Tag: Phil Paea

‘It feels like Christmas morning’: Todd Bates can’t wait to show off Sooners defensive line

The Sooners DL struggled last season, but Todd Bates thinks with the work they put in the offseason things will improve the defense.

Last season the defensive line struggled to stop the run or rush the passer with any consistency. It lacked what the staff calls competitive depth, especially right up the middle.

The interior defensive line is coached by [autotag]Todd Bates[/autotag]. He came to the [autotag]Oklahoma Sooners[/autotag] with [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] from the Clemson Tigers.

While at Clemson, he developed some great defensive linemen, helping them become productive NFL linemen.

The interior defensive line should be the perfect example of how poor the last staff was at developing. It also should be an example of how they didn’t recruit well enough.

To win against the “big boys,” you need some 300-pound guys in the middle. That was something that just wasn’t there a year ago.

“Last year, just coming in, we only had one guy who weighed over 300 pounds when I got here,” Bates said. “When we pulled up to the door. Schmitty doing the work that he does with guys improved that number to three last season. Well, we’re going to camp this year with five.”

Those five guys are [autotag]Da’Jon Terry[/autotag], [autotag]Isaiah Coe[/autotag], [autotag]Phil Paea[/autotag], [autotag]Jordan Kelley[/autotag] and [autotag]Kevin Gilliam Jr.[/autotag] Two of which are brand new to the team. Gilliam is back healthy this season.

Even the guys who aren’t at 300 pounds have made a lot of progress as well. “[autotag]Gracen Halton[/autotag], he started at 267 when he arrived here, he’s up to 285 now,” Bates said. “[autotag]Jonah Laulu[/autotag] last year when he was at defensive end, he weighed 272. He’s already up to 290.”

Why is that so important?

“One of the main things that keep guys from getting movement in the middle on this earth is girth,” Bates said. “We finally got some girth.”

It’s not just that. The Sooners added competitive depth with some transfers coming in to make an immediate impact to add to the natural progression from the players who were already here. Bates can’t wait to show them off.

“We’ve gotten so many players that have gotten better and improved,” Bates said. “So many new guys as well, it feels like Christmas morning to my twins almost. You are going to unwrap some presents, and you can’t wait to show everybody what you’ve got.”

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Oklahoma among Hearland College Sports top 5 Big 12 defensive lines

The Oklahoma Sooners defensive line was included among Heartland College Sports top five units in the Big 12 heading into 2023.

The Oklahoma Sooners coaching staff has worked since January on improving a defensive line that was so poor a year ago.

The Sooners lacked depth, talent, and athleticism in all areas of the defensive line which resulted in having one of the worst run defenses in the country and a pass rush that couldn’t get home in 2022.

But things look to be changing in Norman after adding five-star P.J. Adebawore and transfers Rondell Bothroyd, Da’Jon Terry, Davon Sears, Phil Paea, Trace Ford, and Jacob Lacey.

With those additions in mind, Heartland College Sports’ Bryan Clinton put the Sooners’ defensive line No. 3 in the Big 12 behind the Cincinnati Bearcats and the Texas Longhorns.

Among many issues that the Sooners faced defensively in 2022, the defensive line just wasn’t good enough down the stretch. OU allowed 212.6 ypg rushing in Big 12 play, and ranked dead last in the conference in sacks, with 13 in Big 12 play. So, how is Oklahoma third on our list? An absolute haul in the transfer portal. Brent Venables added six defensive linemen from the portal, all of which are projected to make a major impact on the unit: DE Trace Ford (Oklahoma State), DT Davon Sears (Texas State), DT DaJon Terry (Tennessee), DE Rondell Bothroyd (Wake Forest), DT Jacob Lacey (Notre Dame), and DT Phillip Paea (Utah State). The Sooners also add five-star true freshman DE P.J. Adeboware and expect big things from returnees like Jonah Laulu, Ethan Downs, and R Mason Thomas. This unit it lightyears ahead of where it was a season ago, and we expect it to be one of the most productive DL units in the Big 12. – Clinton, Heartland Sports

While I think the additions are big and will lead to a better defensive line, I don’t know if I would rank them that high just yet.

They have to prove it on the field because right now, I don’t know if they have any game-changers. I’m high on R Mason Thomas and Adebawore, but they are both unproven guys.

At defensive tackle, they have a lot more depth than last year, but is it quality depth? I think you’ll see four or five guys rotate in there and not see much of a drop-off.

No one is elite, but at least some consistency should help the run defense. Could a guy like Gracen Halton emerge to be a difference maker against the run and as a pass rusher? Can guys like Jordan Kelley and Isaiah Coe take the next step in their development? 

This is a defensive line that should feast on a poor offensive line and at least hold up to better offensive lines. Something that should lead to a much-improved defensive side of the ball in 2023.

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Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on Twitter @JaronSpor.