It just seems that OU struggled with stopping the run. Yes teams passed it all over the field last year. But stopping the run might have eliminated some of the open receivers that ran free in our secondary. What does this team have to do to run stop better? Is it a player issue or scheme? Thoughts????
Lets talk defense
- Thread starter sooner_mike
- Start date
Good topic Mike, I don't want to turn it around but here are three plays that might have changed our season.
TK throwing a pick six on the 5 yard line to KSU.
4th and one against TCU and we don't lead our running back with a fullback.
Re-kick to one of the fastest punt returners in the nation, OSU
.
Baylor and Clemson......I have no answer.
Agreed. Pretty much defines the season w/ regards to game changers. With regards to what we see in the fall is going to be at least exciting with a new offense. I'm looking forward to see how the team does & hope they do well. There's been a tremendous amount of shuffle with coaching. Hopefully the changes can ignite a spark. I'd be down for that.
I am also excited, would love to see an Oklahoma defense lock down so to speak. With new coaches at nearly every position you have to think the offense/defense will be improved. But like our offense needs an identity so does the defensive side of the ball. Just feel like stopping the run has to be there first.
Baylor averaged 2.8 YPC against OU while Petty had plenty of space to throw to on the outside with DB's 10 yards off the line. The longest run for them was 15 yards. They ran the ball 52 times, so it isn't like they didn't try to.
Clemson averaged 1.6 YPC with a long of 14 and 42 attempts.
Rush defense wasn't the problem last year, Monty did his job well.
Clemson averaged 1.6 YPC with a long of 14 and 42 attempts.
Rush defense wasn't the problem last year, Monty did his job well.
OU has not played championship caliber defense since 2009, when an injury-riddled team that lost 5 games yielded only 189 points in 13 games....an average of 15 points per game....and had only one bad game that year, losing to Texas Tech on the road, 41-13.
The quality of OU's defense in 2015 is anyone's guess, but it's probably wishful thinking to say it will be good enough for a final four playoff spot, much less a conference championship. A secondary has to be overhauled, Grissom, Phillips and Ndulue must be replaced and the play at linebacker needs some serious improving. Beyond that, the tackling must be stellar after it was so embarrassingly bad last year. Playing in a conference which features wide open offense does not mean a team has to have a shut down type of defense. Realistically, it means that a containment style of defense can work.
The coaching changes (adding Cooks and Reynolds) must prove to be upgrades...and Coach Kish and Coach Mike Stoops need to step up their performances.
I believe OU could lose 4-5 games this season, but still show improvement over last year.....however, that may get overlooked as teams like TCU, Baylor, Texas, West Virginia and OSU are beginning to show signs of stability.
OU needs to get good again......quickly.
The quality of OU's defense in 2015 is anyone's guess, but it's probably wishful thinking to say it will be good enough for a final four playoff spot, much less a conference championship. A secondary has to be overhauled, Grissom, Phillips and Ndulue must be replaced and the play at linebacker needs some serious improving. Beyond that, the tackling must be stellar after it was so embarrassingly bad last year. Playing in a conference which features wide open offense does not mean a team has to have a shut down type of defense. Realistically, it means that a containment style of defense can work.
The coaching changes (adding Cooks and Reynolds) must prove to be upgrades...and Coach Kish and Coach Mike Stoops need to step up their performances.
I believe OU could lose 4-5 games this season, but still show improvement over last year.....however, that may get overlooked as teams like TCU, Baylor, Texas, West Virginia and OSU are beginning to show signs of stability.
OU needs to get good again......quickly.
Wrong. Flat out wrong as OU's biggest defensive deficiency was the inability to play pass defense. I am not saying we had a great run stopping defense. What I am saying is that OU's run stopping defense was a great deal better then it's ability to stop the pass. The failure to stop the pass was on the secondary and LBers, not the upfront run stoppers and pass rushers.
