By John Shinn
Transcript Sports Writer
Oklahoma built a reputation for pressuring the quarterback the last several seasons. A constant barrage of blitzing helped, but a deep talent pool at defensive end provided the pass rushing edge.
However, two season-ending injuries will test the Sooners’ ability to pressure quarterbacks as they to prepare to host Tulsa at 11:30 a.m. Saturday.
When practice began in August, OU was trying to replace two stalwarts at the spot. Dan Cody and Jonathan Jackson made up one of the best defensive end combinations in the country. They’ve graduated, though. Replacing them was a big question OU had to answer.
It was thought the emergence of Larry Birdine would make the transition easier. After all, he had 11 career sacks and was widely considered OU’s next great defensive end.
But a season-ending biceps injury put Birdine on the shelf and OU’s depth at the spot took a major hit. Losing John Williams to a season-ending knee injury in last Saturday’s 17-10 loss to TCU turned the hit into a potential haymaker.
Co-defensive coordinator Brent Venables said OU has thought about moving middle linebacker Zach Latimer and strongside linebacker Clint Ingram to defensive end in pass rushing situations.
However, the Sooners are hoping it won’t come to that, and it’s up to a small group of defenders to keep that from happening. The play of Calvin Thibodeaux, C.J. Ah You and Alan Davis will help make the decision.
“We feel like it’s just another challenge,” Thibodeaux said.
But this one will be a big one.
Thibodeaux was part of the defensive end rotation the last two seasons. He has experience, but is coming off a season-ending knee injury himself. Ah You, a junior college transfer has been impressive in his brief career at OU.
But OU likes to use a four-man rotation at defensive end with each playing about 30 snaps per game.
The theory is they will be fresher and able to apply more pressure.
It will be tougher now that Davis, redshirt freshman, is the only backup with playing experience behind Thibodeaux and Ah You.
However, Venables believes Davis has the ability to handle the job.
“He plays really, really hard,” he said. “It’s just experience, knowing assignments and playing with technique every snap.”
Davis had one tackle last Saturday and will have the opportunity to get many more against Tulsa.
“Whether or not he’s ready is irrelevant,” Venables said, “because he’s going to play.”
Davis has been waiting for his opportunity and is ready to pounce on it.
“It’s unfortunate that (Birdine) and John got hurt, but the opportunity has presented itself,” Davis said. “I’m real excited. I’m ready to go out there and show what I can do. Everybody is asking if I’m ready. I’m going to go out there and show them that I am ready and I’m capable of doing what (Birdine) and (Williams) did.”
The Sooners only had one sack against TCU and it was registered by Williams. But the Horned Frogs used a lot of short passes to negate the pass rush.
Tulsa’s shot-gun offense will present more chances to get the quarterback. It’s up to the threesome to do so.
“It’s our time to come in and play and show what we can do,” Davis said. “We have to show the defensive ends haven’t lost anything.”
John Shinn366-3536jshinn@normantranscript.com
