Alright guys, almost more than we have slots to cover in this one but let's get rolling...
*First, we'll start with the news last night of Jacoby Jones decommitting.
You can go back to post-Texas and post-Mike Stoops firing and Jones was the one defender who seemed concerned about the change and unwilling to pledge his future with the Sooners after Stoops' dismissal.
Since then rumors have picked up that he was wavering a bit but until Monday mid-morning nothing was concrete - at which point in time he confirmed to our guys at Orangebloods that he would be taking an official visit to Texas this weekend.
I'd discussed things with a few people last weekend and there was definitely a feeling that Jones might be slipping away but there was some question as to whether or not Oklahoma would be pushing to keep him.
It's not that Oklahoma doesn't like Jones but I think there becomes a question of whether or not there aren't similar talents that may buy into Oklahoma's future a bit more. In fact I'm not even sure that it is seen that junior college prospects are an absolute part of the equation.
We'll check on this but if I'm betting? Jones and Oklahoma slowly separate and he isn't part of the class in 2019.
**Next off is the team news of last night, 2018 offensive line signee Tramonda Moore is off the team. This should be, as @Eddie_Rado said last night, the least surprising news of all time.
Moore, an immensely talented guy, had a laundry list of issues with the staff at John Marshall in high school and then went to the now infamous Independence C.C. and early reports were that he had truly turned a corner as a recruit and had figured out the error in his ways from high school.
That being said, it still surprised me that Oklahoma ever went down the road (even though our conversations showed that he could at least say the right things) with all of the momentum them having in offensive line recruiting right now and having the access to information on him that they clearly have.
But after he committed to Oklahoma the story started to change on his time in Independence, Kan. but it was met with skepticism because of Moore being injured and some feeling that the staff at Indy was sore since they felt he could have returned to action.
Regardless though Oklahoma bought in and went forward with him but it seemed that early on it was clear that he had already started to rub some people wrong and part of that was Bill Bedenbaugh's reaction to @Eddie_Rado and @BPrzybylo questions in the preseason about where he could factor into things - in short...'no'.
I've mentioned a few times lately that it seemed a new tackle scholarship spot seemed to be opening up and I can't help but wonder that though Cody Ford's NFL chances are part of that conversation that it wasn't based somewhat on Moore's expected presence starting to wane.
***There have been a mess of questions as of late about the defensive coordinator hiring and I thought I'd offer a few of my thoughts - mainly just my opinions but there are some sprinkles of stuff that I've heard from sources but by and large treat this as Josh's educated guesses.
- I expect Oklahoma to be willing to pay what it takes for an elite defensive coordinator and I figure this is only helped by all the NFL buzz for Lincoln Riley. I certainly don't want to portray that as Riley using leverage or anything because frankly he doesn't have to, if Oklahoma wants to take advantage of one of the brightest minds in all of football...they'll need to show the willingness to get him the defensive guy they need. My guess? If it takes 1.5, I think Oklahoma would find a way.
- I expect this to be the final year for at least three staffers. I am not calling for jobs or anything - you guys know that's not really my style I'm just saying that's where I'd expect things to happen and I don't think anyone has to take a lot of guesses on who those guys would be. And I think it's somewhat based on performance, somewhat based on guys ready to move to something else, and finally the idea that a new defensive coordinator, in order to make the opening more attractive, would like to have some ability to have some input on his position coaches.
- One of the more interesting debates in all of this is when a hiring could happen. I'm of the opinion that Oklahoma is working behind the scenes already. I think this movement has become a lot easier the last few weeks with any illusion that McNeill/Diaco 2018 being a realistic fix to the problem being put to bed and I must say after the Scoop staff took some heat the first few weeks for not 'buying in' from some of you I can't deny a feeling of...
And with that in mind I'd guess that Oklahoma has a new defensive coordinator by the start of the early signing period, Dec. 19 - if not before - as that gives Oklahoma 2.5 weeks to come up with their guy and let however many candidates they'd like to meet with talk things over with Riley and co.
The other reality of this hiring that helps Oklahoma? One would HAVE to think that if Oklahoma is going to shill out this kind of money and for Riley to get a big-time candidate to sign on, he'll have to make some sort of sign of solidarity with the program moving forward - whether that's an agreement to an extension, a raise, etc.
Again JUST my impressions but there is some stuff for you all to enjoy on Wednesday morning.
