OU-Florida: Is Sooner defense as bad as Tebow thinks?
The idea apparently floating around Florida — and through much of America, I’d bet — is that Big 12 football is void of any good defenses. Florida quarterback Tim Tebow himself said he was looking forward to playing against a Big 12 defense.
The theory might be correct. Certainly OU’s defense is not as great as it has been in some years. On the other hand, when you’re playing offenses and quarterbacks like the Big 12 has, who knows how good Big 12 defenses actually are? Maybe they’re better than we think.
And you can look at the OU-Florida game the other way, too. Florida’s defense is very strong, but just exactly what SEC offenses get you excited?
Georgia clearly is the best offense Florida has faced. Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford is big-time, and the Bulldogs are potent. And Ole Miss can cause problems; Arkansas transfer Houston Nutt is a heck of a coach and Texas transfer Jevon Sneed is a heck of a quarterback. But they’re not Texas Tech or Texas; probably aren’t Oklahoma State or Missouri.
But look at the other offenses Florida has beaten. Alabama, LSU, Tennessee, South Carolina, Florida State, Miami. Historically strong teams, but not exactly offensive juggernauts in 2008.
That’s what makes OU-Florida so fascinating. Who knows how prolific are Big 12 offenses? Who knows how stingy are SEC defenses. Maybe it’s great offense in the Big 12, maybe it’s bad defense. Maybe it’s great defense in the SEC, but maybe it’s bad offense.
That’s what makes bowls great. We get legitimate non-conference matchups that answer these questions.
-------------Berry Tramel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including AM-640 and FM-98.1. You can e-mail him here and follow him on Twitter @BerryTramel. Visit Berry's website here.
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Berry hit the nail on the head.
The average offensive ranking of Florida’s Div-I opponents was 73, and the only top 50 offenses they played were Georgia (21) and Mississippi (37).
Oklahoma played 4 of the top 10 offenses, and 10 of the top 50. But on the other hand, OU’s opponents had an average defensive ranking of 77. The Sooners only played 3 of the top 50 defenses: TCU (2), Cincy (26) and Texas (50).
Yes, I want tbo to face a Big 12 defense, but not just any Big 12 defense. I want tbo to face 60 solid Sooner minutes of playing against and worrying about the University of Oklahoma’s defense. TWe all know what the three weaknesses of the OU defense are; every reader of the statewide newspaper can recite the three weaknesses of the OU defense; even Missouri had all year to prep for the three weaknesses of the OU defense. Didn’t do them a bit of good, did it? The more thought tbo gives to our defense, the less thought tbo gives to tbo’s own offense; the more tbo underestimates the OU defense, the sharper the contrast with the OU offense. They haven’t faced ANYTHING like the OU offense. They may wish that remained the case.
2003? Some of these players were in middle school then. The Sooner defense was great when thay beat Florida State for the title, but that has no bearing on this game. Different players – different game. I think Berry hit the nail on the head. The Sooners played seven Big 12 teams that averaged more points per game than any SEC team that Florida beat. SEC defenses are statistacally very impressive. We’ll see which one outweighs the other December 8th.
Tom, OU’s quarterback won’t be playing with a broken hand on his throwing arm this time. With all due disrespect to LSU, that is why they won the ball game. Of course, you wouldn’t know that since you obviously didn’t watch the games that season.
LSU only gave up 5 rushing touchdowns all year long that season. Then in the Sugar Bowl, OU, a predominant passing attack, managed two rushing touchdowns. Color me not impressed with SEC defenses.
I love how people like Tom tell other people not to question the defenses in the SEC. This year I think it is very fair to question the SEC defenses in regards to how horrible the offenses are in the SEC. Here is a little comparison of the BIG XII and SEC on offense and defense….
BIG XII
Total Offense
OU…3
TT…4
TU…9
aTm..77
BU…49
OSU..7
MU…6
NU…12
KU…23
CU…93
ISU..42
KSU..33
Total Defense
OU…65
TT…72
TU…50
aTm..113
BU…87
OSU..86
MU…99
NU…83
KU…94
CU…79
ISU..111
KSU..117
SEC
Total Offense
Ark….53
Ala….56
AUB…102
KEN…105
MU…..37
MSU…113
FU…..18
LSU….54
GU…..21
SC…..97
VAN…117
TEN…115
Total Defense
Ark…73
Ala….3
AUB…27
KEN…37
MU….15
MSU…38
FU…..9
LSU…36
GU….28
SC….11
VAN…29
TEN….4
Ole Miss, Florida, and Georgia is the best offenses in the league. I can guarantee you that there are only 2 QBs in the SEC that would be able to start in the BIG XII this year, and I’m pretty sure everybody could name those 2 quarterbacks.
