Sandwiched Between A Rough Start And A Shaky Finish, Sooner Defense Delivers Dominating Performance Against Missouri
by ccmachine on Sep 25, 2011 4:00 PM CDT
in Oklahoma Sooners Football
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Lethargic...That may be the best word to describe Oklahoma's defensive start to their game against Missouri on Sunday night. The mix of a new defensive alignment and a bit of an emotional letdown coming off the Florida State game showed the potential to throw the Sooners off in their quest for perfection and despite a 10-point win, everyone from the players to the coaches to the fans failed to find satisfaction because the knew the performance could have been much better.
"I could count most of them on one hand, but there is a group of guys that played really well." - Brent Venables
In Missouri's first three offensive possessions the Sooners gave up 140 yards and fourteen points. Knowing that the Tigers were going to spread the field, defensive coordinator Brent Venables choose to go with a nickel-type defensive set and only use three rushers to try and create a zone in hopes of taking away the quick underneath routes that killed the Sooners last year in Columbia. The problem is that they couldn't quite account for running back Henry Josey nor could they get pressure on quarterback James Franklin and given that much time receivers are going to get open, especially ones being covered by Gabe Lynn. Several Sooner defenders struggled on Saturday night but perhaps none more than Lynn who had coverage issues pretty much all night.
Just when it appeared that the nation's longest home winning streak was going to come to an end with Sooner fans having flashbacks to last year's loss at Missouri, Venables made a couple of adjustments that turned the game around. By putting some pressure on Franklin with blitzes from multiple directions and making sure there was someone to pick up on Josey the Oklahoma defense put the brakes on the upstart Tiger offense.
"I wouldn't say that it was a Florida State hangover. We just didn't prepare like we should have this whole week and it showed in the game." - Safety Javon Harris
After scoring on their third possession to take a 14-3 lead the Tigers went through nine consecutive offensive possessions without scoring. In those nine possessions Missouri amassed 206 yards of offense (average of just 22 yards per drive) and only had three that extended beyond four plays. Meanwhile the Oklahoma offense cranked out four scoring drives during that time fame to turn a 14-3 deficit into a 31-14 lead going into the fourth quarter. That's where things got weird again.
Riding a comfortable lead, Venables wen't back to the same defense that he started the game with almost as if to try it out one more time. The result was detrimental as the Tigers scored 14 points and racked up 162 yards on their final two drives. I'm a big "Dance with the one that brung ya" guy so if I was Oklahoma's defensive coordinator I wouldn't have changed back from what I had been doing through the second and third quarters. However, I also know that running a zone is one of the easier defensive schemes and Venables was trying to get some things accomplished with a few of the lesser experienced guys. It blew up in his face but the good news is that he could still chalk it up to a lesson learned and walk off the field with a 10-point victory. The even better news is that I'm not Oklahoma's defensive coordinator.
"Players did not have the same mentality they had last week. I don't know why a team that killed us last year and knocked us off the mountain when we were number one, I don't know why players wouldn't prepare the same. I'm disappointed in myself as a captain and the leader of the defense. I'm disappointed in the guys. The coaches put us in a great position and as players need to go out there and play and we didn't tonight." - Linebacker Travis Lewis
If you thought that the fans reacted badly to Saturday night's performance then you really should read into what the players and coaches are saying about it. I hate to go here but it just shows the different stages of the two programs right now and it helps prove a point. We all saw how the Longhorns ran off the field in jubilant celebration after beating BYU a few weeks ago. There was none of that in Oklahoma's locker room. This team knows that they under performed for a majority of the night and that there was nothing to celebrate despite a 3-0 record. My bet is that practice gets very intense this week and while they will probably go back to being vanilla against Ball State, the Texas Longhorns are on everyone's mind. When all is said and done, this could turn out to be a pivotal turning point in the season.
"Horrible. Disappointed. Relaxed. It's what happens. Everybody is disappointed, coaches and players. We gave them 530 yards. We played like a 25th-, 30th-ranked team. We are not the number one ranked team in the nation right now."
Position Grades
Defensive Line - The defensive tackles were pretty much non-existent on Saturday night. Stacy McGee and Jamarkus McFarland recorded two tackles each while Casey Walker had one. While you usually want more production from the tackles, it should also be noted that Missouri ran a lot of stuff to the outside and away from them. That still doesn't make up for the lack of a pass rush. Defensive ends Frank Alexander and David King both recorded sacks to go along with a combined nine tackles. Ronnell Lewis added six more tackles for the ends. Overall Grade: C-
Linebackers - I saw more whiffs from Tom Wort than I've seen all season which tells me that he's trying too hard and not just reacting to the play as much as he should. I also believe that's why Venables was going off on him on the sidelines. Wort did tie Aaron Colvin for the second most tackles with 8, followed by Travis Lewis who had 7 and Tony Jefferson with 6. Wort and Lewis also got into the backfield to disrupt Franklin a couple of times as well. Overall Grade: B-
Secondary - I know its really not fair to put Tony Jefferson in both categories but he did line up as a defensive back several times Saturday night which qualifies him to be here. He also got burned a couple of times which lowers the grade of this unit as well. I've already addressed the night that Gabe Lynn had so I won't rehash. I will say that there was a huge positive in this unit in that safeties Javon Harris and Aaron Colvin finished #1 and #2 on the team in tackles with 10 and 8 respectively. Overall Grade: D
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Not sure that I am the biggest fan of throwing 3 down and rushing a LB
It may have worked against OSU in Bedlam 2010 and against FSU but each team is bringing something different to the table. Therefore adjustments are going to be made. I agree with the statement
“Dance with the one that brung ya”
On another note
Josey showed that he is the real deal and those stats are not just because of the competition they were facing. 12.4 YPC is an incredible stat and he averaged 9.5 against OU…I think it is safe to say there is a new Big Man On Campus and he is possibly the best RB in the Big XII (don’t get you panties in a wad aTm fans).