We were weak in the secondary and at the the LB positions. When you have a defense that with a weak secondary and poor LBer play that puts a much greater burden on the upfront defensive players -- the DTs and DEs. A good QB playing in one of these uptempo spread offenses will get the ball off very quickly. The way Mike pulled his secondary back off the LOS simply played into the hands of the offense. It gave the QB and the offense a great opportunity to play the short quick release passing game. There is no defensive line that can get pressure on the offense unless the secondary can play some press defense.
Mike pulled the secondary off the LOS because he knew he didn't have guys that could provide adequate coverage on the opposing WRs. It was clear that we had one CB that was even close to being capable of coverage. Our Safeties weren't good pass defenders. My thinking is that Mike didn't have any good choices but to move his guys back as when he played them up close to the LOS the opposing WRs could easily get separation.
If OU is to show great improvement in 2015 then Mike and his new secondary coach has to shore up a poor secondary and then he and Kish have to find some help at the LBer slots. The secondary and LBers will once again be OU's weak links next year.
We have the skill guys on offense and we have some really good options up front on defense. I am not all that worried about the OL. The position groups I am concerned about are the secondary and linebackers.
I've said about all I can say regarding my opinion of our 3-4 defense, but with Montgomery gone I'm really concerned about trying to force it.
I'm not really concerned with our talent. I think we have several guys who can play and a few who can be stars. Tapper, Walker, Wade, Romar, Dimon, Striker, Obo, Bond, Alexander, Shannon, Evans, J. Thomas, A. Thomas, Byrd, Sanchez, and Parker are all capable or better. If a few guys from last years class and this year's class can contribute or even get a surprise or two, we'll be in good shape in regards to athletes and talent, but if there is no confidence in the scheme than it's all for not.
I'm not really concerned with our talent. I think we have several guys who can play and a few who can be stars. Tapper, Walker, Wade, Romar, Dimon, Striker, Obo, Bond, Alexander, Shannon, Evans, J. Thomas, A. Thomas, Byrd, Sanchez, and Parker are all capable or better. If a few guys from last years class and this year's class can contribute or even get a surprise or two, we'll be in good shape in regards to athletes and talent, but if there is no confidence in the scheme than it's all for not.
Roy, I absolutely agree what OU's biggest weakness on D was coverage. I just felt at times we missed a few important tackles during run plays. All I'm saying is stop the run, it would make the opponent more predictable in the pass game.
Soonersincefitty
Sooner starter
Eh, I've always trended to blame the lack of quality players on D before I would the coaches for calling 'bad game plans'...et al.
Come on really, is some of yous hero, Nick Saban that dang brilliant?
Or could it be he has a two or three deep rotation of All American stars at his disposal?
Again, winning begets star studded recruiting classes, and star studded recruiting classes begets winning.
That's just the way it is.
Come on really, is some of yous hero, Nick Saban that dang brilliant?
Or could it be he has a two or three deep rotation of All American stars at his disposal?
Again, winning begets star studded recruiting classes, and star studded recruiting classes begets winning.
That's just the way it is.
I really thought after the Sugar Bowl game that the strength of last year's defense would be the pass rush. I was expecting (or hoping) for games with 7, 8 sacks and multiple INTs, especially with Striker and Grissom. Looking back now after the season, Striker seemed lost all season - I blame the coaches for that, he should have been used on the edge exclusively, not dropping off in coverage.
As for stopping the run, we haven't been strong up the middle since Lofton? Marshall? We have fallen way behind in LBers, For as many great LBers as we've had, we should be LBer U.
As for stopping the run, we haven't been strong up the middle since Lofton? Marshall? We have fallen way behind in LBers, For as many great LBers as we've had, we should be LBer U.
Rio...I am with you on all. Grimson and Stricker were lost somewhere this last season. I don't think it had anything to do with their talent. I think it had more to do with our glaring disadvantage at linebacker where they had to cover people coming out of the backfield.
This.
The defense was tweaked early last season that removed Striker from the attack mode. This was a Coaching choice/decision. The question is whether MS thought it was an absolute necessary thing to do because of lack of talent in other positions or because other coaches in the league exposed his weaknesses is the question. There will be no excuses for MS this season. He's had all the time needed and required to recruit the type(s) of players he wants/needs/desires to fit his defense. It's time to put up or shut up. I'm really hoping it's the 'put up' , if not, it's going to be a very difficult year for Bob Stoops again.
