Protection was lengthy a power for the Oklahoma Sooners. The Bennie Owen, Bud Wilkinson, Chuck Fairbanks and Barry Switzer days produced hard-nosed, hard-hitting defensive models that helped the Sooners win six nationwide championships, together with explosive offenses. Wilkinson and Switzer every took dwelling three titles within the twentieth century.
After the dreadful Nineties, Bob Stoops’ arrival meant that OU was again to being a contender on the nationwide stage. “Massive Sport Bob” added Oklahoma’s seventh nationwide title in 2000 and stored the Sooners within the title image very often in his time as the top coach.
Protection was Stoops’ calling card. He was the defensive coordinator for teaching legends Invoice Snyder and Steve Spurrier. Oklahoma loved stifling defenses for many of Stoops’ tenure as the top coach.
However, within the mid-to-late 2010’s, OU’s protection slipped to under the usual in Norman. Stoops’ remaining season and the Lincoln Riley period at Oklahoma noticed the offense being required to hold an excessive amount of of the load to maintain the Sooners within the title hunt. Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray and Jalen Hurts had been ready to try this, however as the last decade modified, the Sooners had fallen out of the Faculty Soccer Playoff.
After Riley’s departure to Southern California, Brent Venables was employed to convey again the defensive customary. It’s taken a few years, however Venables might lastly have the items in the suitable place to do the issues he desires to do on protection.
In 2022, Venables’ first season, the Sooners had been horrid defensively, resulting in a 6-7 season. They allowed 30 factors per sport, ending 99th within the nation in scoring protection. Final season, nonetheless, Oklahoma went 10-3 and the protection took a significant step ahead, enhancing their scoring protection 50 spots to 23.5 factors per sport.
Now, going into 12 months 3 beneath Venables, one faculty soccer analyst thinks OU has two of the most effective place models within the SEC.
Phil Steele launched his positional rankings for each SEC crew heading into the 2024 season. Oklahoma had two models ranked No. 1 within the convention.
Phil Steele: How each place ranks for the Sooners within the SEC.
QB – 8RB – 5WR – 3OL – 11DL – 7LB – 1DB – 1Special Groups – 5 pic.twitter.com/Oz1vRfzlUL
— The REF (@KREFsports) July 5, 2024
OU’s linebackers are the SEC’s finest, in keeping with Steele. Danny Stutsman leads the best way on the within, however Kip Lewis, Kobie McKinzie and Jaren Kanak be part of him to make the Sooners a minimum of two deep at each spots. Lewis Carter can even see extra snaps in 2024 as nicely.
On the Cheetah place, Kendel Dolby and Dasan McCullough will see nearly all of the snaps, however Samuel Omosigho and Michael Boganowski are youthful choices who shall be on the sector fairly a bit as nicely.
Steele additionally thinks OU’s secondary is the most effective within the convention. Billy Bowman headlines the security place, with Peyton Bowen and Robert Spears-Jennings in line for extra taking part in time after commencement, NFL and portal losses.
At cornerback, veteran Woodi Washington returns for his fifth season, however shall be taking part in somewhat little bit of every thing this yr. Gentry Williams, Kani Walker and Dez Malone will all be skilled choices on the skin, however there’s youth at nook as nicely. Jacobe Johnson and Makari Vickers each noticed time final yr as a consequence of accidents.
Extra: 5 Sooners who might see an elevated workload in 2024
In fact, Oklahoma must preserve enhancing to get again to the best way issues are speculated to be for the Sooners.
Competing for and successful championships are the expectations. Quarterback, offensive line and line of defense all ranked outdoors of the SEC’s high 5 in Steele’s estimation. Whereas the QB rating is because of Jackson Arnold’s inexperience, the Sooners need to get higher within the trenches to be the place they need to be.
Nonetheless, it’s been a very long time for the reason that protection has been as loaded in Norman as it’s proper now. Mix that with an offense that actually isn’t missing in expertise, and the Brent Venables imaginative and prescient is beginning to develop into clearer for the Sooners. Venables has the makings of a complementary, holistic program from high to backside.
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Story initially appeared on Sooners Wire
