What’s changed with OU’s defense?

[sushihorn 3233]

I have a few observations of changes made by DC Grinch this year.  They look a lot like 2018 OSU and WSU previously.  The concepts behind the scheme look a lot like what LSU does but much less sound.  Obviously the Sooners are also doing it with less talent and a lot fewer reps than the Swamp Kitties.

OU is using 4 man fronts on most downs – basically a 4-3 Over alignment with the NB in place of the SLB.  It’s a penetrating 1-gap scheme which is a radical change from Stoops’ 2-gap wall to control the blocker and threaten both gaps.  On the plus side it creates more quick pressure in the backfield.  On the minus side it lends itself to overpenetration and overpursuit.

The secondary has gone from an aggressive zone scheme to overwhelmingly straight quarters coverage.  This puts a lot of bodies on the deep ball and gives tight, semi-man defense on the outside WRs.  The NB gets walked up a lot into the 2nd level as an extra run defender, which creates opportunities for the slot receiver behind him on play action and RPO calls.  See the second play of the UCLA game and picture the WR running slant splitting the safeties while the QB pulls the ball and throws it.

Quarters coverage tends to have issues on short crossing routes since underneath coverage is light and you can count on man with the outside WRs.  It also has some of the normal cover 2 issues with slot routes to the outside when combined with inside routes from the X WR.  But to me the real issue is run fits in the secondary.  4 DBs have deep coverage responsibilities which means they often arrive late and from depth in run support.  The really good defensive coaches address this by spilling runs to the sideline which gives their DBs a chance to catch up. 

The Purple Wizard of Manhattan used to do this with tough DL play and sound LBs that read well and always employed the correct leverage.  Patterson uses his wide 9-tech to give immediate edge support and force the play wide.  Grinch actually aggravates the issues with run fits from quarters by penetrating so aggressively with his front.  When his DEs and BLB equivalent get upfield it creates a lot of room for B and C-gap runs.   The DL often stem pre-snap or run slants and stunts. 

All the motion up front by the defense makes it even harder for the back end to fit the correct gap.  It creates confusion for the OL but also for themselves and it means they are often not gap sound.  You can see it in the history of Grinch’s defenses.  Anybody with a solid running game could usually move the ball effectively and often enough they ripped him a new one.  See UW, Zona with Kalil Tate and MSU’s Lewerke.  You could see how the DL movement and poor run fits damaged tOSU’s run defense last year also.

I expect OU’s pass defense to be more effective because their pass rush will create more pressure than last year.  They’re also more likely to generate turnovers.  But the tradeoff is increased vulnerability on the ground – especially to the big play.

Edited October 9, 2019 by sushihorn

[pearlandhorn 3269]

They still suck?

[Walden Ponderer 12639]

Okay, so first of all, Grinch's Wikipedia page has some interesting details...

 

Meanwhile, Grinch did have success against Stanford. I'm suspecting that anomaly has a lot to do with the fact that a more traditional running game plays into the strength of this alignment, because it pinches the gaps significantly and reduces the stress on the edges.

Edited October 9, 2019 by Walden Ponderer

[OU Sucks 8747]

Edit: I can't read.

Edited October 9, 2019 by OU Sucks

[Zavala 1384]

I'm just hoping for a BIG day for YAC and YAC. RBs should be punishing and finishing runs. WRs should be taking short catches to the house. Schematically they can try whatever they want, if our guys are whipping their guys it's not going to matter much. Hopefully the RB screen and quick game is ready for some wild blitz schemes. Big plays usually influence this game a lot because the momentum shifts (momentum is real MENSA you fuck) are a large component of the game. It can seem like one team or the other is just ON FIRE some times on both sides of the ball. That shit can flip on any given play or penalty. BTW, hopefully no stupid penalties. 

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2857333-texas-bj-foster-jalen-hurts-should-slide-or-its-not-gonna-be-good-for-him

I'm looking at you BJ. They are defiantly going to bait people into hitting the QB and doing the ole last second "give up" that puts the head right in the hit zone.

