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OU vs. Tech: A Look at the Trenches

Posted by dedfischer on November 18th, 2008 under Football

As most of you are aware, I have some kind of strange fixation on line play due primarily to my background as a lineman, and my therefore, deeply imbedded distrust of the consistency in skill players.  Both Tech and OU recruit their players from the same talent pool in Texas, a place where quality D-I skill players reside like fire ants.  There are plenty to go around, and in most cases, Texas, OU, OSU and Tech will be of similar quality.  I feel that holds true for this season, especially.  The only thing separating these teams are the guys up front, where a staff’s ability to evaluate talent can be the difference.  It’s the hardest position to project as most big guys that possess D-I talent have the ability to skate by at 50% and still dominate guys like me in high school.  You never can be sure of their motor until they’ve been hit in the mouth by someone just as bad as they are.  For the first time in their lives, they are forced to ask themselves a question that all undersized guys playing high school football had to ask themselves in 9th grade:  Do I really love playing football?  That’s why you see a much higher rate of recruiting busts at the line positions.  I’ll zip through the skill players at a later time, but for now, let’s take a look at where this game will be won or lost.

When OU Has the Ball

LT Phil Loadholt vs. RE Brandon Williams - He and Rylan Reed are very similar players outside Loadholt takes more plays off and has a general disdain for duties in the run game against anyone who hits him with more than a pillow.  Both were equally inept in pass blocking Brian Orapko except Reed was the beneficiary of an officiating crew full of President Obama supporters.  Reed was much more effective in the run game and was able to seal off Orakpo on a few occasions for nice gainers by Shannon Woods off left end.  Loadholt and Reed both lack sufficient foot speed to be successful left tackles in the NFL, and will have to move to the right side to have a chance at sticking around the league for a few years.  Neither one will ever be known for their run blocking skills.  They just physically aren’t built to be great drive blockers.  They’ve both been quality left tackles at the Big 12 level and rank behind OSU’s Russell Okung and Baylor’s Jason Smith as the top players in this league at the position.  UT’s Adam Ulatoski belongs in the same group with Reed and Loadholt.  Williams held up well against Okung in the run game, so he should do fine against the slower and less physical Loadholt.  It’s been 5 games now since Loadholt has faced a pass rusher with Williams’ first step and he’ll most likely be able to get around the corner and drop Bradford at least once in this game.  More than likely early, while Loadholt is feeling out the proper drop steps to cut him off.

LG Duke Robinson/C Jon Cooper/RG Brandon Walker vs. DT Richard Jones/DT Rajon Henley/NG Colby Whitlock -  The Tech interior DL matched up well with the OU OL during the 2007 contest.  Cooper is the best of this bunch and the top center I’ve seen play in the Big 12, in a year, plagued with bad center play all over the conference.  Still, Cooper is one player on this OL, who deserves the accolades he receives and is particularly effective at working combo blocks with his guards.  Whitlock held up well at NG as a true freshman, so he should be able to keep this thing at the line after a year in a college weight program.  Robinson and Walker are decent pass blockers, but as a unit, they’ve had trouble moving the only good DLs they’ve faced in Texas and TCU.  Whitlock isn’t the same type of dominator that UT’s Roy Miller is, but he’s a better technician with a higher motor allowing him to cover more territory from tackle to tackle.  He should do fine at keeping the guards off Duncan at MLB, but probably won’t rack up the tackle and big play numbers, given Cooper’s ability to hold the point of attack.  Henley and Jones provided headaches in Lubbock last year, and should serve as disruptions this year, given the OU guards haven’t faced 3 techniques the quality of the Tech duo in the run game.  Or, at least, that’s what the Texas and OSU guards told me after the game.  An inside pass rush will be tough to generate against the OU unit, especially for Whitlock facing the double team, but Henley could find himself in some favorable one on one scenarios and see some time in the backfield as he was able to do in the 2007 game.

RT Branndon Braxton or Trent Williams vs. LDE McKinner Dixon/DE Daniel Howard/DE Jake Ratliff - I’m not quite as familar with the OU personnel at this position, but I recall them having 9 kinds of hell blocking Sergio Kindle.  Neither Dixon or Howard have that kind of speed.  Dixon will be solid as always in the run game as well as containment.  I don’t think we’ll see a ton of pressure unless the body OU rolls out in the game lacks batteries required to execute sound fundamentals.  If this is an issue, both Dixon and Howard should make them pay.  Really, we might need an OU fan to chime in here.

