Nickel Early and Often?

[John Otterstedt]

Do you expect to see the nickel formation with Will Johnson at NB right from the get-go this weekend?

I missed most of the news about Johnson coming from JuCo. Was that an under-the-radar pickup? Late pickup? Pretty impressive, No.2 JuCo CB. That gets 3 really talented CBs on the field at once.

I also missed the game last Saturday, so when I started reading about Will Johnson this and that, at first I thought people meant Will Sunderland.

 

[RumphSquatch]

Somebody earlier in the week was making the point about how much better the secondary plays with 3 CBs in the nickel defense versus a third safety. I heard Dean the Dream raving about how well Johnson played vs KSU.

The real test will be this week. Facing KSU, you want them to throw the ball. Facing TTech, Baylor, et al is a different story - we probably want to force them to run.

 

[John Otterstedt]

The use of 3 CBs and a couple decent safeties should force the run.
I think that bodes well with Shannon in at LB.

 

[SoonerTulsan]

The use of 3 CBs and a couple decent safeties should force the run.
I think that bodes well with Shannon in at LB.

Very true I believe. On top of that, our LBs have to protect the middle of the defense against the run AND the 5-7 yard crossing pattern.

 

[John Otterstedt]

Very true I believe. On top of that, our LBs have to protect the middle of the defense against the run AND the 5-7 yard crossing pattern.

I haven't seen any Tech games. Is that what they're doing with their spread? Cross patterns with mid-field screens?
Sounds like the LBs will definitely need to stay home and keep their eyes on the ball-tosser (pun intended).

 

[John Otterstedt]

From the DMN

http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/co...ffensive-line-can-make-everyone-look-good.ece

 

[SoonerTulsan]

I haven't seen any Tech games. Is that what they're doing with their spread? Cross patterns with mid-field screens?
Sounds like the LBs will definitely need to stay home and keep their eyes on the ball-tosser (pun intended).

It's what you do as an OC if you know/think LBs are the defense's weak link.

 

[John Otterstedt]

Well, there are just a handful of threads here discussing actual football, and all of those threads are dying.

The only responses in them are by the posters that come to talk football.

Interestingly, the guys that cry that we need to stick to football talk haven't posted in any of these.

In fact, these are the only threads that they don't post in.

 

[bdshull2001]

Well, there are just a handful of threads here discussing actual football, and all of those threads are dying.

The only responses in them are by the posters that come to talk football.

Interestingly, the guys that cry that we need to stick to football talk haven't posted in any of these.

In fact, these are the only threads that they don't post in.

Maybe we can talk basketball......HA!

BTW, point well taken..........

 

[Unconquered]

I haven't seen any Tech games. Is that what they're doing with their spread? Cross patterns with mid-field screens?
Sounds like the LBs will definitely need to stay home and keep their eyes on the ball-tosser (pun intended).

I think we will see the Sooners sending a blitz early and often in hopes of rattling Techs young qb. Our backers will need to contain their QB and I think they will as he will be trying to keep drives alive with his feet. Contain Techs QB and I see an easy OU win

 

[SoonerTulsan]

Well, there are just a handful of threads here discussing actual football, and all of those threads are dying.

The only responses in them are by the posters that come to talk football.

Interestingly, the guys that cry that we need to stick to football talk haven't posted in any of these.

In fact, these are the only threads that they don't post in.

You noticed that too huh?? I admit, a few have lasted longer than I thought they would, but they are a TINY minority now. Combine that with the fact that MANY others have figured this out and share their views putting them on notice....it's why the board is fun again.

 

[John Otterstedt]

I think we will see the Sooners sending a blitz early and often in hopes of rattling Techs young qb. Our backers will need to contain their QB and I think they will as he will be trying to keep drives alive with his feet. Contain Techs QB and I see an easy OU win

I hope you're right, Mike, but I don't have much faith in Mike Stoops to run a blitz style defense against a prolific passing team. History says he'll sit back and make the passer beat them.

 

[bdshull2001]

Okay, I'll talk a little football here. First I've been on a Tech board quite often this week. None of the posters are big time on their running game .Everything is pass... .pass..pass and why not. They have the third ranked offense in the nation. We need to stop any running game with our front three with the backers to close. So to the original OP, yes, I see us in the nickel early and often. I look for some huge gains by Tech. Throw it up enough, some will connect. I see a big game from Will Johnson and Steve Parker, JMO. I think Mo Overton is a star ready to shine. we need this game bigtime. Tech is a top 25 team IMO.

 

[glevans22]

As I read more about tech, the more I think this is a shootout. If we can establish the run, Mayfield should have a field day. At the same time our secondary has struggled mightily vs passing/spread offenses.

 

[glevans22]

Texas tech ranks 122nd in total defense. Wow, that's bad

 

[SoonerTulsan]

I hope you're right, Mike, but I don't have much faith in Mike Stoops to run a blitz style defense against a prolific passing team. History says he'll sit back and make the passer beat them.

Well honestly, depending on the OC's game plan, you may not want to blitz a lot. If the OC is expecting it, and it's also very common with the "dink and dunk" offenses...he can plan a lot of screens and draws to counter...often very successfully.

Against offenses like we see in the B12 especially, the strategy "key" is to blitz when they're not expecting it, and to play a "read/react" defense when they are...to counter the screens/draws.

Sounds basic and obvious because the players have to execute. However, THAT is the chess match that opposing coordinators play. It's impossible to guess right every time. You just want to guess right more often.

 

[SoonerTulsan]

Well, there are just a handful of threads here discussing actual football, and all of those threads are dying.

The only responses in them are by the posters that come to talk football.

Interestingly, the guys that cry that we need to stick to football talk haven't posted in any of these.

In fact, these are the only threads that they don't post in.

