Every year I believe the hype. The defense is going to be better. Even approaching elite status. It’s the speed D! It’s just so speedy! And you know, they are pretty fast.
But that really doesn’t do you any good when you don’t know where you’re going.
Several busted coverages in the second half led to the Wildcats being able to erase a 21 point deficit and upset the Sooners who came into the game as a 27 point favorite.
I guess we really should have seen this coming. The defense is replacing the interior line due to Neville Gallimore graduating and Jalen Redmond opting out for the season because of the pandemic. They were also without their best pass rush in Ronnie Perkins due to suspension.
All this could account for the fact that OU got absolutely no pressure on the K-State quarterback. This wouldn’t explain the busted coverages though. The only thing to say about that is either the coaches did a bad job coaching the scheme, or the players just can’t be coached. Who knows?
You know, (OU’s defense is) pretty fast. But that really doesn’t do you any good when you don’t know where you’re going. – Dave
The last several years these glaring defensive breakdowns were made up for by an offense being able to outscore most opponents. But that won’t be the case this season. This is the first year since Riley has been head coach that he is starting a quarterback that has no meaningfully college game experience.
Baker, Kyler and Hurts all had big game experience under their belts by the time Riley became the head coach. Their experience and skill was key in being able to make up for the ineptitude on the other side of the ball. Put any one of them at QB last week and Oklahoma wins.
This is not to say that I think Rattler won’t be as good as, or even better than his predecessors. But again, he is a redshirt freshman with no college experience. It will take time. And if the Sooners want to be successful this season, the defense has to do its part. So far, it doesn’t look good.
At Oklahoma we like to think that we don’t re-build, we re-load. But this year, unfortunately, that is not the case.
The re-build continues this coming Saturday with a trip to Ames to take on the Iowa State Cyclones. For whatever reason, the Cyclones have kind of had our number the last few years. They are one two-point conversion away from being 2-1 against OU over the last 3 seasons.
They started the season on a bad note when they lost their home opener against a pretty good Louisiana Lafayette team. But they recovered nicely two weeks later going to Fort Worth and beating the favored Horned Frogs.
They have a senior QB in Brock Purdy who came into the season with some Heisman love. And a nifty running back in Breece Hall who torched TCU for 155 yards and three touchdowns.
You think those guys aren’t excited to go against THIS OU defense? Matt Campbell is one of the better coaches in the country and you can bet he will have his team ready for a prime time
showdown against the Sooners.
So the Worry Meter is at 85%. Oklahoma had better grow up fast. Or this truly will be just a re-building season. With all that being said….BOOMER!!!
— Dave
Oklahoma vs Iowa State
Saturday 6:30 pm ABC
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