kids?

[jkm, the stolen pifwafwi]

So, we've had lapses in recruiting, first in the secondary and then in the linebacker area? I understand recruiting is not an exact sceince but does something need to change in how they grade these guys? Who they are looking for in this scheme?

How can a program like TCU, who obvioulsy gets good athletes but not the caliber OU should pull in be so dominant on the defensive side of the ball for the most part with "less talented" kids?

a lot of the problem lies with the fans. recruiting rankings have become a mainstay in their mind so they are an easy way to "justify" how good players are. so they come up with all of these little numbers to justify why getting more stars = better teams. and if a coach is lazy and/or pressed for time they take advantage of this.

the problem is that the players coming out of high school believe it just as much as the fans do. and the group it seems to affect the most at the college level are the 4 star players (which make up the bulk of a great recruiting class). these guys think they are as physically gifted as the 5 star guy so they don't have anything to prove like the 3 star/2 star guy. so they coast.

TCU and Boise fill 95% of their roster with these 3 star/2 star guys and get more out of their players because they have a chip on their shoulder. all the coaches really have to do is find a good colt/sam type of QB (which were both 3 stars btw) and they are going to make waves. their guys are almost always 4th/5th year players who can walk through schemes blindfolded, know all the intricacies of their position, and understand their responsibilities in any situation. our 4/5* guys struggle to line up properly and then take it easy the year before they decide to turn pro early.

[swardboy]

Absolutely the best posr I've seen on any board. Thanks

I sincerely apologize for the spelling smack, but this just made me smile a mile.

I hope (and think there presently is) a young 2/3 star on our sidelines right now who will bust his butt to do the LB position the right way with the right attitude. Aren't we getting some experience in the d-backfield?

[NormanPride]

Can we get a happy thread about guys making plays? I would like to see what some of the young guys are doing right. :(

[Sam.England]

Can we get a happy thread about guys making plays? I would like to see what some of the young guys are doing right. :(

Pick some plays out and Ill have a stab at it!

[cccasooner2]

I sincerely apologize for the spelling smack, but this just made me smile a mile.

Glad to have made someones day. I didn't know what was so funny until I realized I had missed again. :D :O

[jkm, the stolen pifwafwi]

Can we get a happy thread about guys making plays? I would like to see what some of the young guys are doing right. :(

i'll pull some more out. do you want offense or defense?

[NormanPride]

Thanks, jkm. I'd mainly like to see WRs and DBs, if that's possible. I'm also curious about the TE, Heywood. Wilson seems to love the kid, and I've seen him in a few times but he's never gotten a look from Landry.

But really, I'll take anything. I'd just like a silver lining. :D

[Oldnslo]

Hey, JKM!

Thanks. I really appreciate the effort!

The stuff you point out really brings light to topics I know exist... but don't know much about.

[jkm, the stolen pifwafwi]

this will probably cap out my bandwidth but anyway...

http://www.ouportal.com/Portals/0/Linebackerplayd1.png

here we have a 3-3-5 with corey nelson/wilson/wort all blitzing. the blue is where tannehill is looking, the red is where he gets smoked

http://www.ouportal.com/Portals/0/Linebackerplayd2.png

it looks like carter has seriously blown some coverage as the guy in red is not covered at all. everyone else has inside leverage which means man coverage. in general, we shouldn't be able to tell this pre-snap. you should be neutral leverage until deep into the snap count so that they can't change the play.

http://www.ouportal.com/Portals/0/Linebackerplayd3.png

aTm is just borked here. neither tannehill nor the uncovered receiver hot read this route. the back has no clue that there is an opening on the far side

http://www.ouportal.com/Portals/0/Linebackerplayd4.png

tannehill is committed to fuller at this point. he's got a wide open guy to his right but that guy is useless because he isn't looking at the QB.

http://www.ouportal.com/Portals/0/Linebackerplayd5.png

tannehill is waiting patiently for fuller to make his 4th move while wort is about to knock him to austin.

http://www.ouportal.com/Portals/0/Linebackerplayd6.png

fuller finally has fleming turned around. unfortunately for him wort is turning him around for the sack. this is an example of a blown coverage not coming back to haunt us. oh and of us in man to man coverage ;-)

[jkm, the stolen pifwafwi]

this is a successful offensive play that highlights the fear that opposing teams have of one of our freshman.

http://www.ouportal.com/Portals/0/offensiveplay1.png

aTm has inside leverage meaning man to man (though at the bottom they are in neutral leverage disguising the blitz).

http://www.ouportal.com/Portals/0/offensiveplay2.png

the aTm guy starts to cheat in on the run blitz. notice how no one has head position to see this happening. in normal conditions, this would be demarco's responsibility to call out. however, on the road, you normally can't hear so you have to look around. in this case it doesn't matter as they are welcoming the blitz.

