It's sad that OU's two greatest quarterback performers never won a championship.....

[CTOkie]

because of OU's inability to play defense.
No one should expect any team in the Big12 to have a dominate, shut-down defense. That ship has sailed.
But to have game results dependent only on offensive production is not good football.
I want Riley to have some answers by next season. If his coaching skills are as great as advertised, he should be able to fix things on defense. What I'm seeing as I watch games like yesterday are bad coaching and players without basic skills. Such problems are not likely to be fixed quickly, but it's clear to me that the cast of characters (coaches and players) have failed completely. Firing Mike Stoops is only a "Band-Aid" remedy.
I don't claim to have concrete answers, but I believe a complete tear-down and rebuild are in order as far as OU ever fielding a team that can at least have some clutch stops and big plays defensively.
When Texas had the ball with the score tied at 45-45, I knew a great rally was to be wasted by OU.
When OSU had the ball trailing 48-41, I knew the Cowboys would score and go for two points.
And games like this are now common for OU.
It seems that if OU had a defense as good as any other top ten team....that is, at least an adequate defense...this team would be one of OU's best ever teams. The same could be said for Mayfield's last season in 2017.
We need to have a defense that our offense can be proud of.

 

[sooners49]

I wonder how involved Riley is on defense if at all? He needs to hire an O-coordinator to free him up for other things.It seems like he is overwhelmed at times thus making bizarre decisions.
I am not knocking him but it is almost too much to ask of anyone to be able to do both.

 

[thatdude35]

Not really. Defense wins championships unless it’s the nfl.

 

[thatdude35]

because of OU's inability to play defense.
No one should expect any team in the Big12 to have a dominate, shut-down defense. That ship has sailed.
But to have game results dependent only on offensive production is not good football.
I want Riley to have some answers by next season. If his coaching skills are as great as advertised, he should be able to fix things on defense. What I'm seeing as I watch games like yesterday are bad coaching and players without basic skills. Such problems are not likely to be fixed quickly, but it's clear to me that the cast of characters (coaches and players) have failed completely. Firing Mike Stoops is only a "Band-Aid" remedy.
I don't claim to have concrete answers, but I believe a complete tear-down and rebuild are in order as far as OU ever fielding a team that can at least have some clutch stops and big plays defensively.
When Texas had the ball with the score tied at 45-45, I knew a great rally was to be wasted by OU.
When OSU had the ball trailing 48-41, I knew the Cowboys would score and go for two points.
And games like this are now common for OU.
It seems that if OU had a defense as good as any other top ten team....that is, at least an adequate defense...this team would be one of OU's best ever teams. The same could be said for Mayfield's last season in 2017.
We need to have a defense that our offense can be proud of.

Honestly it depends on who you play. Remember outside of conference B12 had the best bowl record. I can’t remember if it was last year or two years ago but all I know is facing back to back qbs or top ten offenses almost every week takes a toll. We can’t always play the 104th and 106th passing offense like some teams *cough* Bama the last two weeks. I agree with your comment about the defense having to depend on the offense. I don’t get what changed after TCU. We slowed it down and let the defense rest a bit. Then the defense didn’t look as gassed. We should’ve done it here but sermon was running wild. In conference though it’s pretty tough to stop these offenses. Remember when they said Texas had a good defense well they just got torched by Duffey for his career high. Wallace got his 200 on Texas in the first half In Stillwater if I can remember. It’s just too hard, especially when teams just lob it up and expect PI calls. It’s levels to being a defensive genius in this league. We don’t have simple offenses besides maybe KSU that conferences like the B10 face or SEC with their terrible qbs remember when nick Fitzgerald was a heisman hopeful haha that faded fast he can’t throw.. we will need a great DC to even tame some of these offenses. I think they should get Utah’s young DC. I don’t know about Golding.

 

[RightFieldHomie]

I wonder how involved Riley is on defense if at all? He needs to hire an O-coordinator to free him up for other things.It seems like he is overwhelmed at times thus making bizarre decisions.
I am not knocking him but it is almost too much to ask of anyone to be able to do both.

Does he even know defense.

 

[Belldozer1]

I wonder how involved Riley is on defense if at all? He needs to hire an O-coordinator to free him up for other things.It seems like he is overwhelmed at times thus making bizarre decisions.
I am not knocking him but it is almost too much to ask of anyone to be able to do both.

I’m not sure I agree with this.Riley is a great OC and that’s what he was hired for in the first place. If we weren’t scoring 50 points a game, would people consider him a good HC? We all know we have to score a lot to even win these days because our defense is so bad. Does Riley acknowledge its as bad as it is? Is he going to fall into the all out coaching tree nepotism like Stoops did. If so, the opportunity is already there considering who we have on staff. Thankfully most of the coaches are good. The problem I have is that defensively speaking, nothing or no one that comes out of Texas Tech has ever been considered championship quality. I hope the rumors are true that we’ll bring in someone from the outside, perhaps younger, once this year is over. If we go with Ruffin again, I fear Riley will follow Stoops in being content competing for Conference Championships.

