| Scouting the Nation – Week 5 | ||||
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Top 25 | CFI's Week In Review | 3rd & 10 Scout's Notebook: Jerrod Johnson | Clemson @ Miami Red River RivalryDeMarco Murray Leads the WayOklahoma senior tailback DeMarco Murray had a solid day against a very motivated Texas defense, rushing for 115 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries (4.6) and adding four receptions for 31 yards through the air. He still has too many negative/no-gain carries for my liking and is more of a straight-line runner, but this was as good as I’ve seen Murray run the football. Murray can be very explosive, scoring from 18 and 20 yards out. His first touchdown came on the opening drive out of the I-formation. Murray followed his fullback and once he hit the outside, used his burst to get into the end zone. Murray’s second score came in the fourth quarter and put the Sooners up 28-10. This was as athletic a run as you will see; the senior basically hopped five times along the sidelines before flipping into the end zone—when he reached the five-yard line it looked like there was no way he was getting in. Just as important he flashed more patience and cut-back ability than we have seen from him in the past. Murray made tacklers miss and used a spin move to avoid a defender. He’s still at his best when he gets to the perimeter with a head of steam, but flashed more versatility as runner in the old Cotton Bowl than expected. He also displayed incredible hands and concentration in making a fourth-down reception along the sideline which, like his touchdown run, needed to be seen in slow motion replay to be believed. Junior Linebackers
For Texas, it was Keenan Robinson (19 tackles, 10 solo) and Emmanuel Acho (17 tackles, nine solo), who were involved on almost every play. Acho recorded 4.5 tackles for loss, a sack and forced fumble, making an impact in Oklahoma’s backfield. It should be noted that OU’s offense ran 93 plays (to 66 for Texas), which helped the Longhorn defenders stuff the stat sheet to some extent. Stars of Tomorrow: OklahomaWhile the Texas defensive backs were making sure Ryan Broyles (five receptions for 36 yards) didn’t beat them, true freshman wide out Kenny Stills made them pay, catching five passes for a team-high 78 yards, including a 32-yard scoring strike. He was covered well on his touchdown grab but displayed great concentration making the catch over the defender. On the first offensive play for Texas, true freshman safety Tony Jefferson made a tackle in the backfield for a two-yard loss on a wide receiver screen. The kid is a playmaker. He is a reliable open-field tackle, a tremendous athlete and a big hitter. He finished with nine tackles and added a quarterback hurry. Tom Wort, a red-shirt freshman, matched Lewis with 10 tackles to lead Oklahoma. The middle linebacker registered two tackles for loss and a sack for good measure. Both of these kids are still learning and will be a big reason why the Sooner defense should be improved by season’s end. Stars of Tomorrow: TexasThe player that stood out the most on the Longhorn defense was junior defensive tackle Kheeston Randall, who made six tackles and had 2.5 tackles for loss. He is able to get pressure on the quarterback and disrupt the running game. At times, with his strong push and quickness he was nearly unblockable. Florida @ AlabamaDre Kirkpatrick Does It Again
True sophomore cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick is becoming an interception machine. As noted against Penn State and then again against Arkansas, the kid has a great feel for leaving his area/man to make a play on the ball. Playing zone and covering a receiver further down the field, Kirkpatrick quickly left his man to jump on a pass thrown underneath for an interception. Quarterbacks must be aware of where the Alabama coverman is on each and every play. He was exposed at times against Arkansas, but the rangy corner has the look of a future first-round pick. The 6’3” cornerback also made a great open-field tackle on Florida’s all-purpose sensation Trey Burton on a screen pass. He finished with five tackles, including a tackle for loss—he’s a versatile player who can be a force against the run and the pass. Gator Growing Pains“He did (develop) during training camp,” Urban Meyer said of talented free safety Will Hill. “I’d say he’s still not where we need him to be at the free safety position. At times, he has played well, but we have high expectations for him.” Hill completely whiffed on an attempted tackle on Alabama’s Trent Richardson in the red zone…falling well short of expectations. If he’s going to be a big-time player, he’s got to make that play. “Personally, I would say, for his ability level, average,” was how Meyer described his progress. “On special teams, he does things well. He got graded out 100 percent the week before. It’s just inconsistency, I guess, is the best thing (to say). Quarterback John Brantley had a rough night as well, completing just 16 of 31 passes for 202 yards, with two interceptions and no touchdowns. Here’s what Brantley learned: “Being firm in the pocket. With the two interceptions I threw, I had happy feet. That’s the one thing I really learned from this weekend. I need to work on that.” He has a big arm, made some nice throws down the field and is a little bit more athletic than he’s given credit for, but Brantley was clearly flustered on the road against Alabama’s defense. For the season his numbers are pretty average: 902 yards, 61.4 completion percentage, six touchdowns and three interceptions. A year ago, as Tim Tebow’s understudy, he had seven touchdown passes (no interceptions) in just 48 attempts (97 fewer than he has this season). Yet, he says his confidence is far from going down. “It’s gone up,” Brantley said this week. “I’m starting to get a feel for the flow of the game. It’s definitely gone up. You could say I’m more comfortable, and it makes the decisions easier.” We shall see.
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Oklahoma’s defense was led by junior weakside linebacker 
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