Tulsa World: Sooners must boost intensity

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Sooners must boost intensity

OU defensive lineman Auston English (left) says the key for the defensive unit is "a concentration thing." The defense gave up 525 yards in the Fiesta Bowl last season. Stephen Pingry/Tulsa World file

By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
Published: 8/25/2008 2:06 AM
Last Modified: 8/25/2008 3:33 AM

Last week's revelation from Oklahoma's defenders that they had a decidedly poor practice going into the final day of the 2008 training camp was met with concern on the part of many fans.

If anything, though, the Sooner Nation could be encouraged by recent developments.

The OU coaching staff quickly recognized what players called poor intensity, poor focus and poor technique and took swift and decisive action, ramping up their own energy during the second half of the practice and then making the defense run gassers until they could barely walk.

This is a defense laden with game experience and big-time talent. The line has been compared to some of the best ever at OU. But the last time anyone saw the Sooners for real, they were giving up 525 yards total offense, 349 yards rushing and 48 alarming points on the scoreboard to West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl.

That was the same defense that, a month before, had grounded high-flying Missouri and shut down dangerous Oklahoma State. Clearly, the Fiesta Bowl was a case of effort and intensity and not one of talent.

"It's a concentration thing," said defensive end Auston English. "When it comes down to it, we have all the athletic ability in place. It's just going to be the mental part of it, guys making a concise effort to focus."

Players adopted the slogan "finish" after returning from the desert. They were bummed about last year's finish, so there was a renewed effort on finishing a workout, finishing a play, finishing a game and, they hope, finishing the season.

But, they said, they forgot to finish training camp.

"Yeah, we definitely let ourselves down," linebacker Ryan Reynolds said. "We didn't live up to our motto today."

Last season started so well — 246 points scored through the first four games was the most at OU since 1917 — but crashed quickly because the Sooners didn't finish the fourth quarter at Colorado.

Recognizing that now, before OU opens the season on Saturday, could go a long way toward how OU's season finishes.

John E. Hoover 581-8384
john.hoover@tulsaworld.com By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer

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