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Notre Dame Opponent Preview: Oklahoma Sooners Defense

Line: Oklahoma (-10.0)

Oklahoma has an excellent defense. The Sooners have allowed 15.3 points per game this season. Their defense has allowed 139.83 rushing yards and 164.3 passing yards for a total 304.2 yards per game. This total ranks them 16th in the country. In comparison, Notre Dame ranks 6th. The Sooners have padded their statistical outputs by playing absolutely incompetent teams such as UTEP, Florida A&M and Kansas. These teams have a combined record of 6-17. The Sooners are only allowing 3.80 yards per carry.

Tony Jefferson, S, Senior

Jefferson is Oklahoma’s star on Defense. Their scheme allows him a lot of freedom to move around as he pleases and play freely. This season, Jefferson has tallied 48 total tackles (32 solo, 16 assisted). This total leads the team. He is the currently leader of the secondary and the team overall. Jefferson has recorded 1 interception of 14 yards. Notre Dame will need to know where Jefferson is on the field at all times because he will move around frequently. He can make you pay if you if you let him.

Tom Wort, LB, Junior

Wort is the leading tackler at the second level. This season, he has collected 26 total tackles (13 solo, 13 assisted). Wort is slightly undersized for a linebacker at this level. He checks in at 6’0″ 237 lbs. He has recorded 1 sack this season for the Sooners. In addition, he has recorded 1 pass break up, 1 Quarterback hurry and 2 forced fumbles.

Chuka Ndulue, DL, Sophomore

At 6’3″ 256 lbs, Ndulue is a penetrating Defensive Linemen. He has recorded 24 tackles this season. In addition, he has added 2.0 sacks. He is slightly undersized for a Defensive Linemen. He is about the same size as Manti Te’o currently.

Notre Dame’s best chance on Saturday is to run the ball as effectively as possible. The Fighting Irish have run the ball for 150 and 270 yards against Stanford and BYU respectively. Stanford and BYU are Top 10 defenses. If Notre Dame can run against them, they can run against Oklahoma. Kansas State provides a template of how to beat Oklahoma. Everett Golson needs to do his best impression of Colin Klien this week to make sure that the Irish are successful on Offense.

Notre Dame Opponent Preview: Oklahoma Sooners Offense

Landry Jones

The quarterback and senior leader of this offense who stands 6’4’’ 218 pounds, who has played since his freshman year of college when Sam Bradford was battling injuries. This year Jones has really limited his interceptions and only has 3 so far compared to 12 touchdowns. He has thrown for 1649 yards and has a completion percentage of 62.7. Jones makes this offense click. If you put consistent pressure on him, you will force him into mistakes. Oklahoma likes to throw the football, and with a weapon like Jones who can sling it all over the field, can give the Notre Dame secondary some problems. Look for him to attack the freshman KeiVarae Russell. If the defensive line puts pressure on Jones then it could make the secondary look a lot better than it is. With Tuitt, Nix, and Lewis-Moore there will be pressure on Jones, we will just have to wait and see how he reacts to it. Look for Notre Dame to bring zone blitz’s to disrupt the flow of the Oklahoma offense.

Damien Williams

The junior running back at 6’ 208 pounds and runs with purpose. Williams has attempted 74 rushes for 552 with 7 touchdowns, adding a 7.46 yards per carry average. He also has 11 receptions for 134 yards, but no touchdowns. When someone says a complete running back Williams is the guy. He has the speed, toughness, strength, and the ability to run you over or around you. He had a 95 yard run against Texas where he ran up the middle broke a tackle, then juked two guys out of their pants and outran everyone for a touchdown. Notre Dame has faced some good running backs so far this year, but not one that has Landry Jones as the quarterback. The best thing Notre Dame could do is commit to stopping the run like usual and make Oklahoma one dimensional like they did against Miami.

Kenny Stills

A junior wide receiver at 6’1’’ 190 pounds and don’t let his size fool you, because he is one physical receiver. Stills has great ball skills paired with speed and good route running to make him one of the best wide receivers in the country. His ability to catch the ball in coverage is one of the best I have seen in the country so far this year. He will go up and get the football at its highest point and come down with it most of the time. Stills has 38 receptions for 476 yards and 4 touchdowns, averaging 12.53 yards per catch. He also has 2 rushes for 22 yards on the season. He is their big play threat down the field, the secondary cannot let this man behind them at any time.

Blake Bell

The “Bell-Dozer” the 6’6’’ 254 pound quarterback that is put in to get into the endzone on short yardage plays near the goal line. On the year Bell has had 31 attempts for 59 yards and 8 rushing touchdowns, he has only thrown the ball 12 times completing 7 of those for 87 yards and no touchdowns. Look for Bell in short yardage situations throughout the game.

http://slapthesign.com/2012/10/23/notre-dame-opponent-preview-oklahoma-sooners-defense/