GDC
9/13/2006, 07:55 AM
I thought all along we'd miss DD and Remi more than anyone.
Fault line
By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
9/13/2006
Sooner defensive tackles take heat, but Stoops says the blame can be shared
NORMAN -- Lay off, Sooner Nation. Stop blaming the defensive tackles.
"It's not all their fault, I promise you," Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said Tuesday.
The Sooners' four-man tackle rotation of Corey Bennett, Steven Coleman, DeMarcus Granger and Carl Pendleton has not been strong. They've not held the point of attack very well. They've gotten themselves out of position a few times, and been knocked out of position a few more.
"Yes," Stoops acknowledged. "There's blame to be had there. But elsewhere as well."
Washington last Saturday laid a 204-rushing yard beatdown on the Sooners, much of it right into the middle of the defensive line -- including a 54-yard touchdown on the first play of the game. In the opener, lightly regarded Alabama-Birmingham had 134 yards on the ground. That's two unheralded teams, each wielding a running game that casts little fear, averaging 169.5 yards per game and 4.2 yards per carry on the Sooners' own turf.
Consider that last season, OU's run defense ranked second in the Big 12 Conference and 18th in NCAA Division I-A, allowing just 90.6 yards per game. In 2004, the number was 94.6. No Sooner defense
since 1999 has allowed more than 114 yards per game on the ground.
Does it all really, as they say, start up front?
"Sure," said OU defensive coordinator Brent Venables. "On the ones they popped out of there, that's where it's at."
So how close is this foursome to measuring up?
"Nowhere near. Nowhere near it at all," said Granger, a redshirt freshman. "We've got a ways to go to be where everybody expects us to be. I know we're supposed to be the weak link of the defense this year. We're young. But we look at that as a way to get better."
Granger, for all intents, replaces graduated Dusty Dvoracek in the line. Cory Bennett, a sophomore, replaces Remi Ayodele. Junior Steven Coleman was a backup last year. Junior Carl Pendleton is a three-year regular in the rotation.
One problem could be the overall size of the quartet. Pendleton is 268 pounds -- good for a defensive end or a big linebacker, but not a tackle, who faces blocks from all sides by offensive linemen ranging from 300 to 330 pounds. Bennett is 278 pounds. Coleman and Granger tip the scales at 300.
"Oh yeah, size helps," Granger said.
But, he said, technique and quick feet are more important.
"You have to have great feet," Granger said. "You can be the strongest person in the world playing d-tackle, but if your feet don't move, then you'll never be great."
Stoops said a lot goes into playing good technique.
"Leverage, being able to use your hands and get off blocks, being able to handle double-teams and split them, being able to pass rush, make tackles when you have the opportunity," Stoops said. "We need to get more of that out of everybody."
Venables said a great defensive tackle can "create a new line of scrimmage for you." That means holding your position on the field and shoving the blockers into the backfield where havoc ensues. Dvoracek did that. So did two-time All-American Tommie Harris.
"You can get a lot of guys without that same kind of ability to do it consistently, too," Venables said.
Remember OU's tackle rotation on the 2000 national championship team? Probably not. Everyday Joes like Jeremy Wilson-Guest, Bary Holleyman and Ryan Fisher were not supremely talented players, but ably performed the defensive tackle's primary function: keep the blockers off the linebackers and safeties. They helped make All-Americans out of Rocky Calmus, Torrance Marshall and Roy Williams.
One common blocking technique every team uses is for two linemen to hit a defensive tackle and push him out of the path of the ballcarrier, with one of the blockers quickly scraping off and seeking a linebacker.
"Oh yes, it matters if a defensive tackle gets blocked. That's the first level," said Sooner offensive tackle Branndon Braxton. "If you don't block the down man, he'll be there every time."
Said OU center Jon Cooper, "The point of attack is always the main focus for us. If we can drive them three yards off the ball and into the linebackers, that's perfect. . . . The whole game starts there."
A defensive tackle must stand his ground when the double-team comes. When the tackles are playing well, Venables said, "first, you don't get movement off the ball. Many times, you get disruption. You get somebody in a quarterback's lap before a play can ever get started, so you disrupt the flow of an offense when you constantly have push from the onset, whether it's a run play or a pass play."
There's not a lot of either going on right now. No disruption in the backfield, and linebackers and defensive backs are being blocked.
But, as Stoops said, it's not all on the tackles. In a team sport, if one teammate is being canceled out, another has to step over and make a play. That weakens the unit as a whole, but there have been too many missed tackles by linebackers and safeties to put all the blame up front.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John E. Hoover 581-8384
[email protected]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: OKLAHOMA (2-0) AT OREGON (2-0)
When:
2:30 P.M. SEPT. 16
Where:
AUTZEN STADIUM, EUGENE, ORE.
