It’s not going to matter how many games the Oklahoma defense comes up with big plays or performs at a high level.
Recent history is not on its side, and Mike Stoops’ group is going to hear the whispers until the consistency is shown.
Through two games in the 2018 season, though, not bad. OU’s defense showed up, showed out and paved the way to a 49-21 victory against visiting UCLA on Saturday afternoon.
“Just trying to change the culture,” defensive back Justin Broiles said. “Tired of being known as Oklahoma – offense. Oklahoma – offense. When you think Oklahoma, you think defense. Like back when Roy Williams and Teddy Lehman were here, you thought defense when you thought Oklahoma.”
And when you thought defense, you thought aggressiveness. You thought about guys playing like their hair was on fire. You saw plays being made.
Saturday was an example of that. OU allowed a mere 213 yards to the Bruins through three quarters before UCLA saw some success against OU’s backups. The Sooners who posted nine tackles for loss last week outdid that number with a whopping 12, including six sacks.
“We can celebrate what we did in Game 1 and Game 2 and I feel like we should,” linebacker Curtis Bolton said. “We played some damn good football, and some damn good football when everybody outside is saying that we’re this and we’re that. We’re not worried about any of that. We’re worried about showing up on Saturdays and playing football.”
Leading the way were a couple of names not mentioned at all last week. Linebacker Mark Jackson had 10 tackles, while sophomore linebacker Kenneth Murray had nine tackles, a sack and 2.5 tackles for loss a week removed from earning a goose egg in the tackle column.
If ever there was a game for OU to dial up pressure, this was going to be it. With UCLA starting quarterback Wilton Speight unable to play, true freshman Dorrian Thompson-Robinson was thrust into the spotlight.
And OU’s defense was ready for action. It started with the defensive line, but it carried over to all phases of the defense.
“Oh, it’s so fun,” said Bolton about when the defensive line is playing at a high standard. “It makes it just ridiculously—I can’t even explain how much better it is when you’ve got a d-line like ours playing the way they are, and they’re resetting the line of scrimmage.”
This was the goal. This is what had been preached throughout preseason camp by all the defensive coaches. There is no singular standout like an Ogbonnia Okoronkwo. This group, so far, hasn’t needed to rely on one guy.
This is a unit. A hungry group ready to show what it can do every single game this season.
“We’ve been trying to develop more, have more answers, give people more problems than just one guy here, one guy there,” head coach Lincoln Riley said. “So far two games here, they’ve done pretty well. We’re getting ready to get tested a lot of different ways here going forward, but I think we’re certainly off to a great start defensively.”
Bolton led the way with 1.5 sacks, while Murray, Tre Brown, Tre Norwood and Ronnie Perkins all had one sack and Jackson pitched in with half a sack.
“We’re out there trying to be hungry, trying to get plays in the negative behind the line of scrimmage, stuff like that, so it was definitely good to see everyone continue to improve,” Murray said. “We’re starting to see the fruits of our work. We’re going out there and working.”
Recent history is not on its side, and Mike Stoops’ group is going to hear the whispers until the consistency is shown.
Through two games in the 2018 season, though, not bad. OU’s defense showed up, showed out and paved the way to a 49-21 victory against visiting UCLA on Saturday afternoon.
“Just trying to change the culture,” defensive back Justin Broiles said. “Tired of being known as Oklahoma – offense. Oklahoma – offense. When you think Oklahoma, you think defense. Like back when Roy Williams and Teddy Lehman were here, you thought defense when you thought Oklahoma.”
And when you thought defense, you thought aggressiveness. You thought about guys playing like their hair was on fire. You saw plays being made.
Saturday was an example of that. OU allowed a mere 213 yards to the Bruins through three quarters before UCLA saw some success against OU’s backups. The Sooners who posted nine tackles for loss last week outdid that number with a whopping 12, including six sacks.
“We can celebrate what we did in Game 1 and Game 2 and I feel like we should,” linebacker Curtis Bolton said. “We played some damn good football, and some damn good football when everybody outside is saying that we’re this and we’re that. We’re not worried about any of that. We’re worried about showing up on Saturdays and playing football.”
Leading the way were a couple of names not mentioned at all last week. Linebacker Mark Jackson had 10 tackles, while sophomore linebacker Kenneth Murray had nine tackles, a sack and 2.5 tackles for loss a week removed from earning a goose egg in the tackle column.
If ever there was a game for OU to dial up pressure, this was going to be it. With UCLA starting quarterback Wilton Speight unable to play, true freshman Dorrian Thompson-Robinson was thrust into the spotlight.
And OU’s defense was ready for action. It started with the defensive line, but it carried over to all phases of the defense.
“Oh, it’s so fun,” said Bolton about when the defensive line is playing at a high standard. “It makes it just ridiculously—I can’t even explain how much better it is when you’ve got a d-line like ours playing the way they are, and they’re resetting the line of scrimmage.”
This was the goal. This is what had been preached throughout preseason camp by all the defensive coaches. There is no singular standout like an Ogbonnia Okoronkwo. This group, so far, hasn’t needed to rely on one guy.
This is a unit. A hungry group ready to show what it can do every single game this season.
“We’ve been trying to develop more, have more answers, give people more problems than just one guy here, one guy there,” head coach Lincoln Riley said. “So far two games here, they’ve done pretty well. We’re getting ready to get tested a lot of different ways here going forward, but I think we’re certainly off to a great start defensively.”
Bolton led the way with 1.5 sacks, while Murray, Tre Brown, Tre Norwood and Ronnie Perkins all had one sack and Jackson pitched in with half a sack.
“We’re out there trying to be hungry, trying to get plays in the negative behind the line of scrimmage, stuff like that, so it was definitely good to see everyone continue to improve,” Murray said. “We’re starting to see the fruits of our work. We’re going out there and working.”
