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Oklahoma GameDay: X-Factors vs. Kent State

Trying to develop more depth ... Dealing with tempo ... Connecting deep ... Defensive line rotation.

John E. Hoover

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John Hoover: Depth

It’s going to be hot again on Saturday. Not quite as hot as it was last week for the UTEP game — it’s a 6 p.m. kickoff, after all — but still hot. Oklahoma played 68 players last week, including what coach Ted Roof surmised was “low 30s” on defense (the official participation chart counted 34). The total includes 10 true freshmen: WR Jayden Gibson, RB Jovantae Barnes, CB Gentry Williams, DE R Mason Thomas, DL Gracen Halton, LB Jaren Kanak, OL Jacob Sexton, OL Jake Taylor, TE Jason Llewellyn and WR Gavin Freeman were all counted officially. If the score starts to get out of hand against Kent State, expect to see even more freshmen this week as the coaching staff tries to develop more depth.

Gentry Williams' end zone interception.
Gentry Williams' end zone interception :: BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN-USA TODAY NETWORK

Ryan Chapman: Tempo

Oklahoma fans got their first look at Jeff Lebby’s fast-paced attack last Saturday, and now it’ll be the defense’s turn to manage the tempo. Kent State is going to try to play fast, meaning the defense will have to be on top of getting immediately lined up and staying on top of their assignments. Both defensive coordinator Ted Roof and his players maintained that they’ll be up for the challenge this week, however, as going up against Lebby’s offense all offseason has conditioned the defense to play fast.

FB - Reggie Grimes, UTEP Miners
Reggie Grimes :: BRYAN TERRY / THE OKLAHOMAN-USA TODAY NETWORK

Josh Callaway: The Deep Ball

Kent State really struggled to defend the pass in their season-opening loss to Washington last Saturday. Oklahoma offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby is on record as stating how much he loves Dillon Gabriel's deep ball. This seems like a match made in heaven for OU to light up the scoreboard on Saturday night. There is little to no reason not to expect Marvin Mims, Jalil Farooq, Theo Wease and others to tear up the Golden Flashes' secondary and start to create some serious momentum going into some of the more difficult games on the schedule. The Sooner offense showed last week they can work methodically down the field. Now could be a great time to showcase the home run plays in their arsenal.

Marvin Mims
Marvin Mims :: BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN-USA TODAY NETWORK

Ross Lovelace: Defensive Line Rotation

The defense has seen tempo all summer going against Oklahoma’s offense, but another team is always different. The Sooners should still handle business against Kent State, but the Golden Flashes definitely present a unique challenge. Against Kent State, the Sooners defensive line depth is going be tested. Oklahoma rotated quite a few players on the line a weekend ago, and it’s reasonable to expect the same on Saturday. Because of the heat and tempo of the game, the defensive line will have to rotate more than most units in between series and snaps. If Oklahoma can rotate in and out without a drop-off on the field, the Sooners should take care of business.

Jordan Kelley (bottom) and Jeffery Johnson
Jordan Kelley (bottom) and Jeffery Johnson :: BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN-USA TODAY NETWORK
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John E. Hoover
JOHN E. HOOVER

John is an award-winning journalist whose work spans five decades in Oklahoma, with multiple state, regional and national awards as a sportswriter at various newspapers. During his newspaper career, John covered the Dallas Cowboys, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma State Cowboys, the Arkansas Razorbacks and much more. In 2016, John changed careers, migrating into radio and launching a YouTube channel, and has built a successful independent media company, DanCam Media. From there, John has written under the banners of Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Fan Nation and a handful of local and national magazines while hosting daily sports talk radio shows in Oklahoma City, Tulsa and statewide. John has also spoken on Capitol Hill in Oklahoma City in a successful effort to put more certified athletic trainers in Oklahoma public high schools. Among the dozens of awards he has won, John most cherishes his national "Beat Writer of the Year" from the Associated Press Sports Editors, Oklahoma's "Best Sports Column" from the Society of Professional Journalists, and Two "Excellence in Sports Medicine Reporting" Awards from the National Athletic Trainers Association. John holds a bachelor's degree in Mass Communications from East Central University in Ada, OK. Born and raised in North Pole, Alaska, John played football and wrote for the school paper at Ada High School in Ada, OK. He enjoys books, movies and travel, and lives in Broken Arrow, OK, with his wife and two kids.

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