As usual we reporters spent time with the members of the defense on Tuesday. Mike Stoops in the leadoff spot and you can guess what the topic of conversation was.
SCOOPHD: Mike Stoops Post Practice
* First things first ... Zack Sanchez practiced for the second consecutive day.Good news here for the Sooners CB after missing the last two games with an ankle injury. Below is Sanchez working during pregame prior to the Iowa State game last weekend.
* Of course, Oklahoma will need the services of Sanchez on Saturday as Oklahoma takes on the No.1 offense in the country.
"They have answers for everything"
"They're going to get some plays. 55 plays over 25 yards ... that's almost stupid. But it kind of is what it is," said Stoops. "You're going to lose some battles but you've got to win the war. And that's kind of how it is with these guys. You don't want to lose them all or you're going to get buried. That's what it really gets down to."
* Last season, Oklahoma lost - nearly- every battle as Bryce Petty eviscerated a porous Sooners secondary throwing for 387 yards on 32-for-42 passing with a touchdown pass. Oh and that Corey Coleman guy? He careered it, hauling in a career-high 15 receptions for 224 yards.
* The good news? It's a new season. Here's a quick summary from Mike Stoops on Tuesday:
1.) Match-ups
* It is what it is. Baylor stretches the field, putting defenders on islands and it's a difficult task for all 11 defenders on the field. Oklahoma has good reason to feel confident entering this year's tilt in Waco. Currently OU leads the conference in six defensive categories, while the addition of Kerry Cooks to the Sooners secondary has instilled confidence among the likes of Steven Parker, Ahmad Thomas and Jordan Thomas. Will Johnson has shown he can cover at nickel, though he hasn't been asked to face an offense like the one he'll see at the end of the week.
Who steps up and makes the big play? Oklahoma has proved to be opportunistic Post UT recording eight interceptions and 19 sacks over it's last four games.
Charles Tapper's match-up versus Spencer Drango will be one to watch in the trenches. Tapper has begun to play like a senior captain should logging five sacks over the last two games, while fellow senior Eric Striker has been on a tear of his own POST UT recording 11 tackles for loss.
As Stoops said above, you're going to lose some battles but can Oklahoma win the war?
2.) Make some plays; get off field on 3rd down
It's not hard to understand the concept here. Get off the field on third down and limit the opportunities for Baylor offensively. Taking advantage of turnovers are key. Baylor converted 8 of 18 third down opportunities a season ago in Norman, but here's the kicker ... Baylor had 31 first downs in the game.
Last week Oklahoma biggest plays given up defensively came on a pair of receptions by Cyclones wide receiver Allen Lazard giving up under 30 yards on each. This is a spot the Sooners have excelled this season in, there haven't been too many long gains given up.
A critical area for Oklahoma defensively again this weekend.
3.) Run game
Ah yes the common misunderstood concept of the Baylor offensive machine. Shock Linwood leads the Big 12 and ranks No.12 nationally with his 130.8 rushing yards per game and third with his 7.8 yards per carry.
Limiting, controlling the Bears in the run game is tough when you've spent the whole week preparing for the aerial attack.
This could- probably will- be the toughest assignment Charles Walker, Matt Romar, Matt Dimon and Jordan Wade are tasked with all year. The good news here being the Sooners depth inside. Far from where Oklahoma stood the last two years entering Baylor week. Production - it seems- has been constant from the likes of Walker/Dimon and will need to be again on Saturday.
* OU now ranks No.2 nationally in sacks
No.8 - Pass Efficiency Defense
No.16 - Scoring Defense (18.1 ppg)
No.16 - Pass Defense (176.8 ypg)
No.16 - RZ Defense
No.17 - Interceptions per game (1.3)
No.17 - Defensive pass completion percentage (.523)
No.23 - Total Defense (327.2 ypg)
* With 23.0 career sacks (7.5 this season) Eric Striker is OU's all-time sacks leader as a linebacker. Striker has 9 more than Rocky Calmus and is tied for No.5 overall in school history. THINK ABOUT THAT.
* Striker is tied for No.2 in the Big 12 in sacks this year and tied for third in tackles for loss.
* In closing, I was going through some old SCOOPHD video from past Rivals Camp Series and came across a very young Jarrett Stidham ... obviously he was still committed to Texas Tech at the time.
