Marcus Walker

[Widescreen]

I know it's early but is he the best corner we've had since Strait (or maybe since Onyenegecha :D)?

The guy always seems to be in the right place to make a play. Even when he gave up the deep pass early Saturday, he was in exactly the right place to make a play.

[BASSooner]

He's one of the best lately, but he's no Derrick Strait

[All_Day_28]

he is the best since Strait.. too bad they burned his redshirt.. I know he had some injuries the past couple of years, is it possible for him to get some kind of medical redshirt and get back a year of eligibilty?? I don't know how this works, can someone who's knowledgable please inform me??

[instigator]

I think he could get a medical if he wanted one. Jason had 6 years of eligibility because of injury and Walker basically lost last season because of his shoulder.

[jk the sooner fan]

with the exception of the blown coverage on that dropped pass early in the game, i think Lendy Holmes had one of his best games as well

Walker covered that one long reception about as well as you can cover a deep route.....the ball was perfectly thrown

[Partial Qualifier]

Our secondary hasn't looked so sharp in a long time. Good to see :)

[Mjcpr]

Walker covered that one long reception about as well as you can cover a deep route.....the ball was perfectly thrown

Yep....I think that's the one Davie kept saying he misplayed but I didn't think so, looked like he played it perfectly and missed knocking it down by an eyelash and they just made a great play.

[trpltongue]

I'd have to say that Reggie Smith is the best corner we've had since Strait, probably better than Strait. It's too bad our safety's are so bad that Smith can't play the position he's best at.

Also, Walker was covering on that deep ball and had great position but let up and then didn't even jump to block the ball. It was a great thrown ball but he could and should have broken up the play. Also he was burned at lest twice later in the game, once when Smith destroyed the receiver causing the drop and again on a play when we were fortunate and Missou's QB didn't see the receiver running wide open.

So in summary, Walker has the potential to be very good, but right now he is not there yet.

IMO

[birddog]

smith hasn't played corner enough to really say that, considering he's playing safety.

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

Personally I think Reggie could play kicker and be all Big XII by end of the year...he is that damm good!

[trpltongue]

Smith has only been playing safety for the last 5 games. For the first 3 games he played incredible corner. The only reason we moved him to safety is because Keenan Clayton couldn't tackle and Nic Harris couldn't cover. Smith blanketed his receivers at corner and I don't recall any receptions against him. He is a GREAT cornerback that just so happens to be our best safety as well.

[critical_phil]

Also he was burned at lest twice later in the game, once when Smith destroyed the receiver causing the drop

holmes was the underneath guy on this play. also, i wouldn't call him "burned" either since he got a hand on the ball.

[Scott D]

Smith has only been playing safety for the last 5 games. For the first 3 games he played incredible corner. The only reason we moved him to safety is because Keenan Clayton couldn't tackle and Nic Harris couldn't cover. Smith blanketed his receivers at corner and I don't recall any receptions against him. He is a GREAT cornerback that just so happens to be our best safety as well.

yeah except he played it in 12 games last season.

[MiccoMacey]

I'd have to say that Reggie Smith is the best corner we've had since Strait, probably better than Strait. It's too bad our safety's are so bad that Smith can't play the position he's best at.

Also, Walker was covering on that deep ball and had great position but let up and then didn't even jump to block the ball. It was a great thrown ball but he could and should have broken up the play. Also he was burned at lest twice later in the game, once when Smith destroyed the receiver causing the drop and again on a play when we were fortunate and Missou's QB didn't see the receiver running wide open.

So in summary, Walker has the potential to be very good, but right now he is not there yet.

IMO

Which is it? Is he better than Strait, as you stated, ordoes he just have potential to be good at a later date, as you also stated. 'Cause Strait didn't just have potential to be great. He was great. One of the best cb's OU's ever had.

Not knocking Marcus...most of you guys know I am the President of his fan club...but this didn't make any sense to me.

[trpltongue]

Micco,

I'm not sure what you mean? I said that Smith is as good or better than Strait, and that Walker has the potential to be very good but is not there yet.

