Tag: R Mason Thomas

‘There’s always a story behind it’: Brent Venables on the low sack numbers

The lack of sacks is not a worry for Brent Venables and Co.

The 2023 season for the Oklahoma Sooners was about improvement. Across the board, there has been improvement in just about every area.

But one area that has not seen much improvement is the defense’s inability to create sacks. The Sooners had 28 sacks a season ago and currently sit at 18 sacks with one game remaining in the regular season.

Often sacks are used to determine if a defensive line has had a good season or not. However, while it’s a good thing to have a lot of sacks, it’s not always indicative of the play of a defensive line. Run defense can be more telling of a team’s ability up front.

But still, they’ve clearly taken a step back in the sacks department. A big reason is they just don’t have a true difference-maker on the defensive line.

Brent Venables spoke about some other reasons as to why that number might be as low as it is. “There’s always a story behind it,” Venables said. “I think the easy one is ‘Oh look this final stat sheet there are no sacks, they must suck.’ Or you just watch the game, and oh I see either we are not stopping the run, so it’s a lot of 3rd and short, or it’s 4th and short, so you aren’t going to get a lot of seven-step drops. Or maybe it’s a team that’s committed to running three-man routes and seven-man protections. Last I checked, seven against four is hard because people respect things that we do. We are not getting a bunch of five on four.”

Combine that with a lot of teams getting the ball out quickly and more athletic quarterbacks and it makes it harder to get home.

When you watch a game, the other team will generally tell you what they think about the Sooners. No, Oklahoma doesn’t have crazy sack numbers, but with teams keeping seven men into block, they are telling you how much they respect Oklahoma as a pass-rushing team.

There’s always more to the story than meets the eye.

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Oklahoma Sooners name captains for Week 12 against the BYU Cougars

The Oklahoma Sooners have announced who the captains will be for this week’s game against the BYU Cougars.

The Oklahoma Sooners head to Provo, UT for the first time in program history to take on the [autotag]BYU Cougars[/autotag]. The Sooners and Cougars have met only two times before.

The first meeting came in the 1994 Copper Bowl, which saw a 31-6 Cougars win in a decade that was one of the worst in program history. The other matchup occurred at the start of the 2009 season in Arlington, TX. It’s a game many Sooner fans remember. That 2009 team had a ton of national hype before the season, but Heisman winner [autotag]Sam Bradford[/autotag] got injured in that game and essentially missed the rest of the season. The Cougars won 14-13.

Now the Sooners head to Utah for their one and only meeting as conference foes. In the build up to the game, the Sooners have announced their captains as Oklahoma attempts to get on the board in the all-time series.

This week’s captains will be [autotag]Kendel Dolby[/autotag], [autotag]Cayden Green[/autotag], [autotag]Gavin Sawchuk[/autotag], [autotag]Jacob Sexton[/autotag], [autotag]Da’Jon Terry[/autotag] and [autotag]R Mason Thomas[/autotag].

It’s a young group with three freshmen and a sophomore. You also get a true freshman in that group.

Green has become a mainstay at guard since coming into the game in the Sooners Red River win in the Cotton Bowl.

Terry has been a force for the Sooners defensive line, eating up blocks to allow the linebackers to fly around. He’s been a key player in the Sooners’ goal-line stand success this season.

Thomas is someone who came in to the season with a lot of hype but has battled injuries for much of the season. He seems to finally be healthy getting his footing. [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] mentioned Thomas was their best EDGE defender in the offseason before getting injured.

Sexton has played as a role player on the offensive line since coming back from injury. But last week, with the injury to [autotag]Tyler Guyton[/autotag], Sexton got the start and played really well. Guyton’s status is one of the key injuries to watch this week, but Sexton could be in line for another start.

Sawchuk has really found a rhythm the last few weeks and has given Oklahoma stability at the running back position. He’s rushed for more than 100 yards in back-to-back games.

Dolby has been one of the mainstays on the defensive side of the ball. He’s taken over Justin Harrington’s role as the defensive back version of the cheetah and become an impact player as one of the Sooners’ best cover guys.

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.

‘He’s really coming into his own’: R Mason Thomas starting to feel good, making an impact

As the Sooners prepare for their final five games of the regular season, getting R Mason Thomas back couldn’t have come at a better time.

One of the bigger questions about the Oklahoma Sooners entering the 2023 season focused on the defensive side of the ball. Could that unit make the necessary improvements to help the Sooners become a contender?

Through seven games, Oklahoma is one of the best defenses in the nation, allowing just 16.1 points per game.

The biggest area of improvement has been the pass rush. Last season, the Sooners struggled to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks consistently, especially in Big 12 play.

