Brian Asamoah – Page 12 – Syndication Server

6 takeaways from the Oklahoma Sooners 16-13 win over West Virginia

The Oklahoma Sooners are finding new ways to win in the Lincoln Riley era and here are five takeaways from the 16-13 victory over WVU.

Over the last three weeks, the Oklahoma Sooners defense has become the strength of this team. In their win against West Virginia, they held the Mountaineers to 13 points and now have three games in a row of holding their opponents to fewer than 16 points.

On the season they’re allowing just 16 points per game and against Power Five opponents just 14.5 points per game. If the offense is going to struggle like they have the last couple of weeks, then the defense will have to provide that level of play each and every week.

Unlike previous seasons during the Heisman era of Lincoln Riley’s tenure, the Sooners are winning games at the other end of the spectrum. Instead of winning close games with both teams scoring over 30 points per game, the Sooners are finding to win defensive battles.

They’re winning, just winning differently. And that feels strange.

Let’s take a look at five takeaways from the Sooners win over West Virginia.

Key Players for the Oklahoma Sooners defense vs. Nebraska

A look at the three players on the Oklahoma defense that are key players against Nebraska.

Oklahoma will wrap up its nonconference schedule with their toughest opponent thus far in Nebraska. The game is symbolic as an old rivalry is renewed on the 50th anniversary of the ‘Game of the Century.

On the field, OU will face a noticeable step up in competition as opposed to their games against Tulane and Western Carolina University. Defensively, they will have to contend with one of the best running quarterbacks in the nation in Adrian Martinez.

Martinez, a veteran quarterback has seen a lot of football over the years and will hardly be scared of the moment. However, his relatively young offensive line will line up across from one of the best front sevens in the country. Pressure is something Martinez is very familiar with. We wrote about that here.

Oklahoma will be without some key players on the back end of their defense. Woodi Washington and Billy Bowman are not expected to play. Look for Latrell McCutchin and Jeremiah Criddell to fill in for them in their spots. Here are candidates for the defensive players to watch as Oklahoma tries to bottle up Nebraska and head into Big 12 play undefeated:

Up Next: A Monster in the Middle ready to be unleashed.

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3 Players to watch on defense for the Oklahoma Sooners vs. WCU

As you get ready for the Oklahoma Sooners vs. WCU, here are three players to watch on defense for the Sooners.

OU opens up their home slate against Western Carolina on Saturday evening. On paper, OU is favored in every way. However, that meant nothing to the Green Wave of Tulane, who brought it nonstop for 4 quarters to a talented but unfocused and inconsistent OU defense that just wasn’t completely dialed in.

Expect that to change this week as they ready for a Western Carolina team that just lost a tough game against Eastern Kentucky at home. Let’s take a look at three guys that are players to watch as they look to turn in a more dominant performance.

Perrion Winfrey

Perrion Winfrey is the proverbial BIG DOG inside for this OU defense. He was considered a top 100 pick in almost every mock draft or preseason draft rankings list. Todd McShay, a leading draft analyst even placed him in his top 30 draft prospects. He hasn’t racked up the sacks in his time here at Oklahoma but that’s fine because his value is much more than just sacks. He’s disruptive at the point of attack for teams forcing teams to change whole game plans mid-game. OU struggled to keep the heat on Tulane QB Michael Pratt at times. and he subsequently lit them up for 296 yards and three touchdown passes as they pushed Oklahoma deep into the fourth quarter.

Winfrey has to be dominant and blow up the interior. WCU QB Rogan Wells is nowhere near as mobile as Pratt but he’s a senior and has played a lot of college football. Getting him flushed out of the pocket and forcing him to throw off platform and on the run could lead to mistakes the Sooners can capitalize on. Look for him to cause havoc while in the game.

NEXT: A linebacker and defensive back set to make plays.

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3 Defensive Keys for the Sooners when they play Western Carolina University

What does the Sooners’ defense need to do to rebound from a disappointing week 1 performance vs. Tulane? Here are 3 keys for their matchup with WCU.