You put Texas or Oklahoma in the SEC I can guarantee you their defensive stats are much like Florida’s and their offense would drop slightly. I will also say you put Florida in the BIG XII their offense would improve and their defense would take a hit in their rankings.
I remember the LSU game and as an OU fan their defense was getting worn out toward the end as they couldn’t stop the run. I also know that Bob Stoops is 3-1 since 2000 against SEC teams.
I will add if defense wins championships then why didn’t Tennessee win the SEC or Bama for that matter? Probably because they couldn’t score points at will. I agree with Tramel’s blog that it is really hard to tell because the balance in both conferences are horrible. Florida is probably one of the most balanced teams, and I will say that OU was up in a lot of games and their 2nd and 3rd team defense was in for probably a total of a complete game and gave up 4th quarter trash points.
Tom…the SEC’s past national championships and LSU’s win over OU five years ago have exactly, precisely, completely, and thoroughly NOTHING – repeat – NOTHING to do with THIS YEAR’S national championship matchup between THIS YEAR’S Oklahoma and Florida teams from THIS YEAR’S Big-12 & SEC conferences. You’ll have to come up with a better argument than “look at what happened in 2003″ to be taken seriously by anybody who really understands football.
As usual Tramel was right on the mark!!!!
Tebow was quoted out of context,he would never say anything that resembled that “can’t wait quote”about Big 12 defenses,he is to smart and would do nothing for bulletin board material.
Number one he is to modest and number two he respects OU and the Big 12.
OU does has special team problems and and what else I have not seen.OU is best team in country right now and will prove it.
The biggest phallacy about bowls is that they somehow answer season long questions about the relative strength of conferences. The National Championship game will answer who is the best that day, who prepared better, and who has the will and the guts to go out and play their best game. All that matters is winning the game, whether they do it by defense or offense, doesn’t matter. They are winning if for themselves, for the team, and for the program, not on behalf of any conference. The conference is the obstacle. It is the hurdle over which the team must jump to accomplish its goal and win the competition. It is not some greater coallition for which Oklahoma must represent.
So, who cares what Tebow thinks about Big 12 defenses in general. All that matters is how good Oklahoma’s defense plays on January 8th. This is Florida v. Oklahoma, not SEC v. Big 12.
The bottom line is this, the SEC Conference as group has some of the worst offenses of all major colleges. This will definitely help your defenses look good. Just like the Big 12 having the best offenses will make your defenses look bad. I am okay with folks saying Florida’s defense is better than OU’s but please do not compare OU’s offense to any of the pathec SEC offenses. Florida will have seen nothing like OU this year!
This game is going to come down to can OU’s offensive line give Bradford enough time to pass and defensively for Ou can our D-line pressure Tebow making him move laterally while also having the linebackers limit Tebow and his great ability to run north and south. If OU can contain Tebow’s running north and south he will make an errant throw if pressured to move laterally aka throw on the run. If OU does that then it is quite possible that Tebow would throw an int. or two, which I believe will be the difference in the game. If there is minimal containment then OU loses; if OU is superior in the battle of the hogs then OU wins.
Ok, follow the logic…there are 4 Heisman finalist…one is from the SEC, three are from the same division of the Big 12, all played against the same defenses, all put up ridiculous numbers…..does this really take a rocket scientist? Everyone wants to talk about how great OU is, ask Stoops, get him drunk and ask him honestly….do the defenses in those two leagues compare? He knows better than anyone.
Tom, OU lost 21-14 and missed a shot to tie 2x. I wouldn’t exactly say that was an embarrassment for OU. You just another jealous Texas fan that can’t get over the fact you’re viewed as inferior?
Barry makes a good point about OU facing offenses like Texas, Texas Tech, OSU, and Missouri. Those great offenses certainly helps to explain the lackluster defense we’ve had this season–lackluster compared to previous OU defenses. But what worries me is our defensive performances against teams that don’t have such good offenses, namely Baylor, Kansas State, and Nebraska. Those teams put up big offensive numbers against us.
I will say this, it seems the defense began to find its stride starting with the Texas Tech game
“the SEC Conference as group has some of the worst offenses of all major colleges. This will definitely help your defenses look good. Just like the Big 12 having the best offenses will make your defenses look bad.”
WOW, that’s some great logic there, did you just use both sides of an argument to prove your point? Maybe (definitely) you have it backwards….maybe, just maybe Great defenses make offenses look bad, and bad defenses make offenses look great. Even mediocre defenses don’t allow 60+ for 5 games in a row….I don’t care how good the Offense is…that’s called ZERO D. It’s all moot, there’s a game to watch to find out now. Just wait, we’ll see.
