By Adam Bendiksen
Game Notes:
Only one word describes this contest -- sloppy. The Sooners again lost QB Sam Bradford to a shoulder injury (the same shoulder, on the second possession), and Colt McCoy was knocked down 17 times. Oklahoma committed five turnovers and had a grand total of negative 16 rushing yards, while Texas committed three turnovers and didn't even make it to three hundred yards. On the bright side, both defenses played great ball and the kickers were perfect. Overall it was an entertaining game despite rather feeble numbers.
College: Oklahoma -- Conference: Big 12
TE - Jermaine Gresham, #18 - 6' 4.5" - 264 - 4.80 - 2010: Out for the season and has already claimed to be going pro next year. Wish him the best.
DE - Auston English, #33 - 6' 2.5" - 241 - 4.70 - 2010: Typical game for English; played well but not spectacularly. OLB prospect on the next level with smarts and toughness. Solid quickness and decent athleticism, but is not very fast and lacks tremendous burst. Has great instincts and plays above his measurables. Solid pass rusher and is good on stunts. Competes hard vs. the run but is too small to take on OL’s head on. Works hard and is steadily improving. GRADE: Somewhat Positive
QB - Sam Bradford, #14 - 6' 3.3" - 208 - 4.80 - 2011: Injured his throwing shoulder again in this game which leaves his draft status extremely clouded. Was regarded as the top overall pick going into this season, and probably would have been if he came out in 2009. Now he likely has slid out of the first round due to questions regarding his health, so its 50-50 that he’ll go pro in 2010. GRADE: Incomplete
DT - Gerald McCoy, #93 - 6' 4.8" - 299 - 5.00 - 2011: Monster prospect vying with Nebraska’s Ndamukong Suh to be the first overall DL chosen, if not the first overall player. Only a junior and is still growing into his body and improving, which is a scary thought. Looks to be about 15 pounds heavier than last season, and has shown greatly improved stamina. Might have the quickest first step of any interior lineman in college and is playing a more physical brand of football this season. Has everything, including size, athletic ability, quickness, power, long arms, great balance and fine instincts. Blows up the run, crushes the pocket vs. the pass, sheds blocks, makes tackles and sacks, reads screens and pursues to the whistle. You get the picture. GRADE: Very Positive; certain Top 15 pick.
HB - DeMarco Murray, #7 - 5' 11.5" - 198 - 4.50 - 2011: Talented RB who’s injury prone; hurt again in this contest and had to be helped off the field. Did return to action, but wasn’t running with much authority. At his best, he’s a graceful athlete with good vision, acceleration and speed. Usually runs with good body lean and can break tackles. He has improved dramatically this season as an inside runner. Solid blocker and a very good receiver who’s dangerous in the open field. Has the skills and the instincts to be a complete back, but just can’t seem to shake the nagging injuries. Only a junior; hopefully he’ll continue to grow and put the injuries behind him. GRADE: Neutral
OT - Trent Williams, #71 - 6' 4.7" - 308 - 4.75 - 2010: Consummate LT prospect and probable Top 10 pick, though he was beaten for a sack in this contest. Has all the measurables, including size, athleticism, strength, long arms and great feet. Quick into his pass sets and can both absorb a bullrush and stone the speed rush. Has a low, strong base and very strong hands, and can mirror and slide. Aware to stunts and is benefitting from better play by improving players around him in those situations. Good run blocker who can both muscle & maul and grab & turn. Quick off the ball, can run and get to the second level and execute open-field blocks. GRADE: Very Positive
FB - Matt Clapp, #34 - 6' 2.5" - 234 - 4.90 - 2010: Didn’t get as much playing time in this contest as in some other games, but is an NFL caliber blocker who hits hard, gets movement in close quarters and can block well in space. Good athlete who really sticks to his man. Plays on special teams and loves contact. Not used as a receiver, a critical skill for an NFL fullback, but has the tools and work ethic to develop in this capacity. GRADE: Positive
DE - Jeremy Beal, #44 - 6' 2.5" - 253 - 4.80 - 2011: Improving player who is being used more and more in zone drops and as a QB spy (many times in this contest), which is ideal for him because his size will force him to be a LB on the next level. Good athlete who runs better than he times and has shown good agility. Explosive penetrator who is very strong for his size. Hustles and pursues. Can get driven by bigger linemen, but is not asked to play head-up much. Playmaker who should stay in school and maximize his talents.
