Oklahoma sack leader questionable ahead of matchup with Alabama

Oklahoma’s sack leader, R Mason Thomas Jr. is listed as questionable in the Sooners’ initial availability report for their upcoming game against Alabama.

Thomas leads a talented Oklahoma defense in sacks with 6.5. He has also accounted for two forced fumbles. The defender went down with an injury against Tennessee on Nov. 1 when he was returning a fumble for a touchdown.

Thomas has played a major role in Oklahoma being one of the best teams in the country at getting after opposing quarterbacks. His play alongside his defensive teammates have demanded the attention of Alabama’s offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb,  who said the Tide’s offensive line has to communicate at a high level to protect Simpson from the Sooners’ pass rush.

“I know our communication has to be elite,” Grubb said. “That’s the one thing that we probably don’t talk about enough. Characteristics of good offensive linemen, all the things that physically you want to have. but the number one thing is communication. When you have problems in the interior gaps and you don’t take care of the interior gaps, whether it’s pass protection or run blocking, those problems happen quick. And when we have problems on the inside, that’s where the TFLs and the sacks come from. Quarterbacks eyes will drop from pressure and people being in his face when it’s in between the tackles. If stuff happens outside the edge, you know, typically you can deal with that. But interior issues are where all the, you get behind the chains, whether it’s a four-yard loss on the inside zone run or it’s a sack, a guy stepping right up the B-gap, those are all your problems happening. To me, our guys we gotta have a great week of communicating with the line of scrimmage.”

Thomas’ status will be worth monitoring throughout the week.