Earlier this week, we had a look at the big keys on the offensive side of the ball for the Oklahoma Sooners as they get set to take on the Catamounts of Western Carolina University. We’ll flip to the defensive side of the ball for Oklahoma and take a look at things they can do to secure a much more comfortable and less divisive win.

In their matchup with the Tulane Green Wave, the Sooners had moments of brilliance, moments of decent play and unfortunately some really bad play. However, seasons aren’t defined by games in September. The Sooners have another opportunity to clean it up and fine tune their defensive machine before the competition becomes a bit tougher.

They’ll be taking on a team in WCU that is lead by an offensive centric head coach in Kerwin Bell. He was a former quarterback at the University of Florida after all.

With that, let’s take a look at the defensive keys to the game.

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Top 21 players for the Oklahoma Sooners entering 2021

As the Oklahoma Sooners get set to continue their reign atop the Big 12 and contend for a national title, here are the top 21 players for 2021.

Heading into the 2021 season, the Oklahoma Sooners have one of the deepest and most talented rosters in the country. On both sides of the ball, the Sooners have great players throughout the lineup that will make big impacts on Saturdays this fall.

On offense, the Sooners are led by Heisman Trophy front-runner Spencer Rattler and a high-powered passing attack. On defense, the Sooners have four guys that can create havoc in both the running game and rushing the passer.

This is a team that should be one of the more exciting teams to watch with their blend of big-play offense and suffocating defense. With just 15 days until kickoff, let’s take a look at the top 21 Oklahoma Sooners heading into 2021.

DaShaun White on Sooners linebacker depth: Can’t ask for a better setting

The Oklahoma Sooners linebacker group has a ton of experience and talent and is ready to help the Sooners defense take the next step.

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After allowing 40 points per game in the Oklahoma Sooners’ first three Big 12 contests in 2020, the Oklahoma Sooners allowed just 17 points per game the rest of the way. Over the season’s final seven games, including the Big 12 Championship game and the Cotton Bowl, the Sooners defense burst onto the scene and announced this isn’t the same defense that the nation’s come to expect.

In the second half of 2020, the Sooners defense started trending toward why OU was winning games. For several seasons, the Sooners were winning games despite the defense. Heading into 2021, they’re looking to build off of that stellar finish and be part of the reason the Sooners contend for a national championship in 2021.

With a lot of attention paid to the defensive front and the defensive back group, the linebacker depth has quietly become one of the best units on the team. One would be hard-pressed to find a group with the level of experience and depth at a position that the Sooners have entering 2021.

DaShaun White, Brian Asamoah, David Ugwoegbu, Caleb Kelly, Shane Whitter, Jamal Morris, Bryan Mead, and Danny Stutsman make up an ultra-talented group of players. With White, Asamoah, Ugwoegbu, and Kelly, the Sooners have four guys who have played a lot of snaps for the program and will lead the defense into 2021.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, White discussed the depth the linebacker group brings to the table and the work they’ve put in to get to where they are.

It’s definitely motivating. Just be in a situation where there’s always competition. As a player, you can’t ask for a better setting. Just an opportunity to surround yourself with something like that. Around the country there’s not a lot of place where you get into the three-deep group and it’s still a really, really solid group. That’s really a just testament to our group and how hard we work. I think the linebackers work extremely hard. We do a lot of extra together.

During his appearance, White was asked how the linebackers performed during the scrimmage. He mentioned that the linebackers “had a great day” and were “getting into the backfield… running relentlessly after the ball carrier” He later went on to joke that he “felt bad for the ball carriers.”

With the Sooners’ talent upfront in Isaiah Thomas, Nik Bonitto, Perrion Winfrey, Jalen Redmond, and La’Ron Stokes, the Sooners’ linebacker corp is poised for a fantastic season. Though they might be the most underrated group on the roster, that doesn’t mean they won’t be as impactful as any position on the team. This is a group that’s ready to compete and wreak havoc on opposing offense.