 

[WhyNotaSooner]

Well I’m not sure if band aid is the correct analogy, but I get your frustrations. To me, firing MS was as big as it gets. To expect anyone on the staff to replace him and make the adjustments to correct this embarrassment of OU defensive football in a few weeks is a bit too much to ask. The 2nd part of the equation is the hire.

The pipeline of offensive players is solid. Thick. Heavy. His hire for DC must create the same recruiting environment.

 

[CTOkie]

I see the Mike Stoops' firing as just a starting point to making the defense relevant.....it will be a "Band-Aid" remedy if nothing else is done on the defensive side.
Given what OU's defense has been in recent years, I can't put the blame on a single coach. I believe the issues involve everyone from players to coaches to athletic directors and that a major overhaul is needed.
Maybe this is already in the works as the season winds down and the first few months of 2019 could be very telling on how much of a desire/resolve there is to ending such pitiful defensive play.
I'm well aware that it will likely take a few years to right the ship and the some degree of luck has to figure in as far as staff changes go. I just hope that such changes are on the launch pad.

 

[Oklabama]

because of OU's inability to play defense.
No one should expect any team in the Big12 to have a dominate, shut-down defense. That ship has sailed.
But to have game results dependent only on offensive production is not good football.
I want Riley to have some answers by next season. If his coaching skills are as great as advertised, he should be able to fix things on defense. What I'm seeing as I watch games like yesterday are bad coaching and players without basic skills. Such problems are not likely to be fixed quickly, but it's clear to me that the cast of characters (coaches and players) have failed completely. Firing Mike Stoops is only a "Band-Aid" remedy.
I don't claim to have concrete answers, but I believe a complete tear-down and rebuild are in order as far as OU ever fielding a team that can at least have some clutch stops and big plays defensively.
When Texas had the ball with the score tied at 45-45, I knew a great rally was to be wasted by OU.
When OSU had the ball trailing 48-41, I knew the Cowboys would score and go for two points.
And games like this are now common for OU.
It seems that if OU had a defense as good as any other top ten team....that is, at least an adequate defense...this team would be one of OU's best ever teams. The same could be said for Mayfield's last season in 2017.
We need to have a defense that our offense can be proud of.

Steve Spurrier had about the same problem at Florida. Great offenses but below par defenses. So he hired a young guy to come build a defensive team to compliment his offensive team. Spurrier won a national championship a few years later. That would be a good plan for Lincoln Riley to follow.

 

[Rush2112Sooner]

I wonder how involved Riley is on defense if at all? He needs to hire an O-coordinator to free him up for other things.It seems like he is overwhelmed at times thus making bizarre decisions.
I am not knocking him but it is almost too much to ask of anyone to be able to do both.

Does he even know defense.

It’s called reverse engineering. In order to produce an unstoppable offense, you have to understand and predict what the Defense is doing. He would also know what Defense has the ability to stop the Offense, so he can make adjustments. Somewhere in that genius offensive mind, he knows how to stop us. But sooners49 is right, right now he’s too busy designing an unstoppable offense to have time to worry about anything else. Hiring an O coordinator is just as important this off-season as hiring a D coordinator.

 

[soonermade]

It's sad that these past 2 or 3 years, OU's offense will be ranked as the best in history and that wasn't enough to win a National Championship. If OU had Bama's defense, we would break the 47 game winning streak record, easily!

 

[Rush2112Sooner]

It's sad that these past 2 or 3 years, OU's offense will be ranked as the best in history and that wasn't enough to win a National Championship. If OU had Bama's defense, we would break the 47 game winning streak record, easily!

Alabama is doing this year what we had the potential to do the past couple of years, had we had a decent Defense. That could have been us. We can only hope that after Tua leaves, they fall back to previous Offensive woes....

 

[soonermade]

Well, OU's defense better get MUCH better next season because without Kyler Murray bailing us out, even a good QB won't be able to save us. KM's ability to make plays with his feet and avoid certain sacks is the only thing saving this team right now.

 

[Rush2112Sooner]

Yep, we better be prepared for a rebuilding year next year. Something we’re not used to. *gulp*

 

[CTOkie]

It's sad that these past 2 or 3 years, OU's offense will be ranked as the best in history and that wasn't enough to win a National Championship. If OU had Bama's defense, we would break the 47 game winning streak record, easily!

How true !
But even with an average defense, OU's last two seasons could have netted championships.

 

[DancesWithWolves]

Firing Mike was about more than turning our current defense into a top 50 defense. It had to be done when it was to get the attention of potential defensive recruits. Riley had to show that he is serious about getting better defensively. Will it work? Who knows but carrying on with the status quo wasn’t going to result in improvement. We absolutely have to get bigger, faster, and better all along the defense.

