After the primary three video games of the season, it certain appeared like Oklahoma’s run protection was going to be one of many sturdy factors of Brent Venables’ first staff in Norman.
The Sooners had been an ideal 3-0, and the defensive position was a large half within the staff giving up simply 30 factors in all three contests mixed. Both Reggie Grimes and Ethan Downs had been racking up sacks off the sting and the strain appeared to return from in every single place.
Fast ahead two months, and Oklahoma at present has the No. 119 ranked run protection within the nation after dropping its fourth sport of the season to Baylor.
For the vast majority of the sport, the Sooners held the Bears’ speeding assault in examine, however Baylor took over within the fourth quarter. The staff’s last two drives spanned 145 yards and lasted 9:40 minutes. Even when Oklahoma so clearly anticipated the run, the protection nonetheless couldn’t cease it. On the day, Baylor rushed for 281 yards on 5.9 yards per carry, together with 114 within the fourth quarter alone.
“We just have to put our heads down and get back to work,” defensive lineman Isaiah Coe mentioned Monday. “We gotta perceive the place our assignments are, fill our gaps all sorts of issues.
“We just have to be more consistent. Having more consistent three-and-outs, more takeaways, averaging less than four yards per carry for the season.”
The Sooners have tried many different rotations across the defensive line in an effort to fix the problem, but not a lot has worked. There seems to be constant confusion at the line of scrimmage, including positioning and where players are lined up. For Oklahoma to be able to finish the season strong, though, the defensive line will have to replicate that early season success for one final run.
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One thing OU can do better?
“Playing together as a unit,” Coe said. “Everybody understanding their assignment. I know it sounds pretty basic, but in the heat of the moment, things have to go a certain way. As long as everybody gets the call, lines up correctly and everybody goes to their assignment, we can be one of the best run defenses in the nation. We were for the the first half of the season. … there’s no reason why we can’t get back to that.”
As Coe mentioned, fully understanding assignments and filling gaps is crucial in rediscovering success and is highlighted over film reviews. Communication seems like the biggest key to putting the puzzle pieces together. If the defensive line is playing as well as the early season stretch, the defense as a whole clicks much better. Pressure is a necessity for success in a Venables-led defense.
“Seeing what-if’s, here and there when you miss plays, that’s what practice is here for,” Coe said. “You go back and you watch the film Sunday after the game, get the corrections made, and that’s when we go out here and try and perfect our craft every week. I just feel like if we keep working we can be the defense that everyone wants us to be and the defense we think we can be.”
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