The Tech DL hasn’t lost a battle all year, although, the OSU OL played them as close as anyone I’ve witnessed this season.  The OU unit is solid in pass protection, which should allow for some opportunities from big plays.  However, somehow the image of the OU team is one that features a power running game,  and it just hasn’t appeared that way in the two games I’ve seen them play against good DLs.  The run blocking was nothing short of god awful against Texas and TCU, the only two they’ve seen with Tech’s class of speed.  I would say the Tech DL unit ranks somewhere in between those two in quality.  Outside of Cooper, the OU OL is just not built well for drive blocking out of the I formation and they prefer to put the game in Bradford’s hands and rely on big plays against teams like Tech.  Which is a pretty good plan, considering their OL strengths.

When Tech has the Ball

DE Jeremy Beal vs. LT Rylan Reed - Beal has been their best pass rusher since English went down.  He’s listed at 6′3″, 253 lbs., but Beal doesn’t look like he’s carrying that much weight at this point in the season.  At least when teams run the ball.  Beal is a serviceable speed rusher and good at chasing down perimeter plays, but he’s not the same kind of player as Orakpo at Texas.  Reed should be able to neutralize Beal’s pass rush, and if he can handle Beal like he did Orakpo in the run game, Tech should be able to tap some big gainers off the left end again.

DT Gerald McCoy/DT Demarcus Granger/DT Adrian Taylor/DT Cory Bennett vs. LG Louis Vasquez/C Stephen Hamby/RG Brandon Carter - McCoy is the best of this group and should be respected appropriately.  They’re scarier on paper than they are in real life, and after seeing Chris Hall play OU and Tech, I’m thinking they’ll find a way to get the OU unit under control.  I thought Scipio Tex really hit the nail on the head in his post mortem and this line:

“The pace they push is incompatible with the motor of some of their big OL when facing top flight competition and if your offense can stay on the field it places a lot of pressure on OU’s defense – specifically their DL. Unfortunately for Oklahoma, the dropoff in quality from OU’s DL starters to their subs is significant.”

Teams that can’t run the ball have been able to run the ball on OU this season.  I don’t know exactly why, but they have and the above assertion seems to make as much sense as anything I’ve seen.  I think they’re not quite the dominators they’ve had in the past, and they’re suffering from poor LB play behind it.  This allows teams like Tech with a north/south running game based on down blocking angles to get backs to the 2nd level and let the young LBs to run themselves out of plays with misdirection or delayed action by the backs.  Maybe it’s a little of both.  As the DL get tired, the young LBs get exposed later in the game.  I don’t know, but there has to be some kind of explanation for allowing Chris Ogbannaya, Jake Sharp and Roy Helu to run all over you, and only Helu has a decent OL.  Batch and Woods are averaging 184 yards per game on 28 touches in conference play, and the OU RBs only receive an average of 4 more carries per game.  I think we’ll see a lot of Tech’s 2 back set and jumbo formations in an attempt to pound the ball a little, and create some playaction opportunities with the LB personnel that Stoops prefers to start at safety.   

DE Frank Alexander/DE Pryce Macon vs. RT Marlon Winn - Although most of the media with Ivy League diplomas and backgrounds in Lacrosse will disagree with me at the end of the season, Tech’s most talented OL is Winn and he’ll do well against backup personnel from any school in the running and passing game.  Winn had some consistency issues as a sophomore, but has managed to find his focus, and evolve into one of the more dominant OL underclassman in the Big 12.  The right side has been Tech’s bread and butter all season behind Brandon Carter and Winn, and this game should be no different.  Look for Leach to try and control the clock in this game, and force OU’s defense to stay on the field.

