* First off, I'm checking on Hatari Byrd. I can't confirm anything at this point. If he is gone, could he be back? Has he really left? Obviously his last post was on the 19th, so would hate to think this was an emotional decision that could come back.
But we do have indications that something is going on with Hatari related to his status with the team based on early sources.
I will come back and update when we have more concrete info on what is going on with him. I don't remember seeing him Thursday after practice, but I wasn't looking for him either.
* These tidbits are not about specific plays that happened in today's scrimmage. But some overall feedback I've been getting from practices this week.
* I'm told Austin Kendall has looked really good in practices this week. I'm told it appears OU is preparing him to be a backup quarterback that can function should Baker Mayfield go down. What I mean by that is they are working with him a lot on making good decisions. If things aren't there, they want him to pull it down and make plays with his feet.
I'm told he shows really good athleticism for a guy that was supposed to be more pass than run when he came in.
* If we're talking about receivers and who is going to be stepping up, I'm told Dede Westbrook is really having a standout spring so far. No worries that he's going to be able to step up and be a bigger playmaker from what people are seeing so far from him in camp.
* I'm told Geno Lewis is a really solid receiver and should make a lot of catches this year. He won't be Sterling Shepard, but he will be a guy Mayfield can count on to run the correct routes. Also told the underrated part of his game is that he is an excellent blocker downfield and in the run game. Lots of lower body strength and he has great technique when asked to be a blocker.
* A.D. Miller, Dahu Green and Jeffery Mead continue to be the main contributors at that outside receiver spot. So far if you had to rank them and their potential to be playmakers next year, I'm told 1. Dahu Green, 2. Mead, 3. Miller. But I was also told there is a lot of time for people to move up and down. It's just that Green shows a bit of a spark.
* Defensively, you'll probably keep hearing about Dakota Austin as the starting cornerback. Mbanasor needs to get better. He needs to be more consistent. Right now Austin is the better corner and it's not all that close from what I'm hearing from one source.
* Linebacker is not a strength right now with Jordan Evans out. Tay Evans is holding his own but walk-on Ruben Hunter is playing with the 1s over Curtis Bolton or Arthur McGinnis. There's a real chance the guys from Lackawanna are gonna come in and take some jobs in the fall at that position the way things are headed.
* Will Johnson has been playing really well at the nickel spot as well.
* Rodney Anderson has been really, really impressive so far in spring. It sounds like he's ready to be the No. 3 back as soon as the season starts the way he's performing.
* Offensive Line: Not sounding great on Dwayne Orso's transition right now to tackle. Give it time, he's just making the switch.
* Dru Samia is still getting some work at guard, but right now the starting OL looks like Orlando Brown (LT), Cody Ford (G), Jonathan Alvarez (C), Ben Powers (G), Dru Samia (RT).
* Bill Bedenbaugh is trying to work more Christian Daimler in at right tackle as well. But doesn't look like anyone is there to take over for Samia. They'll keep working it though.
* Am told Jamal Danley is getting some work with the ones as well.
* Young defensive tackles looking the best so far in spring? Gallimore and Que Overton. Both looking better than Du'Vonta Lampkin from what I'm told. Lampkin still getting back into playing shape. Physically he's there, but he's been out for a while. Just needs to keep coming.
* Am told if Matt Romar doesn't put his foot on the gas, Overton could end up taking his spot.
Other than that, things good with the vets like Dimon, Walker.
* Have heard that Ricky DeBerry has done some really positive things at linebacker, but he's still having trouble getting lined up correctly at times. There is no safety net with guys getting lined up right with Striker and Bond gone. Obo is still running with the ones and doing what is asked of him. Will he be a difference maker though? That's the question.
* Heard that Austin Roberts is running with the ones in practice quite a bit, but that he's not exactly dominating. More of a lack of depth there. Need some guys to step up. Or need Roberts to step up more.
* That's kind of it for what I've heard today. I'm gonna keep checking on Hatari Byrd to find out the real skinny.
But we do have indications that something is going on with Hatari related to his status with the team based on early sources.
I will come back and update when we have more concrete info on what is going on with him. I don't remember seeing him Thursday after practice, but I wasn't looking for him either.
* These tidbits are not about specific plays that happened in today's scrimmage. But some overall feedback I've been getting from practices this week.
* I'm told Austin Kendall has looked really good in practices this week. I'm told it appears OU is preparing him to be a backup quarterback that can function should Baker Mayfield go down. What I mean by that is they are working with him a lot on making good decisions. If things aren't there, they want him to pull it down and make plays with his feet.
I'm told he shows really good athleticism for a guy that was supposed to be more pass than run when he came in.
* If we're talking about receivers and who is going to be stepping up, I'm told Dede Westbrook is really having a standout spring so far. No worries that he's going to be able to step up and be a bigger playmaker from what people are seeing so far from him in camp.
* I'm told Geno Lewis is a really solid receiver and should make a lot of catches this year. He won't be Sterling Shepard, but he will be a guy Mayfield can count on to run the correct routes. Also told the underrated part of his game is that he is an excellent blocker downfield and in the run game. Lots of lower body strength and he has great technique when asked to be a blocker.
* A.D. Miller, Dahu Green and Jeffery Mead continue to be the main contributors at that outside receiver spot. So far if you had to rank them and their potential to be playmakers next year, I'm told 1. Dahu Green, 2. Mead, 3. Miller. But I was also told there is a lot of time for people to move up and down. It's just that Green shows a bit of a spark.
* Defensively, you'll probably keep hearing about Dakota Austin as the starting cornerback. Mbanasor needs to get better. He needs to be more consistent. Right now Austin is the better corner and it's not all that close from what I'm hearing from one source.
* Linebacker is not a strength right now with Jordan Evans out. Tay Evans is holding his own but walk-on Ruben Hunter is playing with the 1s over Curtis Bolton or Arthur McGinnis. There's a real chance the guys from Lackawanna are gonna come in and take some jobs in the fall at that position the way things are headed.
* Will Johnson has been playing really well at the nickel spot as well.
* Rodney Anderson has been really, really impressive so far in spring. It sounds like he's ready to be the No. 3 back as soon as the season starts the way he's performing.
* Offensive Line: Not sounding great on Dwayne Orso's transition right now to tackle. Give it time, he's just making the switch.
* Dru Samia is still getting some work at guard, but right now the starting OL looks like Orlando Brown (LT), Cody Ford (G), Jonathan Alvarez (C), Ben Powers (G), Dru Samia (RT).
* Bill Bedenbaugh is trying to work more Christian Daimler in at right tackle as well. But doesn't look like anyone is there to take over for Samia. They'll keep working it though.
* Am told Jamal Danley is getting some work with the ones as well.
* Young defensive tackles looking the best so far in spring? Gallimore and Que Overton. Both looking better than Du'Vonta Lampkin from what I'm told. Lampkin still getting back into playing shape. Physically he's there, but he's been out for a while. Just needs to keep coming.
* Am told if Matt Romar doesn't put his foot on the gas, Overton could end up taking his spot.
Other than that, things good with the vets like Dimon, Walker.
* Have heard that Ricky DeBerry has done some really positive things at linebacker, but he's still having trouble getting lined up correctly at times. There is no safety net with guys getting lined up right with Striker and Bond gone. Obo is still running with the ones and doing what is asked of him. Will he be a difference maker though? That's the question.
* Heard that Austin Roberts is running with the ones in practice quite a bit, but that he's not exactly dominating. More of a lack of depth there. Need some guys to step up. Or need Roberts to step up more.
* That's kind of it for what I've heard today. I'm gonna keep checking on Hatari Byrd to find out the real skinny.