Not really a positive
if your safeties are the leading tacklers for the game. Just like the offense, the defense looked really good at times, but not a complete game by any means. I was more disappointed with the intensity (lack of it) than any single performance. I echo Travis Lewis. How the hell can you not get up for a team that beats you the year before and talks smack? Very surprising.
People don't know what it is to be a champion. Oklahoma invented it. --Barry Switzer
this
Not really a positive if your safeties are the leading tacklers for the game
2011 for #12 - You will be missed
Crimson and Cream Machine - There's only one Oklahoma!
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I feel like the safties getting that many tackles
shows that we didn’t give up as many big plays as we could have
So, in other words
The defense was really good, except when they sucked (which was far too much). I wouldn’t include the word “dominating” at any point in this game description. Domination isn’t a sometime thing.
by SCKSChief on Sep 25, 2011 5:15 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
+1
2011 for #12 - You will be missed
Crimson and Cream Machine - There's only one Oklahoma!
Listen to Sooner Nation, the #1 podcast for OU fans
give em a break
Its a win! The d played well in the 2nd and 3rd qtr…the fact that venables decided to “experiment” again, let’s me know that they weren’t that worried about the final outcome. They now know what to work on these next 2 weeks….Gabe Lynn especially. And as for the offense, we were playing with the number 4,5,6 receivers on the team…you have to expect a little less from them…there is a reason that they are 4,5,6 on the depth chart. Now that Habern is out for a few weeks, they have to worry about coming together as an offensive line, which I fully believe they will. This win…but not like they wanted it….probably made the boys a bit more anxious about the next 2 weeks and I fear we may see a horrible beatdown on sat and some jacked up players for Texas. Let’s get behind them all and not tear them down! BOOMER SOONER!
by pcasooner on Sep 25, 2011 6:06 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
Are you going to be mad when they play like this and lose?
If so, then don’t give em a pass. If not, then your life must be all sunshine and lolipops.
by SCKSChief on Sep 25, 2011 8:37 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
I'm with you pcasooner.
I’m not going to love them any less just because of a few warts.
All the moaning and groaning here isn’t going to change a thing, the players and coaches know what needs to be done and it is their burden to bear. As a fan I will support them regardless of an “ugly” win or any outcome.
I fully expect that the entire team will learn from this game and incorporate what they have learned to the rest of the season.
OU has only faced two teams with an offense capable of scoring points, Tulsa and UM. They won’t be the last and I’m sure some of the offensive schemes UM used will be copied by their opponents.
As for UM’s final two scores in the 4th, I am less than impressed. They were more thoroughly whipped than the ten point margin of victory would indicate.
If you train people properly, they won't be able to tell a drill from the real thing. If anything, the real thing will be easier. --Richard Marcinko
Gotta agree with you CC
I love that we have a leader like Travis Lewis, it will not just be the coaches getting on the D this week, he’ll be very vocal about their performance. They didn’t have thier best last night, but luckily it was still better than mizzou, which was a game opponent. We are gonna get everybody’s best shot this year, and there are gonna be times where they are gonna have to fight tooth and nail to win, and last night will help. I know some of you are really down on this victory, but I just don’t think all the doom and gloom is necessary. As ugly as it may have been, hope is still alive for #8!
"I feel sorry for peple who don't drink, when they wake up in the morning thats as good as they are gonna feel all day long." Frank Sinatra
You are correct.
The fact that they made adjustments when they got behind and took control of the game speaks volumes about this team.
They aren’t quitters and they aren’t losers.
If you train people properly, they won't be able to tell a drill from the real thing. If anything, the real thing will be easier. --Richard Marcinko
I have no doubt that the team will be prepared for texass in two weeks
the game with Mizzou was very ugly for the D but I think BV’s experiment will pay good dividends. Lynn and company have got to learn how to blow up those crappy screens. That Cooper kid shredded our D most of the night. The 3 man rush didn’t get it done and sights of Moe running wild just past the LB’s gives me shivers. utexass will try that crap with Shipley. I can almost hear the Whorns smacking their lips on that type of play. I am hoping corrections and improvement in the coverage is made of the next two weeks.
The one thing being a lot older has going for it, most of us older have seen more CFB than most younger people have seen web pages.
IMO...The low-grade results of this defensive outing lies square on the shoulders of Venables
Each offensive play has a given, pre-snap advantage and it is up to the DC to design a defense to defeat that advantage. By rushing only three linemen, essentially beginning the game in “prevent defense”, Venables set this defense up to fail.
When Venables brought more pressure on the quarterback the defense played fine.
Inexplicably, as noted by CC, the DC returned to the Failer Formation in the 4th quarter and suddenly the Missouri offense once again looked to be world beaters.
Quit Screwing Around Venables! Put some of that blame on yourself and fix it!
"Some people are born on third base and go through life thinking they hit a triple." Barry Switzer (meant, I believe, to describe UT and UT fans)
LBs
Wort HAS to stop hitting with the side of his shoulder like he’s delivering a hockey check! I saw two separate instances where he was attacking a ball carrier FROM BEHIND with that “tackle.” That is ridiculously stupid. Lewis seemed out of position all night long. The B- is generous.
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