Dual threat QB a challenge for Sooners

By John Shinn
The Norman Transcript

October 04, 2008 01:54 am

— WACO, Texas — Nothing frustrates a defense more than an offense led by a mobile quarterback.
The threat an agile signal-caller represents can make defenders tentative and indecisive. It’s the exact opposite of the seek-and-destroy mentality they want to have on every snap.
How well top-ranked Oklahoma’s defense is able to handle the pressure Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin presents will be the biggest factor in today’s 11:30 a.m. meeting at Floyd Casey Stadium.
“It’s another one of those games where we have our hands full,” cornerback Dominique Franks said. “We have to stay focused on our jobs.”
Mobile quarterbacks have that effect on defenders. The ability to avoid a pass rush causes defensive backs to stay in coverage longer than normal. Defensive linemen feel the frustration because the target isn’t stationary and end up doing more chasing than attacking.
That’s why the mobile quarterback has become the wave of the future from high school, to college and the NFL. Every team is looking for a quarterback that can stress a defense with his arm and legs.
Griffin is a better athlete than most, but he doesn’t present something the Sooners haven’t seen fairly regularly over the years. In fact, four of OU’s last seven games dating back to last season have been against dual threat quarterbacks.
Oklahoma State, Missouri and West Virginia all had quarterbacks who were dual threats last season. Washington’s Jake Locker was in that same vein this season.
“Our players have become more familiar and comfortable when playing against it,” OU coach Bob Stoops said. “At least, for the most part, we have felt that way.”
The Sooners have fared pretty well in those games for a variety of reasons.
The first has been their ability to play with discipline. A quarterback who can extend the play can cause mental lapses and exploit them. But OU hasn’t allowed that to happen very often.
The second has been their ability to get to the quarterback and stop the run without doing much blitzing. That’s a key because rushing six or seven guys and not getting to the quarterback creates a mismatch in the secondary and plenty of running room should the quarterback tuck it and run while managing to escape the pocket.
The third and most important has been their ability to take those speedy quarterbacks out of their comfort zone. The more pressure they get and the more times Griffin is hit, the better it will be for the Sooners.
“We are going to put a lot of pressure on him and play Sooner defense like we have been doing,” defensive tackle Gerald McCoy said. “We are not going to change anything. We are just going to keep on going and keep on playing like we have been playing.”
Here’s how the Sooners have fared against the last four dual-threat quarterbacks they’ve faced.
• Jake Locker, Washington: One of the Sooners’ best defensive performances. Locker was held to 44 rushing yards, only 154 through the air and was sacked twice. Locker was also knocked out of the game late in the first half.
• Pat White, West Virginia: Here’s where OU struggled. The Mountaineers’ quarterback ran for 150 yards and threw for another 176 with two touchdowns. The Sooners’ downfall was their inability to take White out of the running game. He exploited OU’s defense on designed runs and option plays. He looked like he was a step faster than every one of the OU defenders. Of course, he was probably the best running quarterback OU’s faced the last two seasons.
• Chase Daniel, Missouri: Daniel isn’t the kind of player who will rush for 100 yards, but his scrambling ability and penchant for throwing on the run makes him very dangerous. The Sooners held him in check by keeping him in the pocket. He threw for a season-low 215 yards. OU sacked him twice and prevented him from being much of a factor in the running game.
• Zac Robinson, Oklahoma State: Robinson rushed for 72 yards in last season’s Bedlam meeting, but OU did its best work when he tried to throw. He only completed 8 of 20 passes for 105 yards. It was the Sooners’ best defensive effort last season.
John Shinn
366-3536
jshinn@normantranscript.com

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