COACH STRENGTH
OU middle linebacker Kenneth Murray is fired up about his new defensive line coaches.
ARLINGTON, Texas— Kenneth Murray crossed his fingers and explained his relationship with Brian Odom in the way he might talk about an old friend.
“Me and Coach Odom, he hasn't been here for long, but me and him are like this,” Murray said at Big 12 Media Days. “Like, tight.”
For Murray, who was named preseason Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, a coaching change at his position group wouldn' t seem ideal. But put in the broader context of OU's defensive woes, it was necessary.
Now the Oklahoma middle linebacker is telling anyone who will listen that his two “biggest blessings” heading into his junior season are Odom and new defensive coordinator Alex Grinch.
“That's important, especially when you've brought in so many new faces on that side of the ball,” head coach Lincoln Riley said. “It's part of those coaches' jobs to build the relationships, because they didn't recruit all those guys. That's not a given like it is with some of us who have been here the whole time.”
Odom was hired in January as Oklahoma' s in sidelinebackers coach. Here placed Tim Kish, who retired from coaching after seven seasons in Norman.
Odom, a former All-State running back at Ada High School, was a red shirt on OU's 2000 national championship team. He transferred to
Southeastern Oklahoma State for his final three seasons.
After beginning his career as a strength and conditioning coach at Arizona and Houston, Odom transitioned into defensive coaching roles at Washington State and Missouri.
He and Murray, OU's cowboy- collar wearing defensive captain, easily clicked.
“If I need something, `Coach Odom, what do you think about this on this play? Coach Odom, how can I get this better?' He's always able to let me know and show me,” Murray said. “Having
somebody like that in my corner, it's like Batman and Robin.”
Murray was a surprise pick for the conference's highest preseason defensive honor. The Sooners ranked 114th nationally and worst in the Big 12 in total defense last season. But the leaks that came with allowing 454 yards per game left plenty of tackling opportunities in the middle of OU's defense.
Murray led the Big 12 and finished third nationally with 155 tackles. Washington's Ben Burr-Kirven and Cal's Evan Weaver were the only players with more.
Eighteen percent of Murray's tackles came in one game, when he registered a school-record 28 tackles against Army.
“Last year he was much
more settled in and really had a strong year for us,” Riley said. “But I think there's very much a sense around the program, and from Kenneth individually, that we all know he can play a lot better.”
Murray is already looking a few weeks ahead — not just to the Sept. 1 season opening game against Houston — but to the days leading up to it. He's eager to game plan with Odom, to cut up film with him, to see things through the eyes of his new coach.
“I don't know it all,” Murray said. “I want to go out there and be a better player. I want you to teach me better techniques. I want you to teach me how to be a great player. I want you to help me get to the Butkus Award. I understand I don't have it all.”