Pair of Sooners make 2021 CFB ‘freaks’ list, Nik Bonitto snubbed

Two Oklahoma Sooners land on Bruce Feldman’s 2021 top 101 college football “freaks” list, while Nik Bonitto was notably absent.

Buzz generates and narratives form as the 2021 college football season nears on players with rare athletic traits. The guys that mesmerize on the field with elite physical ability. In Bruce Feldman’s 2021 ranking, he featured 101 players that are “freak” athletes in nature. Typically, the annual list consists of 50 players being showcased, but this year the listing hit the 101 marker.

Two Oklahoma Sooners were among the prestigious listing, left tackle Anton Harrison and linebacker Brian Asamoah.

Harrison made the list for his deceiving speed for a 309-pound lineman. Maxing out at “19.5 MPH on the GPS tracker,” according to Feldman. Harrison only allowed one sack in 2020 as a true freshman per PFF and though he may not start, will have a role in Bill Bedenbaugh’s offensive line come the fall.

Asamoah made the list for his impressive strength, squatting “500 pounds for five reps,” per Bruce Feldman.

He led Oklahoma with 66 tackles last season and notched four pass breakups and five quarterback hurries in nine starts.

Asamoah possesses the instincts and twitchiness for the WILL linebacker role in Alex Grinch’s defense. Perhaps the most notable element to his game, effective execution of responsibilities over the A gap, limiting ball carriers.

Both players are often overlooked on Oklahoma’s roster despite their prominent roles. No surprise to see Harrison and Asamoah on the compilation, but shock permeates on a player’s name not mentioned- that of rush linebacker Nik Bonitto.

Bonitto, an explosive edge rusher, has made a significant impact in transforming OU’s defense from one of the worst to one of the most formidable across the nation.

He amassed 10.5 tackles for loss in 2020 and a team-high 10 quarterback hurries. Bonitto was credited with the nation’s top pressure rate (25.7%), pass rush grade (93.5) and pass rush win-rate (28.5%) per Pro Football Focus.

Bonitto has established himself as not only the most lethal edge defender in college football, but has earned his place among the program’s legendary defenders.

The 6-3, 240-pound rush specialist’s power and speed off the edge are a dangerous combination. He is the type of hybrid linebacker that NFL defensive coordinators covet. Bonitto has great acceleration and change of direction ability. His versatility as a coverage threat and disruptive pass rusher should have garnered a place on Feldman’s esteemed list.

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Oklahoma Sooners’ linebackers provide veteran stability to improving defense

While much of the talk about the Sooners defense in 2021 has focused on the defensive line, OU’s veteran linebackers provide the foundation.

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This offseason, there’s been a lot of talk about the Oklahoma Sooners defensive line as a reason to be optimistic about the Sooners’ chances of contending for a national championship in 2021. There’s also been a lot of talk about the secondary and its youthful playmakers stepping into full-time roles in 2021.

There should be a lot of excitement about the defensive front and the secondary. They’re going to be a lot of fun to watch in 2021.

Offensive coordinators and offensive line coaches will be up late trying to come up with a way to block Nik Bonitto, Isaiah Thomas, Perrion Winfrey, and Jalen Redmond.

Woodi Washington and D.J. Graham will make it incredibly difficult for teams to throw to the outside. The safety group is experienced and won’t be left out to dry as often as they might have been in the past.

This defense is going to be really good. But a position group that often gets left out of the discussion is the linebacker group led by Brian Asamoah and DaShaun White. It might just be the most underrated position group on the entire team. And at the same time, it might just be the deepest group on the squad.

We’re thinking of traditional linebackers for this discussion and not including “rush linebacker” Nik Bonitto.

White, Asamoah, David Ugwoegbu, Caleb Kelly, and Shane Whitter provide the Sooners with five guys capable of making plays for Alex Grinch’s defense.

At the top of the depth chart, you have four guys that have played a ton of snaps for the Sooners and a fifth in Whitter that got his feet wet in 2020 but appears to be a player that has a big future.