http://www.ouportal.com/Portals/0/offensiveplay3.png

the play unfolds and we see that the line holds and finch holds 3 unblocked defenders. 6 blockers on 4 defenders + 3 on finch = 7 on 7 which means the remainder is one on one coverage. that guy 12 yards in front of murray is in man to man with murray.

http://www.ouportal.com/Portals/0/offensiveplay4.png

the fake honestly wasn't that good. finch needs to make it better in order to get everyone one more step in. this would have freed up stills on the crossing route that has a chance to go the distance. instead they are able to recover enough to close that route off.

hthttp://www.ouportal.com/Portals/0/offensiveplay5.png

landry's options. stills is the money route, demarco is number 2, and finch is number 3. the long fade is only if there is busted coverage.

http://www.ouportal.com/Portals/0/offensiveplay6.png

the throw with cushion

http://www.ouportal.com/Portals/0/offensiveplay7.png

the final play and how much separation there was with a missed tackle.

[rwryne]

this will probably cap out my bandwidth but anyway...

Just as a suggestion, try www.imgur.com out.

[Stealth]

I've got a request if it's okay.

At the risk of taking this back negative (and I am as sick of that as some others), what is the primary problem with our running schemes? This issue seems to go back several years. I've read enough of jkm's posts to know that he thinks we have recruited some backs that don;t fit our schemes, but it seems to me that we have more trouble creating holes than we should.

Again, sorry for asking a negative question, but it's been bugging me since the AD years.

[Collier11]

seems to me that Demarco is a down hill runner and our scheme calls for a RB who can cut faster, Ill defer to JKM though

[westbrooke]

My god, I'm eating this up. JKM, can we have football school every week?

[Collier11]

We need a special football thread that is titled "STFU and listen to JKM"

[GottaHavePride]

We need a special football thread that is titled "STFU and listen to JKM"


And the second we do that, we'll be swarmed with jackholes shouting "who is this doosbag jmk that acts like he knows football? I played pee-wee football and I know WAY more than his stoopid azz!"

[Collier11]

well of course but thats not saying much considering we could win the national title and someone would find something to bitch about

[proudsoonergal]

My god, I'm eating this up. JKM, can we have football school every week?

^THIS PLEASE!!!!

[DarrellZero]

Awesome to see jkm posting this stuff again.

Question: who would replace TL, and would that help (or at least not hurt)?

[KNEE BRACE]

My god, I'm eating this up. JKM, can we have football school every week?

YESPLZ

[Crucifax Autumn]

^THIS PLEASE!!!!

^Yeah, This!^

:D

[btb916]

^THIS PLEASE!!!!

Yeah. Seriously, this is the best post I've ever read on this board. Balanced criticism backed up by proof. Of course I haven't been around very long. What is your background jkm? Did you coach? Play? Both? Just a fan?

I think that it's very easy to forget, as fans, that (a) coaching is a job and there will be good days/bad days, good weeks/bad weeks, and (b) the players are sometimes young (except Chris Weinke) and they also have lives/are students outside of football. So there will be mistakes. National titles are not easy to come by, even in the best of years.

Even saying that, I don't think it's wrong for fans to criticize both the players and coaches. I just think that a lot of people need to get a grip on what their expectations are.

[AggieGirl2005]

I don't think it's wrong for fans to criticize both the players and coaches.

Yes, especially when backed up with intelligent analysis like JKM.

[Landthief 1972]

I am loving this thread. Thanks, JKM. If you need some more space/bandwidth, PM me. I've got tons, I'll set you up.

[jkm, the stolen pifwafwi]

Yeah. Seriously, this is the best post I've ever read on this board. Balanced criticism backed up by proof. Of course I haven't been around very long. What is your background jkm? Did you coach? Play? Both? Just a fan?

I think that it's very easy to forget, as fans, that (a) coaching is a job and there will be good days/bad days, good weeks/bad weeks, and (b) the players are sometimes young (except Chris Weinke) and they also have lives/are students outside of football. So there will be mistakes. National titles are not easy to come by, even in the best of years.

Even saying that, I don't think it's wrong for fans to criticize both the players and coaches. I just think that a lot of people need to get a grip on what their expectations are.

i played when i was younger, but this is just being a fan. in general, i watch the games in terms of execution rather than in terms of results. its why i have a different take on our "talent" level and don't expect a national championship every year.

[dwarthog]

And the second we do that, we'll be swarmed with jackholes shouting "who is this doosbag jmk that acts like he knows football? I played pee-wee football and I know WAY more than his stoopid azz!"

