Sooners have lost their swagger

Some called it Statement Saturday.

Seven games pitting ranked teams all primed for some major declaration.

The statement from Eugene: Oklahoma's defense has misplaced its mojo. The Sooners no longer swagger, but stagger.

How else to describe UO 34, OU 33? How else to explain all those points, 14 of which came in the game's final 1:12 with barely any hint of resistance? How else to justify 501 yards surrendered — and surrender is the term — including a career-best 341 passing from Ducks quarterback Dennis Dixon, 101 more than his previous collegiate high?

Talent? These Sooners have it, maybe not in the deep supply of some seasons and certainly not at the premium level in a few key spots. Still, there's more than enough help to expect better than an afternoon spent in retreat.

Sure, the Sooners could have used some help from the officials, who botched two late calls — then subsequent reviews — contributing to the wild Ducks rally/sudden Sooners collapse.

But refereeing misdeeds don't excuse what amounted to a day that featured more backing off than bucking up from the OU defenders.

Make a play when it counts, somebody.

Sooners coach Bob Stoops said Saturday's performance wasn't all bad. And he's right. There was a lengthy stretch when his defense dominated, forcing turnovers and stuffing plays.

But, oh, those other moments. Oregon produced 21 plays of 10 yards or longer. Touchdowns stretched 30, 16 and 23 yards.

"It's too inconsistent," Stoops allowed. "We've got to be more consistent and not give up those big plays."

The Sooners sure seem to miss Dusty Dvoracek, as much for his in-your-face-painted, snarling mentality as his physical presence in the trenches, which is also missing.

Dvoracek might have broken a wall or his hand, whichever came first, after the kind of meltdown that occurred Saturday.

The postgame scene in Eugene: stoic. An honorable trait in most instances of life, stoic didn't fit the aftermath of Saturday.

Shouldn't somebody be ticked off about now?

Instead, the Sooners revealed shock and awe, in the game's stunning turnaround and perhaps themselves.

"I don't know," said defensive coordinator Brent Venables, not buying the lack of aggression theory. "We've got a lot of guys who like to go get it."

As Oregon went back to work after the onside kick, confidence in a Sooner stop was absent.

"I was sitting there praying that we got the onside kick," Adrian Peterson said. "Once we didn't get it, things got real ugly."

Divine intervention apparently wasn't an option.

OU's defense came on late last year, spurring optimism of a return to the Stoops style of defense from the glory years.

All that's really missing is Dvoracek and Remi Ayodele at the tackles and Clint Ingram at linebacker.

"That's the frustrating part, because we didn't lose much of what was there last year," Stoops said.

And yet, this defense has been found lacking.

Not just Saturday, but through three games. Nationally, OU ranks 97th in total defense, 94th in rushing defense, 89th in pass defense and 75th in scoring defense.

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