In 2023, it’s been noticeably better. [autotag]Ethan Downs[/autotag] has already matched his sack total from 2022. Opposing quarterbacks have been under pressure more regularly and perhaps the Sooners haven’t even had their best defensive lineman fully available yet.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Brent Venables was asked about the defensive line and the play of R Mason Thomas. Thomas has been limited to just four games and hasn’t played more than 25 snaps in a game yet. Against UCF, Thomas played 19 snaps and had a season-high three pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. And perhaps, this is just the beginning.

“He was our best in fall camp until he got banged up,” Venables said. “But he’s starting to feel good. And I think the confidence piece, he’s actually banged up both ankles. And so it’s been really frustrating for him. And for us, he’s long, he’s got incredible speed and explosiveness, super twitchy. Plays with great power naturally. And he’s really coming into his own.

“So, hopefully, we can get him back on track. And it was good to see him have a little bit of success last week, and my expectation is to see that develop in a positive direction as we move forward.”

There isn’t a player on the Sooners defensive line who plays with the same speed and athleticism as R Mason Thomas. When fully healthy, he’ll add another dynamic edge rusher to the Sooners defensive end rotation that could help take their pass rush to another level.

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 John on Twitter @john9williams.

Attack Quinn Ewers: Keys to an Oklahoma Sooners win vs. the Texas Longhorns

Oklahoma faces off with Texas on Saturday in a big time matchup. Here are our 6 keys to the Sooners knocking off the Longhorns.

Oklahoma will have to up the level of play for its showdown with Texas. The Sooners have played some outstanding football throughout the season and have dominated nearly every team they played on one side of the ball or both.

Texas represents a significant leap into a new stratosphere regarding talent and the game’s overall magnitude.

Oklahoma will have to do some things this week that they’ve struggled to do all season. There are some major hurdles in winning the Red River Rivalry game this year.

Without further adieu, let’s look at what Oklahoma can do on Saturday and walk out of Dallas with the Golden Hat and first place in the conference.

The Power of Youth: 3 Sooners to watch on defense vs. Tulsa

There’s a youth movement happening on defense and these three defenders will be Sooners to keep an eye on come Saturday.

Saturday’s matchup against Tulsa marks Oklahoma’s last nonconference game before they embark on their final Big 12 season. The matchup means a lot for the state of Oklahoma with the Sooners playing as the road team this week.

The Sooners enter the game with a lot of momentum on defense after shutting down what was a top-20 offense in the nation last season.

After what happened in 2022 for OU, this season’s efforts have felt particularly inspired. Oklahoma is looking to improve on last year and reshape the narrative about how the Sooners get down defensively.

After two games, the Sooners hold the nation’s sixth-best scoring defense, holding teams to just 5.5 points per game. They are eighth in third-down defense, with opponents converting just 22 percent of third-down attempts. It’s early, but through two games, it’s something to be proud of.

Tulsa may not be as talented as SMU, but their head coach is an offensive mind that Brent Venables knows all too well. The two coached under Bob Stoops for nearly a decade.

Oklahoma should be able to win this game fairly stress-free, but building their confidence and depth are also high on the list of priorities.

We believe these three players are names to watch come Saturday.

Up Next: 3 Sooners to watch on Defense

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Report Card: Defense flies high, offense stuck in a rut in 28-11 win over SMU

In our report card for Oklahoma’s performance against SMU, the defense leads the way with the highest marks.

The offense didn’t put its best foot forward in the Sooners 28-11 win over SMU. However, the defense kept Oklahoma in control until the Sooners were able to put together a couple of late scoring drives to seal the win.

Oklahoma knows it will have to play better as the season wears on. They’ll need to improve in all three phases to be in the mix for a Big 12 title berth in November. But for this game, it was enough.

Instead of a shootout, we got a game where neither team even scratched 40 points.

Here’s how each position group graded out in the 28-11 win over SMU.

3 defensive keys to a Sooners win against the SMU Mustangs

Oklahoma’s defense will have a talented offense to stop come Saturday. Take a look at three keys for the defense to be successful vs. SMU.

Saturday evening in Norman should provide the Oklahoma Sooners with a mini benchmark to test their defense’s off-season improvements. Instead of a defunct and rebuilding Arkansas State team, their defense will have to take on an SMU team with playmakers at every skill position and a veteran offensive line.

It won’t be a walk in the park, and Oklahoma’s defense knows this because their head coach knows this. Earlier this week, Brent Venables addressed the media and had this to say.

“The challenge is going to be greater this week for obvious reasons,” Venables said. “You’re looking at a team that’s probably got more depth and certainly got more experience. Arkansas State was a very young team. (SMU) has 15 seniors starting between the offense and the defense. That’s a bunch of seniors.”

SMU’s offense has multiple playmakers capable of giving Oklahoma problems. Still, the Sooners’ team speed and their improvement in overall talent can shine through if they play smart.

There are a handful of things Oklahoma can’t allow to happen if they want to win this game. Here are three defensive keys to a Sooners win Saturday night in Norman.