WNAS, if Mike didn't have the talent already on the team to improve the defensive performance as most of us agree is needed, those recruited and signed in 2015 aren't likely to help enough to get us where we need to be. True freshmen making an impact isn't likely. So I'm hoping for better coaching in conjunction with one or two freshmen stepping up....and improved performance from last year's starters. If the defense improves a great deal, I will be pleasantly surprised.
If you really believe what you posted in the original post then why didn't you focus on OU's pass coverage. Surely, you recognized that we did a much better job of stopping the run than we did with pass defense. I find it kind of funny that you suggest in your reply here that "it would make the opponent more predictable in the pass game." I got a great laugh at that comment. Most would suggest that not having a pass defense worth much would be a predictor that the opponent would throw the ball down our throat ... which some did.
Mike, against Baylor we moved our DBs Seven plus [7 plus] yards off of the LOS allowing them to play a backyard game of pass and catch. Baylor didn't beat OU with it's running game. They beat us into the ground because we couldn't defend thei passing game to save our lives. And, then you pick on the our ability to stop the run, which we did fairly well most of the season.
We may have missed a few important tackles during run plays, but we blew the pass defense all season long.
So agree with this. But Mike has no choice but to field the players he's selectively recruited and groomed. The proof will be in the pudding.
I agree that Mike has boxed himself in with some of his off season comments. He essentially has his own players and blaming past DCs, coaches and others for OU's defensive problems won't cut it this next season.
I think we have a chance to turn the defense around somewhat. I am not expecting a miracle as week to week the offenses in this league are tough one to defend. I am expecting us to play more aggressively and with some pressure on opposing receivers. This business of just giving up on being able to cover is just crazy and no OU coach should be excused or given a pass as Mike wants on last years performance.
On offense, I am really looking forward to seeing what Riley puts on the field. How he and his offensive coaches come up with in using these OU RBs is really going to be the key. I hope we see lots of Mixon, Ross and Ford in the passing game with Perine in the backfield as well. Wonder how Flowers will be used as well. Also, a huge key to offense is how Simmons and Gundy do with OU's WRs. I have to hope that the WR coach changes will get these kids going. I think we have the raw talent to get the job done. Time will tell.
I can't wait for Spring Practice and the Spring Game. Hopefully we will get some positives from both the offense and defense.
I think we have a chance to turn the defense around somewhat. I am not expecting a miracle as week to week the offenses in this league are tough one to defend. I am expecting us to play more aggressively and with some pressure on opposing receivers. This business of just giving up on being able to cover is just crazy and no OU coach should be excused or given a pass as Mike wants on last years performance.
On offense, I am really looking forward to seeing what Riley puts on the field. How he and his offensive coaches come up with in using these OU RBs is really going to be the key. I hope we see lots of Mixon, Ross and Ford in the passing game with Perine in the backfield as well. Wonder how Flowers will be used as well. Also, a huge key to offense is how Simmons and Gundy do with OU's WRs. I have to hope that the WR coach changes will get these kids going. I think we have the raw talent to get the job done. Time will tell.
I can't wait for Spring Practice and the Spring Game. Hopefully we will get some positives from both the offense and defense.
I will go on record. Sanchez and JT will hold down the corner spot. Frank coming back will help LB situation. Seasoned D Line will be stout, I' m all in. I will never doubt the Stoops boys on D. Just need players. I think we have em.
This is hilarious.
The same excuses BUT The SAME problem.....Mike Stoops
I didn't want him in 1999, we already had the best defensive coordinator in College Football, Ryan and I damn sure didn't want him to comeback. He is not any good, he can't coach,he can't scheme, lazy recruiter and he cannot make halftime adjustments
The same excuses BUT The SAME problem.....Mike Stoops
I didn't want him in 1999, we already had the best defensive coordinator in College Football, Ryan and I damn sure didn't want him to comeback. He is not any good, he can't coach,he can't scheme, lazy recruiter and he cannot make halftime adjustments