Scott,

Again, the only reason Smith played safety last year was because we didn't have anyone else to play there. He was very well regarded as a corner last year by the coaches.

critical_phil,

I didn't realize Holmes was the underneath guy on that play. For some reason I thought it was Walker. Also, the only reason he got a hand on it was because it was underthrown. The receiver had separation.

Don't get me wrong, I think Walker is going to be a very good cornerback. I also think Holmes is going to be very good. The two of them just need to work on their coverage skills in the first 5 yards. They often miss the stuff at the line and are playing catchup. Fortunately they're usually quick enough to get back, but they keep making the same mistake. However, Smith has shown more at CB in his limited time at the position than both of these guys have. It's just too bad that he has to play safety.

[Desert Sapper]

It might be that we need a good Safety. Could be that Reggie has a good enough head on his shoulders to be in position at Safety. He has the physical abilities to play corner, but he also has the physical abilities to play safety and could be of more benefit there, because it doesn't seem like anybody else has the head for it. As long as we don't lose anybody, this could be one of the best secondaries we've ever had next year and (possibly) in '08. I just don't want to see the position carousel again.

[trpltongue]

Desert,

I think you're exactly right. We need safety's more than CB's and Smith is the best safety we have right now. Lot's of people were expecting big things from Kennan Clayton but he hasn't developed yet. I hope he does because the Coaches were really talking him up.

[Scott D]

I wasn't arguing why he played safety, just pointing out he's played it more than just 5 games this season.

[picasso]

I'd have to say that Reggie Smith is the best corner we've had since Strait, probably better than Strait. It's too bad our safety's are so bad that Smith can't play the position he's best at.

Also, Walker was covering on that deep ball and had great position but let up and then didn't even jump to block the ball. It was a great thrown ball but he could and should have broken up the play. Also he was burned at lest twice later in the game, once when Smith destroyed the receiver causing the drop and again on a play when we were fortunate and Missou's QB didn't see the receiver running wide open.

So in summary, Walker has the potential to be very good, but right now he is not there yet.

IMO
I doubt OU has ever had a better corner than Strait. he had one the finest careers possible in college.

[jkm, the stolen pifwafwi]

I doubt OU has ever had a better corner than Strait. he had one the finest careers possible in college.

i'd argue darrell royal, others would say "who?"

[jk the sooner fan]

rickey dixon was no slouch

and you'd be correct to argue Royal

i'd like to see a well thought out list to the 10 best linebackers in OU history.....there's a name i think should be on there, but i bet most would leave him off

[picasso]

i'd argue darrell royal, others would say "who?"
yes, I'm sure we both enjoyed watching him play every week.:D

I can recall many good one's we had under Switzer but Derrick was good from day one as a red/frosh.
helluva career Jerry.

[jkm, the stolen pifwafwi]

i was watching some of the 1950 season on ozone. royal could have had 40 ints for his career. he knocked so many down on 4th down it wasn't even funny (since the punt apparently wasn't legal or some crap).

i think defensive back would be a much easier list than linebacker. there are so many good linebackers, it isn't even funny...

[jk the sooner fan]

well there are 2 from the 50's era that would have to be on the list.....Tubbs and Burris

just my opinion

and its fun to watch those games from the 50's..........wish i could find some old 50's games on DVD for a gift for my dad

[MiccoMacey]

Micco,

I'm not sure what you mean? I said that Smith is as good or better than Strait, and that Walker has the potential to be very good but is not there yet.

Crap, me and my bad reading comprehension. I thought you were talking about Walker in both sentences.

Mea culpa, mea culpa.

[okienole3]

rickey dixon was no slouch

and you'd be correct to argue Royal

i'd like to see a well thought out list to the 10 best linebackers in OU history.....there's a name i think should be on there, but i bet most would leave him off


Dante Jones?

[jkm, the stolen pifwafwi]

i'm surprised soonersports doesn't sell them. it looks like they only go back to 75 now though

[Tear Down This Wall]

My, my...how quickly some of us forget about Antonio Perkins.

[picasso]

rickey dixon was no slouch

and you'd be correct to argue Royal

i'd like to see a well thought out list to the 10 best linebackers in OU history.....there's a name i think should be on there, but i bet most would leave him off
Dixon was a free safety.

