Talked to Mike Stoops tonight and I just asked him flat out how Kenneth Murray played at middle linebacker against FAU.
Stoops: He played OK. He can play better. He didn’t get a lot of action. There were a couple things he could’ve done. He just has to keep moving forward. He’s gonna get a lot of opportunities this week. He’s really focused this week and had two good days this week. He can play better and will play better this week.
I then followed up with whether he was disappointed or if it was just the way the defensive line played that kept him from making more tackles. Should he have had at least a few tackles?
I thought he had a pretty interesting answer because FAU really did attack the perimeter all day.
Stoops: Some plays weren’t there. There were a lot of guys running around. There were a lot of perimeter plays. The game was going was going east and west. Once they figured out it was gonna be hard to run inside, the game became a very a lateral game.
I feel we still need to be more physical in certain areas across the board and in particular the middle part of our defense.
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I did talk to Parnell Motley tonight about the new rule being implemented this year where DBs can't be blocked from the side on those outside screens.
"I'm loving it. It gives me more awareness that they can't cut me now. They have to defend me on top. It makes it easier to get off the block or get a move inside out and try and make a play. That's good stuff that they changed the rule."
Motley said coach Riley had presentations all fall camp with the new rules and they really emphasized how they needed to handle that.
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Always great hearing from Curtis Bolton. He had some good stuff to say about his relationship with Mike Stoops and how much he's matured since he first got here. I'm actually going to make some time and do a write-up on that this week.
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Had a chance to catch up with Khalil Haughton after practice. Asked him if he felt at home back in the starting lineup.
Haughton: Yeah, you know, I've started a couple games so I've felt the feeling before, but to feel it full-time now, it's pretty cool. There's nothing like starting a game on Saturday in front of the Sooner fans, in front of 86,000, so it's crazy. I'm excited to continue to play.
Also asked him what he felt he did to win the job:
Haughton: For me, I'd say just mentally preparing myself and making sure that I'm on point all the time. You can't take any days off. You can't take anything for granted. So just going out there and making sure I'm mentally ready and physically ready as well.
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I know Bob spent some time with Kenneth Mann after practice. He's working on a full writeup of Mann's journey to team captain.
Lot of questions of Mike Stoops about Chip Kelly since they have a history at Arizona. I just think it's a different time in football. What Kelly did was once revolutionary for the game, but a lot has happened since he's been gone. I'm not sure he has the personnel to run his offense at the level Big 12 teams have been running the last few years.
Mike did bring up the suspensions they are facing. He was asked about not knowing on the QBs. It doesn't seem like it's a huge concern. They'll just prepare for the offense.
Stoops: He played OK. He can play better. He didn’t get a lot of action. There were a couple things he could’ve done. He just has to keep moving forward. He’s gonna get a lot of opportunities this week. He’s really focused this week and had two good days this week. He can play better and will play better this week.
I then followed up with whether he was disappointed or if it was just the way the defensive line played that kept him from making more tackles. Should he have had at least a few tackles?
I thought he had a pretty interesting answer because FAU really did attack the perimeter all day.
Stoops: Some plays weren’t there. There were a lot of guys running around. There were a lot of perimeter plays. The game was going was going east and west. Once they figured out it was gonna be hard to run inside, the game became a very a lateral game.
I feel we still need to be more physical in certain areas across the board and in particular the middle part of our defense.
**************************
I did talk to Parnell Motley tonight about the new rule being implemented this year where DBs can't be blocked from the side on those outside screens.
"I'm loving it. It gives me more awareness that they can't cut me now. They have to defend me on top. It makes it easier to get off the block or get a move inside out and try and make a play. That's good stuff that they changed the rule."
Motley said coach Riley had presentations all fall camp with the new rules and they really emphasized how they needed to handle that.
****************************
Always great hearing from Curtis Bolton. He had some good stuff to say about his relationship with Mike Stoops and how much he's matured since he first got here. I'm actually going to make some time and do a write-up on that this week.
****************************
Had a chance to catch up with Khalil Haughton after practice. Asked him if he felt at home back in the starting lineup.
Haughton: Yeah, you know, I've started a couple games so I've felt the feeling before, but to feel it full-time now, it's pretty cool. There's nothing like starting a game on Saturday in front of the Sooner fans, in front of 86,000, so it's crazy. I'm excited to continue to play.
Also asked him what he felt he did to win the job:
Haughton: For me, I'd say just mentally preparing myself and making sure that I'm on point all the time. You can't take any days off. You can't take anything for granted. So just going out there and making sure I'm mentally ready and physically ready as well.
********************************
I know Bob spent some time with Kenneth Mann after practice. He's working on a full writeup of Mann's journey to team captain.
Lot of questions of Mike Stoops about Chip Kelly since they have a history at Arizona. I just think it's a different time in football. What Kelly did was once revolutionary for the game, but a lot has happened since he's been gone. I'm not sure he has the personnel to run his offense at the level Big 12 teams have been running the last few years.
Mike did bring up the suspensions they are facing. He was asked about not knowing on the QBs. It doesn't seem like it's a huge concern. They'll just prepare for the offense.
