LuthierJr

Ok since I'm the resident OU homer, and I get to watch all their games, and have seen all the players for years now I tend to give my opinion on the OU guys coming out.

Most years I love a few guys (I'm biased of course). I really wanted DeMarco Murray. I wanted Curtis Lofton. Jamell Fleming was a binky. Wanted Ryan Broyles, and Jermaine Greshem. I normally have a good idea of who is going to be decent on the Sooners (lets not mention my Reggie Smith love, or my Malcom Kelly drivel).

There is but ONE player I really think is going to be good this year from the Sooners. I mentioned him years ago when he first started with the Sooners, and he has only gotten better. This year we probably won't spend a high pick on a saftey, but if we do... I really like Tony Jefferson.

Oklahoma's defense this year has been pedestrian (that's being nice). They couldn't rush the passer much. They couldn't consistently stop the run as the D linemen got blown back. They had decent DB play, and a big reason for that was Mr. Jefferson.

Positives: He is a great tackler in both run and pass support. He is decently fast (mid 4.5). Takes good angles, and is always around the ball. Good in both run and pass coverage. Can play FS, or SS. Good character. No history of injuries in college (had a couple in highschool, but played through them). Was a Stud OLB and RB in highschool. Very strong for his size (5'-10" 212lbs)

Room for improvement: He plays both safety positions so much it's hard to get a bead on his weak spots. While he almost never gets beat or misses a tackle in the run game I've seen WR's get behind him a couple times this year. Although I'm not sure if it was his assignment or if he was simply trying to pursue. Either way I feel like he could improve in pass coverage (although he has played CB a lot and done well). Not from an athletic standpoint but from a scheme or coaching/understanding one.

I'm guessing he will go early-mid second round. I doubt we will draft another safety there, but if we do I'd like to see Jefferson.


As for the rest of the Sooners. On Offense we have a few good receivers who should make good depth at the next level. Really good College players but I don't see it in the NFL. Guys like Kenny Stills, Jazz Reynolds, Justin Brown. Of the receivers I actually like Justin Brown the best. He was a transfer from Penn State, and is a great return man, good speed and great size (6-3 210lbs). He has really good hands and could make a nice #3 WR signing for someone. Probably my third favorite Sooner coming out.

O-linemen has a couple decent players who may get drafted late, but none I would care to have.

D-Linemen they have a couple guys as well, but none that can get reliable pressure against a good blocker. Pass.

CB's Demontre Hurst is a solid player. He will be drafted probably around round 4-ish. He is a good player, but not spectacular although he has the physical tools to be great. Maybe coaching would make him a sleeper pick. Probably my second favorite pick on the Sooners.

QB: Someone is going to be disappointed if they draft Landry Jones. He just doesn't have IT. He can make the throws, is decently mobile, but his decision making is iffy, and he shrinks in big moments not rises (that's what she said).

LB's: Meh.

RB's: Nope.

So in total... guys to watch from OU in my estimation:

1: Tony Jefferson
2: Demontre Hurst
3: Justin Brown

Avenger

Tom Wort went to my high school, I had cases with his little brother

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

LuthierJr

Love Wort as a college player. He is a tough dude. Don't see him projecting much to NFL, but love him as a sooner.

I think he is a Junior?

kennyb

what do you think of lane johnson?

manxman2601

BB has never drafted someone out of Oklahoma and I wonder whether that's coincidence or an issue with the program.

Last year, I had a private army of Oklahoma binkies: Ronnell Lewis, Jamell Fleming, Ryan Broyles and to a lesser extent Frank Alexander.

mayoclinic

Good point. Patchick brought this up last spring. I thought Ronnell Lewis might be a great fit, and the Pats did have him in for a visit. I'm guessing it's more than a coincidence, and more likely a vote of no confidence in Bob Stoops' fundamentals, but its just a guess.

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
"OVER Loading at ANY position can create a Fatal Advantage. THAT is what interests ME. Attacking With Concentrated Force. THAT is what WINS. In the words ~ more or less ~ of General Patton: 'I'm fighting a WAR, here. Let the B*****ES worry about their FLANKS.' " - Off the Grid

"The key to any successful organization is to anticipate things, not react to them." - Michael Lombardi

Ochmed Jones

I absolutely liked him going into the season, but needs to see more of this year's tape in order to see where he has improved.

LuthierJr

RE: Lane Johnson

Solid. Easily OU's best lineman, but I'll be honest and say my view of the entire O-Line is jaded so maybe I'm not giving him a fair shake. They could not run block against good competition (and it's not like the Big 12 is packed with stout Defenses), and while they improved down the stretch their pass blocking was only marginally better against competent opponents.

Now for the positives for Mr. Johnson. He is smart. He was a QB in high school, and then a TE starting out in college and when he transferred to OU he moved to RT. He has good size at 6ft 6in and just over 300 pounds. He obviously has the ability to pick up new positions so I dare say he is coach-able. From all accounts he is a good kid, works hard and keeps quiet.

I read where he is ranked highly for RT's, but I personally don't see it. I see him more as a mid round guy who would be good depth and perhaps work his way into the starting lineup.

LuthierJr

That's a good observation. I think it's an OU thing, and perhaps a conference thing to a lesser degree. The Big 12 is known for high powered up-tempo spread and west coast offenses. Conversely they are also known, for the most part, as having soft Defenses. I think OU's recently departed Defensive Coordinator Brent Venables, was a hell of a LB'er coach. They brought back Mike Stoops, Bob's brother, and he is a better D coach all around, but not as good with the Linebackers. I'll be interested to see if he continues the trend and develops some LB's out at Clemson where he is now.

kennyb

Kenny stills might come out this year. He'd be good for the pats I think. Good route runner...thoughts?