White has played more than 1,000 snaps on defense for Oklahoma. Asamoah and Ugwoegbu have played more than 600. Caleb Kelly’s snap counts aren’t available from Pro Football Focus, but according to SoonersSports.com, he’s played in 41 games in his Oklahoma career.

It’s an experienced group that can bring four veterans into the game and contribute to Alex Grinch’s defense. Throw in Shane Whitter that Oklahoma Sooners Linebacker Coach Brian Odom talked about as a player on the rise back in the spring and you’ve got a great group of players.

There may not be a star on the linebacker depth chart (yet), but this group is flying under the radar heading into 2021. The stability, leadership, and experience at the position will be foundational to what Alex Grinch and the Oklahoma Sooners want to accomplish in 2021.

Spring Football: A look at the linebacker position

A breakdown of Oklahoma’s MIKE and WILL linebacker positions as spring football nears.

Spring football begins in less than a week for the Oklahoma Sooners. With the return of football on the way, Sooners Wire takes a look at each position group ahead of camp. Continue reading “Spring Football: A look at the linebacker position”

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Oklahoma in review: DaShaun White, Brian Asamoah stepping up leadership at LB

There was a major void in the middle of Oklahoma’s defense after the 2019 defense. Two returning linebackers are trying to fill it.

There was a major void in the middle of Oklahoma’s defense after the 2019 defense.

It’s no doubt that Kenneth Murray was the heart and soul of the Sooners a year ago. He wore his emotions on his sleeve and the results spoke for themselves.

Grinch described him as the alpha of his first year and the cover boy of Oklahoma’s ‘Speed D’. The target now shifts to a new pair of linebackers who are looking for a big year in 2020.

“I would say DaShaun (White) and I—we’ve taken it upon us to lead that linebacker room to a very great path and I believe we’ve done that job,” said starting linebacker Brian Asamoah the week after the Missouri State game. “Talking about seven guys in the rotation last week, you don’t have that in every linebacker room. So, we’ve done a great job of bringing those guys along with us and telling them that hey, an opportunity may come despite the circumstances. COVID is out there and you’ve got to be ready for your opportunity and preparation.”

It’s one thing to be a leader, it’s another to be a great player and the leader.

Asamoah thinks he’s ready to be both.

“Definitely the mental aspect,” he said. “Last year I was just focusing on trying to do my job and trying to figure out the defense in my first year. This year, I know what everybody in front is doing, everybody in the back is doing and then what I’m doing and my play-side backer next to me so I would say the improvement came mentally.”

Alongside him is two-year starter DaShaun White, who Murray called his little brother last season.

Grinch has spoke adamantly about him needing to be better than a year ago. White feels like he took the same jump Asamoah spoke about, but for different reasons.

“Year one just felt like a lot of making sure you get your guy,” White said prior to the season. “If you’re supposed to be in the C gap, be in the C gap. If you’re supposed to spill the guard, spill the guard where you’re supposed to spill the guard. I feel personally a lot this year that it’s like … I feel like I’m sort of gaining my personality as a player and who I am and things that I’m really good at. It’s not just about being in your gap. It’s about being in your gap and being in the backfield two yards, ready to make a play.”

A wild card, though, has emerged for Oklahoma at linebacker.

David Ugwoegbu was an edge rusher playing RUSH linebacker for Grinch in 2019 oozed potential at the position. After the injury to Caleb Kelly, he was moved inside to help with depth at the position.

Ugwoegbu looked the part in the first game against Missouri State. He clearly has a long ways to go, but there was some praise about him before the season started.

“He’s doing really well,” White said back then. “He’s got size. He moves better than a lot of people give him credit for. He has a lot of productive. He’s one of those guys that I feel like, ‘We’ve got to find him a spot.’ Because he’s just that good. And he can play so many different positions well. I’m excited for him to be inside. He’s making plays, he’s flying around, he’s picking it up. He’s fast, too. Shout out to him. I’m excited for him. I think it will be a good thing for him.”

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