Coach ,

It's the Red River Rivalry: One of the best college football traditions. 

Coach Hopkins is back with another thorough analysis of the game with philosophy and strategy taken directly from the coaches via their clinic talks.

I look forward to these every week. There are some great ideas in each of the videos shared. Enjoy the game this weekend. 

Coach Grabowski

The University of Oklahoma takes on the University of Texas at Austin in the Cotton Bowl, for the Golden Hat in the Red River Showdown. 

The Sooners look to stay undefeated and atop the BIG 12, while the Longhorns look to bounce back after the quadruple overtime stunner in last year’s showdown. 

Who’s your pick to take home the golden hat this year? 

Let’s break it down and find out.  

The University of Texas

All gas. No Brakes. You know how Texas is coming into this game.

Steve Sarkisian, head coach for the Longhorns, has had this motto since he’s landed the coaching job this year. But what exactly does this new belief look like?

They want to be the best attacking, most physical, and compete with amazing energy. The Longhorns are the 20th ranked overall offense so far this season and have no thoughts of letting off the gas against the Sooners, a program with a defense ranked just inside the top 50.

His players are living the Longhorn motto. All-star wide receiver Xavier Worthy and offensive guard Junior Angilau look to have breakout games this week, both with future draft implications on the line.  

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Steve Sarkisian - All Gas No Brakes

The Texas defense has been lights out this season, allowing 21 points a game and averaging 224 passing yards allowed after five contests, but the speed and agility of Oklahoma’s receiving core may spell trouble for the Longhorns.

Defensive passing game coordinator and secondary coach Terry Joseph plans to bring the heat this weekend focusing their pressures on the tendencies of Spencer Rattler.

Here he explains how he attacks the tendencies and creates confusion with disguised looks and shifting coverages. 

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Terry Joseph - Secondary Game Planning

Kyle Flood, offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, is going to have to call a near-perfect game this week. 

The Oklahoma defense has only allowed 574 yards on the ground and only 1,207 yards through the air in their 5-0 start. 

But running back Bijon Robinson is looking to pound the rock Saturday, averaging 6.72 yards a carry. 

You pair a big back with Coach Flood’s inside zone scheme, and we can have an upset on our hands. 

As we look ahead to Saturday’s matchup, Coach Flood gives you his inside zone blocking scheme below. 

Notice the wide splits, already separating the defense pre-snap, a key coaching point for Coach Flood.

Getting bodies on bodies, open up the lane, and let Bijan hit the hole. 

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Kyle Flood, University of Texas - Inside Zone Play with Variations and RPO

Texas may be outweighed by the Oklahoma defensive line, but size doesn’t beat fundamentals. He’s taken the Alabama mindset of perfection and brought it to the Longhorn offense.

Texas is banking on the fact they are going to outwork Oklahoma, and that starts with a big push from the offensive lineman. 

Coach Flood gives you an easy, simple drill his offensive line uses for 

• Getting defensive lineman off the ball
• First step fundamentals 
• Moving up to the second level

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Kyle Flood - Run Game Fundamentals

Vs

The University of Oklahoma 

The Sooners are coming into Arlington with a solid game plan: run-heavy offense with Air Raid-based passing.

Lincoln Riley has been the air raid guru in recent seasons, producing Heisman winners and being championship contenders along the way 

With a very balanced combination of running and pass plays, Oklahoma looks to put the pressure on the Texas Defense.

Riley’s favorite passing concept? The Y cross, a route designed to cut the defense and create big-play opportunities, which he explains in the video below.

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Lincoln Riley - Oklahoma Offense - Y Cross, Trail, and QB Run Game 

Fast. Aggressive. Adaptable. 

Oklahoma’s defense has been the best in the BIG 12 so far this year. Defensive Coordinator Alex Grinch has a huge role in that success, putting his players in the best position to be successful on the field.

Oklahoma utilizes a walk-through period to obtain absolute perfect on defensive fits run or pass, finding that players are able to grasp reads and fits better than at full speed.

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Alex Grinch - Oklahoma Defense 

Earlier this year at the Lauren's First & Goal Clinic, Coach Jamar Cain was asked if Oklahoma game plans for each opponent tackles or just doing their own thing throughout the season. 

His Answer? 

“I sit and analyze every aspect of each offensive lineman. Every single one.”

From that, he uses the techniques mentioned in the video below, like a chop club to combat a low hand punching offensive lineman. Perrion Winfrey, senior defensive lineman, looks to slow this high-powered Texas Longhorn offense.

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Jamar Cain - Outside Linebacker Play 

But can the Sooners handle the #1 offense in the conference, the Texas Longhorns?

Find out!

These two BIG 12 (future SEC) powerhouses take the field Saturday for an 11 AM (CST) kickoff on ABC!

Never. Stop. Learning. 

Coach Hopkins

P.S. All of these clinics are 50% right now for a limited time!