Sooners need more from McFarland
Published: 8/24/2010 11:03 AM
Last Modified: 8/24/2010 1:33 PM
Interesting stuff on the Oklahoma defense from The Sporting News.
The magazine/website gives the Sooners' secondary a C+ grade while picking on new starting cornerbacks Jamell Fleming ("a career reserve") and Demontre Hurst ("undersized").
Angst over OU's defense has centered around the tackle position of late, where returning starter Adrian Taylor won't, in fact, be returning from his leg injury as early as anyone hoped. But there should probably be more worry about how Fleming and Hurst handle the transition from 2008-09 starting corners Brian Jackson and Dom Franks.
Jackson and Franks stepped in flawlessly when predecessors Reggie Smith and Marcus Walker departed, but there is no guarantee that Fleming and Hurst can do the same. Far from it.
And with so many Big 12 teams running air-show offenses, if you can't count on your corners, you can't count on overall defensive success.
Back to the tackle position, and back to TSN's breakdown: "The secondary will get help from what could eventually be the best defensive line in the Big 12, including Jeremy Beal and Jamarkus McFarland – who the staff believes could have the same impact as former OU greats Tommie Harris and Gerald McCoy.
Right now, I wouldn't go anywhere near a McFarland/Harris/McCoy comparison, beyond the fact they all play D-tackle. Harris started every game as a true freshman and wound up first team All-Big 12. McCoy was the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year after redshirting.
McFarland made ESPN.com's All-Big 12 freshman team last year, a worthy feat considering he was stuck behind McCoy and Taylor and played in just seven games.
However, when OU posted its latest depth chart yesterday, McFarland sat behind fellow sophomore tackles Stacy McGee and Casey Walker. No shots at McGee and Walker – anyone who remembers McGee as a Muskogee Rougher knows how talented he is, while Walker has had a terrific preseason camp – but it's obvious the Sooners need more from McFarland.
Anyone gifted enough to be ranked among the top five high school defensive tackles in the nation should be playing a prominent role by his second year in college, especially when one of that college's starters is out with an injury.
I asked position coach Jackie Shipp about McFarland after practice last Friday. His answer: "It's the same things I always talk about. It's a few things technique-wise. If you're sound with your technique, you can play against any blocking scheme thrown at you. Being aware. A D-lineman can be just like a linebacker. He must recognize formations, backfield sets and splits to put himself in position to rush the passer and play the run.
"He has the ability. But it all comes down with that whole group of being consistent, doing it every day."
-- Guerin Emig
Written by
Guerin Emig
Sports Writer