TV:
KTUL CHANNEL 8
Radio:
KFAQAM1170
Fault line
By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
9/13/2006
Sooner defensive tackles take heat, but Stoops says the blame can be shared
NORMAN -- Lay off, Sooner Nation. Stop blaming the defensive tackles.
"It's not all their fault, I promise you," Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said Tuesday.
The Sooners' four-man tackle rotation of Corey Bennett, Steven Coleman, DeMarcus Granger and Carl Pendleton has not been strong. They've not held the point of attack very well. They've gotten themselves out of position a few times, and been knocked out of position a few more.
"Yes," Stoops acknowledged. "There's blame to be had there. But elsewhere as well."
Washington last Saturday laid a 204-rushing yard beatdown on the Sooners, much of it right into the middle of the defensive line -- including a 54-yard touchdown on the first play of the game. In the opener, lightly regarded Alabama-Birmingham had 134 yards on the ground. That's two unheralded teams, each wielding a running game that casts little fear, averaging 169.5 yards per game and 4.2 yards per carry on the Sooners' own turf.
Consider that last season, OU's run defense ranked second in the Big 12 Conference and 18th in NCAA Division I-A, allowing just 90.6 yards per game. In 2004, the number was 94.6. No Sooner defense
since 1999 has allowed more than 114 yards per game on the ground.
Does it all really, as they say, start up front?
"Sure," said OU defensive coordinator Brent Venables. "On the ones they popped out of there, that's where it's at."
So how close is this foursome to measuring up?
"Nowhere near. Nowhere near it at all," said Granger, a redshirt freshman. "We've got a ways to go to be where everybody expects us to be. I know we're supposed to be the weak link of the defense this year. We're young. But we look at that as a way to get better."
Granger, for all intents, replaces graduated Dusty Dvoracek in the line. Cory Bennett, a sophomore, replaces Remi Ayodele. Junior Steven Coleman was a backup last year. Junior Carl Pendleton is a three-year regular in the rotation.
One problem could be the overall size of the quartet. Pendleton is 268 pounds -- good for a defensive end or a big linebacker, but not a tackle, who faces blocks from all sides by offensive linemen ranging from 300 to 330 pounds. Bennett is 278 pounds. Coleman and Granger tip the scales at 300.
"Oh yeah, size helps," Granger said.
But, he said, technique and quick feet are more important.
"You have to have great feet," Granger said. "You can be the strongest person in the world playing d-tackle, but if your feet don't move, then you'll never be great."
Stoops said a lot goes into playing good technique.
"Leverage, being able to use your hands and get off blocks, being able to handle double-teams and split them, being able to pass rush, make tackles when you have the opportunity," Stoops said. "We need to get more of that out of everybody."
Venables said a great defensive tackle can "create a new line of scrimmage for you." That means holding your position on the field and shoving the blockers into the backfield where havoc ensues. Dvoracek did that. So did two-time All-American Tommie Harris.
"You can get a lot of guys without that same kind of ability to do it consistently, too," Venables said.
Remember OU's tackle rotation on the 2000 national championship team? Probably not. Everyday Joes like Jeremy Wilson-Guest, Bary Holleyman and Ryan Fisher were not supremely talented players, but ably performed the defensive tackle's primary function: keep the blockers off the linebackers and safeties. They helped make All-Americans out of Rocky Calmus, Torrance Marshall and Roy Williams.
One common blocking technique every team uses is for two linemen to hit a defensive tackle and push him out of the path of the ballcarrier, with one of the blockers quickly scraping off and seeking a linebacker.
"Oh yes, it matters if a defensive tackle gets blocked. That's the first level," said Sooner offensive tackle Branndon Braxton. "If you don't block the down man, he'll be there every time."
Said OU center Jon Cooper, "The point of attack is always the main focus for us. If we can drive them three yards off the ball and into the linebackers, that's perfect. . . . The whole game starts there."
A defensive tackle must stand his ground when the double-team comes. When the tackles are playing well, Venables said, "first, you don't get movement off the ball. Many times, you get disruption. You get somebody in a quarterback's lap before a play can ever get started, so you disrupt the flow of an offense when you constantly have push from the onset, whether it's a run play or a pass play."
There's not a lot of either going on right now. No disruption in the backfield, and linebackers and defensive backs are being blocked.
But, as Stoops said, it's not all on the tackles. In a team sport, if one teammate is being canceled out, another has to step over and make a play. That weakens the unit as a whole, but there have been too many missed tackles by linebackers and safeties to put all the blame up front.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John E. Hoover 581-8384
[email protected]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: OKLAHOMA (2-0) AT OREGON (2-0)
When:
2:30 P.M. SEPT. 16
Where:
AUTZEN STADIUM, EUGENE, ORE.
TV:
KTUL CHANNEL 8
Radio:
KFAQAM1170