The Oklahoma Defense

[Soonerborn59]

After looking at the Total Defensive stats today I must say the defense is much better than I realized. They are currenlty sitting as the 31st best defense in the country ( now its not great but did any of us really think they would be top 50 heading into the season? ) and that is 12 spots higher than the LSU defense is.

Like any defense they have had those moments that gets us all to thinking "Geez this is just like last season" but for the most part outside of the KSU game and the first half of the Baylor game they have been pretty consistently good / fair and certainly better than last years. Against OSU they just need to limit the brain farts they are having from time to time this season.

 

[JConXtsy]

They looked pretty dumb against Iowa State too - granted Iowa State is the #12 offense right now.
Wow. Has Iowa State had a better offense outside of the Seneca Wallace days?

 

[Deweygolfer]

Anybody being objective can see that this years defense is better than last years. How much better? Depends on which way the wind blows...………..

Last year we gave up 33.3 pts and 454 yards per game, this year to date we are giving up 25.5 pts and 337 yards per game. The reduction in yards per game is extremely significant and more indicative to me than pts due to some of the bad turnovers we've had this year.

 

[kcstorm06]

31 is not too shabby compared to what we suffered through last year. Hurts controls his turnover illness and we move up the ladder. Stopping Hubbard will be tough...and well Baylor probably sans Brewer.

 

[Tollboothmgr]

Anybody being objective can see that this years defense is better than last years. How much better? Depends on which way the wind blows...………..

the defense is better because it couldnt be worse. being last requires that. it also means we could have been as bad as last year, and the year before that etc. the fact is this team has a better attitude and simpler schemes with fewer busts which translates into making the opposition be clever in its schemes (see KSU) and that doesnt always happen the whole game (see BAY). the result is a better statistical defense with mostly the same dudes....thanks to a coach who is smart enough to tailor his design to what his players can best execute. we are 31st because we have improved across the board on the defensive side

 

[Soonerborn59]

They looked pretty dumb against Iowa State too - granted Iowa State is the #12 offense right now.
Wow. Has Iowa State had a better offense outside of the Seneca Wallace days?

Yea that was not a good game. In fairness though the offense didn't help the defense much in that game after building a big lead it done exactly what it did against Baylor in the first half and in the TCU game after building a 21-0 lead. Of course though in the TCU game its not so much the offense went limp as it was bad decisions and lack of protecting the ball.

 

[Soonerborn59]

31 is not too shabby compared to what we suffered through last year. Hurts controls his turnover illness and we move up the ladder. Stopping Hubbard will be tough...and well Baylor probably sans Brewer.

We better have 2 defenders on Mims at all times because that dude is dangerous.

 

[kcstorm06]

We better have 2 defenders on Mims at all times because that dude is dangerous.

If Brewer is out, he may not be so dangerous. But he is talented. I give him that.

 

[kcstorm06]

We better have 2 defenders on Mims at all times because that dude is dangerous.

If Brewer is out, he may not be so dangerous. But he is talented. I give him that.

 

[bcsoonerfan]

Oklahoma needs to, against Oklahoma State, do something I haven't seen Grinch do much of, make significant adjustments based on what we're facing.

Pokes are without their starting quarterback and one of the nation's top receivers. It would be nice to see Grinch sell out to stop Hubbard and force Oklahoma State to win through the air. That's not so much a statement on our defensive backs ability but more the dangers of how a defense can be put on their heels by a running back carving them up.

I'm very impressed with the strides made in Grinch's first season but I do have my fears about how things will go next season without a guy like Gallimore in the middle. Running a 3 man front, imo, is a recipe for disaster without a monster in the middle. I'll always be a 4-3 guy when it comes to the college level.

 

[WhyNotaSooner]

This thread makes me smile. The OU defense was rated #30 even after the KSU loss. It does indeed have a ways to go but let's be honest here, they are better than last year. They're much improved and have been for awhile now. The offense gave up 6 turnovers in the past two games... SIX... and yet the Sooners won both games. That in of itself is a major feat. Typically when you lose the turnover battle, you lose the game. I just wish we had this level of defense in either of the past two years!

 

[CTOkie]

OU's defense is better than last season and it had a lot to do with beating teams like Texas, Baylor and TCU this year.
Crunch time is here with OSU, the Big 12 Championship Game and hopefully a berth in the CFP.
The past 4 games have had opponents averaging 36 points per game, however. That kind of output needs to diminish from here on.