Want to know what to expect when a superior Florida defense faces a potent Big XII offense, then just type “1995 Nebraska Cornhuskers” football team into Wikipedia. Nebraska won 62-24. Get ready for more of the same. OU 84 – FL 21.
gatorbait there were only 2 good teams in the SEC this year bama and Florida, the rest are garbage or were severely over-rated (LSU and Georgia). The entire SEC chant is over-rated when you only have 3 teams in the top 25 compared to 5 in the BIG XII. SEC stats on defense would be impressive if the SEC had more than 2 offenses in the top 25.
Arkansas = garbage
Alabama = good team
Auburn = garbage
Kentucky = garbage
Ole Miss = descent
Miss State = garbage
Florida = good team
LSU = garbage
Georgia = Highly over rated
South Carolina = garbage
Vanderbilt = garbage
Tennesse = garbage
Oklahoma = Good Team
Texas Tech = Good Team
Texas = Good Team
aTm = Garbage
Baylor = Garbage
OSU = Good Team
Mizzou = Descent Team
Neb = Garbage
KU = Over-rated
CU = Garbage
ISU = Garbage
KSU = Garbage
I will admit the defenses in the BIG XII are not that good, but we will see how well the SEC fairs out come bowl season.
Tebow was referring to hoping to have a chance to play in a national championship game against OU, he wasn’t dissing OU’s defense. It will be a great game. Florida’s defense is no pushover and OU’s offense is better than any that the SEC could put up this year. Florida’s offense is better than any that OU has defended this year. That’s why the boys play. It’s going to be a great game to watch.
Go Gators!
I have to disagree Mike… OU has faced 5 offenses that are ranked better than Florida’s. SEC defense vs. BIG XII offense discussion is over-rated look at the stats for both conferences when they played out of conference. BIG XII defenses got worse in conference… SEC defenses got better in conference. You have 2 conferences where 1 can play defense and the other cannot play offense. It is night and day.
Hopefully we can get ready to buy OU NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP T-shirts!!!! Will be a GREAT game just hope the SOONERS prevail in January.
This is GREAT — I hope Tebow, his pals and the national media keep telling OU’s defense that they aren’t any good, and please please tell OU they won’t win this game. The players thrive on this stuff as evidenced by the last four games. When will you guys learn?!!!
I like for people to KEEP on MOUTHING OFF, just makes a good case for the SOONERS to get more fired up for Florida and prove what they are really made of, right!!!! Florida is very good, but I honestly beleive that OKLAHOMA is better. By the way has Florida played any team that uses the NO huddle?
Don’t forget to factor in that the good teams that OU played weren’t all from the Big 12. They also lit up Cincinnati (Big East champ) and TCU (WAC champ).
Look for Tebow to try an repeat what Robinson did against OU. Zac gashed OU a few times in ways that Tebow could too. This is a real interesting match up for the simply reason that there are so many possible ways this could pan out. I will say this, if Florida does not get ready in a way that exceeds what they have done all year, they will get beat. I watched sevetral SEC games this year and I will give credit for some dominating performances by FLorida against the likes of LSU and Georgia, and playig Alabama real well, but LSU and Georgia were not very good teams this year.
hope we watch the film from Bedlam. our D- line was pushing too far up the field, LB’s dropped in coverage leaving middle of the field wideopen for QB to scramble. we need to get pressure but not lose containment of the QB. Also need bigger LB like Box or Balogun in the middle staying home to stop Tebow up the middle. I am not worried as much about option or sweeps. we are fast and string it out well. also remember that special teams have put D in tough field position. a great number of scores were due to mistakes and short fields.
LOL I can’t wait to see when tbo can’t find a open receiver and takes off running, he will be plowed in the ground and hurt like no sec defense could do…RUN TEBOW RUN……..I think OU could show up in Miami without any defense and win this one…..OU 64 FL 31 Happy New Year
Tom – what are u doing at 3:30 am? Could not sleep? was that hurt so much when OU going to BSC?
We will see…
I think a few of you are going to be surprised. OU has been ragged on for a lot of years now and I think they are pissed off enough to really bring that A game. I believe it will start slowly and then open up as the game progresses and OU will win fairly handily. Even then I don’t expect the criticism stop. People just have no respect any more. America is in the toilet.