Summary

I could attempt to wrap this up with what will come across as Red Raider bias, so instead I’ll leave you with one last paragraph from our neutral source, Scipio:

“If we played Oklahoma ten times, we’d lose the first quarter eight times. We’d win the fourth quarter all ten. Oklahoma’s pass rush died at the 5:00 minute mark of the 3rd quarter. Watch it and you’ll just shake your head. Colt has a perfect pocket from then on and they lose containment every time he scrambles. They’re just done. Cody Johnson’s last two touchdown runs are similarly instructive. Each time, Huey and Hix cave in the entire left side of Oklahoma’s defensive line. Every single OU player is pancaked. Every one. Cody strolls in like it’s a spring constitutional. Demarcus Granger and Jeremy Beal are both buried and the LBs behind them end up in the back of the end zone. Consider Ogbonnaya’s long run: he is led by Chris Hall and Cedric Dockery pulling. Uh, let me repeat that: center Chris Hall pulling. Folks, you can’t pull your center on an outside run unless the defense is walking on legs made of boysenberry jelly. That play should go for -4. Davis saw what was happening to the OU defense and made a great call. Hall and Dockery leveled their assignments and Chris O made the football equivalent of a layup. That Oklahoma defense was done. If there was a fifth quarter, we would have scored four more touchdowns.”

And Tech fans are aware of how good that UT OL is this season.

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41 Responses

  1. Taylor Mays said:

    November 18th, 2008 at 7:41 am

    you have something against Linebacker sized Safeties?

    If Nic Harris is forced to cover slot receivers (and I know he will be) lookout.

  2. Jacquizz Rogers said:

    November 18th, 2008 at 7:44 am

    Say, brother Mays, you think Stoops will go with an honest front?

  3. NM99 said:

    November 18th, 2008 at 7:53 am

    Thanks again for the analysis.

    “Both Tech and OU recruit their players from the same talent pool in Texas, a place where quality D-I skill players reside like fire ants. There are plenty to go around, and in most cases, Texas, OU, OSU and Tech will be of similar quality.”

    I have felt the same way, at least as far as the 1st string goes. Though I am sure there will be about 17 people from BC over here soon to argue against it. Plus a few Aggies who think their skill players are better.

    Pace of the game will be interesting. OU likes to push it, but Tech likes to play that game, too. Will Leach get suckered in?

    Do you think Tech goes with the 3 man front like they did against UT, or do we have more respect for OU running?

    I could see this game shaping up much like the 2007 game, though I think OU’s defense has taken a step back, perhaps partially due to injury.

  4. Taylor Mays said:

    November 18th, 2008 at 7:57 am

    “Say, brother Mays, you think Stoops will go with an honest front?”

    I would expect OU to be primarily in 4-2-5 but don’t see them getting a lot fo pressure with front 4, especially given the depleted depth. Lewis and Clayton have a lot of speed and were converted to LB. Probably will use Quinton Carter as 5th DB. Harris and the LBs will still be liabilities if OU plays man. OU rarely plays man, though, so there will be huge holes in the zone.

  5. Barking Carnival said:

    November 18th, 2008 at 7:59 am

    “I have felt the same way, at least as far as the 1st string goes. Though I am sure there will be about 17 people from BC over here soon to argue against it.”

    You are crazy. Look at the stars

  6. NM99 said:

    November 18th, 2008 at 8:03 am

    “Look at the stars”

    I’ve never been much on astrology.

  7. Jacquizz Rogers said:

    November 18th, 2008 at 8:09 am

    Mays,

    That’s kind of interesting. I guess under your assessment, they would either be playing man with 1 deep safety, or zone with the CBs and safety playing 1/3s? And mostly zone? I was thinking Stoops will be playing a lot of Cover 2 zone in this game. I guess you could be saying that he’ll run Cover 2 using 4-2-5 personnel. I just don’t see him having enough respect for Tech’s running game to do any overloading. Which will cost him dearly.

  8. Tortilla Thrower 1990 said:

    November 18th, 2008 at 8:39 am

    Given all of that, I look for tech to run a lot of inside draws, shovel passes and other plays up the middle.

    Wreck ‘em Tech!!!