You got the hammer. Send em' to banned camp. :D

[NormanPride]

Thanks a ton, man. I really like Finch, and was frustrated that we didn't at least use him as a decoy the rest of the game. It was obvious that A&M was scared.

[picasso]

jkm was no Larry Heath.

[jkm, the stolen pifwafwi]

jkm was no Larry Heath.

true dat. his shot still looked like he was trying to throw his head in the basket.

[Soonerwake]

I've got a request if it's okay.

At the risk of taking this back negative (and I am as sick of that as some others), what is the primary problem with our running schemes? This issue seems to go back several years. I've read enough of jkm's posts to know that he thinks we have recruited some backs that don;t fit our schemes, but it seems to me that we have more trouble creating holes than we should.

Again, sorry for asking a negative question, but it's been bugging me since the AD years.

I have been wondering about this one too. I seem to remember a couple of plays in the CU game where Finch makes the first guy miss, hits a small opening, and is at the second and third level before CU can respond. As much as I love Murray, he can't do that anymore.

[jkm, the stolen pifwafwi]

I have been wondering about this one too. I seem to remember a couple of plays in the CU game where Finch makes the first guy miss, hits a small opening, and is at the second and third level before CU can respond. As much as I love Murray, he can't do that anymore.

strategy/tactics of the running game are a stretch your mind affair. fans always gravitate to the home run threat, but based on your personnel, scheme, overall strategy, this may or may not be the best option for your offense. i was partial to finch when he first stepped on the field not because of his break away ability but his ability to get us 5 yards AND improve our receiving corps by putting demarco on the edge.

[Collier11]

its why i have a different take on our "talent" level and don't expect a national championship every year.

I truly think that most fans are like this and are realistic, I think message boards reflect the majority of idjits in a lot of cases, crazies, those who could never be pleased

[adoniijahsooner]

Thanks a ton, man. I really like Finch, and was frustrated that we didn't at least use him as a decoy the rest of the game. It was obvious that A&M was scared.

Also notice that people are not kicking his way. When it was Madu and Murray they would kick to Madu....now that its Finch and Murray, they kick to Murray.

[NormanPride]

Good point. Now if only we could get him on the field.

[adoniijahsooner]

Jkm, I just watched Stoops presser, and the first thing he pointed out was bad linebacker play.

[jiminy]

Jkm, I just watched Stoops presser, and the first thing he pointed out was bad linebacker play.

He musta read this thread

[tulsaoilerfan]

He musta read this thread

There's hope for Bob yet :D

[dwarthog]

Jkm, I just watched Stoops presser, and the first thing he pointed out was bad linebacker play.

I found this interesting as well, particularly in light of this thread.

The other curious part is how he came to that conclusion since it is often pointed out around these parts that he is a poor football coach, along with Venables. :D

[jkm, the stolen pifwafwi]

so before the mizzou game, i'd talked about how i was seeing better linebacker play during the iowa state game and it had me cautiously optimistic.

here is an example...

http://www.ouportal.com/Portals/0/Linebackerplaye1.PNG

us in a funky defensive formation, lewis is mugging the line

http://www.ouportal.com/Portals/0/Linebackerplaye2.PNG

they overload one side and lewis is still mugging the line

http://www.ouportal.com/Portals/0/Linebackerplaye3.PNG

lewis backs off. you can see the screen start to form with the back passing through the LOS and flaring to the sideline. the QB does a great job of holding his vision on the sideline so that the rush continues.

http://www.ouportal.com/Portals/0/Linebackerplaye4.PNG

the screen is set up with 3 blockers on travis lewis. this looks like a sure 1st down as our secondary is way out of position.

http://www.ouportal.com/Portals/0/Linebackerplaye5.PNG

lewis splits the blockers. a great OU linebacker turns this into a 2 yard loss.

http://www.ouportal.com/Portals/0/Linebackerplaye6.PNG

completes the split and is 3 yards from the receiver

http://www.ouportal.com/Portals/0/Linebackerplaye7.PNG

receiver can't separate but does get the edge

http://www.ouportal.com/Portals/0/Linebackerplaye8.PNG

lewis tackles him for a 7 yard gain

had lewis continued to play like this, i believe we'd be undefeated. this was a demonstration of the kind of plays that we have come to expect OU linebackers to routinely make over the years.

[Chiliman]

I watched Venables video interview on rivals. He expressed that this is the worst period he can ever remember for continued mental busts. Specifically mentioned a lack of gap integrity, eg., "hitting the B gap when they should be hitting the A gap". Expressed that the same mistakes are being made over and over and not getting better. All these comments are code for Venables expressing extreme frustration with the LBs. I've never heard him make such strong comments.

However, you can bet, as much as the sun will rise in the east tomorrow, he won't make any changes.