GRADE: Positive
CB - Dominique Franks, #1 - 5' 11.5" - 189 - 4.50 - 2011: Natural cover corner who played a bit more aggressively in this game than he’s shown in the past. Came up, forced the run and tackled with more authority. Usually plays off coverage, but has the instincts for it. Loose hips and the ability to close quickly. Returns punts, but had a critical muff in this game. Needs to stay in school and mature as a player; has the tools. GRADE: Neutral.
HB - Chris Brown, #29 - 5' 10.5" - 210 - 4.60 - 2010: Solid RB is technically the backup to Murray, but is the more reliable back. Not flashy, just effective. Runs behind his pads and breaks tackles, and ends his runs going forward. Prefers to run inside, but has enough speed to get outside if necessary. Runs with both patience and vision, and gets downfield quickly when he plants and takes it to the hole. Has subtle but effective moves, and generates positive yardage. Good receiver who is better in the open field than advertised. Suited for a zone-blocking system. GRADE: Somewhat Positive
LB - Keenan Clayton, #22 - 6' 1.5" - 220 - 4.70 - 2010: 4-3 weakside or situational prospect who lacks the size and strength to take on blockers but displays athleticism and playmaking abilities. Excellent in pass coverage and doesn’t get beaten for big yardage. Makes the occasional INT and tackles very well after the catch. Runs sideline to sideline in pursuit but doesn’t take on blocks and can be buried by bigger linemen. Plays on special teams. GRADE: Somewhat Positive
CB - Brian Jackson, #2 - 6' 0.5" - 200 - 4.60 - 2010: Has made a marked improvement this season and is moving up the draftboards. Big, physical, athletic, hard-hitting corner who matches up well with bigger NFL wideouts. Very aggressive vs. the run and is a good tackler. Prefers to play tight, bump style coverage but is improving in zones. Has decent hips and quickness, and good long speed. Made interceptions in each of the last four games, including three inside Oklahoma’s ten yard line. Looking forward to seeing his combine production. GRADE: Very Positive
College: Texas -- Conference: Big 12
QB - Colt McCoy, #12 - 6' 2.0" - 209 - 4.85 - 2010: Oh Colt, where have you gone? Nagging questions I had about McCoy last season have only been amplified in a lackluster 2009. While he has all the intangibles, including instincts, toughness, a willingness to run and the ability to rise to the occasion in the second half, there are too many questions for me to consider him a starting NFL quarterback, let alone a first rounder. He does not appear to have a strong arm, his mechanics are sloppy and if he gets pressure in his face, he struggles to complete even a check-down throw, problems which were all evident in this contest. I want to root for him and will be watching him closely, but the jury is still out. GRADE: Neutral
LB - Sergio Kindle, #2 - 6' 3.0" - 239 - 4.70 - 2010: Yet another high-profile prospect having a sub-par 2009, though he appears to be turning the corner. Converted to DE this season and has struggled, but was used more as a stand-up guy in this contest, and his production improved dramatically. Tremendous natural athlete with a lightning-quick first step, long arms and very strong hands. Great balance and agility, and can run and change directions at top speed. Can cover backs and TE’s, and can hold the point vs. OLs. Is at his best going forward, where his explosiveness is too much for most collegiate blockers. Big hitter and good tackler. Will be a play-making 3-4 OLB at the next level.
