Oklahoma football: Mike Stoops finally has the pieces to make defense go

Type Oklahoma football defensive coordinator Mike Stoops’ name into the search bar on Youtube, Google or Twitter and you won’t find a ton of nice results.

That’s why he should be walking into every Oklahoma football press conference so far this year to the Hulk Hogan theme music and cupping his hands over his ears to listen for the sound of his critics’ silence.

Because after years at being average at best on the defensive side of the ball, the Sooners appear to finally be turning the corner.

Arm chair pundits have been screaming at the top of their lungs for the past few years for Stoops to be more aggressive on defense and so far in 2018, they are finally getting their wish. The Sooners rank eighth in the country in sacks and seventh in tackles for loss after a pair of impressive victories. Through two games the first-team Oklahoma defense has only allowed one touchdown so far this season.

Last week against UCLA the Sooners got 12 tackles for loss and six sacks and by the end of the game had freshman quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson visibly shaken up. It was four more tackles for loss than Oklahoma had in any game last season.

So what has been the difference? Did Bob Diaco give Stoops a three-month crash course in how to coach defense? Did Ruffin McNeil secretly take over calling plays? Could it be aliens?

The answer is talent.

For the first time since he returned to the Sooners in 2012, Oklahoma finally has the talent and depth to make its defensive schemes go and it has allowed Stoops to open up his playbook.

Unlike the past few years, where the Sooners had to rely on one elite pass rusher in either Eric Striker or Obo Okoronkwo, the Sooners appear to have multiple players capable of getting to the quarterback.

Six different players have sacks so far this year and 10 have tackles for loss.

On Saturday Oklahoma’s defense more resembled the old early 2000s schemes, bringing pressure from different places, making offensive lines and quarterbacks guess and swarming to the football in impressive fashion.

But it’s about more than just the guys going after the quarterback. It’s also about the guys who are staying back to cover.

Oklahoma feels it has three starting cornerbacks in Tre Brown, Tre Norwood and Parnell Motley – all three with big-time starts and minutes under their belt.

At safety, injuries have left the Sooners a little thin, but Brendan Radley-Hiles, Khalil Haughton, Robert Barnes and  Justin Broiles all appear to have earned the coaching staff’s trust so far this year.

Having a capable secondary opens up the playbook and allows Stoops to come after opposing teams without worrying as much about coverage busts. Also, having aggressive players in those positions gives the defensive staff even more diverse blitzing options. Three defensive backs already have sacks this year.

So what happens next?

The Sooners’ defensive transformation is far from over.

It’s true that Oklahoma has already faced two of the best offensive coaches in the country in Lane Kiffin and Chip Kelly, but the Big 12 is a different animal.

The good news is with this many young players there’s plenty of reason to believe this defense will continue to improve as the season goes on and they get more comfortable.

And maybe, just maybe, we will get to see Mike Stoops do the Hulk Hogan pose before it’s all over.