SCOOPHD: Mike Stoops Post Practice
* First things first ... Zack Sanchez practiced for the second consecutive day.Good news here for the Sooners CB after missing the last two games with an ankle injury. Below is Sanchez working during pregame prior to the Iowa State game last weekend.
* Of course, Oklahoma will need the services of Sanchez on Saturday as Oklahoma takes on the No.1 offense in the country.
"They have answers for everything"
"They're going to get some plays. 55 plays over 25 yards ... that's almost stupid. But it kind of is what it is," said Stoops. "You're going to lose some battles but you've got to win the war. And that's kind of how it is with these guys. You don't want to lose them all or you're going to get buried. That's what it really gets down to."
* Last season, Oklahoma lost - nearly- every battle as Bryce Petty eviscerated a porous Sooners secondary throwing for 387 yards on 32-for-42 passing with a touchdown pass. Oh and that Corey Coleman guy? He careered it, hauling in a career-high 15 receptions for 224 yards.
* The good news? It's a new season. Here's a quick summary from Mike Stoops on Tuesday:
1.) Match-ups
* It is what it is. Baylor stretches the field, putting defenders on islands and it's a difficult task for all 11 defenders on the field. Oklahoma has good reason to feel confident entering this year's tilt in Waco. Currently OU leads the conference in six defensive categories, while the addition of Kerry Cooks to the Sooners secondary has instilled confidence among the likes of Steven Parker, Ahmad Thomas and Jordan Thomas. Will Johnson has shown he can cover at nickel, though he hasn't been asked to face an offense like the one he'll see at the end of the week.
Who steps up and makes the big play? Oklahoma has proved to be opportunistic Post UT recording eight interceptions and 19 sacks over it's last four games.
Charles Tapper's match-up versus Spencer Drango will be one to watch in the trenches. Tapper has begun to play like a senior captain should logging five sacks over the last two games, while fellow senior Eric Striker has been on a tear of his own POST UT recording 11 tackles for loss.
As Stoops said above, you're going to lose some battles but can Oklahoma win the war?
2.) Make some plays; get off field on 3rd down
It's not hard to understand the concept here. Get off the field on third down and limit the opportunities for Baylor offensively. Taking advantage of turnovers are key. Baylor converted 8 of 18 third down opportunities a season ago in Norman, but here's the kicker ... Baylor had 31 first downs in the game.
Last week Oklahoma biggest plays given up defensively came on a pair of receptions by Cyclones wide receiver Allen Lazard giving up under 30 yards on each. This is a spot the Sooners have excelled this season in, there haven't been too many long gains given up.
A critical area for Oklahoma defensively again this weekend.
3.) Run game
Ah yes the common misunderstood concept of the Baylor offensive machine. Shock Linwood leads the Big 12 and ranks No.12 nationally with his 130.8 rushing yards per game and third with his 7.8 yards per carry.
Limiting, controlling the Bears in the run game is tough when you've spent the whole week preparing for the aerial attack.
This could- probably will- be the toughest assignment Charles Walker, Matt Romar, Matt Dimon and Jordan Wade are tasked with all year. The good news here being the Sooners depth inside. Far from where Oklahoma stood the last two years entering Baylor week. Production - it seems- has been constant from the likes of Walker/Dimon and will need to be again on Saturday.
* OU now ranks No.2 nationally in sacks
No.8 - Pass Efficiency Defense
No.16 - Scoring Defense (18.1 ppg)
No.16 - Pass Defense (176.8 ypg)
No.16 - RZ Defense
No.17 - Interceptions per game (1.3)
No.17 - Defensive pass completion percentage (.523)
No.23 - Total Defense (327.2 ypg)
* With 23.0 career sacks (7.5 this season) Eric Striker is OU's all-time sacks leader as a linebacker. Striker has 9 more than Rocky Calmus and is tied for No.5 overall in school history. THINK ABOUT THAT.
* Striker is tied for No.2 in the Big 12 in sacks this year and tied for third in tackles for loss.
* In closing, I was going through some old SCOOPHD video from past Rivals Camp Series and came across a very young Jarrett Stidham ... obviously he was still committed to Texas Tech at the time.
