Grinch says defensive consistency is problem
NORMAN — While OU's defense closed last week's win over Texas strong, Sooners defensive coordinator Alex Grinch said his group has to find a way to play better in the fourth quarter.
OU has been outscored 45- 17 in the fourth quarter this season, including 31-0 in the final eight minutes of regulation.
“What's the facts? The facts are that maybe we're doing too much looking at the scoreboard,” Grinch said. “But there are stretches of time — long stretches of time — where we're almost guilty of being a pretty good defense. Like, screw around and do it much longer, they're actually going to call us good.
“But we failed to get that done. It's one thing to talk about it, and believe me, we talk about it a lot. … There's
a lot of good but it's not good enough.”
Grinch said late- game performance has been a particular emphasis in recent practices.
“It's a work in progress to put it mildly,” Grinch said. “The consistency continues to escape us.”
Winfrey `can affect the football game'
Perrion Winfrey came to OU from junior college as a highly touted interior defensive lineman and has started to show why recently, including against Texas where he had two tackles, helping out on a sack, a quarterback hurry and blocked a kick.
“You saw a guy that can affect the football game,” Grinch said. “And we expect him to.
“When you take junior college guys, there's pressure on you to make sure you hit. You've gotta hit.”
Winfrey isn't the only junior college defensive lineman contributing for the Sooners. Josh Ellison has become a more consistent presence up front as well.
“We've been able to rotate in the interior defensive line — probably even more so than a year ago,” Grinch said. “So, been quite pleased over the four-game stretch, not just this past weekend.”
Terry credits Cain for pass rushing success
After recording six sacks against Texas, the Sooners are tied for no. 11 nationally with 12 sacks this season — No. 18 in sacks per game.
Eleven different players have at least helped on a sack.
Rush linebacker JonMichael Terry credited first-year outside linebackers/defensive ends coach Jamar Cain for the Sooners' defensive pressure.
“Really, what Coach Cain has brought to our room is perfecting our pass rush technique, perfecting our technique in the little things,” Terry said. “We know the system, know the defense.
“He knows so much more than what the players do. Every day it's just trying to absorb that knowledge from him and listening to him and applying those things on the field.”
Sooners' OL making progress
OU's offensive line struggled plenty early in the season.
While the group was hit hard by COVID- 19 testing and contact tracing in the lead-up to the season, guard Tyrese Robinson said the issues went deeper.
“I just feel like our mentality — our mentality approaching practice — we just didn't really attack it like that,” Robinson said. “I feel like I was out of shape the first three games or whatever. I'm improving on that and trying to drop some weight.”
Robinson said as the offensive line gets to be around each other more — face-to-face, both inside the football facility and outside — the chemistry continues to build and the line continues to get into better shape.
That was something he said was missing early in the season.
“We know our standards. We know what we're capable of,” Robinson said. “We weren't playing to our full potential but I feel like this Texas week we took a good step.”