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Interesting Guerin Emig article
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Posted: 2/15/2013 4:27 AM
Interesting Guerin Emig article
Stoops poised to make most important hire since assembling original OU staffPublished: 2/14/2013 10:06 AMLast Modified: 2/14/2013 10:07 AMBob Stoops said Wednesday he hasn't interviewed any candidates for his three staff vacancies. If we take him for his word, then, he didn't pick up the phone and tell West Virginia's Bill Bedenbaugh to start packing his bags as soon as he cut loose James Patton and Bruce Kittle.
Stoops is going to be thorough and maybe even a little deliberate in this process. Nothing wrong with that, especially when you consider something:
His hire for the defensive tackles/defensive line position might be the most important he has made since assembling his original OU staff.
Consider that every hire Stoops has ever made has been the result of: 1, an assistant receiving a head coaching/coordinator/NFL job elsewhere; 2, Stoops seamlessly promoting from within to fill the void; and/or 3: Stoops almost-as-seamlessly hiring an old contact or comrade to come in and pick up where the former assistant left off.
Not this time.
Jackie Shipp was fired, sure as Patton and Kittle were. What makes the Shipp situation so earth-shaking, though, is he was one of Stoops' originals. Loyalty is as big a trait of Bob's as competitiveness. It had to tear at him to let Shipp go. It couldn't have been a personal decision. He must have seen it as "I've got no choice."
This might be why…
Ever since he arrived, Stoops has been adamant that defense starts up front. Up front and in the middle. Ends get the sacks, linebackers the tackles and defensive backs the turnovers. But if you don't have muscle and playmaking from your tackles, you're asking for trouble.
Let's revisit some numbers I ran last fall detailing the production of OU's lead defensive tackles over the past decade:
2002 (Tommie Harris, Dusty Dvoracek and Kory Klein)
Tackles: 81
Tackles for lost yardage: 17
Sacks: 7
Hurries: 33
Pass deflections: 4
Fumble recoveries: 2
2003 (Harris, Dvoracek and Lynn McGruder)
Tackles: 102
TFLs: 30
Sacks: 14
Hurries: 38
Pass deflections: 2
Forced fumbles: 2
Fumble recoveries: 1
2004 (McGruder, Carl Pendleton and Remi Ayodele)
Tackles: 52
TFLs: 12
Sacks: 5
Hurries: 5
Pass deflections: 3
Forced fumbles: 2
2005 (a reinstated Dvoracek, Ayodele and Cory Bennett)
Tackles: 71
TFLs: 27
Sacks: 7
Hurries: 10
Pass deflections: 1
Fumble recoveries: 2
Interceptions: 1
2006 (Bennett, DeMarcus Granger, Steven Coleman)
Tackles: 65
TFLs: 11.5
Sacks: 3.5
Hurries: 2
2007 (Bennett, Granger, Gerald McCoy)
Tackles: 67
TFLs: 15.5
Sacks: 6
Hurries: 16
Pass deflections: 3
Fumble recoveries: 2
Forced fumbles: 1
2008 (McCoy, Granger, Adrian Taylor)
Tackles: 76
TFLs: 20
Sacks: 11
Hurries: 3
Pass deflections: 2
Fumble recoveries: 3
Forced fumbles: 1
Interceptions: 1
2009 (McCoy, Taylor, Jamarkus McFarland)
Tackles: 79
TFLs: 25
Sacks: 12
Hurries: 13
Pass deflections: 3
Fumble recoveries: 2
Forced fumbles: 1
2010 (Taylor, McFarland, Stacy McGee)
Tackles: 61
TFLs: 9
Sacks: 1.5
Hurries: 3
Pass deflections: 1
2011 (McFarland, McGee, Casey Walker)
Tackles: 60
TFLs: 10
Sacks: 3
Hurries: 3
Pass deflections: 3
Forced fumbles: 2
Now, we can add OU's 2012 production, featuring McFarland, Walker and McGee again:
Tackles: 68
TFLs: 11
Sacks: 4
Hurries: 5
Pass deflections: 1
Fumble recoveries: 1
Interceptions: 1
Whether Shipp didn't beat the recruiting trail hard enough, misjudged some of that talent or didn't coach it up once it was on campus, the years tackles weren't disruptive enough eventually outnumbered the years they were.