GRADE: Positive
OT - Adam Ulatoski, #74 - 6' 7.0" - 310 - 5.30 - 2010: Most improved player on the Longhorn’s roster appears to have solidified a mid-round grade. Good size with a decent wingspan, and pretty good feet. Solid in his drops and has strong arms and hands. Quick off the ball and can run a bit. Solid functional strength and is a good cut-blocker. Gets some movement off the line, and is a scrapper. Occasionally makes bad reads. More of a RT prospect. GRADE: Somewhat Positive
DE - Lamarr Houston, #33 - 6' 1.0" - 300 - 4.80 - 2010: Good athlete who has worked hard in his transition from RB to DT (yes, that’s correct). Has bulked up and added considerable strength while not sacrificing his good quickness and agility. Had his best game as a Longhorn and ate the Sooner’s inexperienced line alive. Not built to two-gap but can penetrate the backfield and disrupt blocking schemes, and pursues all over the field. Still plays FB in short yardage from time to time. Intriguing player who may not be drafted, but should make a camp based on his versatility and potential upside. His great work ethic and team-first attitude doesn’t hurt either. GRADE: Somewhat Positive
LB - Roddrick Muckelroy, #38 - 6' 1.0" - 230 - 4.70 - 2010: Nothing special here, but not bad, either. Solid athlete who moves well in space, and displays decent instincts. Good tackler who is around the ball. Not very fast and also not very big; can be handled by one blocker. Decent in his zone drops. Good special-teamer, which is likely his ticket to an NFL camp. GRADE: Neutral
WR - Jordan Shipley, #8 - 5' 11.5" - 195 - 4.50 - 2010: Terrific college player who may have benefited by coming out last year. Has a bull’s-eye on his back every game, and his production hasn’t been consistent. Not very big, and not overly quick or fast either. Does everything asked and always plays hard. Makes all the easy catches and great ones, too. Goes over the middle and takes big hits. Doesn’t fumble and blocks till the whistle. Great college returner. Questions, though. Does his speed translate to the NFL return game and more importantly, can he get off the bump in the pros? GRADE: Neutral
S - Earl Thomas, #12 - 5' 9.5" - 197 - 4.60 - 2012: Terrific sophomore who has improved tremendously and will continue to do so. Not the biggest guy, but has some Bob Sanders in him. Closes hard on the run and is a good hitter and tackler. Much improved in the passing game; makes reads quickly and gets a great jump on the ball. Had a big pick late in this game to help preserve the victory. Adept at man coverage in the slot. Shows up all over the field. Looking forward to watching him on Saturdays, at least for one more year. GRADE: Very Positive
C - Chris Hall, #71 - 6' 3.5" - 300 - 5.20 - 2010: Tough, scrappy overachiever with limited athletic tools. Strong with a wide base, but vulnerable to second moves. Gets some push in the run game, but tends to fall off blocks. Likes to cut. Can run a bit in the open field, but not consistent reaching the second level or executing blocks in space. Battler who never quits. GRADE: Neutral
K - Hunter Lawrence, #15 - 5' 11.5" - 185 - 5.00 - 2010: Live, strong leg. Ball gets up quickly, and has nice range. Solid on kickoffs. Made all his kicks in this game. GRADE: Neutral
OG - Charlie Tanner, #52 - 6' 3.5" - 305 - 5.30 - 2010: Has matured to become Texas’ best lineman. Ideal tools for OG, including strength, quickness and decent athleticism. Quick into his pass sets and plays with a wide base and leverage. Strong hands and locks on well, and shows the ability to recover when initially beaten. Quick off the ball as a run blocker, and has some pop. Good cut blocker who plays well in space. Gets to the second level and can run. Works hard to finish his blocks. GRADE: Positive
Other Players of Note:
Oklahoma redshirt freshman QB Landry Jones, while no Sam Bradford, has shown talent during his forced on-field stints and will be on the radar. Junior DT Adrian Taylor and sophomore LB Travis Lewis both appear to have NFL futures, while senior captain LB Ryan Reynolds continues his comeback from a series of devastating injuries -- don’t count him out. Texas freshman WR Marquise Goodwin appeared to be the best athlete on the field, while sophomore RB Fozzy Whittaker brings a big-play dimension to the backfield. Senior DT Ben Alexander backed up Roy Miller for three years but may have played his way onto NFL radars, and Sophomore LB Keenan Robinson appears to be the real deal.
