No difference makers.
None, anyway, that consistently cause opposing offenses to sweat.
Not even Rufus Alexander, the Preseason Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year?
"Nobody's game planning around him," said Venables, OU's defensive coordinator. "We don't have anybody like that on defense."
It's not that the Sooners are void of good players. Or good play.
In Saturday's loss to Texas, they limited the Longhorns to 232 total yards and forced five three-and-outs among the first six possessions.
"Not many people are going to keep them to 232 total yards," OU coach Bob Stoops said Tuesday. "I'm not here bragging on statistics. There's a lot of good play there."
But Stoops also lamented one key ingredient missing from his dominant defenses at OU.
"We didn't come up with the really big play," Stoops said.
And that, in contrast to years past, when Roy Williams and Tommie Harris and Derrick Strait, among others, filled highlight reels, is noticeable.
The Sooners' defense isn't producing game-changing plays. It was evident in losses to Oregon and Texas, when a play here or there could have swung momentum or even victory. It's been evident even in some wins.
Any attempt to build an OU defensive highlight film this season, offering anything outside moments against Middle Tennessee (five turnovers, three sacks), might be fruitless.
"It's hard to put your finger on it, in that we're doing a lot of the things we've done traditionally here for eight years," Stoops said. "We haven't been able to come up with that big play, whether it be that deflection for an interception, a sack that rips the ball out, whatever."
Alexander is having a solid year.
The senior linebacker tops OU in tackles and is tied for the team lead in tackles for losses at 5�. Yet, five of those stops behind the line came against Middle Tennessee.
The wow factor associated with Alexander, the havoc expected from the three-year starter in his final season…
"Prior to this year," Venables said.
Alexander, on the Butkus Award watch list, said he understands the focus on his play.
"Coach Venables is one of our biggest critics," Alexander said. "He coaches us hard and we wouldn't want it any other way.
"Hey, we set the bar high here. We have high expectations for ourselves and we expect to make a lot of great plays. And we're working hard to get better."
Venables wasn't picking on just Alexander.
"Can't put a finger on a couple of guys who are capable of
