Still struggling on D

Clay Horning
The Norman Transcript

September 17, 2006 01:07 am

— • It made some big plays, but OU’s defense gave up a ton of points, yards

EUGENE, Ore. — “All right, what do you want me to talk about,” Sooner coach Bob Stoops said gruffly.
His mood was understandable after Oregon defeated Oklahoma 34-33 with a finish that might end up being as controversial as it appeared impossible.
And while no game in the nation the rest of the season may match what happened in Autzen Stadium Saturday afternoon for improbability and heartstopping excitement, there remains one factor about it that has plenty in common with the Sooners’ first two outings.
Defense.
Or the lack of it.
Against a pair of lightly regarded teams, Alabama-Birmingham and Washington, the Sooners allowed a combined 688 yards, 31 first downs and 37 points. Though OU gained an average of 6.8 yards per play the first two weeks of the season, it had still allowed a hearty 5.4.
Oregon, however, wrote a much longer and more painful chapter to the Sooner defense’s season.
The Ducks picked up 501 yards and did not discriminate, rushing for 158 and passing for 343. Additionally, the Sooners were porous early — allowing a four-play, 76-yard Duck touchdown drive to start the game — and late — allowing two touchdown drives in the game’s final 3:12.
“That’s the way it goes,” Stoops said. “They made the plays there at the end when it mattered. We needed to make some smarter plays with the clock and come up with some defensive stops.”
The Sooners actually did quite a few things right.
Nic Harris picked off two passes and the Sooners recovered two other fumbles. After the Ducks got points on their first two possessions, they scored just three points in their next seven possessions and just 10 points in their next nine.
But even then, all was not right with the defense
The Ducks were marching before making two of their turnovers, giving the ball up after drives of 38 and 35 yards. They only punted three times the entire game. And, even entering the fourth quarter, with the Sooners leading 20-13, the Ducks were winning the yardage battle 333 to 227, having racked up 15 first downs to the Sooners’ 11.
“I don’t know,” said linebacker Rufus Alexander. “We’ve just got to get better.”
OU allowed several superlative performances.
Though Adrian Peterson came on strong in the fourth quarter to finish with 211 yards, Oregon’s Jonathan Stewart still ran for more per carry — 6.3 to 6.2 — and finished with 144 on the ground.
Oregon quarterback Dennis Dixon completed 26 of 41 passes for 341 yards and two touchdowns, with nine of the catches belonging to Jaison Williams for 177 yards.
“We did a lot of good things,” Stoops said. “But, obviously, not enough.”
Just a little more defense might have been the difference.