Andra Johnson might have been a comparable player to Strait had he not been injured in the wreck. he was stud from day one as a red/frosh.

[Rhino]

My, my...how quickly some of us forget about Antonio Perkins. What's there to remember?

He was an out-of-this-world punt returner.
He was a very, very mediocre cornerback.

[jkm, the stolen pifwafwi]

remember when we were playing mark bradley at corner? good times, good times. luckily his knee hurt so bad playing it they moved him back to receiver...

[jk the sooner fan]

thanks for the correction on dixon

[MiccoMacey]

remember when we were playing mark bradley at corner? good times, good times. luckily his knee hurt so bad playing it they moved him back to receiver...

Remember when Stoops originally had Jason White playing as a corner his freshman year just so he could get his best players on the field?

Good times. Good times.

:D

[jkm, the stolen pifwafwi]

thanks for the correction on dixon

dixon was drafted into the NFL as a corner and in essence he played that at OU. the 5-2 that gibbs ran had the FS man up on opposing WRs a LOT...

[picasso]

dixon was drafted into the NFL as a corner and in essence he played that at OU. the 5-2 that gibbs ran had the FS man up on opposing WRs a LOT...
ok but he played FS at OU.:) I recall vividly because my boy Scott Garl was strong safety then and in turn Scott's final season he was moved to corner and made all Big 8.
Dixon's famous pick at Nebraska in '87 from from the safety spot.

if we're throwing safeties into the best corner category that's opening up an entirely different list. I'll say Darrel Ray needs a mention.;)

[starrca23]

I think Reggie will be a great Saftey. Did you see that hit? To me that is what has been missing from the D. That hard hitter. Guys seem to drop more balls when they know there is a hitter back there. (makes me rember the good old days with superman back there and up there and everywhere.)

[Desert Sapper]

I want to say that kid Hawkins would have been something special, but alas...

Strait was the best I've seen in person.

[jk the sooner fan]

hitting isnt the only thing that makes a safety "great"

coverage counts.....

[jkm, the stolen pifwafwi]

hitting isnt the only thing that makes a safety "great"

coverage counts.....

why do you hate scott hill? (http://www.jimsoklahomasportspage.com/videos/thehit1.mpg)

:pop: ;)

[jk the sooner fan]

man he was a headhunter.....fun to watch

[Harry Beanbag]

rickey dixon was no slouch

and you'd be correct to argue Royal

i'd like to see a well thought out list to the 10 best linebackers in OU history.....there's a name i think should be on there, but i bet most would leave him off


Paul Migliazzo?


And getting back to Walker, I love the decisiveness and attitude he brings to the corner position. Since Strait left, the CBs have been fairly passive for a mulititude of reasons I'm sure. It looks like it may be rubbing off on Holmes now.

[critical_phil]

why do you hate scott hill? (http://www.jimsoklahomasportspage.com/videos/thehit1.mpg)

:pop: ;)


i don't think this is the proper forum to discuss his business practices....

[tulsaoilerfan]

If we are talking safeties now, the name Randy Hughes should be very high on that list; he probably would have had a long NFL career without all the shoulder problems

[All_Day_28]

i'd like to see a well thought out list to the 10 best linebackers in OU history.....there's a name i think should be on there, but i bet most would leave him off
Boz? :confused:

[RedstickSooner]

Boz? :confused:

Dangit. You beat me to it. I'm pretty sure that's who he meant.

Most people, you see, only think of The Boz as an actor -- they don't realize that he actually had a pretty good collegiate career as a linebacker!

[jkm, the stolen pifwafwi]

when you are the only 2 time butkus award winner in history, you tend to be at the top of "who's best" lists...

[Harry Beanbag]

Dangit. You beat me to it. I'm pretty sure that's who he meant.

Most people, you see, only think of The Boz as an actor -- they don't realize that he actually had a pretty good collegiate career as a linebacker!


Shirley, you can't be serious. :confused:

[Widescreen]

Why wouldn't Shirley be serious? I've often heard Boz compared to Kenneth Brannagh.