That became a real problem. It ran counter to the value Stoops put on the position. And as the SEC put a stranglehold on college football using big, strong, active, playmaking defensive tackles, it should have sounded in alarm in Shipp's office. And his home. And in his car out recruiting.
Whether he never heard it or he ignored it or he couldn't coach with it going off, now it will sound in someone else's office, home and car.
Whoever takes over OU's defensive interior had better respond. The faster he does, the faster the Sooners will play defense resembling Mike Stoops' first era in Norman (look at those '02 and '03 stats again). Also, the faster OU will return to championship hunts beyond the Big 12.
Yes, Bob Stoops' hire on the offensive line is crucial. But as the season that prompted this startling coaching shakeup showed, it's not the offense that's broken. There's a pretty big crack right there at the base of OU's defense.
 Written by
Guerin Emig
Sports Writer
My goal in life is to be half as good a person as my dog already thinks I am. |
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Posted: 2/15/2013 6:41 AM
RE: Interesting Guerin Emig article
Oh lord, thsnk you for someone finally grasping the importance of the dt
You might be bigger, faster and stronger - but you will not out work me - ZRA
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Posted: 2/15/2013 6:51 AM
RE: Interesting Guerin Emig article
Thanks, SF.
1317
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Posted: 2/15/2013 7:01 AM
RE: Interesting Guerin Emig article
Great stuff here.
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Posted: 2/15/2013 8:34 AM
Re: Interesting Guerin Emig article
This underlines why OU needs to ante up here and get a proven recruiter/coach for this position, hiring someone with little (Thibodeaux) to no experience would be a slap in the face to Shipp.
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Posted: 2/15/2013 8:35 AM
Re: Interesting Guerin Emig article
soonerfrog wrote:
2002 (Tommie Harris, Dusty Dvoracek and Kory Klein)
Tackles: 81
Tackles for lost yardage: 17
Sacks: 7
Hurries: 33
Pass deflections: 4
Fumble recoveries: 2
2003 (Harris, Dvoracek and Lynn McGruder)
Tackles: 102
TFLs: 30
Sacks: 14
Hurries: 38
Pass deflections: 2
Forced fumbles: 2
Fumble recoveries: 1
2004 (McGruder, Carl Pendleton and Remi Ayodele)
Tackles: 52
TFLs: 12
Sacks: 5
Hurries: 5
Pass deflections: 3
Forced fumbles: 2
2005 (a reinstated Dvoracek, Ayodele and Cory Bennett)
Tackles: 71
TFLs: 27
Sacks: 7
Hurries: 10
Pass deflections: 1
Fumble recoveries: 2
Interceptions: 1
2006 (Bennett, DeMarcus Granger, Steven Coleman)
Tackles: 65
TFLs: 11.5
Sacks: 3.5
Hurries: 2
2007 (Bennett, Granger, Gerald McCoy)
Tackles: 67
TFLs: 15.5
Sacks: 6
Hurries: 16
Pass deflections: 3
Fumble recoveries: 2
Forced fumbles: 1
2008 (McCoy, Granger, Adrian Taylor)
Tackles: 76
TFLs: 20
Sacks: 11
Hurries: 3
Pass deflections: 2
Fumble recoveries: 3
Forced fumbles: 1
Interceptions: 1
2009 (McCoy, Taylor, Jamarkus McFarland)
Tackles: 79
TFLs: 25
Sacks: 12
Hurries: 13
Pass deflections: 3
Fumble recoveries: 2
Forced fumbles: 1
2010 (Taylor, McFarland, Stacy McGee)
Tackles: 61
TFLs: 9
Sacks: 1.5
Hurries: 3
Pass deflections: 1
2011 (McFarland, McGee, Casey Walker)
Tackles: 60
TFLs: 10
Sacks: 3
Hurries: 3
Pass deflections: 3
Forced fumbles: 2
Now, we can add OU's 2012 production, featuring McFarland, Walker and McGee again:
Tackles: 68
TFLs: 11
Sacks: 4
Hurries: 5
Pass deflections: 1
Fumble recoveries: 1
Interceptions: 1
