Player Anatomy: Phil Loadholt, OU

By MATT MILLER

Character / Leadership Ability: Loadholt is a high character person and player who has not been a problem off the field or on it.

Competitive Nature / Work Ethic: The left tackle plays hard and has worked hard to learn the OU offense after enrolling in January of 2007. He quickly adapted to the scheme and became a starter.

Football Intelligence: A former JUCO player from Garden City (KS), he started 14 games at left tackle in his first season in Norman, picking up the Oklahoma offense quickly. He is reliable and does not miss assignments on the field.

Size: This Sooner possesses huge size, with long arms and legs, as well as great thickness throughout his lower and upper body.

Athletic Ability: An amazing athlete for his size, the 300-pounder moves very well and is naturally strong. He has great length and bulk with a big bubble and lean legs.

Toughness / Durability: Loadholt has not missed time due to injury, doesn't take plays off, and comes off hard on every snap.

Pass Blocking: He comes out of a two-point stance on most downs, playing with a wide base and a quick back step. He works well moving back to his left and standing up a defender when protecting his quarterback Sam Bradford. Loadholt has a good arm lock and elbow bend, as well as excellent game awareness. He does benefit from playing next to left guard Duke Robinson—the two form one of the toughest double teams in the nation.

Movement / Space: The All-Big 12 performer has quick feet and good agility, allowing him to remain light on his feet. One step takes up about three yards. He has the lateral quickness and footwork necessary to man the left tackle position and protect the quarterback’s backside.

Quickness: The Sooner is quick off the ball, chops his feet well and can mirror a defender. He has the quickness to move outside and inside with ease and can go inside to out with the ability to get up field to block.

Run Blocking: Loadholt can pull and understands how to work down the line of scrimmage. Has a very nice hinge block to protect the weakside on runs and will often engulf opposing defenders. He gets to the second level well, works up field looking for people to block, and is strong enough to push the pile up field once he arrives.

Strength: It comes as no surprise that the former Colorado discus champion possesses strong arms and legs, making him capable of blocking any college lineman one-on-one. While he has very good natural strength, like most college players, Loadholt could still get stronger with more time in the weight room. Specifically, he needs to add lower body strength, as he tends to rely on his upper body too often.

Technique: At times, the Oklahoma tackle can get a little high coming out of his stance, and works best out of a two-point (as seen above). He will dip his shoulders to drive a defender to the ground. Loadholt shows good balance; he’s a knee bender who keeps his hands up and rarely allows the defender get into his body.

Photo Credit: OU Athletics Department

Player Spotlight: QB Chase Daniel, Missouri

By MATT MILLER

Character / Leadership Ability: Is a high character player with good leadership skills. Is easy-going and laid back. Players look to him for an example to follow. He is the unquestioned leader of the team.

Competitive Nature / Work Ethic: Daniel has proven to be a very hard worker during this time at Mizzou. He's absorbed the playbook and works hard in the weight room. He's a natural competitor, but will not show much negative emotion on the field.

Football Intelligence: A smart quarterback who is operating a very complex offense; he knows the game inside and out.

Size: Slightly under 6' tall. Good bulk.

Athletic Ability: People tend to forget that he is a dangerous runner. He is more athletic and agile than he’s given credit for. Daniel can move in the open field and has shown some natural strength.

Toughness / Durability: Has not missed a start in three years. Toughness is not a problem.

Specific Traits – Quarterback</span>

Accuracy: He’s been very accurate in a spread-timing based offense and is a career 66.3 percent passer. The majority of his throws are under 15 yards, which helps. Stats are padded due to crosses and screens. Does not show good downfield accuracy—at times, his passes can float on deep balls.

Arm Strength: Is not a down-field passer. Arm strength is untested, but doesn't show much potential here.

Decision Making: Will look down a receiver for too long at times, as well as locking into his reads. He appears to have one primary and at most two check-downs on each play. The Tigers’ reads and audibles are pre-determined on every play.

Field Vision: Does not look downfield often enough. First read is generally a slant-cross or screen pass. He'll then check down to a tight end. The Tigers do not ask Daniel to read the field pre-snap; the coaching staff does this and signals in an audible if necessary.

Mechanics: Good, fluid motion…throws well on the run. He does an excellent job of getting his shoulders square. He has a compact motion with a clean release.

Mobility: Daniel is mobile and can hurt teams outside the pocket. Has better vision than speed. Is able to pick up yards on designed options and carries.

Pocket Awareness: Plays in a shotgun system 100 percent of the time, so he is never asked to drop back. The Tigers have their quarterback line up as deep as any quarterback in the country. Daniel will move up in the pocket, but also holds the ball far too long. Generally starts out six yards behind center and moves up right before throwing.

Photo Credit: Mizzou Media Relations