Why Oregon Will Win The Valero Alamo Bowl
This was hardly the Oklahoma defense it was expected to be before the season started, but it wasn’t awful. The same ideas and schemes will be in place, but the normal top parts aren’t going to be there to run it.
Start with defensive coordinator Alex Grinch riding along with Lincoln Riley to USC. That hurts, but the bigger pain comes with linebackers Nik Bonitto and Brian Asamoah opting out.
Throw in the loss of Perrion Winfrey and Isaiah Thomas a game early to the NFL, and the Sooners are missing their guys.
Oregon is missing its receivers – more on that in a moment – but it’s got the offensive line in place to rumble for the running game from the start. This isn’t a ball control team, but it could be one for stretches when needed.
However …
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Why Oklahoma Will Win The Valero Alamo Bowl
This was already a thin Oregon team by the end of the season thanks to a slew of injuries and other issues, and now it’s not even close to being its normal self.
The coaching staff changes are just a part of it.
Wide receiver was already a problems, and now leading deep threat receiver Devon Williams is out to get ready for the NFL. That’s bad, but the secondary might be in worse shape, with corners Mykael Wright (NFL) and DJ James (transfer) done.
Even before everything that happened – and certainly not helped by pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux taking off to the NFL – this was an awful Oregon defense on third downs. Despite having all the speedy athletic stars to get excited about, there weren’t enough plays behind the line.
Oklahoma still has Caleb Williams around to do Caleb Williams things, and it still has leading rusher Kennedy Brooks to potentially make a statement for the next level. So …
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