Sooner defense is finally thriving

By John Helsley

Published: October 23, 2006

With Adrian Peterson's role reduced to sideline mentor for roommate Allen Patrick on Saturday night, Oklahoma's new-look offense produced a look, all right.

Dull.

Effectively dull.

Blame/credit the OU defense.

With the Sooner D in complete denial mode, OU offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson played it safe and smart in securing a victory in the first outing after losing Peterson to a broken collarbone.

Could this be the new recipe for Sooner success?

Not likely. It was more a recipe for the conditions — no Peterson, no Colorado threat and plenty of wind and cold.

Still, more dominant defense would be welcomed by Wilson as OU approaches its most challenging stretch of the schedule.

The Sooners hit the road for four of their final five games.

And they're visiting Big 12 venues — Columbia, College Station, Stillwater — which have proved prickly for OU squads in the recent past.

In lieu of Peterson, the next-best bet for a great equalizer on the road is great defense that can not only control opposing offenses but crowds as well.

"You're challenged as a team to go on the road and play in somebody else's house," OU defensive coordinator Brent Venables said. "It begins with defense."

And fortunately for the Sooners, their defense finally appears to be arriving.

Late arriving, perhaps, yet better late…

Great things were expected of this defense, which returned the bulk of a crew that hit its peak at the end of last season.

But unexpected holes were exposed in September. Fifty minutes of solid play were undone by momentary lapses.

Through lineup massaging and continued emphasis on such rudimentary fundamentals as tackling and knowing assignments, the defense now seems much tighter.

An added emphasis in practices to pit the first offense and defense against each other more, rather than scout teams, has also provided positive returns.

"When you go against scouts, you can develop lazy habits," Venables said.

"I don't think there's any question it's made us better in the basics of the game."

The Sooners produced their best effort of this season Saturday, despite limited help from strong safety Reggie Smith, a key to the turnaround, who was held back because of an aching knee.

Colorado, which had rushed for a combined 504 yards in its previous two games, was corralled for 74 yards on 30 attempts. The Buffaloes managed but 2.6 yards per offensive snap.

Seven Sooners contributed tackles for losses.

"Everybody's doing their job," said linebacker Rufus Alexander, who led OU with 11 tackles. "That's why a bunch of people are making plays."

Now, let's be clear. The Buffs were not a dynamic offense.

The Sooners will see much better, beginning with Missouri and hot young quarterback Chase Daniel this Saturday.

But OU's improvement is no one-week wonder. The Sooners have now held four straight foes to less than 240 yards of total offense.

Most weeks, that's winning football, if the offense cooperates.

The difference defensively from early on is startling statistically.

After the Oregon game, OU ranked last in the league and 97th nationally in total defense.

Now: the Sooners lead the Big 12 and stand 11th nationally in that same category.

What's up? OU is getting better push up front and more active, let-it-fly play from linebackers Alexander and Zach Latimer.

The secondary has cut down on the deep burns that plagued it earlier.

And it's a defense that can make a difference on the road.