What Sooner fans know, others do not

[Sgt. Ryan]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/bowls04/colu...ruce&id=1957011

 

Perkins Keys OU Defense

 

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.-- While the country holds its breath to see what überfrosh Adrian Peterson will do in Orange Bowl spotlight, it's actually Oklahoma's other No. 28, another guy with the initials A.P. who might be even more valuable to the Sooners cause Tuesday night. Sounds ludicrous, right? Well, try telling that to Big 12 offensive coaches who noticed a startling difference in the OU defense with -- and without -- the Sooners senior corner Antonio Perkins.

 

 

"You hear a lot about how great their safeties are, but they get sloppy some times and are more run guys than pass guys," says one Big 12 offensive coach. "They looked lost without Perkins in there, which kinda surprised me because we really thought he was just another corner last year. But watch him now and you see a very mature guy who doesn't make a lot of mistakes. They've done a real good job with him."

 

 

 

Antonio Perkins is the key to the Oklahoma secondary playing well.

Perkins, a 6-foot, 190-pound grad student who owns the OU records in the 40 (4.31) and the vertical jump (42 inches), came into the '04 season primarily known for his punt return exploits (he has returned eight kicks for touchdowns in his career). But that has changed in part because after he was sidelined at midseason for four games with a sprained MCL in his left knee, the Sooner defense struggled particularly giving up big pass plays. They had to survive a pair of narrow escapes against Oklahoma State and Texas A&M, surrendering 567 passing yards.

 

 

Perkins returned in mid-November and, not-so-coincidentally, OU allowed just six points in their final three games, giving up just 253 passing yards combined. The shutdown boosted OU's pass defense ranking from 83rd to 26th.

 

 

"The communication has been light years better than it was without him out there," says OU defensive coordinator Brent Venables. "And it allows us as coaches to have a lot more flexibility with our defense, knowing that he understands the concepts and can make the right adjustments."

 

 

Perkins also may be the Sooners best athlete and his recovery speed can erase a lot of mistakes for a team that plays so much zone coverage. OU coach Bob Stoops, who has had more than his share of standout DBs in Norman, says Perkins is a something of a combination of Andre Woolfolk and Derrick Strait, two of Oklahoma's standout corners from recent years. Stoops says Perkins has the athleticism and range of Woolfolk and some of the instincts and savvy of Strait.

 

 

"Having him back really has been a huge factor for us," Stoops says.

 

 

Perkins admits it was eating him up standing on the sidelines while opponents attacked the Sooner defense vertically. "It was real hard for me watching and knowing I couldn't help out as I thought I would for my whole senior year," Perkins said.

 

 

Things had gotten so dicey back there, Stoops even removed the redshirt off prized CB prospect Marcus Walker and threw him into action. Perkins' return -- along with the rapid development of Walker -- have dramatically changed the Sooners style. That's important because USC has been so successful stretching opponents out horizontally and then striking vertically, whether it's with Reggie Bush operating from the slot, nimble tight end Dominique Byrd working deep in the seams or Dwayne Jarrett or Steve Smith trying to go over the top.

 

 

Beating Perkins, though, won't be easy. The book on him is that he likes to jump a lot of routes and that while he doesn't use his hands much, he gets by with his great feet, the same wheels that have enabled him to run back 112 career punts for 1,436 yards (a 12.8 ypr average).

 

 

"I'm really excited to get out there," he says, "because we've started to gel and we're playing the best ball of the year right now."

[polksalet]

I think Cody is more impressive, or at least more insane.

[BIG A]

I agree polksalet, Dan Cody is the guy that USC needs to worry about. His non stop motor is what disrupts everything. This defense has allot of speed. I am guessing that they will need to invite Cody in and throw screens at him to negate the advantage. I am sure this guy is keeping Chow up at night. We will see Tuesday night. Should be a great game.

[gilthorp]

If Perkins is back returning punts, I look for a highlight reel return by him as he was as electrifying as they come before the injury.

Edited January 3, 2005 by gilthorp