Up Next: 3 Keys to the Game

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Media weighs in on Oklahoma’s breakout player, toughest game in 2023

OU and College Football Media Personalities weigh in on which Sooners will have a breakout season for Oklahoma in 2023. Which game will be the toughest this season?

The 2023 college football season is nigh upon us. The Oklahoma Sooners open the season with the Arkansas State Red Wolves coming to town.

A new year creates new opportunities for players on both sides of the ball to experience breakout seasons.

While depth was an issue a year ago, the work of this coaching staff on the recruiting trail and through the transfer portal have helped create competition at a number of spots. The Sooners feel good about the “competitive depth” they’re carrying into the season across the board.

Oklahoma released its depth chart ahead of week one, which provided some answers to the position battles they’ve been working through this year. But how will that depth reveal itself on gameday and which players will experience breakout seasons in 2023?

We’ve gathered the opinions of a number of media personalities from across Oklahoma Sooners coverage. Here’s who they think will have a breakout year and which game will be the toughest in 2023.

From my days covering the Dallas Cowboys for Inside The Star, this has been one of my favorite pieces to create.

Hope you enjoy.

Reggie Grimes hopes to regain that magic from early last season

Reggie Grimes has become the forgotten man on Oklahoma’s defensive line, but he still wants to make an impact in 2023.

There may not have been an Oklahoma Sooners get off to a hotter start than [autotag]Reggie Grimes[/autotag] a season ago. Grimes had four sacks and five tackles for loss in the first two games.

The only problem is he finished the season with 4.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss. Grimes told reporters the new depth is going to help not only him but the position as a whole this upcoming season.

“There’s not a guy who is going to go out there and play 80 plays because we don’t have any depth,” Grimes said. “We have depth now. Everyone can get a bigger piece of the pie.”

Grimes is someone who’s been lost in the shuffle when you talk about the key contributors at the defensive end position. The additions of Rondell Bothroyd and Trace Ford, the development of R Mason Thomas, and the signing of five-star prospect Adepoju Adebawore have added what the coaches have termed, “competitive depth.”

Last season, there was no depth, and that might be why he fizzled out as the season went on.

He said while this is the closest the defense line has been since he arrived in Norman, it still means a ton to him to be the starter.

“On one end, you are competing against the guy, but on the other, you just love these guys so much,” Grimes said. “I know they’ll have my back if I need anything, and I’ll have their back if they need anything. You want to be the starter, you want to be the dude, but the main thing, you can’t let your brother’s success mean it’s a failure to you. They’re your brothers, so you have to celebrate that and respond with something.”

The question now is how big of a role Grimes will play. Could he be a starter for Oklahoma’s defensive line? Is he someone who can be a rotational player who plays well if you keep him fresh? I think he can and add more depth to a defensive line that was missing it a year ago.

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Adepoju Adebawore among top freshmen in best position for a key role in 2023

Oklahoma’s Adepoju Adebawore included among freshmen best positioned for key roles in 2023.

Last season the [autotag]Oklahoma Sooners[/autotag] had several weak spots along the defense. Among the most noticeable is the area where you need to be your strongest; the defensive line.

The Sooners coaching staff attacked that weakness this offseason, bringing in transfer additions like Rondell Bothroyd and Trace Ford to help. They also made a splash in the signing of five-star EDGE [autotag]Adepoju Adebawore[/autotag]. Adebawore is someone who has shown flashes throughout camp and just looks the part.

Bleacher Report included Adebawore among top freshmen in the best position for a key role in 2023.

[autotag]Rondell Bothroyd[/autotag] is a transfer expected to do big things, [autotag]Ethan Downs[/autotag] should at least begin the season with the first team, and [autotag]R Mason Thomas[/autotag] has the most potential of any returning Sooner pass-rusher. But Adebawore is on a different athletic plain, and none of the aforementioned guys really have established themselves as can’t-miss starters. Adebawore is a relentless pursuer of quarterbacks, and while there’s going to be a learning curve, the 6-foot-4, 240-pound former 5-star who was the No. 11-ranked overall player will have a chance to prove himself right away. Look for him to be starting by the middle of the season. Venables has a reputation of developing elite edge-rushers, and Adebawore looks like the first crown jewel for the coach at his new place of employment. – Brad Shepard, Bleacher Report

Adebawore has a great chance of being a first round when it’s all said and done. He has the size and athleticism that NFL defensive coordinators covet off the edge. He’s yet to take a snap at the collegiate level, so there’s a lot of growing that has to take place. However, the early returns have been promising. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Adebawore carve out a significant role along the Sooners’ defensive line.

Adebawore is one of several new additions that have fans excited for the future. It’s now up to Adebawore and defensive ends coach [autotag]Miguel Chavis[/autotag] to bring out the best in the five-star EDGE addition so he can live up to those expectations.

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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.