What is going to happen when Sanchez comes back? you can't take Austin off the field the way he has played can you? is their a way to keep both on the field?
Sanchez and Austin..............
- Thread starter pssooner
- Start date
Nothing like a little competition for starting positions to push players to improve and play better. 
Austin wasn't great last night. Had we been playing against somebody who could throw the ball accurately, he'd have been torched a couple of times, and he also had a whiff or two on tackles in the running game, in a way where had he been Sanchez, some of our posters would have been complaining about him. He made a couple of tackles against ISU in the passing game where he had a hard time getting a receiver down short of the sticks on first and ten when he first made contact with the receiver, immediately, on a pass thrown four yards downfield.
On his interception, the receiver was past him three yards with no safety help, but the ball was poorly underthrown. It gave him the opportunity to make a remarkable play on the ball for an interception.
The great thing about him is that he competes his butt off. But we are about to enter a whole new level of competition. And corner is the most vulnerable. If he's less successful against Baylor, there will likely be complaints that he just didn't play as well, ignoring that he was lined up against Corey Coleman, rather that some nameless white guy from Des Moines.
I love how he's played. Coming off the bench with almost no experience at that position in over a year, he's been terrific. I get the feeling that there won't be a decision made. You'll get your wish. Austin will start because Sanchez won't be ready physically. Had he been ready to play, but held out as a precaution, he'd have been in uniform.
High ankle sprains are hard to return from. Maybe the toughest position to make that return quickly would be corner. If Austin plays great against that offense in Waco, it might be the defensive story of the year for OUr team.
On his interception, the receiver was past him three yards with no safety help, but the ball was poorly underthrown. It gave him the opportunity to make a remarkable play on the ball for an interception.
The great thing about him is that he competes his butt off. But we are about to enter a whole new level of competition. And corner is the most vulnerable. If he's less successful against Baylor, there will likely be complaints that he just didn't play as well, ignoring that he was lined up against Corey Coleman, rather that some nameless white guy from Des Moines.
I love how he's played. Coming off the bench with almost no experience at that position in over a year, he's been terrific. I get the feeling that there won't be a decision made. You'll get your wish. Austin will start because Sanchez won't be ready physically. Had he been ready to play, but held out as a precaution, he'd have been in uniform.
High ankle sprains are hard to return from. Maybe the toughest position to make that return quickly would be corner. If Austin plays great against that offense in Waco, it might be the defensive story of the year for OUr team.
Well said Plaino...
Austin has put in a heroic effort these last two weeks, and deserves all of our respect and appreciation. He has a future with this team, although I guess he has to get a little bigger physically (I mean, he looks like he weights about 110). But I love the kid.
Still, Sanchez is the better all around player. Playing CB in this league is a thankless task, but Zack is getting it done in impressive fashion, and I'm pretty sure he'll be playing football on Sundays.
CW, I covered a high school game Friday night in FW where the Fort Worth team, typically undermanned was playing against a solid suburban team who is headed to the playoffs. And the FW team had a half dozen guys starting for them that looked like eighth or ninth grade football players on a varsity team. Several were really quick. But they got mashed because they were so small. There was one running back, who was so small, that when he and a like sized quarterback lined up in the spread together, I don't think they combined to weigh 250.
Austin looks a little like that on a college field. I'm sure he's hit the weights pretty good. Some guys it takes him a few yards to get them down, but he doesn't miss many tackles. This four game run of half a hundred to not much scores has a lot to do with how well Austin has played. He has held up his end of the bargain like few inexperienced backups have at OU in the last five or six years. He's been a player and made plays. And corners seldom make every play. His confidence seems to be growing, and rightly so.
I know he's played in a state title game in high school, but next week will be the biggest football test of his life. I expect him to play well. The official roster lists him at 157. Not many guys that size playing on a college FBS team ranked in the top 15, maybe top ten.
Austin looks a little like that on a college field. I'm sure he's hit the weights pretty good. Some guys it takes him a few yards to get them down, but he doesn't miss many tackles. This four game run of half a hundred to not much scores has a lot to do with how well Austin has played. He has held up his end of the bargain like few inexperienced backups have at OU in the last five or six years. He's been a player and made plays. And corners seldom make every play. His confidence seems to be growing, and rightly so.