Can you teach me how to get my wife to have a guilty conscious like this??? LOL.

 

[John Otterstedt]

Can you teach me how to get my wife to have a guilty conscious like this??? LOL.

There are too many distasteful jokes to make from this post that my brain is hurting from restraint.

 

[John Otterstedt]

Okay, I'll talk a little football here. First I've been on a Tech board quite often this week. None of the posters are big time on their running game .Everything is pass... .pass..pass and why not. They have the third ranked offense in the nation. We need to stop any running game with our front three with the backers to close. So to the original OP, yes, I see us in the nickel early and often. I look for some huge gains by Tech. Throw it up enough, some will connect. I see a big game from Will Johnson and Steve Parker, JMO. I think Mo Overton is a star ready to shine. we need this game bigtime. Tech is a top 25 team IMO.

Didn't their runner average like 7 yds/carry last year?
They have an impressive oline even if their LT star is out.

I'm most worried about us running the nickel with 3 CBs plus our undersized LBs. If our d-line doesn't occupy their oline, they could have a field day running.

 

[bdshull2001]

Imo, California =Texas Tech. Cal has the number one rated q-b in the nation. Cal has a very similar offense to Tech, wide offensive line splits and all. UCLA took away the slant pass. Very few long passes given up, running game stuffed. UCLA wins 40-24 and Cal scored the last 7 on a give away drive.

 

[SoonerTulsan]

There are too many distasteful jokes to make from this post that my brain is hurting from restraint.

LOL....I double dare ya!

Well, if it works with posters I thought it might....

...nah, I've dug that hole. Put down the shovel!! (speaking to self)

 

[bdshull2001]

Didn't their runner average like 7 yds/carry last year?
They have an impressive oline even if their LT star is out.

I'm most worried about us running the nickel with 3 CBs plus our undersized LBs. If our d-line doesn't occupy their oline, they could have a field day running.

I think the Big12 offensive lineman is hurt. I can't remember his name. (Latvian maybe). You're right about last years running back, 7 yards a gain. I think his replacement has nearly a 5 yard average, but he doesn't get it that often. I pretty sure he is a good receiver out of the backfield. BTW, I can get some links if need be.

That's not my point was. We were talking nickel and I'm going to expand it to the 3-5-3 I saw against KSU. First, I know the 3-5-3 is a formation that can go to a 5-2-4 or 4-2-5. I just liked the way we played it last week and yes, UCLA played it against Cal tonight. I think it will be the defense we see against Baylor and etc the rest of the year. I would rather hear coachrise's opinion though.

 

[John Otterstedt]

I think the Big12 offensive lineman is hurt. I can't remember his name. (Latvian maybe). You're right about last years running back, 7 yards a gain. I think his replacement has nearly a 5 yard average, but he doesn't get it that often. I pretty sure he is a good receiver out of the backfield. BTW, I can get some links if need be.

That's not my point was. We were talking nickel and I'm going to expand it to the 3-5-3 I saw against KSU. First, I know the 3-5-3 is a formation that can go to a 5-2-4 or 4-2-5. I just liked the way we played it last week and yes, UCLA played it against Cal tonight. I think it will be the defense we see against Baylor and etc the rest of the year. I would rather hear coachrise's opinion though.

Yeah, I missed the game last week. It was one of my return trips to Dallas, and it would have been pretty uncouth to propose spending 4 of my 40 hours with the wife and kid on watching football.

I did spend some time staring at updates on my phone.

 

[SoonerTulsan]

I think the Big12 offensive lineman is hurt. I can't remember his name. (Latvian maybe). You're right about last years running back, 7 yards a gain. I think his replacement has nearly a 5 yard average, but he doesn't get it that often. I pretty sure he is a good receiver out of the backfield. BTW, I can get some links if need be.

That's not my point was. We were talking nickel and I'm going to expand it to the 3-5-3 I saw against KSU. First, I know the 3-5-3 is a formation that can go to a 5-2-4 or 4-2-5. I just liked the way we played it last week and yes, UCLA played it against Cal tonight. I think it will be the defense we see against Baylor and etc the rest of the year. I would rather hear coachrise's opinion though.

Given the types of offenses we play the rest of the season, I think we would have to have some significant injuries to NOT continue to see it.

 

[NoleGa_rivals170091]

Hah JCon is whipped! Oh the humanity!

The outcome of this week's game is directly correlated with the quality of my game day victuals and our offense's ability to score at least one more point than our opponent. I want to see our O & D lines win the day & heavy doses of Perine & Mixon.

 

[mojo1fan]

I realize this thread is about defense, but Yankee, you said "Texas Tech ranks 122nd in total defense. Wow, that's bad". Texas was 120th when we played them and they disrupted our up-tempo so badly it was no-tempo. Tech will attempt it too. That's what I'll be watching most and I believe that is pivotal to the outcome.

I'm not worried about our defense. As long as we don't over pursue Mahomes and open up holes in the process, we'll be good.

This is pretty amazing (from USA Today)...

"No Texas Tech quarterback has ever moved quite like this; Mahomes is on pace for nearly 500 yards rushing and double-digit touchdowns on the ground. As a total unit, Texas Tech quarterbacks accounted for five rushing yards from 2008-13, including yardage lost on sacks."

 

[YourCrimsonNightmare]

My official stance is that OU should win handily, but my own reserve says that a mere two games ago, the Sooners stunk up the joint. Maybe something like 48-41 might result.

Either way.

 

[YourCrimsonNightmare]

Just to say I'm willing to join The Atonement Tour, if that's the way it goes:

 

[SoonerTulsan]

Just to say I'm willing to join The Atonement Tour, if that's the way it goes:

Another "dimension" that could be in our favor is Baker getting to play against his former team. Often has a positive impact on an NFL skill players performance. Let's see if it can apply here.