  9. pickup18 said:

    November 18th, 2008 at 8:42 am

    Dedfisher – Sooner fan here – good stuff, have enjoyed reading your stuff all season long when I became aware of it. In response to your question about the right side of the line – 71 Trent Williams will be the starter there and he routinely grades out as one of the better players on this line. Loadholt/Robinson get all the accolades but your assessment of Cooper is spot on, he makes the thing work and Williams is solid on the other side. But Williams is solid in both aspects, as mentioned had some trouble with Sergio Kindle late in the TX game and the notion that our line on both sides was physically worn out at the end of that game is correct. The long drives that TX was able to put together throughout that game was able to wear them down and the obvious passing situations we were forced into in the end of that game took it’s toll on the OL.- I do seem to remember that started to happen against Tech as well but not to the extent that it did to us.

    Overall, the trench play will be key I agree but it will be all about our inexperienced LB play and sometimes spotty safety play in this one. Tackling and limiting YAC will be huge and not easy against you guys. I really believe our 2 corners, Franks and Jackson are very solid and the strength of the secondary – they will have to continue to be. The depth at DE is definitely a concern, don’t overlook Frank Alexander though, this guy would have received major playing time all year if not for an injury early in the season and he is quick and has a hell of a motor. He is not Sergio Kindle yet but I think has that kind of ability.

    Should be a great game, looking forward to it – biggest game in Norman since Nebraska in 2000. I always have a good feeling for home games seeing as we have lost 2 in the better part of 10 years and really have never lost at home in the Stoops era with a team that had a “pulse” on offense. In 2001 our O was terrible when we lost to OSU and 2005 was the Paul Thompson/Rhett Blowmar experiment, but we shall see – I agree that this Tech team is different.

    Anyway, good stuff but please no need for the biased Longhorn drivel via cut and paste…you’re better than that….

  10. dedfischer said:

    November 18th, 2008 at 9:03 am

    pickup,

    Good info in there. I’ll have some thoughts up on the skill positions (incl. DB & LB) at some point. I agree with this:

    “Franks and Jackson are very solid and the strength of the secondary – they will have to continue to be.”

    I actually think OU will be able to contain Crabtree and Britton on the outside to some extent unless Stoops gets to stubborn with Cover 2 zone, and they play a lot of the game matched up with slot receivers outside the hashes.

  11. shawn said:

    November 18th, 2008 at 9:17 am

    There is some solid analysis in there, for the most part well done. Things that I would disagree with, are first loadholt has better feet than you give him credit for, outide of two plays he really held his own against orakpo. Duke Robinson is an absolute beast on drive blocking, our best ol at it, its why we consistently run better to the left.Lastly, trent williams has been labeled our best ol by the coaches this year, and there was no mention of how frank alexander is playing, he has been everyhwere the last two games, and i feel playing out best of all our D ends.

  12. dedfischer said:

    November 18th, 2008 at 9:29 am

    shawn,

    My biggest concern for you would be that you don’t want to put too much stock into how the group has played against A&M, Nebraska and KSU as they all suffer from some really bad line play on both sides of the ball. Suh at NU is an all conference player and Harold at KSU will be good. Nebraska is the only team with an anything close to decent OL. As a Sooner, I wouldn’t be so concerned about my OL as I would my DL. There just hasn’t been anything to indicate this season that they will be able to get a good offense off the field, and Tech’s is by a pretty large margin, the best they will see this season. On the other hand, my point here is that it’s not a stretch that the Tech defense will be able to slow the OU offense down more than their counterparts, and that’s how Tech has beat everyone on their schedule to date. Don’t know if it will work in this game, but based on both teams’ performance against good competition, I would have to put my money on the Tech defense.

  13. pickup18 said:

    November 18th, 2008 at 9:44 am

    “I actually think OU will be able to contain Crabtree and Britton on the outside to some extent unless Stoops gets to stubborn with Cover 2 zone, and they play a lot of the game matched up with slot receivers outside the hashes.”

    I agree with this and the word “contain” definitely implys when talking about Crabtree. That guy is an absolute freak and will get his plays – if we can contain and limit the 13 other receivers Tech will put out into the pattern then we will have a chance, but Crabtree will get his – no doubt.

    Stoops/Venables stubborness is a valid point. They must adjust if we are getting exploited at any point in this game, something we did not do against TX. Lining up Austin Box or even Nick Harris to some extent over a slot receiver like Lewis or Morris is a nightmare from an OU perspective. I think about the TX game over and over and why they stuck with Brandon Crow in the slot over Shipley, an LB that hadn’t played a snap and probably won’t ever again instead of bringing in an extra safety or DB and going nickel is beyond me, as TX was just 5-7 yard dumping the ball all over the field until they hit their big plays. Our lack of adjusting cost us in that game – got outcoached and that hurts against the clown that is Greg Davis.

