‘It feels like Christmas morning’: Todd Bates can’t wait to show off Sooners defensive line
Last season the defensive line struggled to stop the run or rush the passer with any consistency. It lacked what the staff calls competitive depth, especially right up the middle.
The interior defensive line is coached by Todd Bates. He came to the Oklahoma Sooners with Brent Venables from the Clemson Tigers.
While at Clemson, he developed some great defensive linemen, helping them become productive NFL linemen.
The interior defensive line should be the perfect example of how poor the last staff was at developing. It also should be an example of how they didn’t recruit well enough.
To win against the “big boys,” you need some 300-pound guys in the middle. That was something that just wasn’t there a year ago.
“Last year, just coming in, we only had one guy who weighed over 300 pounds when I got here,” Bates said. “When we pulled up to the door. Schmitty doing the work that he does with guys improved that number to three last season. Well, we’re going to camp this year with five.”
Those five guys are Da'Jon Terry, Isaiah Coe, Phil Paea, Jordan Kelley and Kevin Gilliam Jr. Two of which are brand new to the team. Gilliam is back healthy this season.
Even the guys who aren’t at 300 pounds have made a lot of progress as well. “Gracen Halton, he started at 267 when he arrived here, he’s up to 285 now,” Bates said. “Jonah Laulu last year when he was at defensive end, he weighed 272. He’s already up to 290.”
Why is that so important?
“One of the main things that keep guys from getting movement in the middle on this earth is girth,” Bates said. “We finally got some girth.”
It’s not just that. The Sooners added competitive depth with some transfers coming in to make an immediate impact to add to the natural progression from the players who were already here. Bates can’t wait to show them off.
“We’ve gotten so many players that have gotten better and improved,” Bates said. “So many new guys as well, it feels like Christmas morning to my twins almost. You are going to unwrap some presents, and you can’t wait to show everybody what you’ve got.”
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