Defense dominates scrimmage
1st-team offense forced into turnovers, safety
Defense dominates scrimmage

By Mike Baldwin

Published: April 5, 2008

STILLWATER — Oklahoma State offensive coaches and players have said in recent weeks the defense is much improved.

In the second major spring scrimmage, the defense showed what fans and the media have missed during closed practices.

The first-team defense dominated Friday afternoon when matched against the first-team offense.

"I don't think there's any question we're going to be better on defense,” said coach Mike Gundy. "We have more depth. They understand the system better. The addition of the mid-term guys, at this point, has worked out well for us.

"But we'll find out in September how good we are.”

During Friday's 133-play scrimmage, the first-team units played close to the equivalent of a full game (67 plays).

When the starters went head-to-head in various drills, the offense compiled only 254 total yards, 12 first downs and averaged 3.8 yards per play.

To provide some perspective, OSU's offense last season ranked seventh nationally, averaging 24 first downs, 486.3 yards a game and 6.5 yards per play.

"Give credit to the defense. They probably won today,” said quarterback Zac Robinson. "You always want to be on the winning side, but we had too many mistakes, too many turnovers. The defense called some really good blitzes.”

The defense forced five turnovers and recorded a safety. The second-team defense compiled three turnovers. The safety was supplied by backup defensive end Richetti Jones.

"The defense is much improved,” said co-offensive coordinator Gunter Brewer. "Coach (Tim) Beckman and his staff have them flying around, really playing hard. They're executing what they want to do.”

Beckman was the only person in post-scrimmage interviews to downplay the defense's performance. Beckman was disappointed the offense twice pounded out first downs when it was backed against its own goal line.

"We're better, but we haven't done it in a game, yet,” Beckman said. "I want us to improve more and more. I don't think we tackled as well as we can.”

The biggest difference this spring is the infusion of faster, more athletic defensive players. Five junior college transfers and some redshirt freshmen have played well through 12 spring practices.

"They've improved a ton from last season,” Robinson said. "They played well in the bowl game against Indiana. When you see guys like Lucien (Antoine) and Deron Fontenot flying around it raises everybody else's level.”

Antoine and Fontenot are hard-hitting second-team players who have delivered some hard hits. Linebacker Orie Lemon and defensive ends Ugo Chinasa, Derek Burton and Jamie Blatnik have played well.

The defense was so dominant the first-team offense resorted to trickery to reach the end zone during a first-and-goal drill. The defense stuffed the offense on the first series.

On the second series, having lost a yard on the first two plays, the offense scored on a halfback pass from Beau Johnson to Robinson, who sneaked out of the backfield to become a receiver.

"I see a complete overall improvement of everything with our defense,” Brewer said. "The kids have a better idea what they're doing the second year in the system. They've got some older juco guys. And the young guys have grown up some.”

Knowing the defense finished 101st nationally in total defense last season, Beckman stiff-armed the compliments. Beckman said he's far from satisfied.

"I'm a perfectionist,” Beckman said. "We have to keep on progressing. I know for us to win a Big 12 championship we have to win it on defense. We have a long way to go to get to where we need to be.”

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