  14. dedfischer said:

    November 18th, 2008 at 9:58 am

    shawn, you sold me. I decided to give Loadholt more credit for his run blocking skills.

  15. dedfischer said:

    November 18th, 2008 at 10:01 am

    pickup,

    Another great post. Contrary to what Longhorn fans believe, I’m fairly objective and OU has one distinct advantage in this game, which is your #3 & #4 WRs matched up against Tech’s #3 & #4 DBs. Robinson and McCoy had trouble adjusting, but I don’t think Bradford will have much trouble, so the key for us to stop him, will being sacking him before he gets that far in his progression.

  16. pickup18 said:

    November 18th, 2008 at 10:22 am

    Agreed. While OU’s skill position players – the WR’s and RB’s and TE individually I think are somewhat underappreciated (none will probably make 1st team all conference) as a unit collectively there is so much quality that in essence it has not been stopped all year. All of that obviously starts with Bradford and his masterful ability of going through his reads and delivering pinpoint throws and as you said the ability to do that is based on protection. There is just not 1 area that a defense can decide to try to commit to stopping and not get punished by the other facet of OU’s offense.

  17. Taylor Mays said:

    November 18th, 2008 at 11:08 am

    “I was thinking Stoops will be playing a lot of Cover 2 zone in this game. I guess you could be saying that he’ll run Cover 2 using 4-2-5 personnel.”

    Ding ding ding….we have a winner. He likely will replace Austin Box with Nic Harris and bring Quinton Carter off the bench to play SS. WRs will then run unmolested underneath coverage and Harrell will pick apart the D with short passes over the middle. Adjustments will not be needed because the issue is really about the players not executing. OU fans then curse their Brent Venables and throw [insert derogatory white trash item here] at their TVs.

  18. Scott Norwood said:

    November 18th, 2008 at 11:09 am

    Why isn’t anyone talking about the kicking game?

  19. pickup18 said:

    November 18th, 2008 at 11:15 am

    Scott –

    As a Sooner fan I’m pretending like that facet of the game doesn’t exist. Thanks

  20. Buffalo Bills' fan said:

    November 18th, 2008 at 11:54 am

    “As a Sooner fan I’m pretending like that facet of the game doesn’t exist.”

    I feel your pain

  21. hubcityraider said:

    November 18th, 2008 at 1:17 pm

    Good football talk up in here. carry on.

  22. dedfischer said:

    November 18th, 2008 at 1:21 pm

    “OU fans then curse their Brent Venables and throw [insert derogatory white trash item here] at their TVs……..”

    And, then say, “Fuck it”, and go ride their jet skis.

  23. NM99 said:

    November 18th, 2008 at 1:41 pm

    “Adjustments will not be needed because the issue is really about the players not executing. OU fans then curse their Brent Venables and throw [insert derogatory white trash item here] at their TVs.”

    Let it be so.

    Ruff – Are you listening? 3/4 QBs in NCAA FBS can pick apart a zone defense. Bradford included. Those who can’t go to Iowa State and Bowling Green.

  24. pickup18 said:

    November 18th, 2008 at 1:55 pm

    True statement regarding some OU fans and Venables…simple fact is the OU fans that bitch and complain about Venables being the problem are idiots – sure I have been critical of some decisions, like the aforementioned lack of preparation in the TX game – but overall the guy is a fantastic coach, recruiter and person. We’ll rue the day he’s gone which will likely be very soon (Clemson) and we start playing the Mack Brown “rent a D coordinator” game.

  25. dedfischer said:

    November 18th, 2008 at 2:05 pm

    Yeah, I guess Mike might not have to come back after all now that Dykes is working out.

  26. LonghornGuest said:

    November 18th, 2008 at 2:11 pm

    “Contrary to what Longhorn fans believe, I’m fairly objective…”

    Hey! I think you’re objective… when you’re not too drunk from a fresh victory.

