🏈 The Oklahoma Drill

[Elderfalsedemigod]

Just finished reading the ESPN feature story on the Oklahoma Drill origins and whatnot.

http://espn.go.com/college-football...ll-just-rite-passage-everything-fear-football

It made me hearken back to the days of yore when I was a 155 lb defensive tackle wreaking havoc on 200 lb offensive linemen.

I personally loved the drill because I had very little regard for my body and literally lived just to hit somebody.

Who else remembers the old drills like the oklahoma and "bull in the ring" fondly?

According to the article the NFL obviously has mostly abandoned it but several CFB teams still run a variation.


(this is my first thread I've started here and while it isn't Alabama Football specific, it is football related)

 

[Barnabus Stinson]

We ran the Oklahoma and Bull in the Ring drills in high school. I enjoyed them a lot more than some of other drills.

 

[planomateo]

(this is my first thread I've started...)

:clap:

 

[Trob]

We did Bull in the Ring in peewee. When I moved to Detroit in my junior year of high school, the team there had a drill called Blood Alley. It was basically the Oklahoma except two players started on their backs with about 5 yards of space between them, waiting for the coach's whistle to engage. I have some very fond memories of both drills.

 

[UAgrad93]

Everyone still does some variation of Oklahoma in their practices. The Bull in the Ring was done away with right when I began coaching because there were dumbasses that couldn't remember their number or the number they were replacing. With the AHSAA cracking down about full contact practices to two hours a week, coaches have to pick when and where to use the drills. They also have to document how long they went and on what days.

 

[BamaFan334]

We never did bull in the ring, but did the Oklahoma drill and Blood Alley. They used to throw my 93 lbs Freshman, 105 lbs Sophomore, 120 lbs Junior, and 125 lbs Senior ass in there with the big boys cause they knew I'd hit. I lost some, but won more than I lost because I could explode with powerful legs even though I was light. I miss it. Anyone wanna toss on some pads and get a little Rolltidebama drill running?

 

[Elderfalsedemigod]

We did Bull in the Ring in peewee. When I moved to Detroit in my junior year of high school, the team there had a drill called Blood Alley. It was basically the Oklahoma except two players started on their backs with about 5 yards of space between them, waiting for the coach's whistle to engage. I have some very fond memories of both drills.

We ran that one also

Always fun to catch the other guy as he was trying to get to his feet

 

[OldPlayer]

The Oklahoma drill always sounded good in concept. Players used the chance to jump in and try to impress the coaches. However, sometimes you found a DB lining up against an OT (offensive players could only jump in where their positions were but defensive players were defensive players).

 

[TerryP]

You've brought back a bad memory here.

I remember watching practice one day when fRan was here. He made a point that afternoon to run the Oklahoma drill and specifically made the point to do it in front the the crowd that was watching practice.

I started looking at fRan skeptically that day. My only thought was "why choose to do this in front of the crowd watching?" I could think of no other reason than him trying to ingratiate himself to the fan base.

 

[double deuce]

I remember both drills. My body still aches from high school football.
Sorry, but I must decline the invite for pads. Let's play golf instead.

 

[It Takes Eleven]

Loved it, because quickness was an equalizer over size. If I got an extra step of momentum, that could offset some mass.

 

[Elderfalsedemigod]

You've brought back a bad memory here.

I remember watching practice one day when fRan was here. He made a point that afternoon to run the Oklahoma drill and specifically made the point to do it in front the the crowd that was watching practice.

I started looking at fRan skeptically that day. My only thought was "why choose to do this in front of the crowd watching?" I could think of no other reason than him trying to ingratiate himself to the fan base.

That is strange. Unfortunately it is also par for the course for Dennis in my opinion. Most everything he did was for self-promotional purposes. Oklahoma drill ain't for open practice sessions. it is for those hot nasty days when the players either need to blow steam or light some gunpowder

 

[Snout Spout]

Any opportunity to hit is a fun time.

 

[TerryP]

That is strange. Unfortunately it is also par for the course for Dennis in my opinion. Most everything he did was for self-promotional purposes. Oklahoma drill ain't for open practice sessions. it is for those hot nasty days when the players either need to blow steam or light some gunpowder

See why it was a WFT moment?

(Still say if he had a pair of balls he could have won big here. He knows it. Now.)

 

[Elderfalsedemigod]

See why it was a WFT moment?

(Still say if he had a pair of balls he could have won big here. He knows it. Now.)

Dennis had a huge ego but the balls and guts of a weasel. Not really a bad coach tactics and strategy wise. Just no spine


I will say he gave me great joy watching the '02 ass whipping of OM in BDS

Beard running wild and Eli getting absolutely pummeled all day.

 

['65 Cobra]

I remember both drills. Bull in the ring was especially violent at my high school.

 

[Destiny's Child]

The bull in the ring was a violent drill and mainly used to toughen up kids that were scared to hit or get hit. The Oklahoma drill, is the drill you that allows you to work on key things of four positions at one time.

I generally will line up one OL vs one DL or sometimes 2 and 2. I put one RB behind the OL and one LB behind the DL. YOu can work with OL on blocking the right way to open the hole. Work with the DL on beating the block, using there arms to keep seperation. Work with the RB on making a guy miss in the hole and how to keep there legs churning thru contact and holding on to the ball right. Work with the LB on keeping their head up, putting their facemask on the football and hit full speed driving your legs til they are on the ground.

Especially in youth football, when practices are limited and you have some new kids every year, this allows you live fire with focused teaching opportunity. It was my sons favorite drill because he loved contact, still does.

I loved it because it sounds like football season. It was always the first drill I ran after we put pads on a went over blocking and tackling fundamentals. See what kind of guts I had on the team..