3 defensive keys for Sooners vs. Mountaineers

What are the three defensive keys the Sooners should focus on against the Mountaineers in week 4?

Gap Discipline

Leddie Brown makes decisions very quickly behind West Virginia’s offensive line. 

He understands precisely how much space he takes up as a runner and how to angle his body to squeeze through running lanes. 

The defensive front will need to fit their gaps and trust that the man next to them will do the same. That job becomes more difficult now that Jalen Redmond is sidelined with a meniscus injury. John Williams of Sooners Wire examined OU’s backup defensive lineman situation and pinpointed the Sooners that will need to step up in his absence.

Stepping in to replace Redmond will be a contingent of Josh Ellison, Isaiah Coe, Kori Roberson, LaRon Stokes, and Kelvin Gilliam. Ellison and Coe will get the first crack with the defense to fill in for Redmond, and both have played well in their roles as rotational defensive linemen.

Isaiah Coe and Josh Ellison are tied with Perrion Winfrey in Pro Football Focus’ “stops*” metric with four. They’ve been productive for the Sooners this season.

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