Tag: Oklahoma Sooners Defense

A master of the ‘Speed D,’ Nik Bonitto passing on knowledge to younger Rush LBs

Oklahoma Sooners rush linebacker Nik Bonitto shares the importance of passing on the knowledge of Alex Grinch’s defense to the younger players.

[mm-video type=video id=01fd0krdx1mwygx8jwps playlist_id=01eqbz7cqqgxy50qwt player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fd0krdx1mwygx8jwps/01fd0krdx1mwygx8jwps-fdc60a6f6365049bfaac9d9884026bf7.jpg]

When you can perform a concept or a skill in any walk of life, you’ve displayed a grasped knowledge of that concept. When you’re able to teach a skill or concept, you’ve mastered it. The veteran members of the Oklahoma Sooners defense have become masters of Alex Grinch’s Speed D. 

Nik Bonitto, in his third year under Alex Grinch, has arguably been the biggest beneficiary of Grinch’s presence in Norman. He’s seen his production increase in every season under his defensive coordinator.

In two games as a freshman, Bonitto didn’t record a single tackle for loss or sack in 2018. In 2019 he had a modest breakout with 3.5 sacks, six tackles for loss, and an interception. In 2020, he really burst onto the scene with nine sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss.

Bonitto was so good last season he’s put himself on every award watch list imaginable heading into his fourth year with the Sooners. He’s arguably the best player on an ascending defense that has a chance to help the Oklahoma Sooners win the national championship in 2021.

Safe to say he’s mastered Alex Grinch’s defense.

The Sooners All-American understands, though, that his responsibility and impact go beyond simply what he does on the field. As a veteran of the defense, he understands that he and the other veteran leadership have a responsibility to pass on the knowledge they’ve acquired to help the younger guys pick up Grinch’s defense.

There’s a lot of guys who have been in the system for three years now since (Alex Grinch has) been through that door. And now it’s just a matter of okay, we know it, now we’ve got to help the young guys know it. Specifically, in my group a Clayton Smith or Brendan Walker, (Marcus) Stripling, he just moved to a rush linebacker, so he’s still trying to learn a couple things. As older guys we gotta take it upon ourselves to bring young guys along and make sure they know the defense as well as we do. – Nik Bonitto

Sharing his knowledge will not only pay dividends in 2021 but for years after Bonitto is gone. For as long as Alex Grinch is the defensive coordinator for the Oklahoma Sooners defense, Bonitto helping the guys in his position group have a better grasp of what’s going on will pay dividends down the road.

As Nik Bonitto is getting set for what could be an award-laden 2021 season, he’s kept a grounded mentality thanks to his father, who’s encouraged him “to stay with that same hunger” when Bonitto didn’t have all of the preseason accolades. Taking the time and energy to impart knowledge to his younger teammates shows leadership and a grounded mentality.

The Sooners defense will continue to take steps forward in 2021 and could end up being elite. Nik Bonitto’s performance between the hashes will be a big reason for their ascension. However, what he does outside the lines with his teammates will be vital to the defense staying elite for years to come.

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.

[mm-video type=video id=01fakmc40wxhdt3w1dys playlist_id=01eqbz7cqqgxy50qwt player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fakmc40wxhdt3w1dys/01fakmc40wxhdt3w1dys-f254b3a87dd11b3b8eda77c16cc11225.jpg]

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.