READ TODAY'S STORIES AND E-EDITION SUBSCRIBE |  CONTACT US |  SIGN IN
Sports Extra!



SPORTS EXTRA BLOGS

FOR THE RECORD
LOCAL PROS

ALL SPORTS

PHOTOS & VIDEOS

OUTDOORS

FIND A STORY

EMAIL ALERTS

SOCIAL MEDIA

RSS FEEDS

CONTACT US
BUY PHOTOS & PAGES

ADVERTISE ON SPORTS EXTRA


Print story only Print story with comments Email Twitter Facebook Pinterest
OU Defense Is 0-for-9 (Years)!
Published: 10/5/2009 11:55 AM
Last Modified: 10/8/2009 1:11 PM

Bob Stoops was yelling in the wrong direction during the latest big-game fold. He was yelling at a player. He should have been yelling at the entire defensive staff, a mirror included.

You'd think that in some big game, a defensive player would be in position accidentally to make a play, would be so out of position, he would get hit in the back with a pass, or trip a runner.

As all readers of Picks know -- the Triple Cinch Lock of the Double Decade hit (Miami over OU) -- reactionary public opinion from fans and media homers is almost always wrong.

Bad offensive play-calling didn't doom OU late against a decent foe. It was another sorry defensive performance when the game was on the line of scrimmage that kept the Sooners from winning.

The one consistent through losses too numerous to remember is that when the game is up for grabs, the defense will break down. Remember USC laughing at OU? Remember this OSU battle cry back in the day: He's still open! Well, guess what, they're all still open, Oregon, West Virginia, Boise, Florida, BYU, Miami, Texas, Texas, Texas, Texas.

When a defense can never make a play to win a big game, it stands to reason something is fundamentally wrong with the system. All that wacky zone blitzing, after 20 straight blitzes, might the element of surprise be lost? Is leaving average cornerbacks alone a good idea?

One of two things is wrong when it comes to big-game defensive meltdowns: Incompetent players. Lousy coaching.

Listen, OU played Miami with a second team quarterback, ninth team tight end, fourth team linemen, 12th team receivers.

AND A FIRST TEAM DEFENSE!

Get it now?



Reader Comments 19 Total
OU_Glenn (3 years ago)
I don't think it's the lack of talented defensive players for OU. They've had quite a few defensive players in the NFL. Therefore, I think the big game meltdowns are due to lousy defensive coaching.

In addition, I found an interesting stat on Ivan Maisel's latest 3 point stance; Record in games decided by 3 points or less:
Bob Stoops: 4-8 in 10 plus seasons
Pete Carroll: 5-8 in 8 plus seasons
Mack Brown: 17-4 in 11 plus seasons, including 14-1 since the 2001 Big 12 Title Game.
referee (3 years ago)
How many times has OU lost games when going for a FG rather than going for the first down when behind? Note, Sat. nite, less than three minutes left, behind by four points. thought process is, FG and our defense will hold them and we can get into position to kick  a winning FG, yeah right!!! The defense did not make a crucial stop all night.  Going for the first down would at least give us an opportunity to win the game.  At least it would look more manly!!
OU_Glenn (3 years ago)
You go for touchdowns, not field goals. If you kick too many field goals, you let the opposing team hang around and could lose the game as a result.
justanotherokie (3 years ago)
Pickerman, you keep pointing at that 800 pound gorillia in the room he's gonna get you.

We've seen this stuff in close games going on for years and years. 

It made me sick Stoop(id)s yelling at that kid in primetime Saturday Night.  Even following him around while the kid was trying to get away.

That was all wrong.  I don't know why the player didn't punch coach boB.  Now that!!! would have been entertainment. 

All that while Venables was standing on he with his (Doh!) face on.
Big Doug (3 years ago)
I''ve been saying the same thing for the last five years. OU will never win another national championship with Brent Venables running the defense. OU was a bunch of hungry maniacs when Mike Stoops was here. Now, we are not deep at any position, we get burned deep game after game, and don't show up at crunch time. We need some new blood at Def. Coor.
OU_Glenn (3 years ago)
Doug, you couldn't be more correct. A change in defensive coaching is needed.
hootie (3 years ago)
...and how is Mike Stoops teams doing now????
snakeman (3 years ago)
As a sooner fan since childhood i have always been for the sooners. Still am, sooner bred. I think Bob is a smart man and will eventually get the picture that the same man running the defense should be let go. Same schemes game after game will catchup with any teams that do it. Players we have, position by postion. Overrated players will always be out of position because of coaching. Great players will find a way to make a play by understanding fundamental basics in tight games. Playaction at the end of games when running out the clock is what most teams will try, also trick plays when a defensive coach sees corners playing the run. Coaches teach players to stay home in position when teams need a first down no matter where the ball is down. Championships are won with defense! games are won with defense! Players are making plays when coaches know defense. Venables has become easy to read by the defensive schemes he plays. I hope Bob can get by friendship and replace him. He will doing both a favor by making the right decision. Go Sooners!
soonerguy (3 years ago)
It seems to me that good coaches with great players will always win against physically over matched opponents. Good coaches with great players will lose the big games when matched with equal opponents.