I know he's played in a state title game in high school, but next week will be the biggest football test of his life. I expect him to play well. The official roster lists him at 157. Not many guys that size playing on a college FBS team ranked in the top 15, maybe top ten.
I think Austin has more than held his own and feel very comfortable with him in there even if Sanchez is good to go.
Even IF Sancehz IS good to go, he may not be able to stay the distance. It's more comfortable, now, knowing that Austin can fill in, and hopefully Step-Up...
Soonersincefitty
Sooner starter
Yeah, OU could have Ronnie Lott back there and with these high flying, pass happy offenses we face, he'd get burned every now and then.
Just the nature of the beast.
Soonersincefitty
Sooner starter
Yep, they have to devise a way to have them both in the rotation...just for the 'fresh legs' aspect of it if nothing else.
...and Sanchez will get tested on his injury, for real...
Sanchez is the starter end of story! If Sanchez struggles at some point then Austin will be a good player to bring in for relief
Yeah, OU could have Ronnie Lott back there and with these high flying, pass happy offenses we face, he'd get burned every now and then.
Just the nature of the beast.
Yep so true Fitty....five of the top 10 CFB offenses are in the Big 12. Zero from the Big 10 or ACC...and only one from the "media darling" SEC.
He whiffed on a few tackles and could have been torched a couple of times? How is this different than Sanchez?
Sanchez had been a three year starter and has experience that a guy who has barely played doesn't have. He is 30 pounds heavier. He makes better plays against the run. And he is a better overall player.
Those are the primary differences.
Those are the primary differences.
He is better but Sanchez does struggle against those same things. Austin is just so small
Spot on Plaino as usual.... It's a nice problem to have and I am sure Stoops isn't losing sleep over his secondary
Every limitation that has been described about Austin is one that I found in Sanchez, with one exception. I thought Sanchez was more likely to take a chance and to get burned deep. Sanchez does miss tackles, primarily because people run around him. He does get beat both short (due to a deep drop) and over the top as he comes up. You would think that being a three-year starter and all Big Twelve performer would have overcome certain tendencies. Yet, I see as many or more mistakes out of Sanchez.
Soonersincefitty
Sooner starter
Oh yeah, Sanchez has intuitive skills that are light years ahead of D. Austins.
It's not even close really.
It's not even close really.
Baylor's Coleman is a great receiver (reminds me of Crabtree)...so our D backs will have their hands full. Just need to get in Stidham's grill often and make him rush his throws and progressions. Austin has done a good job filling in...and Sanchez should reclaim the starting spot as his ankle allows.
We all know that Bob is loyal to his starters, a la 'The Landry Syndrome', and more recently, he reverted back to Jordan Evans, in spite of Shannon's performance, last week, and the fact that Frank was a previous starter. The guys that go through the 2-a-days, the pre-season practices and earn those positions have history. Once they earn a starting position, it's hard for a backup to break into the lineup. Injuries and consistently not getting the job done open up those doors for the lucky few. Some got their chance at coming off the bench during the texass debacle.
Now, Austin is the new kid on the block and has a great upside, but still has to pay his dues, IMO...He cut his teeth playing the Red Raiders and the Cyclones, and will no doubt get some playing time in the next few games, and a chance to showcase his abilities...
Now, Austin is the new kid on the block and has a great upside, but still has to pay his dues, IMO...He cut his teeth playing the Red Raiders and the Cyclones, and will no doubt get some playing time in the next few games, and a chance to showcase his abilities...
So wise, Senior. Never, never, never let anyone tell you "You don't know football." Boomer, girl friend.
Yeah, OU could have Ronnie Lott back there and with these high flying, pass happy offenses we face, he'd get burned every now and then. Just the nature of the beast.
I just gave Ronnie a Shout-Out and asked if he might swing by and give OUr Corners some 'Helpful Hints'. He told me he'd be happy to, except that he was currently busy mentoring Jason Pierre-Paul...Something about teaching him how to give High Fours...
Soonersincefitty
Sooner starter