Hopefully they've somehow worked on pulling up (or at least looking like you are trying to). 

[sushihorn 3233]

4 hours ago, Walden Ponderer said:

Okay, so first of all, Grinch's Wikipedia page has some interesting details...

 

Meanwhile, Grinch did have success against Stanford. I'm suspecting that anomaly has a lot to do with the fact that a more traditional running game plays into the strength of this alignment, because it pinches the gaps significantly and reduces the stress on the edges.

MUCH less chance of overpenetration when there is only a single running threat in the backfield.  Every defender adjust their angles to the obvious ball carrier.

[SA-KC_Horn 1295]

Mensa needs to not take the foot off the pedal and make these bitches tap out. 

[DeadArmadillo 907]

Really? I’m the first one?

[Sgt Hulk 13648]

Over penetration of the Dline is a good thing for our vaunted running game that starts with the running back standing still and Sam walking back to hand him the ball to start running 

[texifornia 56564]

2 minutes ago, Sgt Hulk said:

Over penetration of the Dline is a good thing for our vaunted running game that starts with the running back standing still and Sam walking back to hand him the ball to start running 

What'd you say?

[Xcalibur 546]

I pos repped the OP without even reading his post. I’ll do that shortly.

I’m just posting now to say fuck OU.  We are going to beat their asses and make their shitty defense our bitch.

[Shaggy3.0 1695]

It don’t make a shit. We got RoJo.

 

 

 

 

FUCK OU.

 

 

 

[Marfa Low Crown 2544]

The only difference I was aware of between last year's OU defense vs. this year's is that instead of dick pacifiers
the defense will now be issued flavored dicksickles on the sidelines.  Informative post by the OP 

[Constant 6722]

I’m not sure I’ve ever been less worried about Texas’ run game. 

[Lerka Lerka 1086]

Constant: Hold my White Claw

[texifornia 56564]

10 minutes ago, Constant said:

I’m not sure I’ve ever been less worried about Texas’ run game. 

Last year? Tre Watson was a workhorse and great team player but the dude was not exactly electric.

[Constant 6722]

6 minutes ago, texifornia said:

Last year? Tre Watson was a workhorse and great team player but the dude was not exactly electric.

I think I could bust 100 on last year’s defense. Ehlinger red zone runs will be an issue but I’m not worried about it outside of that. 

Edited October 10, 2019 by Constant

[JBJ 3649]

14 minutes ago, Constant said:

I’m not sure I’ve ever been less worried about Texas’ run game. 

[sushihorn 3233]

52 minutes ago, Constant said:

I’m not sure I’ve ever been less worried about Texas’ run game. 

OU's run defense held Houston to around their per game average.  That puts them at the level of Washington State, Tulane, North Texas and Prairie View A&M.  Maybe I'm crazy but I'm not seeing a basis for your confidence here.

[ChiTownDoc 21102]

OP that’s a lot of words to say ‘no Mike Stoops’.  

[Walden Ponderer 12639]

3 minutes ago, sushihorn said:

OU's run defense held Houston to around their per game average.  That puts them at the level of Washington State, Tulane, North Texas and Prairie View A&M.  Maybe I'm crazy but I'm not seeing a basis for your confidence here.

He's commenting on the perceived weakness of the Texas run game, not the strength of the OU defense. I think he's wrong, but it's hardly an unusual take.

[Funk Doctor Spock 11948]

Rojo is gonna drag his nuts across their faces 

[Lerka Lerka 1086]

I would also like to see Kirk Johnson angrily bust up some OU chump on his way to a long run / score with the blonde dreads flopping. 

[Not that Bob 734]

2 hours ago, Marfa Low Crown said:

The only difference I was aware of between last year's OU defense vs. this year's is that instead of dick pacifiers
the defense will now be issued flavored dicksickles on the sidelines.  Informative post by the OP 

So you're saying smegma popsickles? Whatever happened to that guy?

[Walden Ponderer 12639]

59 minutes ago, Lerka Lerka said:

I would also like to see Kirk Johnson angrily bust up some OU chump on his way to a long run / score with the blonde dreads flopping.