Question of the week: Last year OU’s defense ranked 96th of 130 teams in scoring defense. Where will the Sooners D rank this year?
To say the least, Oklahoma’s defense in 2018 was abysmal. The Sooners finished 96th of 130 teams in scoring defense. The only team worse in the Big 12 was Oklahoma State.
So, we asked our panel of experts where they thought the Sooners defense would end up ranking this year, and why?
Jack had the best answer. He believed the defense will improve, maybe to 50th, more or less. A key would be turnovers, but the secondary will continue to have struggles, he said.
In the meantime, Jack said the Sooners have a “Schrodinger’s Defense.”
Huh? We had to look up Schrodinger on Google.
It has to do with quantum physics. It is an analogy pertaining to wave theory physics. We won’t explain more, because, frankly, we can’t. But it is an analogy to a cat locked in a box and one doesn’t know whether it is alive or dead until the box is opened up.
One must understand, Jack is literally a rocket scientist for NASA in Houston.
“Right now it (Oklahoma’s defense) is a Schrodinger’s Defense. It may be dead or alive but we won’t know until we open the box,” Jack explained.
OK, I get that. That’s right.
The box will be opened on Sunday night about 6:30 pm in Norman.
Meanwhile, the rest of our Soonerguys’ Pick ’em panel had more conventional answers that didn’t have anything to do with quantum physics…or domesticated animals … but had equally appropriate application.
Noah, our New York correspondent, puts the Sooners defense this year at No. 55.
“There will be improvements — major improvements in a way. But before Coach Grinch’s system is fully in place and he has time to get the recruits he wants, OU won’t be in the top 25,” Noah said.
Rob, our Kansas-based panel member, agrees. He puts Oklahoma in the 50-55 ranking range.
“There will be noticeable improvement, due to an improved scheme, better coaching and better talent.”
Our west coast panel member, Brandon, is a bit more skeptical, placing the Sooners in the 65 to 75 range. But, that’s still an improvement.
“A new coach can breath a lot into a group t hat has a chip on their shoulder with a lot to prove,” Brandon said.
Our youngest member of the Soonerguys’ expert panel, Mason, brings a fourth grader’s take on it all:
“It will be better than last year because of a new defensive coordinator. No offense to Mike Stoops. Fifty eighth this year, if it has to be a number,” Mason said.
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