Man, plenty of twists and turns in the first depth chart of the 2022 season.
Alright guys thought I'd offer some of my thoughts...
*First, man the Jaden Davis stuff, I clearly just didn't take that seriously enough as there had been buzz the past few weeks. I think it's even more staggering that his competition isn't D.J. Graham, can that really be right? A sub story is that C.J. Coldon is running, at best, third team with the ever popular 'or'. Cornerback is taking some turns I just didn't foresee, Davis and Kendall Dennis as your two deep at one corner? The most Fearless of predictions couldn't have made that call even a few months ago.
**The buzz that we did take seriously enough was Jake Sexton and Jake Taylor. The two are backing up at right tackle and right guard, respectively. It will be very interesting to see if they are truly the first guys off the bench at those spots. One guy I'm confident will be that dude is Tyler Guyton who we've heard since spring was going to be an outstanding player. I honestly think he's started to make a real move much quicker than some expected.
***There are a few spots, including right tackle, right guard, and Davis's cornerback position that I wonder about how legitimate the No. 2 option is if things were to really come apart. Maybe I'm wrong but I'm just not sure I believe that if Murray went down Taylor would get the long term nod over Savion Byrd. Again, I'm not saying I've heard anything directly about that I'm just saying that it doesn't add up with the stuff we heard all fall. Hopefully it doesn't matter but if it does, I'll be interested to see.
****One thing I take as a negative for this defense is the reality that Jalen Redmond has been hit with the 'or'. He's the one guy that I think Oklahoma most needed to step up and take the reins on his position. There's no question that Jordan Kelley has come on and really been a success in the Brent Venables era but Redmond is a guy with a higher ceiling and I always felt he was a needed piece of the puzzle. Maybe this is a little final motivation but we'll see.
*****Jalil Farooq is a guy that I've been a big fan of for a while but really hadn't heard him come up a ton this summer and fall so I wondered if things had waned a bit. Clearly it hasn't and I think that's a good sign. I always thought he had some flash but wanted to see how his consistency would play out and it looks like he's finding that role as well.
******The emergence of R Mason Thomas is very interesting, I think his placement here is a sign that the Sooners think he's their best pure pass rusher - a sentiment I've heard a few places - and though he's not quite ready to be 'the guy' if they can get him in their situationally it's possible he could put up some notable numbers.
*******For all of the talk of Justin Harrington he isn't even listed as a starter? I think that Cheetah spot may be one of the real strengths of the defense as the talk has been all about both Harrington and DaShaun White and the two are truly going to be attacking situationally.
********Finally the thing I can't get over, look at that talent in the back seven, it's unbelievable how much length and athleticism is there.
Alright guys thought I'd offer some of my thoughts...
*First, man the Jaden Davis stuff, I clearly just didn't take that seriously enough as there had been buzz the past few weeks. I think it's even more staggering that his competition isn't D.J. Graham, can that really be right? A sub story is that C.J. Coldon is running, at best, third team with the ever popular 'or'. Cornerback is taking some turns I just didn't foresee, Davis and Kendall Dennis as your two deep at one corner? The most Fearless of predictions couldn't have made that call even a few months ago.
**The buzz that we did take seriously enough was Jake Sexton and Jake Taylor. The two are backing up at right tackle and right guard, respectively. It will be very interesting to see if they are truly the first guys off the bench at those spots. One guy I'm confident will be that dude is Tyler Guyton who we've heard since spring was going to be an outstanding player. I honestly think he's started to make a real move much quicker than some expected.
***There are a few spots, including right tackle, right guard, and Davis's cornerback position that I wonder about how legitimate the No. 2 option is if things were to really come apart. Maybe I'm wrong but I'm just not sure I believe that if Murray went down Taylor would get the long term nod over Savion Byrd. Again, I'm not saying I've heard anything directly about that I'm just saying that it doesn't add up with the stuff we heard all fall. Hopefully it doesn't matter but if it does, I'll be interested to see.
****One thing I take as a negative for this defense is the reality that Jalen Redmond has been hit with the 'or'. He's the one guy that I think Oklahoma most needed to step up and take the reins on his position. There's no question that Jordan Kelley has come on and really been a success in the Brent Venables era but Redmond is a guy with a higher ceiling and I always felt he was a needed piece of the puzzle. Maybe this is a little final motivation but we'll see.
*****Jalil Farooq is a guy that I've been a big fan of for a while but really hadn't heard him come up a ton this summer and fall so I wondered if things had waned a bit. Clearly it hasn't and I think that's a good sign. I always thought he had some flash but wanted to see how his consistency would play out and it looks like he's finding that role as well.
******The emergence of R Mason Thomas is very interesting, I think his placement here is a sign that the Sooners think he's their best pure pass rusher - a sentiment I've heard a few places - and though he's not quite ready to be 'the guy' if they can get him in their situationally it's possible he could put up some notable numbers.
*******For all of the talk of Justin Harrington he isn't even listed as a starter? I think that Cheetah spot may be one of the real strengths of the defense as the talk has been all about both Harrington and DaShaun White and the two are truly going to be attacking situationally.
********Finally the thing I can't get over, look at that talent in the back seven, it's unbelievable how much length and athleticism is there.
