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OU Defense Stinks Again
Published: 11/20/2011 2:22 PM
Last Modified: 11/20/2011 2:24 PM

We've seen some pretty "shocking" defensive sideshows during the last ten years of the Stoops-Venables run, so many, in fact, that the term "shocking" no longer applies when another team runs up a school record in passing yardage.

There was the national USC embarrassment, when the OU defense allegedly quit and asked the Trojans to take it easy. There was the Boise debacle, the West Virginia fiasco, the "He's still open" years when receivers ran unchecked through the secondary.

And now this.

And now getting torched, scorched, punched, baked, fried, basted and blistered by Tech and Baylor, with a national championship on the line.

It's obvious the OU people don't know how to coach big time defense. And what about the Baylor runner walking into the end zone?

And it's as though Stoops and Venables just met the defenders, as assistant Willie Martinez is being tied to the rail road track as a scapegoat.

Usually when a defense can't play a lick when it counts the most, the defensive coordinator and the head coach and their supernatural salaries are held responsible. Not here. Here, it's some second-level assistant.

Venables and Stoops have always been off limits to criticism.

Fist fights among the Sooner coaching "untouchables" and confused players seemed about ready to break out at Baylor.

How about coaching Tuesday and Wednesday, not midway through the second quarter.

Without accountability, there will be no improvement.

In good news, Texas has become "bowl eligible."




Reader Comments 21 Total
Danomite Dandy Dan (last year)
And OSU?
Hot potato! Hot potato!
Tulsan in Exile (last year)
It looked like the OU defenders were just running around with no idea where they were supposed to be, or who was responsible for which coverage. Even by Venables "standards," it was pure embarrassment. Maybe he should try coaching rugby, where he wouldn't have to think about the forward pass.
sokodad (last year)
I'm not the Pickman, but I was really proud of oSu's defensive performance.

Three turnovers (one for a score), the final one of which set oSu up for a potential game-winning FG, and enough stops that, if we hadn't committed 6 turnovers (I'm counting the on-side kick as one), it's biz as usual.

They were running on fumes to begin with and played with great effort over 100-plus plays.

I'm looking forward to Bedlam.


225818 (last year)
Be careful Pick about calling out the D coordinator. One of your colleagues at the TW may call you an idiot. He already did question the brains of anyone who questioned Venables after the Texas Tech game (he conveniently chose to defend Venables right after the good defensive effort against KSU).
225818 (last year)
By the way, I agree with your post. Martinez is history and Stoops and Venables are due for a raise/extension. Remember coaching at this level is extremely pressure packed and only millions of $$$ make it worthwhile. The great State of OK can layoff a few hundred more elemetary teachers to finance the raises....oh, sorry, I forgot that "boosters" pay the coaches salary.

Looks like Stoops won't be able to use Ohio State for bargaining power. Urban Meyer is on their radar.
Solo (last year)
When the D secondary chumps aren't blowing pass coverage they're arm tackling like 6th graders.

Belam tickets? no problem now.

Forget bedlam. I'm pulling for Arkansas from here on out...
                    
Tulsan in Exile (last year)
Yeah, at least Arkansas acts like they really want to win something. Go Hogs!!!
wilson (last year)
I've never cheered for OSU in my life, against anyone! But I think I have to now. 3 SEC teams 1-2-3 in the polls? Please!
                    
Tulsan in Exile (last year)
Can't argue with the polls this time. LSU, no losses; Alabama, only loss is to LSU; Arkansas, only loss is to Alabama.
wilson (last year)
Are you sure John Blake hasn't been coaching the defense this year? It sure looks like it. How do you give up this many points to Tech and Baylor?
Tulsan in Exile (last year)
OU must be a great place to work. Anita Hill fantasizes about what she wished a former boss had done to her, and OU makes her Dean of the Law School. Stoops and Venables win the fantasy pre-season national championship (and nothing of note during the actual season) and OU gives them a bazillion dollars.
                    
Tulsan in Exile (last year)
Come to think of it, Anita Hill might be better than Venables when it comes to stopping passes. Maybe they should try her coaching the defense, and let him run the law school.
Tulsan in Exile (last year)
I wonder if OU could use a Professor of Physics. I don't know anything about physics. I bet they'd pay me a fortune.
bjorn2run (last year)
I'm wanting to know if this defense is one of the worst 'ever' at OU. 4th time this year a team gets over 500 yards? and now this game...the most yards 'ever' allowed by OU?
waitingtobeaminority (last year)
Time for Venables to go. If Stoops can't handle that then he can go to. Find a coach that can figure out defense week in and week out. Two good defensive games a year won't cut it and tell those yoyos to cut the sharks off their heads. They are playing more like guppies.
Newsman1 (last year)
You can't allow your opponent to score over 40 points a game and expect to win even if your offense is one of the best. Defense wins championships!!!!!!!
The OU defense hasn't been the same since the Sooners loss of Mike Stoops after the National Championship Team. Isn't he looking for a job?
redriverndn (last year)
Major Sooner meltdown.... Same ol' song & dance for 2011....

Just wait till next year !!!! The defense will be a more mature, as will Landry Jones & RB Finch, receivers will be seasoned, next year the National Championship will return to Norman, you know it, I know it & by next fall, the whole country will know it !!!! Oklahoma Sooners 2012 National Champions !!!!

The Sooners have a tradition of GREAT RUNNING BACKS, but yet, the RB coach never played the position.... In our circle, he was known as Candy @$$ Cale.... I can't understand why inside the 10 yard line the Sooners bring in the Tebow clone & playbook, very high school hairy....

The defense, well, everybody has seen this stuff before, over & over again....

It'll all be back next year, in glorious Crimson & Cream !!!!
Glenn616 (last year)
A portion of my post from 5 days ago (Re: If OU upsets OSU... Blog Post):
"The Baylor game is a possible trap game. Venables' D has been known to forget to show up against mid-level opponents. RG3 is a great athlete at QB who can both run and throw. OU's defense has had a history of having trouble with running QBs."

Same old OU defense.
Billy Cartwright (last year)
FinAs obvious as it seems, that OSU will light up the big play surrenduring OU secondary, I 've got a hunch that Iowa State may have exposed the Pokes. OU Will run those flares, screens, and bubble passes till OSU shows it can stop one for less than 9 yards. Less Weeden = less points.
Also, for no good reason, I think Spin ch will have finally have a good game.
Billy Cartwright (last year)
Spin Finch
Papa Ken (last year)
My money is on Weeden and the Pokes at Bedlam! Bob Stoops and especially Brent Venables are 2 of the most over-rated and overpaid coaches in football! "Big Game Bob" is still protecting his rep!!! Pathetic!
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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.

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