[Scott D]

I watched Venables video interview on rivals. He expressed that this is the worst period he can ever remember for continued mental busts. Specifically mentioned a lack of gap integrity, eg., "hitting the B gap when they should be hitting the A gap". Expressed that the same mistakes are being made over and over and not getting better. All these comments are code for Venables expressing extreme frustration with the LBs. I've never heard him make such strong comments.

However, you can bet, as much as the sun will rise in the east tomorrow, he won't make any changes.

here's the problem. Who do you put out there instead of Lewis? Who makes the defensive calls? Right now this is a case of, you ride out the storm no matter what the results. Maybe as they get more comfortable with Wort knowing the system they shift some of that burden to him, but until then at minimum Lewis' athleticism keeps him on the field, and his knowledge of the system keeps him calling the sets.

to give a comparison, remember how lost they looked when it came down to making the defensive calls on the field in 2008 when Reynolds went down with his knee injury.

[NormanPride]

Yeah, catch-22. Your worst LB is the only one that knows how to line up the front 7.

[Scott D]

I wouldn't say he's the worst...however, he is the one that is in the most need of not reading press clippings about him.

[SoonerAtKU]

Most inconsistent, certainly. Worst? Nah.

[NormanPride]

He's the worst example, definitely. Hopefully his attitude and performance are not rubbing off on the younger guys.

[SoonerAtKU]

Ah, Malcolm Kelly Syndrome...truly something to avoid.

[OklahomaSooners]

Yes I just had to, Good examples here!

[NormanPride]

I think Travis will go down as the most confusing LB I've ever seen. He has plays where he dominates, and then plays where he might as well be on the sideline. He started for four years and came startlingly close to breaking the OU tackle record, yet he just... wasn't great. What does it say about our recruiting that he (a) started as a true freshman and (b) remained a starter for four years?

[stoops the eternal pimp]

Funny thing is that I think Travis will be a better NFL backer than a college...And then everyone will start a thread with "you guys don't know nuthin!"

[BoulderSooner79]

Travis relied on his speed when he was making plays, and he didn't appear to have any speed this year. I contrast that to Ryan Reynolds who had 2 bad knees and still managed to make plays. I hope Travis is fully healed for the combine.

PS I still miss Curtis Lofton

[toast]

I think Travis will go down as the most confusing LB I've ever seen. He has plays where he dominates, and then plays where he might as well be on the sideline. He started for four years and came startlingly close to breaking the OU tackle record, yet he just... wasn't great. What does it say about our recruiting that he (a) started as a true freshman and (b) remained a starter for four years?

Didn't he redshirt in '07?

But your points are still valid.

[smackramensooner]

Rewatching the OSU '08 game the other day I was able to see the reason for Tlew's success the first 2 years: great DT play. On nearly every play it seemed McCoy required a double team or extra attention, Taylor was getting a monster push on his guy as well. This allowed T Lewis to see the ball carrier clearly and use his speed to fill the gap or chase a guy down headed for the sideline. He didn't have to worry as much about getting off blocks because the DTs had all the attention.

[8timechamps]

Funny thing is that I think Travis will be a better NFL backer than a college...And then everyone will start a thread with "you guys don't know nuthin!"

I agree. First, Travis needs to get healthy. I think had he not injured his toe, we would have seen a different Travis. I think, if nothing else, the NFL will give his body a chance to recover (between now and his time in the league). I also don't see him lining up as a starter in the NFL, but given some time, I think he has the mental ability to move into that position. I just think the injury hurt him far more than most realized.

[8timechamps]

Rewatching the OSU '08 game the other day I was able to see the reason for Tlew's success the first 2 years: great DT play. On nearly every play it seemed McCoy required a double team or extra attention, Taylor was getting a monster push on his guy as well. This allowed T Lewis to see the ball carrier clearly and use his speed to fill the gap or chase a guy down headed for the sideline. He didn't have to worry as much about getting off blocks because the DTs had all the attention.

Great point. The interior players can make a LB look great, or very average.

[picasso]

Travis relied on his speed when he was making plays, and he didn't appear to have any speed this year. I contrast that to Ryan Reynolds who had 2 bad knees and still managed to make plays. I hope Travis is fully healed for the combine.

PS I still miss Curtis Lofton
He's been slower since his frosh year. Hence the lost weight going into this season.
Are we getting the Ross kid from Jenks to play RB or are we going to groom him to play LB? Either way I think he'll be a star.

[sooneron]

Great point. The interior players can make a LB look great, or very average.

yep

[Okie35]

Funny thing is that I think Travis will be a better NFL backer than a college...And then everyone will start a thread with "you guys don't know nuthin!"

He will be better in the NFL.

[Okie35]

Great point. The interior players can make a LB look great, or very average.

It all starts up front. They can make DBs looks average in coverage too.