Oklahoma football: Refuting a silly hot take on Lincoln Riley

Engel’s final jabs were directed at the much-maligned Oklahoma defense. The Sooners have taken plenty of flak – most of it warranted – for a flawed defense that has probably kept the program away from at least one national title if not multiple over the past few years. There are plenty of Oklahoma football fans who would nod their heads in agreement about his comments, but there was at least one silly claim that needs to be addressed.

“Until one of Riley’s defenses stop big people in big games, don’t plan on it (the defense getting better) happening,” Engel said.

Yes the Sooners clearly have a ways to go on defense as seen by last year’s disappointing effort against Alabama in the Orange Bowl, but there’s no acknowledgement that the Sooners took drastic steps to get better on that side of the ball by hiring Alex Grinch, nor any mention that they return 10 of 11 starters from what was by all accounts a young defense a year ago.

Not saying Oklahoma is going to become the 1985 Chicago Bears overnight, but to say there is no indication for the possibility of defensive improvement is short sided and shows a lack of nuance in thought.

Engel is a guy who uses the term “we” to describe the colleges in the state of Texas, so a little disdain for a program north of the Red River is to be expected. Still, even in the unfortunate “hot take” era of sportswriting, this scorcher comes off as a misguided at best.