Comments on: Oklahoma football: Is defense any better than Venables’ 2011 unit?

By: Billy Parks

Billy Parks — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 14:53:05 +0000

Stoops, who played safety, designed a defense to stop the pass, with a heavy emphasis on funneling plays to the secondary. Venables, who played linebacker, naturally emphasized LB play and a desire to stop the run.

I think there’s no question that the Sooners badly miss Frank Alexander and Ronnell Lewis. They were able to pressure the QB, something that has been sorely missing this year.

By: Galileo, Houston

Galileo, Houston — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 05:50:05 +0000

Asinine blog. I saw how Colvin, Hurst, Jefferson, and especially Lamont Harris covered receivers in 2011 and I’ve seen how much they’ve improved in 2012. Night and day difference. 2012 is a better defense because they don’t give up the big plays as badly as 2011. Trust your eyes Berry and don’t be a bean counter. It’s not becoming to you.

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 21:07:00 +0000

Let’s wait until he gets his recruits on campus and the kids have been in his system for a couple years before we start making comparisons.

By: Mike M.

Mike M. — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 21:05:47 +0000

Only the most simple minded people with no real understading of football (read: Tramel) blindly narrow defensive effectiveness down to points and total yards, without taking into account what opposing offenses were trying to do in each game based on the score and situation, and without taking into account garbage time points and yards piled up against backup defenders after the outcome of the game is decided (see late 4th quarter of Tech, Iowa State, and Texas games). Given the conference OU plays in, improving PASS COVERAGE was an overwhelmig priority in the off-season, with the obvious risk of being more vulnerable against the run. The past two opponents were finally able to make OU pay with the running game, but it took Holgerson pulling Austin-to-tailback out of his bag of tricks for WVU to accomplish that – wouldn’t have happened with the backs OU had seen on film and game-planeed for. It can’t be argued that OU’s pass defense (the most important thing to defend against in the Big 12) has improved – they’ve allowed ONE 300-yard passer all season. If EVERYTHING relevant is taken into account (a method seldom, almost never employed by sports columnists), the only conclusion any sensible person can reach is that the defense is moving in the right direction under Mike Stoops.

By: Jared Miller

Jared Miller — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 20:30:06 +0000

Yeah, but people ran on OU last year and threw all over them. They have only allowed 6 or 7 TDs through the air. WV is a much more potent offense than A&M and Baylor didn’t have RGIII but still has a top 5 offense. OU’s defense is better this year over the span of the season. Don’t forget what Tech and Mizzou did to OU last year. OU’s defense was 62 in total defense last year. They are 41 after the WV game and that’s with considerable lesser talent in key positions such as line backer and defensive end. I disagree with this article based on stats and the eye test.

By: MB

MB — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 20:07:15 +0000

Baylor is actually statistically only 10 yards per game lower this season than last, so last years Baylor offense really isn’t loads better like you say. Yes they had RG3, but statistically the two years are very similar. West Virginia is much better offensively than A&M was last year, especially when OU played them and they had a bunch of injuries. Also, KSU is improved from last year with having the same players back for another year and Klein being a better passer. Plus, last year’s defense had much more playmakers on the line than this year. Mike is having to play with Brent’s recruits in a different style system. Give him a couple years of recruiting his players and then compare numbers. Our pass coverage is much better this year with proper coaching. If we had last year’s D-lineman in this system, the stats would be much different since they could actually get pressure without blitzing. This D-line gets absolutely no pressure and can’t get off blocks to stop the run either. Last year’s line had much more talent than this year.

By: DD

DD — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 18:18:55 +0000

No pass rush, Stoops first year back, less talent. OU lost its focus last year Berry, but they were more talented on defense. This year the defense is just lacking playmakers on the front end. David King is a good player but he’s not a pass rusher. RJ Washington has played OK, but his specialty is pass rushing and he, even, hasn’t gotten to the QB. I just think they need more talent on the front end. Considering there is no pass rush and the defensive backs have held down the back end for most of the year, Mike Stoops has done a better job. Once we get some rush ends, we’ll be okay

By: Patrick

Patrick — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 17:23:07 +0000

I think I a with everyon here that has left a comment. You can’t expect to have a good defense if you have no pressure on the opposing QB. Look back at the film of the K-State game and count how many times we blized. Yu will find that we maybe brought heat 2 times if at all and we get beat off the ball consistantly agianst very soso offensive lines.

By: Jason

Jason — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 17:22:58 +0000

I keep hearing that OU had the ball last against West Virginia.

No.

By: Tim

Tim — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 21:57:10 +0000

Yep, depth and skilled players are more of an issue for Mike Stoops than BV. Lord only knows what mess the D would have been in this year. OU’s defense has collapsed in the 4th quarter all year. No quality depth and we don’t have Mike Stoops type linebackers…like Torrance Marshall, Lance Mitchell, Rocky Calmus, Teddy Lehman….no disrespect for the guys now playing, they just have different skills for a different system. Mike is changing a system with the players he has…just wait til he gets his players…