Dec 29, 2014; Orlando, FL, USA; Oklahoma Sooners head coach Bob Stoops yells on the sidelines as the Clemson Tigers beat the Oklahoma Sooners 40-6 in the 2014 Russell Athletic Bowl at Florida Citrus Bowl. Mandatory Credit: David Manning-USA TODAY Sports
The Coaching Is More Efficient
After two games, one thing is pretty evident: the changes Bob Stoops implemented during the offseason are paying dividends as far as efficiency is concerned. Even though the offense took a while to get going, those momentum killing pauses when offensive personnel looked to the sideline to get the next play were not an issue. Plays may not have worked as intended, but coaching staff confusion on the sidelines did not adversely affect the flow of the game.
On the defensive side of the ball, sending Mike Stoops upstairs appears to be working as well. Throughout the game, the defense never looked confused and, by and large, players were in position and appeared to understand their roles in the scheme. And most importantly, the defense never gave up huge plays (even though Tennessee’s Hurd did gain over a hundred yards).
During 2014, confusion from the sidelines was at times a contributor to stalled momentum on offense and to the defense giving up big plays. Throughout two games in the 2015 campaign, this issue appears resolved on both sides of the ball. And that’s an immense positive as OU prepares to enter its conference schedule in a couple of weeks.
Next: This Team Is Resilient