John Burt: I’m sure it’s been hard to notice the distinct absence of speedy wide receiver, John Burt. Yesterday, coach Sterlin Gilbert mentioned that Burt has some kind of a hand injury he’s been battling since the Notre Dame game. While that may be true I’ve been told generally that Burt’s confidence has been shaky at best lately. Apparently he’s been having difficulty catching the ball in practice. This may again may be due to the hand injury Gilbert alluded to but to beat the Sooners someone on the outside is going to have to step up and stretch the field.
Oklahoma has been most vulnerable thus far on the go routes and skinny posts. Oklahoma’s strength has been stopping the run. So without a threat like Burt on the outside it’s going to be tough sledding.
Defensive Backs Don’t Press: I know a number of folks have been asking why the Texas defensive back alignment is so conservative. The corners rarely, if ever, play a press technique.
I asked about this and was told that the defensive staff doesn’t feel like they have cornerbacks who can play out of a press alignment.
To that I say what I’ve said to just about every coach who has said that to me, the players learn to play the technique you teach. If your players can’t play press it is more often than not because you don’t teach and rep that technique. It takes time to learn to be patient at the LOS, to keep the feet hot, to synchronize your hands, to widen receivers, etc. But the idea that players like Holton Hill and Davis can’t learn to play press…not buying it.
I’ll say again, the defensive problems are coming from the secondary and their ability to play with sound technique, violence and within the framework of the call. While I’ll concede there have probably been too many zone calls, the secondary coach is responsible for the secondary. Strong is ultimately responsible and I think having coach Bedford move back there to right the ship was a step in the right direction.
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Oklahoma has been most vulnerable thus far on the go routes and skinny posts. Oklahoma’s strength has been stopping the run. So without a threat like Burt on the outside it’s going to be tough sledding.
Defensive Backs Don’t Press: I know a number of folks have been asking why the Texas defensive back alignment is so conservative. The corners rarely, if ever, play a press technique.
I asked about this and was told that the defensive staff doesn’t feel like they have cornerbacks who can play out of a press alignment.
To that I say what I’ve said to just about every coach who has said that to me, the players learn to play the technique you teach. If your players can’t play press it is more often than not because you don’t teach and rep that technique. It takes time to learn to be patient at the LOS, to keep the feet hot, to synchronize your hands, to widen receivers, etc. But the idea that players like Holton Hill and Davis can’t learn to play press…not buying it.
I’ll say again, the defensive problems are coming from the secondary and their ability to play with sound technique, violence and within the framework of the call. While I’ll concede there have probably been too many zone calls, the secondary coach is responsible for the secondary. Strong is ultimately responsible and I think having coach Bedford move back there to right the ship was a step in the right direction.
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