    P.S. Muschamp is at Texas to stay. They just announced he will take over for Mack Brown as head coach when MB retires. Or so it says on the football website. Just thought that tidbit might be of interest to you over here.

  27. NM99 said:

    November 18th, 2008 at 2:16 pm

    Fair enough re: Venables.

    McNeill is prone to some bone-headed schema, but overall a significant upgrade. Though I don’t foresee any schools trying to lure him away.

  28. pickup18 said:

    November 18th, 2008 at 2:17 pm

    Yea – although that was a bad loss to Oregon…AZ needs to get that win over ASU for him to be totally safe though…

    Just saw the stuff about Muschamp being the new Jimbo Fischer – interesting – guess they didn’t want to play rent a coach anymore…don’t you think Tenn could still come get him though? How much longer is Mack going to be around – I haven’t heard anything about him hanging it up anytime soon..

  29. NM99 said:

    November 18th, 2008 at 2:17 pm

    LG –

    Is Mack planning to retire?

  30. LonghornGuest said:

    November 18th, 2008 at 2:25 pm

    He has 8 years left on his contract, so no idea. Nothing is being said or hinted at him retiring anytime soon, though, I would think that with this deal in place he probably would feel more comfortable retiring earlier if he wanted to.

    I tend to think MB is going to try to win at least one more NC if possible. If things break right for Texas getting to Miami this year, I still think he stays on at least another year, but if not, then he’ll definitely be here next year to make a run at it. After that, who knows?

    But with Coach Boom locked up, it should help with our defensive recruiting.

  31. NM99 said:

    November 18th, 2008 at 2:28 pm

    “it should help with our defensive recruiting”

    One would think. Interesting play by the administration. Though if I’m Muschamp, a bird in the hand is better than 2 in the bush if it looks like Mack is going to pull a Joe Pa.

  32. LonghornGuest said:

    November 18th, 2008 at 2:36 pm

    I don’t think that is in Mack’s character.

    Plus, Muschamp mentioned that his family loved Austin, which I think played a big part in this deal. Personally, I think Boom’s wife probably said, “I’m through with moving so much!” and might have forced the issue. He also has two kids. Constantly uprooting them is never a good thing, especially when the wife and kids are pretty much left on their own when plugging into a new community since the husband is inundated with football 6 months out of the year.

  33. NM99 said:

    November 18th, 2008 at 2:47 pm

    Not saying it would happen in the next 2-3 years. The opportunity to take over a nationally competative program with a great recruiting base, personal things aside, is a big carrot. But if Mack is eligible for Social Security and still around, the grass will probably start looking pretty green.

    Enough on MB and the prince. More on beating OU.

  34. BIG_GREEN_MACHINE said:

    November 18th, 2008 at 7:08 pm

    NOW THAT YOU HAVE COVERED EVERY BIT OF THE X’S AND O’S, LET’S GET DOWN TO THE GOOD STUFF. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME GOOD IDEAS FOR A SIGN AT ESPN’S GAMEDAY. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW OF ANY TECH TAILGATE ACTIVITIES. MY SIGN IDEA: “I GOT PAID $10000 TO HOLD THIS SIGN UP….BIG RED SPORTS AND IMPORTS RULES!!!! SAM B.”

  35. NM99 said:

    November 18th, 2008 at 7:28 pm

    Sign:

    Pirates, not Golf Pricks.

  36. Clownshoes said:

    November 18th, 2008 at 9:08 pm

    The Big Red Sports sign would be hilarious.

  37. bagel said:

    November 18th, 2008 at 9:14 pm

    Seems to me, when all is said and done, it really comes down to Bradford vs. Harrell.

  38. The Tortilla Retort » Blog Archive » OU Personnel: These Guys Can Play said:

    November 19th, 2008 at 10:08 am

    [...] see my Trench Warfare breakdown. addthis_url = location.href; addthis_title = document.title; addthis_pub = [...]

  39. sam said:

    November 19th, 2008 at 3:48 pm

    Hope to see a clean, fair game out there this weekend. Keep up the writing; it’s excellent stuff.

  40. shawn said:

    November 23rd, 2008 at 9:14 am

    we DOMINATED your lines… thats all that needs to be said

  41. dedfischer said:

    November 23rd, 2008 at 9:46 am

    shawn,

    word.

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