The difference between Zach Robinson and Tebow is quickness and escapability. Robinson has it, Tebow doesn’t. Tebow’s a good runner but a different kind of runner. He would not and will not get away from Beal and Austin English in the backfield like Robinson did. Robinson kept OSU in the game and finally, as any mere human would, wore out because he was running for his life the entire game! The way to beat OU’s defense is quick throws in the seams. Florida will have to try that to move the ball. I just don’t think they’ll be able to. As for OU’s offense……good luck Gators. The real thing is heading your way. I’ll be really disappointed if OU doesn’t win by 21.
I just don’t think Florida will have enough answers. Gresham will cause nightmare match up problems. The defense has really shown up lately. I really think Sammy will have have 6 td passes.
Hoping the 2000 Sooners “mindset” show up. I am confident ESPN will continue their campaign – we just need more bulletin board material from Florida players. By the way, thanks Tebow – I am sure your quote (maybe even video) will be made available for review by the defense. I hope Venables starts every film session with his post-game comments.
reminds me of brady’s comment about plaxico and the giants defense. just a humorous comment that may ring true, may not. my impression of the quote (given by the TV analysts, not by tebow) was the tebow was refering to heisman stats, not the title game. if the quote was before the game, he would not have known if UF or OU was gonna win last saturday. but maybe he said it again.
I remember all the Georgia fans talking smack BEFORE the game on another website… and then after the smack down the Dawgs received, no one came back to the website again.
Will all of you – OU and UF – come back and face this website no matter what happens? I say, “LET THEM PLAY – THEN RUN YOUR MOUTH!”
For the Lame-Ass that said Robinson has “escapability and Tebow doesn’t,” you made me laugh – thanks!
Oh, and for the guy that said, “Stafford is the most OVER-rated QB in football.” AGREE, I have been saying that for 3 years now… he’s got nothing but a strong arm… Playing QB at this level is more smarts than a rocket arm – and we know Stafford doesn’t have much of those (smarts.)
Mr. Tramel: Apparently you don’t follow the SEC much, which makes sense since you are Big 12. If you did, however, you would realize that Tebow was in no way trying to insult OU’s defense. He has said much the same any time he has played against a defense for the first time, including Alabama’s this past Saturday. All he was really saying was that he was looking forward to the challenge. You would be hard-pressed to find any instance where Tebow intentionally cut down any individual or team, it’s just not his nature. Check around, learn a little about him, you’ll find he does not verbally denegrate opponents.
In league play Baylor averged 24 points a game. OU gave up 30 points a game. What does that sound like?
People, I’ve heard non-Sooner fans ripping OU for years past losses; what does that have to do with this year’s team? Yes, I know they fallen short in their past four BCS bowl games but that’s history. All I heard last year before the Miami game is how Miami had owned OU even though their last game had been 20 years ago. Hell, OU lost to Notre Dame 39- 0 back in 1966; do you think the Sooners wouldn’t hang 60 points on the Irish this year? And Jim, don’t look at worthless statistics like OU is giving up 30 points a game. First of all, in our last three games, the Sooners held Texas Tech and Missouri to one touchdown in the first half while OU held big half-time advantages; it’s hard for the defense to be as sharp the second half while nursing such big leads. And OSU with their very-productive offense only scored two touchdowns on the OU defense in the first half of that game. And also remember that OU’s defense was finding itself after losing Ryan Reynolds as Austin Box was learning the mb position. And even though it still counts, a lot of those touchdowns given up by OU were not given up by the defense; they were given up by the porous kickoff teams. You can read a lot of things into statistics that sometimes don’t tell the true story.
OU, for the honor of the Big XII…
POUND THE GATORS INTO THE GROUND.
I am tired of the national sports media going on and on about how ‘great’ the SEC is, and how bad the defense of the Big XII is.
There has been only one match up of Big XII vs. SEC this season…Texas vs. Arkansas. The Razorbacks only put up 190 yards of offense against the Longhorns, but put up OVER 300 YARDS AGAINST EVERY SEC TEAM THEY PLAYED, before AND after they played Texas, including Alabama and Florida!
As our current DC and former SEC assistant Will Muschamp has pointed out – just who exactly in the SEC is capable of lighting up a scoreboard?
For the pride of the Big XII, hang 60 pts on the Gators.
Just a comment for all the stat people out there. Tebow was left of 160 ballots. Thats a min. of 160 points. Tebow lost by 111 points. So just because you think Sam is all that, he is not. And I saw the interview with Tebow after the SEC Championship, he was not picking on the Big XII, its called respect. If you want to be the best you play the best. And this year OU is the best next to Florida. So come on January 8th it’s gonna be a great game for both schools. GO GATORS
Defense help SEC won all of their national champion not offense. So don’t even question SEC’s defense. It will be there and choklahoma needs to remember not to choke. Choklahoma lost to LSU in 2003…Do you remember that SEC’s defense?