In my match-up preview, I raved about Tulsa left guard Garrett Stafford and I wanted to try something out here and give you all a look at what I was seeing on film; a guy that the Hurricane consistently leaned on to create holes in the running game.
For those of you who like to keep your focus in the trenches, here's a look at what will be one of Oklahoma's biggest challenges on Saturday. #76, FYI.
Tulsa was in hurry-up mode here, which can sometimes make it difficult for bigger interior lineman to fire off the ball. But watch how Stafford is the first off the snap and places himself inside the nose tackle before using his strength to wipe him out of the play. If there's any penetration there, no way running back Zack Langer gathers that head of steam to run through the tackler into the end zone.
Here you can see Stafford do a great job helping out his center before moving into the second level and eat up an outmatched linebacker. Tulsa continually found success running to the left.
Stafford will never be an ultra-athletic pulling guard, but he more than does the job here.
The New Mexico linebacker actually times the snap well and is a quick moving target for Stafford, but he has no problem absorbing the force and turning the defender out of the play. I'm not sure he even gets a hand on the running back.
However, Stafford can struggle in pass protection, especially with hand placement, as Brandin Bryant from FAU gave him fits with his initial punch a few times in this game. Someone like Charles Walker with extremely quick hands and a heavy punch could find success if Tulsa is forced into obvious passing situations.
For those of you who like to keep your focus in the trenches, here's a look at what will be one of Oklahoma's biggest challenges on Saturday. #76, FYI.
Tulsa was in hurry-up mode here, which can sometimes make it difficult for bigger interior lineman to fire off the ball. But watch how Stafford is the first off the snap and places himself inside the nose tackle before using his strength to wipe him out of the play. If there's any penetration there, no way running back Zack Langer gathers that head of steam to run through the tackler into the end zone.
Here you can see Stafford do a great job helping out his center before moving into the second level and eat up an outmatched linebacker. Tulsa continually found success running to the left.
Stafford will never be an ultra-athletic pulling guard, but he more than does the job here.
The New Mexico linebacker actually times the snap well and is a quick moving target for Stafford, but he has no problem absorbing the force and turning the defender out of the play. I'm not sure he even gets a hand on the running back.
However, Stafford can struggle in pass protection, especially with hand placement, as Brandin Bryant from FAU gave him fits with his initial punch a few times in this game. Someone like Charles Walker with extremely quick hands and a heavy punch could find success if Tulsa is forced into obvious passing situations.
