Spoke mostly with the defense today inside the Everest Training Center following Wednesday's practice. Although, head coach Bob Stoops and running backs coach Jay Boulware were also in attendance.
Here are some takeaways from that session...
- Bob opened up by joking with the media that Marquise Brown "didn't knock anybody off the ball" during practice, but that "he sure ran by a lot of people."
- The Sooners head coach said that they will likely hold a scrimmage Saturday. He did say they simulate some form of a live scenario in every practice.
- Steven Parker said Jordan Thomas is someone OU can rely upon as a "lockdown corner."
- Parker said that the two of them have embraced their respective leadership roles: "I have the safeties. He takes the corners."
- Mark Jackson has been playing Ogbo Okoronkwo's spot in practice, but says he will move to a more defensive end role once he returns.
- Jackson said Okoronkwo's style is more Von Miller, while his is closer to Demarcus Ware.
- He also didn't hesitate to mention Addison Gumbs and Kenneth Murray as "explosive guys." More on that theme later.
- Jackson went on to talk about the defense as a whole and how they see themselves as the best unit in the conference.
- Mike Stoops is clearly more comfortable this year with what he has returning in the program: "There's no substitute for experience and we're more experienced than we were a year ago."
- Cited Emmanuel Beal and Kapri Doucet as a couple of guys who have made a big jump from year one to year two.
- The defensive coordinator also called Gumbs and Murray "unique talents" and that the two freshmen linebackers "play beyond their years."
- Jon-Michael Terry said he's excited to see OU landing more in-state players.
- Jay Boulware echoed some things we heard earlier this week aboud Abdul Adams looking like a more comfortable runner this year.
- Boulware also said that Rodney Anderson "looks great" and "he's probably faster than the two we had last year."
- Apparently the Sooners tried kick-off returns for the first time today. Boulware said they tried six or eight players back catching kicks and he's "pleased" with how they're doing. Wouldn't go into names of who exactly they are trying.
- He did tell a story of trying to get Dede Westbrook to return punts since he first stepped on campus, but that Westbrook was hesitant until his senior year. Boulware joked that "he won the Biletnikoff as soon as he did. If he had done it a year earlier, he probably would have won the Heisman."
- Neville Gallimore had a lot of positive things to say about defensive line coach Calvin Thibodeaux. Said the guys can tell how much he cares and they appreciate his attention to detail.
- Having a former player helps too: "Coach has been through the grind at OU and the guys respect that."
- Got a chance to talk with Kerry Cooks, who beamed when one name in particular was brought up, Will Sunderland. "I'm glad you asked about Sunderland. One of the most talented guys I've been around."
- Cooks went on to say that with Will, it's just about getting the mental aspect down.
- The Sooner defensive backs coach then compared that to Kahlil Haughton, who is always in the right place at the right time, can make all the calls, but just needs to believe in himself, go play ball, and "be a dog."
- Cooks also said the Steven Parker has had a silver lining of allowing him to get more reps to guys like Chanse Sylvie and Will Johnson at safety. He's clearly excited about the depth he's building at safety.
- According to Cooks, the CB2 depth chart has been in constant rotation. One day it will be Jordan Parker and the next it will be Parnell Motley.
- Plenty of praise for both, but the drumbeat of positivity continued for Motley again Wednesday. People seem to really be buying him as a potential playmaker in the secondary.
- @Eddie_Rado has some great video of Cooks talking about their "stock market" approach at the position to create some fun competitiveness.
- Cooks: "May the best man win."
Here's Kerry Cooks talking on the NASDAQ system that has been instilled in the Sooners secondary. Really good stuff for continued competition & it sounds like it's all paying off:
SCOOPHD: Kerry Cooks
* should also be noted Kahlil Haughton has been sidelined with a hamstring tweak & DJ Ward is missing time with flu like symptoms that actually landed him a visit to the hospital. Bob Stoops said they are hoping to get Ward back in the mix of things by the end of the week.
Here are some takeaways from that session...
- Bob opened up by joking with the media that Marquise Brown "didn't knock anybody off the ball" during practice, but that "he sure ran by a lot of people."
- The Sooners head coach said that they will likely hold a scrimmage Saturday. He did say they simulate some form of a live scenario in every practice.
- Steven Parker said Jordan Thomas is someone OU can rely upon as a "lockdown corner."
- Parker said that the two of them have embraced their respective leadership roles: "I have the safeties. He takes the corners."
- Mark Jackson has been playing Ogbo Okoronkwo's spot in practice, but says he will move to a more defensive end role once he returns.
- Jackson said Okoronkwo's style is more Von Miller, while his is closer to Demarcus Ware.
- He also didn't hesitate to mention Addison Gumbs and Kenneth Murray as "explosive guys." More on that theme later.
- Jackson went on to talk about the defense as a whole and how they see themselves as the best unit in the conference.
- Mike Stoops is clearly more comfortable this year with what he has returning in the program: "There's no substitute for experience and we're more experienced than we were a year ago."
- Cited Emmanuel Beal and Kapri Doucet as a couple of guys who have made a big jump from year one to year two.
- The defensive coordinator also called Gumbs and Murray "unique talents" and that the two freshmen linebackers "play beyond their years."
- Jon-Michael Terry said he's excited to see OU landing more in-state players.
- Jay Boulware echoed some things we heard earlier this week aboud Abdul Adams looking like a more comfortable runner this year.
- Boulware also said that Rodney Anderson "looks great" and "he's probably faster than the two we had last year."
- Apparently the Sooners tried kick-off returns for the first time today. Boulware said they tried six or eight players back catching kicks and he's "pleased" with how they're doing. Wouldn't go into names of who exactly they are trying.
- He did tell a story of trying to get Dede Westbrook to return punts since he first stepped on campus, but that Westbrook was hesitant until his senior year. Boulware joked that "he won the Biletnikoff as soon as he did. If he had done it a year earlier, he probably would have won the Heisman."
- Neville Gallimore had a lot of positive things to say about defensive line coach Calvin Thibodeaux. Said the guys can tell how much he cares and they appreciate his attention to detail.
- Having a former player helps too: "Coach has been through the grind at OU and the guys respect that."
- Got a chance to talk with Kerry Cooks, who beamed when one name in particular was brought up, Will Sunderland. "I'm glad you asked about Sunderland. One of the most talented guys I've been around."
- Cooks went on to say that with Will, it's just about getting the mental aspect down.
- The Sooner defensive backs coach then compared that to Kahlil Haughton, who is always in the right place at the right time, can make all the calls, but just needs to believe in himself, go play ball, and "be a dog."
- Cooks also said the Steven Parker has had a silver lining of allowing him to get more reps to guys like Chanse Sylvie and Will Johnson at safety. He's clearly excited about the depth he's building at safety.
- According to Cooks, the CB2 depth chart has been in constant rotation. One day it will be Jordan Parker and the next it will be Parnell Motley.
- Plenty of praise for both, but the drumbeat of positivity continued for Motley again Wednesday. People seem to really be buying him as a potential playmaker in the secondary.
- @Eddie_Rado has some great video of Cooks talking about their "stock market" approach at the position to create some fun competitiveness.
- Cooks: "May the best man win."
Here's Kerry Cooks talking on the NASDAQ system that has been instilled in the Sooners secondary. Really good stuff for continued competition & it sounds like it's all paying off:
SCOOPHD: Kerry Cooks
* should also be noted Kahlil Haughton has been sidelined with a hamstring tweak & DJ Ward is missing time with flu like symptoms that actually landed him a visit to the hospital. Bob Stoops said they are hoping to get Ward back in the mix of things by the end of the week.
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