How To Handle Crabtree?

by ousooner919 on Nov 20, 2008 12:42 PM CST Comment 18 comments

I think the Harrell-Crabtree connection will be a key, and OU has to stop it. So what to do?

Do you rush with less pressure and work more coverage? While you wouldn't want to make this the linchpin of your defensive strategy, even if Harrell has all the time in the world, if he can't throw it doesn't make a difference. If OU can do this successfully on a few plays, it could keep Harrell off-balance. OU's LBs and secondary are quick enough to get him if he tries to scramble.

Do you have Dom Franks man-up on Crabtree on every play and just make sure he's NEVER open? Sure it takes out a DB but on the pass plays our quicker outside LBs can help with coverage, and their primary threat is reduced/nullified.

I personally would favor the latter strategy myself because I think that if Crabtree is held down all game, the rest of the receivers, good as they might be, won't be able to pick up the slack. Look at the end of the Texas game, and who they went to for the win. I'm also hoping OU will mix up their blitzes well; if they can show blitz and drop back quick into coverage, while working on man against Crabtree, they might be able to force Harrell into some oskies.

Do you think OU's D will be able to take anything from their experiences against Texas, where they faced a very similar QB already in Colt McCoy (a tough, confident QB with a very good arm, good decision-making, and who just makes plays)?

Anyone have any other ideas?

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I am a TT alum and fan. So what I might say could be considered bias, but still I hope it will be informative. Manning up on Crab is very difficult. He is very physical. The Texas safety was very slow in getting over to cover Crab. It will be very difficult to contain him. However, if you can limit the yards after catch then that would be most effective. Harrell loves to throw the ball around and in the last few games it has been Britton with the big numbers, not Crab. That said, it will be fun to watch!

I really admiredthe work Iglesias has done as a receiver this year. We have our hands full because OU has a very balanced offense.

by JH9821 on Nov 20, 2008 1:28 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Also a Tech Fan

but I like to try and be unbiased as well. I do not know of a DB in college football who can man Crabtree and shut him down. Last week against OSU, they doubled him quite a bit which did limit what he could do (he still ended up with 3 TDs though) but by doubling him they had to leave a LB or Safety to cover Eric Morris. This enabled Tech to march across the field. We did not have any big pass plays last week, they were almost all 8 – 15 yard completions. This keeps the chains moving though and eats up the clock. I would hate to have to decide what to do with Crabtree from a defensive point of view. If you double him, you leave a huge mismatch between another Tech receiver and someone else and if you try and man him you will usually be beat.

by Boarder on Nov 20, 2008 2:05 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

In My Opinion

The best way to stop Crabtree is to get to Harrell but that isn’t easy either because of their quick passes. Oklahoma’s defense will have to cover well enough to make Harrell go to his 3rd and 4th options. That is the only way they are going to get to him.

by ccmachine on Nov 20, 2008 3:02 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I would agree

The key to stopping this spread offense, wither it’s Tech, OU, Texas, or whomever, appears to me to be pressuring the QB. Blitz’s from every position, D-Line stunts…etc. Make the QB move, and maybe miss a read, or limit them from looking around the field.

I’m also not above a cheap shot if it’s presented…..it’s only 15 yards (I kid, I kid….I’m a kidder)

Thought Clint Hurdle should be fired before it was cool.

by Redhawk on Nov 20, 2008 7:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Nancy Kerrigan him....I kid, I kid

A bunch of midgets with no arms could pitch better than us. -iorange555

by boomer1 on Nov 20, 2008 4:21 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Tech

would LOVE for OU to try and cover Crabtree man to man. Nobody in two years has had success with that tactic. Deion Sanders came out and said there were only a couple of NFL corners who could man up on him, for what that’s worth. I believe he called him “a beast” after working with him this summer. So, please. Put your corners on an island with Crabtree!!

by Tech92 on Nov 20, 2008 8:12 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

You can't man up Crabtree

I watched both UT and OSU get their butts handed to them in the YAC department. I think that is the key. It was amazing to watch those two games and I can still see the pictures of the chains being moved so damned much it was a blur. Short 5 ~~8 yd passes going for 12~~ 20 yds at a time. If OU tries to pressure Harrell that leaves the field spread apart with spaces you could drive an 18 wheeler thru. I say don’t do anything different, no new schemes play sound defense, cover as normal, make some bone jarring tackles, and look for the interceptions.
OU by 10.
BOOMER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SOONER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by scarab on Nov 21, 2008 7:59 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

OU's offense

may be their best defense. Last year, for some reason, we totally abandoned the running game in the first half after Bradford got hurt. We want to be balanced, but I think OU’s running game should be front and center. The more we control the clock, the more we keep their offense off the field. We have three solid running backs (including Madu) and a solid offensive line. I’d like to see them be physical from the beginning and see how Tech handles getting hit in the mouth. We are a big play, fast break offense, but this may be the week to change things up a bit and slow the game down a bit. I could be wrong, but getting into a shootout might play to their strengths.

I am a huge Sooner fan, but it seems as if everyone assumes we will win just because we are playing at home. OU cannot play an average or poor game and expect to win just because it’s a home game. Stoops is correct when he says our home crowd is usually not much of a factor. Hopefully the fans react step up and get noisy on Saturday.

I just wish I could be there as it could be a classic.

Boomer Sooner!!!

by Sooner71 on Nov 21, 2008 9:39 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Sooner71 is right on several accounts...

… I was frustrated watching the first half of last year’s game and virtually screaming on a live thread here with Matt that the Sooners should be running the ball after Hazle came in for Bradford.

However, I remember picking Tech to win last year at Missouri, and the Tigers whipped them pretty bad…. 41-10 after checking the score. You tell me what happened to Crabtree in that game, and you got to wonder a similar approach might be taken in the one this Saturday night in Norman.

OK… going out on a limb… this game may not be as close as people think (but I felt the same about the Texas match-up, which was proving to be true until Shipley’s kick return for a TD). If OU comes out strong and has solid special teams play, OU 41 Tech 31. If not, I’ll definitely be pulling for Tech to win it all and dish out major anguish to Florida or Alabama.

by inocybe on Nov 21, 2008 11:21 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Mizzou

For some reason, the last two times we played Mizzou they were able to really get to Harrell almost as quckly as the ball did. I think in those two games combined he threw three pick-six’s. That’s recipe for disaster against any team. But they didn’t shut down Crabtree so much as they totally blew up our offensive line.

by Tech92 on Nov 21, 2008 1:31 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs