 "Photo: Courtesy of University of Oklahoma Athletics")
While most other parts have deteriorated, the Oklahoma defense remains one of the final pillars standing from last year’s team that reached the national championship.
The Sooners rank sixth nationally in total defense, allowing only 262 yards per game and have held opponents to 12 points per game, which is fifth nationally. That type of performance has been key in keeping games close for Oklahoma, especially considering how injuries to quarterback Sam Bradford, tight end Jermaine Gresham and a struggling offensive line have been a big blow to a once formidable offense.
OU coach Bob Stoops said not only is this one of the more dedicated defenses he’s worked with, but he acknowledged a more cerebral approach is a key component.
“I think intelligence makes a great defense,” said Stoops, whose Sooners take on Texas Tech 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Jones AT&T Stadium. “They’re really smart. They see how an offense is trying to make gaps and how we can cancel it. These guys really want to get it, they really pay attention and ask questions.”
Oklahoma defensive back Jonathan Nelson backed up Stoops’ analysis, saying he and other teammates don’t just run plays because they’re told to.
They truly want to know the reason behind each scheme.
“Speaking for myself,” he said, “I know that I sometimes may bug coach (Brent) Venables or coach (Bobby Jack) Wright a little too much because I ask them why I’m doing something rather than just doing it.”
For those defensive players who have questions on how to defend Tech’s offense, all they need is film from last year’s 65-21 win against the Red Raiders.
Coming into the game, former quarterback Graham Harrell only had been sacked five times. He was sacked twice in the first quarter and never got comfortable until the end of the game. Tech punted on its first three drives, then turned the ball over on downs twice before scoring its first touchdown.
“We got after him up front, and our coaches have been on us this week getting ready for Tech,” defensive tackle Gerald McCoy said. “That was a big part of why we played so well on defense last year. We got after them up front. We’re gonna have to do that this week too.”
This season, the Sooners are second in the nation in sacks — Tech is third — after upping their total to 33 with four sacks in a 65-10 romp against Texas A&M last week.
“The biggest thing they do is the basic sound defense, the ultimate basic fundamental defense,” Tech coach Mike Leach said. “They go out there with great fundamentals and energy. I think they do that as good as anybody.”
To Tech’s credit, McCoy said the Red Raiders pass as well as anybody in the nation, which makes it hard to get pressure on the quarterback.
“They throw so many quick passes, shuffle passes, screen passes,” he said. “Tech has so many passes, it’s what they do, pass. Sometimes they go deep, but they do a lot of quick stuff so we just gotta get our hands up and be in our gaps and get the right reads.”
But Tech’s offense hasn’t been quite as potent this year compared to previous seasons under Leach.
At this point in 2008, the Red Raiders were averaging 10 more points per game, and Leach said a lot of the offensive struggles are a product of inconsistency not only at quarterback, but with receivers, the offensive line and running backs as well.
McCoy isn’t paying attention to the constant shuffling at quarterback within the Red Raider offense.
“Tech offense is Tech offense,” he said. “It doesn’t really change much. You gotta be ready for it. They’re gonna get numbers. They’re gonna get a lot of points. We just gotta prepare for it. We’ve been playing pretty well on defense, so we’re just gonna try and continue to do that this week.”
Be the first to comment on this article!