I have a real problem with how Emig accumulated his totals. Why would he only use 3 DTs for his numbers? For example, Mo Dampeer had 5 TFLs in '04. That would increase the total by over 40%. He left out senior Kory Klein in '03. He didn't include Pendleton in any year but his freshman. Etc. Use all the DTs for your sample. |
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Posted: 2/15/2013 8:48 AM
Re: Interesting Guerin Emig article
EagleGrowl3 wrote:
I have a real problem with how Emig accumulated his totals. Why would he only use 3 DTs for his numbers? For example, Mo Dampeer had 5 TFLs in '04. That would increase the total by over 40%. He left out senior Kory Klein in '03. He didn't include Pendleton in any year but his freshman. Etc.
Use all the DTs for your sample. I agree, and I would also be interested to see how other big 12 teams trend over the same course of time. I wouldn't be surprised if the proliferation of the spread has impacted those numbers as well. That's not to say that the guys we've had recently are as good as TH and DD were. Obviously not. Just kind of a weird group of stats with no discussion of other variables that might influence them. |
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Posted: 2/15/2013 8:50 AM
Re: Interesting Guerin Emig article
As in all things...time will tell.
"Bob Stoops has won the Big 12 with masking tape and saliva stuck to a Paul Thompson bobblehead doll."
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Posted: 2/15/2013 9:09 AM
RE: Interesting Guerin Emig article
It was worthwhile to see the yearly comparisons, BUT the most obvious factor is T Harris and later GK McCoy. It would be interesting to see the Nebraska comparisons before and after Suh.
I do not know enough of the "coaching" versus "talent" argument to say if later recruits were not coached up like Harris or if it is simply the individual player and his natural talent. DT technique may be very important making talent only part of the equation. Still, me and a blind monkey could have been the coach for Adrian Peterson and he'd have been a great running back.
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Posted: 2/15/2013 9:36 AM
Re: Interesting Guerin Emig article
EagleGrowl3 wrote:
soonerfrog wrote:
2
Tackles: 68
TFLs: 11
Sacks: 4
Hurries: 5
Pass deflections: 1
Fumble recoveries: 1
Interceptions: 1
I have a real problem with how Emig accumulated his totals. Why would he only use 3 DTs for his numbers? For example, Mo Dampeer had 5 TFLs in '04. That would increase the total by over 40%. He left out senior Kory Klein in '03. He didn't include Pendleton in any year but his freshman. Etc.
Use all the DTs for your sample. Then he wouldn't be able to make the article say what he wanted it to say.
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Posted: 2/15/2013 9:36 AM
Re: Interesting Guerin Emig article
King had about 1/2 of his 30 or so tackles playing DT in 2012.
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Posted: 2/15/2013 10:57 AM
RE: Interesting Guerin Emig article
CushCreekmont wrote: It was worthwhile to see the yearly comparisons, BUT the most obvious factor is T Harris and later GK McCoy. It would be interesting to see the Nebraska comparisons before and after Suh.
I do not know enough of the "coaching" versus "talent" argument to say if later recruits were not coached up like Harris or if it is simply the individual player and his natural talent. DT technique may be very important making talent only part of the equation. Still, me and a blind monkey could have been the coach for Adrian Peterson and he'd have been a great running back. Tha Switz always gave credit to the players/recruits."It's not the X's & O's, it's the Jimmy's and Joe's."  (" Harrumph! Harrumph!..~ I didn't get a 'Harrumph!' outta dat guy!"~ ..."Harrumph!!.." ~ " Watch your a**....")
