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The Mike Stoops Defense
Published: 8/20/2012 3:29 PM
Last Modified: 8/23/2012 3:11 PM

It is almost universally thought that the one who will be primarily responsible for leading OU back to the glory days is Mike Stoops.

This man is so highly regarded that former defensive man Brent Venables was thrown under the Sooner Schooner: His defenses were suddenly far too complicated, far too confusing.

Mike Stoops left OU to become the coach at Arizona, which was set up to score. Rival Arizona State was lousy. The Pac Ten was doggy.

Yet Arizona under Stoops did next to nothing. He was given plenty of chances to turn things around.

But his teams never amounted to much of anything.

Why?

Arizona's defenses were bad.

How bad?

Really bad.

Perhaps some Sooner fans should take a deep breath before reading this: Last year, out of 120 major college football teams rated in every defensive category that matters, Arizona was 116!

Very nearly the worst on earth.

What are we missing?

My first column of the football season is out! Read who I think is the most overrated.


Reader Comments 14 Total
F1sooner (6 months ago)
Using 2011 statistics when he got fired during the season? What are you missing? Gee, I don't know, maybe the FACT he was fired after like 5 games last year? What is the point of this blog? Mike wasn't the D-Coordinator, he was head coach and again, he got whacked well before mid-season.
Gene M (6 months ago)
We should all prepare for some very genuine excuses. I would like to know which Stoops can throw a headset farther; Mike or Bob?
                    
Blue Max (6 months ago)
I'd bet on Mike.
241362 (6 months ago)
What about his other six years at Arizona when they never stopped anybody?
Razor1911 (6 months ago)
I guess the talent differential doesn't matter at all, does it? Or maybe, just maybe, Bob and Mike need each other to be their best. Or perhaps it's worth considering that some people just aren't cut out to be head coaches, but are exceptional coordinators (see Gary Gibbs).

Nevertheless, we know your opinion by now about how bad of a hire that Mike was; no need to continue to beat the dead horse. It was dead before the ink was dry on Mike's contract.
                    
hootie (6 months ago)
Well who was responsible for getting the talent there?
colhi64 (6 months ago)
Lets wait til the season is over before we rub his nose into the dirt.
                    
hootie (6 months ago)
Then wait 'til the season is over before' before giving him all the hype, RIGHT!?!?
                    
colhi64 (6 months ago)
He's not getting a whole lot of hype yet. I think most people are nervous but anxious. Some of the homers are playing him up some, but, when the season is over that is the time to priase or rub dirt on him.
Riding him now makes as much sense as the preseason polls, something to talk about but means squat.
                    
hootie (6 months ago)
I agree! I think people need to keep quiet until the end of the season and then comment!
Chester Copperpot (6 months ago)
Don't know if it will work or not, but a change was needed after eight years of the same defensive staff. Sometimes, a coaching change is all a team needs to improve their defense (like at OSU).
Soonertrain (6 months ago)
Hope that secondary isn't trigger shy. Opposing receivers ran past them like track stars so Bob's brother sounds like he's emphasizing a "keem them in front of you" theory. That allows for a short passing game to eat you up, unless you tackle really well after the catch. Linebackers? Corey Nelson? I guess, at least, Jefferson will be back there to keep them from going all the way??
Rapid Robert (6 months ago)
Ah, the joys of college football!
We keep bashing the coaches,
and they keep winning games!

Get your rest in now Gundy/Monken/Young,
Stoops to the second power/Heupel/Norvell.

The "Know it alls" are out and eager
to spew their knowledge. TU in a upset over ISU
241362 (6 months ago)
TU is favored over Iowa State.
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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.

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