 

[Tollboothmgr]

This thread makes me smile. The OU defense was rated #30 even after the KSU loss. It does indeed have a ways to go but let's be honest here, they are better than last year. They're much improved and have been for awhile now. The offense gave up 6 turnovers in the past two games... SIX... and yet the Sooners won both games. That in of itself is a major feat. Typically when you lose the turnover battle, you lose the game. I just wish we had this level of defense in either of the past two years!

in other words WNaS, our defense is now more reliable than our offense. WOW. last year could you even dream saying that in just one season

 

[WhyNotaSooner]

OU's defense is better than last season and it had a lot to do with beating teams like Texas, Baylor and TCU this year.
Crunch time is here with OSU, the Big 12 Championship Game and hopefully a berth in the CFP.
The past 4 games have had opponents averaging 36 points per game, however. That kind of output needs to diminish from here on.

Agreed. I don't have the time or the skillset to run the numbers but I'm curoius as to how many of those 36 pts/game avg are a result of the turnovers from the offense.

There have been 7 INTs. & 17 fumbles, nine of which were lost. Between these 16 turnovers it'd be interesting to know how many points it cost us and how many points opposing teams earned from them.

Bottomline, we have to get better.

 

[Scottsdale.Sooner]

I have had the chance to watch most of our games many times this season. It appears to me that the biggest mistake our D makes is overrunning the play or jumping before the offensive play reveals itself. Especially around the ends. Is this youthful exuberance? When Grinch corrects it (2nd half Baylor) the result are major.

 

[bcsoonerfan]

Agreed. I don't have the time or the skillset to run the numbers but I'm curoius as to how many of those 36 pts/game avg are a result of the turnovers from the offense.

There have been 7 INTs. & 17 fumbles, nine of which were lost. Between these 16 turnovers it'd be interesting to know how many points it cost us and how many points opposing teams earned from them.

Bottomline, we have to get better.

Last week's game endured a 21 point swing that was the difference between Oklahoma leading 28-24 to the likely potential of a 42-17 lead.
Turnovers have been a significant part of our struggles in this 4 game stretch, mainly at the hands of Hurts. The defense, while having inconsistencies, have secured the last three wins.

While we were all riding high after the Texas game, myself as well, Jalen's flaws were exposed and since then I have firmly believe we'd be a more complete team had we gone with Rattler from game 1 and he'd have taken his lumps. It's just a hunch but I think that kids got it and that Lincoln's offense is better with a true passing QB.

 

[Oklabama]

Last week's game endured a 21 point swing that was the difference between Oklahoma leading 28-24 to the likely potential of a 42-17 lead.
Turnovers have been a significant part of our struggles in this 4 game stretch, mainly at the hands of Hurts. The defense, while having inconsistencies, have secured the last three wins.

While we were all riding high after the Texas game, myself as well, Jalen's flaws were exposed and since then I have firmly believe we'd be a more complete team had we gone with Rattler from game 1 and he'd have taken his lumps. It's just a hunch but I think that kids got it and that Lincoln's offense is better with a true passing QB.

“NOT SO FAST”....bc.

 

[CTOkie]

Hurts' only significant flaw is his fumbling, especially in the red zone. But with Hurts at QB and the hiring of Coach Grinch, the 2019 Sooners have overachieved considerably in my opinion. The defense is improving and can make clutch stops and despite Hurts' 7 fumbles while losing 5, the offense has been good for the most part outside of the Kansas State game and the second half of the TCU game.
Hurts is not the passer (or QB) of a Murray or Mayfield, but very few QB's in CFB history are or have been...but he is still in Heisman discussions this late in the season (which I believe he should not be).
Meanwhile, Hurts has thrown for 3,184 yards and 30 touchdowns with 6 picks going into the last game of the regular season. That an average of 317 yards and 3 touchdowns per game, with 1,156 rushing yards, and the bottom line is he's been OU's best option at QB for 2019.
As good as Rattler and Mordecai are or might become, OU would not be 10-1 with either of them this year. Hurts' lone season as a Sooner is just what Riley needed with two inexperienced backups on the roster.

 

[WhyNotaSooner]

Since the beginning of the season, I've always thought that Hurts was brought in as a stop gap this year in an effort to give Rattler some time to mature a bit. In addition, I always thought that as soon as OU was out of the playoff discussion that Rattler should take over. I still feel that way. But I don't see or beleieve that Riley will bench Hurts this late into the season.

 

[CTOkie]

Agree on Hurts being a "rental" only....but what a "rental" he's been !
And with the new 4-game eligibility as part of redshirting, Hurts' arrival was timely. By my calculations, Rattler has one game left to play without losing his redshirt status, but unless OU has a big lead late in the 4th quarter tonight, I think Rattler's 2019 season in over.....then again, there's always an injury lurking which could change that scenario.

 

[Oklabama]

Agree on Hurts being a "rental" only....but what a "rental" he's been !
And with the new 4-game eligibility as part of redshirting, Hurts' arrival was timely. By my calculations, Rattler has one game left to play without losing his redshirt status, but unless OU has a big lead late in the 4th quarter tonight, I think Rattler's 2019 season in over.....then again, there's always an injury lurking which could change that scenario.