4 + gyokie rock on's (and still counting...gimme some Lynyrd Synyrd, please!..)
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Posted: 2/15/2013 11:16 AM
Re: Interesting Guerin Emig article
I don't disagree with Emig about the quality of play on the defensive front. I don't really need a bunch of half baked statistics to convince me what my eyes have seen. "Statistics are like loose women, you can do anything you want with them".
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Posted: 2/15/2013 11:44 AM
Re: Interesting Guerin Emig article
I'm with swede on this. The "eye" test just wasn't there this year. The tackles may have played fairly well. But guys like Switzer and Shannon have observed something is missing up front.
Looking forward to what the future brings.
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Posted: 2/15/2013 12:06 PM
Re: Interesting Guerin Emig article
What I saw was OU lined up correctly most of the time (the first play of the 3rd quarter against oSu was a bad play)... but overall, there was less confusion schematically this past year. However, without the different looks and various playbooks, we were exposed for what Switzer said. Mike and Kish tried to simplify things and we ended up getting run over by tougher and more physical opposition. The 7DBs thing was dumb, but most of the year it wasn't the scheme that was to blame. Piss poor tackling, getting owned up front and getting blocked on our asses is how KSU, aTm and ND beat us. The silver lining was the DBs all played much better than they had prior to 2012. We need that in the pass-happy BIG 12.
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Posted: 2/15/2013 12:37 PM
Re: Interesting Guerin Emig article
The box score on the DTs is just a part of the picture. When the DTs are playing well, the LB's and DE's get lots of tackles. Who cares that Gerald McCoy got only 19 tackles in 2007 when Curtis Lofton and Lewis Baker combine for 258?
The trench ponies separate the good teams from the great ones.
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Posted: 2/15/2013 12:44 PM
Re: Interesting Guerin Emig article
As much as it pains me to say this, if we don't get an SEC Coach it all doesn't matter
I know it has nothing to do with Coaching per say but they are on fire and until we get some of that flair, that swagger that kids are just totally in love with it will be the same old OU
I am not sure if USC has landed a D coordinator so the timing on this if bad for OU because unless we open our wallets there are more teams out that with more to offer such as lifestyle etc.
All and all thanks for the post, I agree this is a big hire for OU, one of the biggest in years mainly because whoever comes in has very little to work with and very little time to provide results.
BOOMER SOONER
National Championships
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Posted: 2/15/2013 12:46 PM
Re: Interesting Guerin Emig article
How many of the DT's were double-teamed this past season?
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Posted: 2/15/2013 2:52 PM
Re: Interesting Guerin Emig article
decasooner wrote: As much as it pains me to say this, if we don't get an SEC Coach it all doesn't matter
I know it has nothing to do with Coaching per say but they are on fire and until we get some of that flair, that swagger that kids are just totally in love with it will be the same old OU
I am not sure if USC has landed a D coordinator so the timing on this if bad for OU because unless we open our wallets there are more teams out that with more to offer such as lifestyle etc.
All and all thanks for the post, I agree this is a big hire for OU, one of the biggest in years mainly because whoever comes in has very little to work with and very little time to provide results.
BOOMER SOONER I don't think it is necessary to hire a SEC coach. The SEC has been extremely successful, but they don't have a monopoly on all the coaching and playing talent. You can find numerous examples of SEC coaches who have moved on and were not successful. Tubberville just being one of them. Texas has hired a series of defensive coordinators from the SEC, but I haven't noticed any marked improvement of their defense. Everyone needs to calm down and quit buy the ESPN and talking heads hype about the SEC. |
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Posted: 2/15/2013 3:54 PM
Re: Interesting Guerin Emig article
decasooner wrote: As much as it pains me to say this, if we don't get an SEC Coach it all doesn't matter
Why does that matter? You might be bigger, faster and stronger - but you will not out work me - ZRA
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