By ERIC BAILEY Sports Writer on Aug 24, 2012, at 1:40 PM Updated on 8/24 at 1:40 PM
OU SPORTS
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Oklahoma learned last season that a fancy nickname doesn’t make a defense deadly.
The “Sharks” nickname – adopted in 2011 – has been speared, as the team’s secondary has chosen to focus on improvement.
“We toned it down in the spring,” Demontre Hurst said before fall camp’s first practice. “We wanted to find our identity first as a secondary. This whole summer we’ve been focused. It’ll come back, but it’ll be slowly and surely. We just want to make sure we’re ready to compete.”
For success this season, the OU defense needs to be more opportunistic. Last year the Sooners had 27 takeaways, its lowest number since 2005. The secondary only had 15 interceptions, the lowest total in the past six seasons.
OU’s secondary will be tested in the Sept. 1 opener at UTEP. Under ninth-year coach Mike Price, the Miners have thrown the vertical pass often.
Expect the secondary to have a business-like approach in not only the first game, but all contests.
“Once we start winning we can showcase ourselves,” said Tony Jefferson, who had a team-high four interceptions last season. “We have to make plays first.”
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