Let’s hope Lincoln can find and recruit another Heisman caliber QB. Baker and Kyler fell into our lap. Lucky but very fortunate. Lincoln will have to really work some magic next year with whoever our starting QB is.

 

[DancesWithWolves]

Also whoever we get as DC needs to be young enough to enjoy playing the social media game. Today’s kids don’t know anything other than having their asses kissed constantly. I’d hate to have to be # and wtf ever at every recruit every time they post on social media. That would get old but it has to be done.

 

[Oklabama]

I’m not sure I agree with this.Riley is a great OC and that’s what he was hired for in the first place. If we weren’t scoring 50 points a game, would people consider him a good HC? We all know we have to score a lot to even win these days because our defense is so bad. Does Riley acknowledge its as bad as it is? Is he going to fall into the all out coaching tree nepotism like Stoops did. If so, the opportunity is already there considering who we have on staff. Thankfully most of the coaches are good. The problem I have is that defensively speaking, nothing or no one that comes out of Texas Tech has ever been considered championship quality. I hope the rumors are true that we’ll bring in someone from the outside, perhaps younger, once this year is over. If we go with Ruffin again, I fear Riley will follow Stoops in being content competing for Conference Championships.

None of the defensive coaches should be untouchable including Lincoln’s friend, Ruffin, but I will be shocked if he fires that guy. I don’t have too much hope in Riley doing much more than replacing one or two coaches. I rarely tout ESPN, but the College Football Final guys correctly called out the OU defensive woes today. And, 48 points aren’t enough to guarantee a win with this sorry defense. The OSU quarterback flat out missed an open receiver on the two point try.

 

[SoonerMikee05]

None of the defensive coaches should be untouchable including Lincoln’s friend, Ruffin, but I will be shocked if he fires that guy. I don’t have too much hope in Riley doing much more than replacing one or two coaches. I rarely tout ESPN, but the College Football Final guys correctly called out the OU defensive woes today. And, 48 points aren’t enough to guarantee a win with this sorry defense. The OSU quarterback flat out missed an open receiver on the two point try.

Seems like Golden the co-DC at Alabama would be a good choice. He would bring instant credibility, recruiting, etc.

 

[Oklabama]

Seems like Golden the co-DC at Alabama would be a good choice. He would bring instant credibility, recruiting, etc.

I think Golden would be a very good pick up and there are others. It will take $$$$$$$ (7 figures) and probably some say in who the defensive coaches are.

 

[Belldozer1]

None of the defensive coaches should be untouchable including Lincoln’s friend, Ruffin, but I will be shocked if he fires that guy. I don’t have too much hope in Riley doing much more than replacing one or two coaches. I rarely tout ESPN, but the College Football Final guys correctly called out the OU defensive woes today. And, 48 points aren’t enough to guarantee a win with this sorry defense. The OSU quarterback flat out missed an open receiver on the two point try.

That’s what’s scary or sad or frustrating, a combination of all three. 48 points should be more than enough to win. Yesterday was like watching Mike Stoops defense with the ol’ pitch and catch all the way down the field routine. It’s like a prevent D that prevents nothing.

 

[Rush2112Sooner]

And the fans in the stands actually boo’d this time; that was rare, and should (hopefully) strike a chord with LR. Someone needs to pull the plug on this D staff at year’s end. If Riley is too close to Ruffin, then the AD or President needs to step in and be the “bad guy” and do it for him.

 

[Phaeded]

Is there a reason why Kerry Cooks wasn't shown the door with Mikey? And it doesn't matter if he can recruit if he can't develop or scheme...which he most certainly cannot.

After the game McNeil is saying the scheme was to go one-on-one on of the best WRs in the country, as if doing that versus zone(?) was a great strategy. We needed deep safety coverage, but it never materialized as we watched Wallace put up career numbers.

The next DC needs to be a secondary specialist. We're not leaving this conference any time soon.

Short term: Why wasn't Norwood pulled earlier after getting beat deep early and often is the worst indictment against McNeil & Co (beaten badly on another bomb he was bailed out by a bad pass). If we can't find serviceable replacements for him and Motley then there is no reason to hope for the slightest improvement.

Tre Brown is at least with his man when he gets beat (Sometimes its simply a well-thrown ball - there's a reason Corndog is #12 nationally in passing yards - and going up after yesterday); he's salvageable with proper coaching.

What's maddening is you go through the rest of the D roster and its not like everyone just sucks, there is just a lingering malaise from having been tutored by Mike for their careers to date here.

 

[kcstorm06]

Is there a reason why Kerry Cooks wasn't shown the door with Mikey? And it doesn't matter if he can recruit if he can't develop or scheme...which he most certainly cannot.