*First, we'll start with the news last night of Jacoby Jones decommitting.
You can go back to post-Texas and post-Mike Stoops firing and Jones was the one defender who seemed concerned about the change and unwilling to pledge his future with the Sooners after Stoops' dismissal.
Since then rumors have picked up that he was wavering a bit but until Monday mid-morning nothing was concrete - at which point in time he confirmed to our guys at Orangebloods that he would be taking an official visit to Texas this weekend.
I'd discussed things with a few people last weekend and there was definitely a feeling that Jones might be slipping away but there was some question as to whether or not Oklahoma would be pushing to keep him.
It's not that Oklahoma doesn't like Jones but I think there becomes a question of whether or not there aren't similar talents that may buy into Oklahoma's future a bit more. In fact I'm not even sure that it is seen that junior college prospects are an absolute part of the equation.
We'll check on this but if I'm betting? Jones and Oklahoma slowly separate and he isn't part of the class in 2019.
**Next off is the team news of last night, 2018 offensive line signee Tramonda Moore is off the team. This should be, as @Eddie_Rado said last night, the least surprising news of all time.
Moore, an immensely talented guy, had a laundry list of issues with the staff at John Marshall in high school and then went to the now infamous Independence C.C. and early reports were that he had truly turned a corner as a recruit and had figured out the error in his ways from high school.
That being said, it still surprised me that Oklahoma ever went down the road (even though our conversations showed that he could at least say the right things) with all of the momentum them having in offensive line recruiting right now and having the access to information on him that they clearly have.
But after he committed to Oklahoma the story started to change on his time in Independence, Kan. but it was met with skepticism because of Moore being injured and some feeling that the staff at Indy was sore since they felt he could have returned to action.
Regardless though Oklahoma bought in and went forward with him but it seemed that early on it was clear that he had already started to rub some people wrong and part of that was Bill Bedenbaugh's reaction to @Eddie_Rado and @BPrzybylo questions in the preseason about where he could factor into things - in short...'no'.
I've mentioned a few times lately that it seemed a new tackle scholarship spot seemed to be opening up and I can't help but wonder that though Cody Ford's NFL chances are part of that conversation that it wasn't based somewhat on Moore's expected presence starting to wane.
***There have been a mess of questions as of late about the defensive coordinator hiring and I thought I'd offer a few of my thoughts - mainly just my opinions but there are some sprinkles of stuff that I've heard from sources but by and large treat this as Josh's educated guesses.
- I expect Oklahoma to be willing to pay what it takes for an elite defensive coordinator and I figure this is only helped by all the NFL buzz for Lincoln Riley. I certainly don't want to portray that as Riley using leverage or anything because frankly he doesn't have to, if Oklahoma wants to take advantage of one of the brightest minds in all of football...they'll need to show the willingness to get him the defensive guy they need. My guess? If it takes 1.5, I think Oklahoma would find a way.
- I expect this to be the final year for at least three staffers. I am not calling for jobs or anything - you guys know that's not really my style I'm just saying that's where I'd expect things to happen and I don't think anyone has to take a lot of guesses on who those guys would be. And I think it's somewhat based on performance, somewhat based on guys ready to move to something else, and finally the idea that a new defensive coordinator, in order to make the opening more attractive, would like to have some ability to have some input on his position coaches.
- One of the more interesting debates in all of this is when a hiring could happen. I'm of the opinion that Oklahoma is working behind the scenes already. I think this movement has become a lot easier the last few weeks with any illusion that McNeill/Diaco 2018 being a realistic fix to the problem being put to bed and I must say after the Scoop staff took some heat the first few weeks for not 'buying in' from some of you I can't deny a feeling of...
And with that in mind I'd guess that Oklahoma has a new defensive coordinator by the start of the early signing period, Dec. 19 - if not before - as that gives Oklahoma 2.5 weeks to come up with their guy and let however many candidates they'd like to meet with talk things over with Riley and co.
The other reality of this hiring that helps Oklahoma? One would HAVE to think that if Oklahoma is going to shill out this kind of money and for Riley to get a big-time candidate to sign on, he'll have to make some sort of sign of solidarity with the program moving forward - whether that's an agreement to an extension, a raise, etc.
Again JUST my impressions but there is some stuff for you all to enjoy on Wednesday morning.
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