Remember early in this decade when OU had "average" players? Those same average players won the big games. Something elevated their level of play. Now, with great players, OU loses the big games.
soonerguy (3 years ago)
I'm saying "good" coaches as in average. Nothing spectacular, and certainly not great.
The Picker (3 years ago)
Referee, great point. Why kick a FG if there's no hope of stopping anybody any good?

Doug, agreed, a fresh set of ideas couldn't hurt.

Does the defensive problem come from this basic Stoops premise: stop the run first.

That used to be sound back in the day, before the spread, back when people ran first. Now everybody throws first. Stop the pass first, there's a concept.

The only thing consistently defensive is the attitude of the coaching staff.
snakeman (3 years ago)
I agree with the picker. It's easy to see that the defensive coaches lack motivation to change with the times or don't know how. changes need to be made.
justanotherokie (3 years ago)
I was reading somewhere today from a publication south of the Red River that OU has not overcome more than a 3 point deficit in the 4th Quarter in the last 9 years.

Say it isn't so!!!

In my heart I know it is.
OU_Glenn (3 years ago)
Your focus has to be on both the run and the pass. Teams like Florida, Alabama, USC, Miami, and Texas can throw the football but also have the ability to run the ball as well. You cannot be so focused on the run that you end up biting on play-action passes.
The Picker (3 years ago)
Glenn, that's exactly what Stoops and Venables say.

As guys run by them wide open.
TheIrish0ne (3 years ago)
Why is O.U still ranked? they are 2-2 they haven't beat anyone good and have lost to teams that are not great either.. there is a lot of teams that are ten times better then O.U and are undefeated or close to it. Then again it is the BCS and AP polls that are ruining the greatest sport ever played. College Football.
OU_Glenn (3 years ago)
Okay. I get it. If you are facing a pass-first team, you try to stop the pass first. If you try to stop the run first against a pass-first team, you get burned by the pass.
paprika (3 years ago)
Venables needs to go.
dcood (3 years ago)
This isnt an 'I told you so' after the fact because I have been consistent... You fools still want to fire Venables??! Still think the db's are 'weakest link'?? Total domination by the OU Defense. Not their fault the offense cant even rush for positive yards.
19 comments displayed


To post comments on tulsaworld.com, you must be an active Tulsa World print or digital subscriber and signed into your account.


Out Pick The Picker

The Picker began entertaining – and infuriating – sports fans in 1993. Each week during football season, he writes about his picks of college and NFL games in his Thursday Sports column. He's never afraid of sharing his opinions about the game and the personalities who play it. Readers have a chance to go against him each season in the Outpick the Picker contest. He welcomes the competition.

Follow The Picker on Twitter

Subscribe to this blog


Archive

Past Articles By The Picker

1/31/2013
      The Picker: Super Bowl merely a distraction from OU woes
 
The Picker's Blog Archive:

2/2013  1/2013  12/2012  11/2012  10/2012  9/2012  
8/2012  7/2012  6/2012  5/2012  4/2012  3/2012  
2/2012  1/2012  12/2011  11/2011  10/2011  9/2011  
8/2011  7/2011  6/2011  5/2011  4/2011  3/2011  
2/2011  1/2011  12/2010  11/2010  10/2010  9/2010  
8/2010  7/2010  6/2010  5/2010  4/2010  3/2010  
2/2010  1/2010  12/2009  11/2009  10/2009  9/2009  
8/2009  7/2009  6/2009  5/2009  4/2009  3/2009  
2/2009  1/2009  12/2008  11/2008  10/2008  9/2008  
8/2008  7/2008  6/2008  5/2008  4/2008  3/2008  
2/2008  1/2008  12/2007  11/2007  10/2007  9/2007  
8/2007  7/2007  6/2007  5/2007  4/2007  3/2007  
2/2007  1/2007  12/2006  11/2006  10/2006  9/2006  
8/2006  





Home | Contact Us | Search | Subscribe | Customer Service | About | Advertise
Copyright © 2013, World Publishing Co. All rights reserved.