Oklahoma football: What to like, loathe about win over Texas Tech
By Chip Rouse
The Sooner defense has to get better and fast
The first six games of the season, Oklahoma’s opponents had to adjust to what the Sooners were doing defensively in order to stay in the game, but in the last two weeks it has been OU’s defense that has been smacked in the mouth hard to begin the game, forcing the Sooners to make adjustments.
About the only thing that has been consistent with Oklahoma’s defensive play this season its inconsistency in slowing down opposing offenses. The Sooners are extremely fortunate that they have been able to overcome their defensive deficiencies with an offensive attack that is the best in the nation after eight games.
Defensive coordinator Mike Stoops rightly informs us that it you can’t stop the run, it creates additional opportunities in the passing game and forces defenses to pick their poison. That is what happened against Kansas State and again this week right off the bat against Texas Tech.
"“They (Texas Tech) had a good game plan (to open the game), what they were doing, how they were blocking it,” Stoops said after the game. “We couldn’t control the run game, and if you can’t control the run game, you’re going to have a rough day. The run sets up everything else.”"
Oklahoma’s next two opponents (Oklahoma State and TCU) have excellent rushing attacks that fuels their big-play passing opportunities. If the Sooners can’t get off the field on defense, it not only will limit their offensive capability, but the defensive solutions are not going to come that easy, either, making it that much tougher to play from behind.
Bottom line: Oklahoma can not rely on it offense to outscore its next two opponents, especially when those two teams are playing much better on defense than the Sooners.