The Oklahoma Sooners’ defense is off to a great start to the 2023 season. One player who is quietly been strong early this year is defensive end [autotag]Ethan Downs[/autotag].
Downs was a preseason second-team [autotag]All-Big 12[/autotag] selection but wasn’t named as a starter before the season began. It was an up and down year for Downs and the Oklahoma Sooners defense. However, the Weatherford, Okla. native finished the 2022 regular season strong, recording two sacks and seven tackles for loss in the final four games. It looks as if he’s carried that over to 2023.
He’s looking leaner and faster, which is weird because he’s actually heavier this season than last.
But you can’t tell that when you watch him.
His numbers aren’t something that stands out, as he has five tackles and one sack. However, when you watch the game, he seems to be getting constant pressure, causing throw-a-ways or inaccurate passes. According to Pro Football Focus, Downs leads the Sooners in total pressures with seven.
It’s clear the work Downs and the Oklahoma Sooners have put in during the offseason is paying off.
“Just hard work, leadership, aggression, how we practice,” Downs shared with the media this week. “When we miss a tackle, we have to redo that play and make the tackle. Fit your gaps, play hard, being hard-nosed, we have great linebackers like Danny (Stutsman) and Jaren (Kanak) holding everybody accountable, holding themselves accountable. (Defensive line we’re grittier, we’re stronger, we’re finishing blocks, better on our feet with our tackles and all of that.”
That work has paid off so far, as the Sooners are missing far fewer tackles in 2023 than they did through two games last season. After two weeks last season, Oklahoma missed 33 tackles. This season, they’ve only missed 11.
If you’re looking for an area that reveals the drastic improvement of the Oklahoma Sooners defense, it’s missed tackles.
And Ethan Downs is one of a number of players that hasn’t missed a tackle in 2023. Here’s hoping the preseason All-Big 12 selection can continue his upward trajectory with Big 12 play right around the corner.
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