What is going on OU Insider!?
I know the “combine” has had a lot of controversy come with it, but there were some things we were able to learn from it that I would love to share with you all from a scouting, sports science, and football perspective!
Thanks to the wonderful work of the staff here, I was able to come through any immense amount of footage in the past day or so and form some educated, and maybe not so educated opinions on various players and positions.
Here is my final verdict following the weekend’s events!
Quarterback:
It is about as settled as it comes that John Mateer will be the starter for Oklahoma barring a major setback at that position. There wasn’t anything out of the spring game that show me that needed to change. Not only did he showcase excellent mechanics that we knew he was going to bring to Norman, but he also showed that he has some serious playmaking ability and is a major threat outside of the pocket when things breakdown. His ability to flip his hips and get the ball down the field is something we have not seen in a while, at least on a consistent basis, in Norman.
That being said, Michael Hawkins Jr. continued to show that he has made MAJOR strides in his mechanics. He has trimmed his release time down to a consistent .34 - .31 while still having some accuracy to go along with it,
Runningback:
There wasn’t anything about the weekend that has changed my mind about this position. Xavier Robinson is far away the best playmaker in the backfield and looks the most fluid running with or without the ball in his hands. My initial opinions on Gavin Sawchuk looking a bit stiff in practice this spring still remain, but that could also be due to some of the lingering issues he has dealt with the past few seasons and his body trying to break free of that.
Tatum had put on some size but I think he will trim down over the summer had baseball is no longer an issue.
Franklin continues to look fluid and I think has added another bit of bounce to his step.
Receiver:
Of course, I wish we would’ve had a chance to watch both of the Gibson’s as they might be the two best of the entire entire bunch, but there is no question that Burks is still the man. His body looks even more cleaned up than a year ago and I love how relentless he is when he runs routes. Honestly, I haven’t seen a Sooner run routes the way he does since Sterling Shepherd. Just the sheer aggressive nature in the way he attacks every single cut is a sight to behold.
Carreon also caught my attention again, not that that’s hard with his frame but he is going to be a serious weapon this year.
Offensive Line:
Not as much to pull from here other than Fodje and Fasusi are the legit.
More to come on this later in the thread.
Tight End:
Recently, Arbuckle has been quoted as saying the tight end room has improved as much as any other room on the team and after watching, I think there may be some merit to that statement.
Now, I don’t think there are any elite playmakers at the position right now, but the sooners are well rounded enough that it may not be a total eyesore.
Here’s my evaluations as they stand today:
- John Locke #44: As it stands today, save from Kanak, he looks like one of the most physical players with his hands. He needs to get a little more mobile before he takes that step into being an elite blocker because he can find himself playing high but I think he is Oklahoma’s TE when they need to snag a few inches on short yardage. He plays hard and doesn’t have bad hands in the event they toss him the rock.
- Carson Kent #86: He looks the most fluid running routes. Move his hips fairly well. If I had to comp him with anyone, he reminds me a little bit of James Hanna with less speed. He does have some quality route ruining nuance to his game and can get low in and out of breaks. Hands are soft and not afraid to get in someone’s grill.
- Jaren Kanak #12: Have heard rumblings about the physical nature he plays with and is the ONLY player who will present a matchup problem in that room. I don’t think he is a super star and I want to see/hear more but while the floor is very low, potentially, the ceiling is probably the highest of any of the players in that room as he is easily the most athletic of the bunch.
Defense will be coming later today!
I know the “combine” has had a lot of controversy come with it, but there were some things we were able to learn from it that I would love to share with you all from a scouting, sports science, and football perspective!
Thanks to the wonderful work of the staff here, I was able to come through any immense amount of footage in the past day or so and form some educated, and maybe not so educated opinions on various players and positions.
Here is my final verdict following the weekend’s events!
Quarterback:
It is about as settled as it comes that John Mateer will be the starter for Oklahoma barring a major setback at that position. There wasn’t anything out of the spring game that show me that needed to change. Not only did he showcase excellent mechanics that we knew he was going to bring to Norman, but he also showed that he has some serious playmaking ability and is a major threat outside of the pocket when things breakdown. His ability to flip his hips and get the ball down the field is something we have not seen in a while, at least on a consistent basis, in Norman.
That being said, Michael Hawkins Jr. continued to show that he has made MAJOR strides in his mechanics. He has trimmed his release time down to a consistent .34 - .31 while still having some accuracy to go along with it,
Runningback:
There wasn’t anything about the weekend that has changed my mind about this position. Xavier Robinson is far away the best playmaker in the backfield and looks the most fluid running with or without the ball in his hands. My initial opinions on Gavin Sawchuk looking a bit stiff in practice this spring still remain, but that could also be due to some of the lingering issues he has dealt with the past few seasons and his body trying to break free of that.
Tatum had put on some size but I think he will trim down over the summer had baseball is no longer an issue.
Franklin continues to look fluid and I think has added another bit of bounce to his step.
Receiver:
Of course, I wish we would’ve had a chance to watch both of the Gibson’s as they might be the two best of the entire entire bunch, but there is no question that Burks is still the man. His body looks even more cleaned up than a year ago and I love how relentless he is when he runs routes. Honestly, I haven’t seen a Sooner run routes the way he does since Sterling Shepherd. Just the sheer aggressive nature in the way he attacks every single cut is a sight to behold.
Carreon also caught my attention again, not that that’s hard with his frame but he is going to be a serious weapon this year.
Offensive Line:
Not as much to pull from here other than Fodje and Fasusi are the legit.
More to come on this later in the thread.
Tight End:
Recently, Arbuckle has been quoted as saying the tight end room has improved as much as any other room on the team and after watching, I think there may be some merit to that statement.
Now, I don’t think there are any elite playmakers at the position right now, but the sooners are well rounded enough that it may not be a total eyesore.
Here’s my evaluations as they stand today:
- John Locke #44: As it stands today, save from Kanak, he looks like one of the most physical players with his hands. He needs to get a little more mobile before he takes that step into being an elite blocker because he can find himself playing high but I think he is Oklahoma’s TE when they need to snag a few inches on short yardage. He plays hard and doesn’t have bad hands in the event they toss him the rock.
- Carson Kent #86: He looks the most fluid running routes. Move his hips fairly well. If I had to comp him with anyone, he reminds me a little bit of James Hanna with less speed. He does have some quality route ruining nuance to his game and can get low in and out of breaks. Hands are soft and not afraid to get in someone’s grill.
- Jaren Kanak #12: Have heard rumblings about the physical nature he plays with and is the ONLY player who will present a matchup problem in that room. I don’t think he is a super star and I want to see/hear more but while the floor is very low, potentially, the ceiling is probably the highest of any of the players in that room as he is easily the most athletic of the bunch.
Defense will be coming later today!