I hope you’re right about Rattler having one game left. In a worst case scenario, it’s good to have him available......and I’m not just talking about an injury situation. Riley is not going to plug him in unless Jalen is really sucking it up, but I’d have no issue putting Rattler in if Jalen can’t win it. I’ve always wondered what the outcome would have been had Bob replaced Jason White in the championship game with LSU. It was pretty obvious that late in the game Jason’s injuries were hampering his play. JMO.

 

[iasooner1]

I wanted the same thing that night against LSU; what should have been...

 

[Senior Sooner]

Hurts' only significant flaw is his fumbling, especially in the red zone. But with Hurts at QB and the hiring of Coach Grinch, the 2019 Sooners have overachieved considerably in my opinion. The defense is improving and can make clutch stops and despite Hurts' 7 fumbles while losing 5, the offense has been good for the most part outside of the Kansas State game and the second half of the TCU game.
Hurts is not the passer (or QB) of a Murray or Mayfield, but very few QB's in CFB history are or have been...but he is still in Heisman discussions this late in the season (which I believe he should not be).
Meanwhile, Hurts has thrown for 3,184 yards and 30 touchdowns with 6 picks going into the last game of the regular season. That an average of 317 yards and 3 touchdowns per game, with 1,156 rushing yards, and the bottom line is he's been OU's best option at QB for 2019.
As good as Rattler and Mordecai are or might become, OU would not be 10-1 with either of them this year. Hurts' lone season as a Sooner is just what Riley needed with two inexperienced backups on the roster.

I like your use of THAT Word, CT...It's the one I've been searching for to describe my assessment of this year's Sooners...

 

[CTOkie]

I like your use of THAT Word, CT...It's the one I've been searching for to describe my assessment of this year's Sooners...

When I think of OU's rebuilt offensive line, a transfer (and very talented) QB, 3 new receivers, the loss of Calcatera, Mann, Norwood, Sermon, Kelly, Asamoah, a new kicker in Brkic, a new punter in Mundshau, an undersized secondary and a new defensive coaching staff, 10-1 is pretty damn good.
And I see recruiting helped by Riley's willingness to play many players immediately. This would appeal to me if I were being recruited, especially given OU's facilities and history.

 

[Senior Sooner]

When I think of OU's rebuilt offensive line, a transfer (and very talented) QB, 3 new receivers, the loss of Calcatera, Mann, Norwood, Sermon, Kelly, Asamoah, a new kicker in Brkic, a new punter in Mundshau, an undersized secondary and a new defensive coaching staff, 10-1 is pretty damn good.
And I see recruiting helped by Riley's willingness to play many players immediately. This would appeal to me if I were being recruited, especially given OU's facilities and history.

Again, I Agree...I'm not just a Rubber Stamp...A 'Me, Tooer'...We are simply on the same page with this. My take, all along, has been if I'm a highly Recruited/Rated(*****) Defensive Super Stud, My Ego is going to tell me to go to Oklahoma, and be their Saviour...That I can make a difference...They Need Me, and I'm agonna get 'em another NC...

Here...Hold My Beer! and Where do I sign?

 

[WP76]

Hurts allowed us to avoid having to hang our passing game on a new QB and three highly touted WRs. Rattler will have a year of coaching/strength and conditioning under his belt before being exposed to the white-hot expectations of the OU fanbase. [Anyone remember another true freshman five star QB named Bomar?] Meanwhile, the three five star frosh wide receivers will have had a chance to play big boy football without relying on another frosh to get them the ball. Pretty much an ideal scenario IMO.

 

[bcsoonerfan]

Hurts' only significant flaw is his fumbling, especially in the red zone. But with Hurts at QB and the hiring of Coach Grinch, the 2019 Sooners have overachieved considerably in my opinion. The defense is improving and can make clutch stops and despite Hurts' 7 fumbles while losing 5, the offense has been good for the most part outside of the Kansas State game and the second half of the TCU game.
Hurts is not the passer (or QB) of a Murray or Mayfield, but very few QB's in CFB history are or have been...but he is still in Heisman discussions this late in the season (which I believe he should not be).
Meanwhile, Hurts has thrown for 3,184 yards and 30 touchdowns with 6 picks going into the last game of the regular season. That an average of 317 yards and 3 touchdowns per game, with 1,156 rushing yards, and the bottom line is he's been OU's best option at QB for 2019.
As good as Rattler and Mordecai are or might become, OU would not be 10-1 with either of them this year. Hurts' lone season as a Sooner is just what Riley needed with two inexperienced backups on the roster.

His most significant flaw, even more so than the turnovers, is he cannot see the field. He's a great football player and a below average quarterback.

We are what we are at this point in the season and changing QBs now is to risky so we're rolling with Hurts, and I'm okay with it, but once Kleinman laid the blueprint on slowing down Hurts, he has struggled.