After the game McNeil is saying the scheme was to go one-on-one on of the best WRs in the country, as if doing that versus zone(?) was a great strategy. We needed deep safety coverage, but it never materialized as we watched Wallace put up career numbers.

The next DC needs to be a secondary specialist. We're not leaving this conference any time soon.

Short term: Why wasn't Norwood pulled earlier after getting beat deep early and often is the worst indictment against McNeil & Co (beaten badly on another bomb he was bailed out by a bad pass). If we can't find serviceable replacements for him and Motley then there is no reason to hope for the slightest improvement.

Tre Brown is at least with his man when he gets beat (Sometimes its simply a well-thrown ball - there's a reason Corndog is #12 nationally in passing yards - and going up after yesterday); he's salvageable with proper coaching.

What's maddening is you go through the rest of the D roster and its not like everyone just sucks, there is just a lingering malaise from having been tutored by Mike for their careers to date here.

My thoughts exactly. LR suggested that we “keyed” on run on D yesterday...allegedly. We did not key on anything yesterday. May as well put cardboard cut outs in defensive backfield.

 

[CTOkie]

Doesn't everyone here feel that Riley will try to figure this out after the bowl game ?
I can't believe he will do little or nothing.....his credibility is on the line as far as I'm concerned. He is here to win games AND championships. The status quo will not let this happen.

 

[Phaeded]

And the fans in the stands actually boo’d this time; that was rare, and should (hopefully) strike a chord with LR.

Hell, Riley was booed when he stuck with his trend of running it on 3rd and 10+ (this happened at least twice, maybe 3 times, but I am specifically thinking of 3rd and forever and we ran Murray on a keep for 3 yards or whatever, with several shouts of "C'mon Riley" erupting - at least heard from my NW end zone seats).

 

[thatdude35]

Is there a reason why Kerry Cooks wasn't shown the door with Mikey? And it doesn't matter if he can recruit if he can't develop or scheme...which he most certainly cannot.

After the game McNeil is saying the scheme was to go one-on-one on of the best WRs in the country, as if doing that versus zone(?) was a great strategy. We needed deep safety coverage, but it never materialized as we watched Wallace put up career numbers.

The next DC needs to be a secondary specialist. We're not leaving this conference any time soon.

Short term: Why wasn't Norwood pulled earlier after getting beat deep early and often is the worst indictment against McNeil & Co (beaten badly on another bomb he was bailed out by a bad pass). If we can't find serviceable replacements for him and Motley then there is no reason to hope for the slightest improvement.

Tre Brown is at least with his man when he gets beat (Sometimes its simply a well-thrown ball - there's a reason Corndog is #12 nationally in passing yards - and going up after yesterday); he's salvageable with proper coaching.

What's maddening is you go through the rest of the D roster and its not like everyone just sucks, there is just a lingering malaise from having been tutored by Mike for their careers to date here.

Wallace put up career numbers against Texas not us but yea I hear you. Tre Brown and Robert Barnes are the only bright spots in the secondary trust. It’s the players really who the coaches don’t trust also with what we run we need a pass rush to help out the dbs. We don’t get a pass rush and there’s the cushion given. I think we are getting some better dbs in the next few years. We just need more physical corners

 

[soonermade]

DBs aren't generally getting torched, when WRs are wide open, it's poor zone defense. The main problem I see with the defense is the lack of push by the DL, those guys, on paper, are supposed to be really good.

 

[WhyNotaSooner]

None of the defensive coaches should be untouchable including Lincoln’s friend, Ruffin, but I will be shocked if he fires that guy. I don’t have too much hope in Riley doing much more than replacing one or two coaches. I rarely tout ESPN, but the College Football Final guys correctly called out the OU defensive woes today. And, 48 points aren’t enough to guarantee a win with this sorry defense. The OSU quarterback flat out missed an open receiver on the two point try.

I think we shall see a pretty decent sized overhaul coaching wise. Look to the top incoming recruits for who stays and who goes. Also, I don't think Baker & Murray 'fell' into our lap. They by choice, both... decided to walk away from their respective programs and play for Riley. That's pretty telling. I don't think we'll have issues on offense while Riley is around.

 

[bcsoonerfan]

It.
Is.
The.
Scheme.

The players have talent. We're not letting them play. Our coaches have proven time and again they are content with the ridiculous cushions and giving up first down yardage play after play. 3 or 4 man rushes with rarely a blitz and soft zone coverages allow easy pitch and catch. We don't trust our players and we coach scares. It's like a moderately tighter prevent defense. Our guys have no confidence because of this. Mike, and to an extent, Bob, are responsible for this. It went on to long. Mike would implement this soft scheme anytime we played a team with a high powered offense. Mike was broken by Tavon Austin in 2012 and never recovered.

Make do through this season but if we see the same cowardice next year, Lincoln will be sealing his own fate.