Hogs+ 2023 Football Season Preview
Expect Travis Williams’ defenses to cause chaos
By Clay Henry, Hogs+ Senior Contributor
Early in my first year of covering Division I football, I had a sit down with Oklahoma offensive line coach Merv Johnson. His roots as an assistant for Frank Broyles at Arkansas gave me great access.
Johnson coached lines that won national championships at both Arkansas and Oklahoma, so when he told me he’d help me understand football, I quickly made plans for the drive from Tulsa to Norman for a few hours in the film room.
“Watch the center and you will also notice the guards,” Johnson said. “The guards will take you to the football, either as pullers or if the play is to hit in the ‘A’ gap.”
The A gap is on either side of the center. He explained that what happens on defense to match those three players will determine the game. I counter that with an explanation of football from my father—through Broyles—that the team with the best tackles is going to win, all things at quarterback being somewhat balanced.
I throw that out every time I sit down with a coordinator for the first time. Recently, more than one suggested that I switch my view to the safeties, especially pre snap. What happens in the secondary is more important.
So what does new defensive coordinator Travis Williams think of all of that? I wanted to know when I sat down for a player-by-player analysis of the two deep—and he went three deep usually—to roll out over a few days for Hogs+.
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