One would think after the way Oklahoma played against [autotag]Casey Thompson[/autotag] and the Nebraska Cornhuskers that the Sooners would be trending toward an elite defense this season. That thought was quickly dashed on the opening two drives in OU’s loss to Kansas State. The Wildcats putting up 14 points before the Sooners could catch their breath.
It was a startling start to the game in Brent Venables’ first Big 12 game. Perhaps more surprising was that the defense couldn’t sustain their play from a stretch where they forced three-straight three and outs. Kansas State adjusted and executed better than Oklahoma did on their way to their second straight win in Norman over the Sooners.
While the season is far from over, the loss brings into focus a potential problem for the Oklahoma Sooners as they dig into conference play. The defense may still have a long way to go.
In his assessment of the fatal fall for each of the top 16 playoff contenders, ESPN’s Bill Connelly had this to say about the Oklahoma Sooners (ESPN+). Yes, Connelly still considers the Sooners a playoff contender, even if the probability dropped significantly last week.
Brent Venables’ first OU squad was rounding into form before Kansas State came to town. The Wildcats won for the sixth time in their past 11 trips to Norman, their 41-34 victory driven primarily by the fact that they were almost always ahead of the chains. Quarterback Adrian Martinez and KSU averaged 6.7 yards per play on first down and dropped Oklahoma to 70th in success rate allowed. The Sooners aren’t allowing many big plays — aside from Martinez’s spectacular, game-clinching 55-yard scramble, anyway — but they aren’t creating uncomfortable downs and distances for opponents. It caught up to them once, and the Sooners can’t let it happen twice.
The next three quarterbacks on the OU schedule, by the way? TCU’s Max Duggan (currently ninth in Total QBR), Texas’ Hudson Card (36th) or Quinn Ewers, and Kansas’ Jalon Daniels (first). All rank ahead of Martinez. – Connelly, ESPN
Neither Hudson Card nor Max Duggan appears capable of putting together an Adrian Martinez-type performance against the Oklahoma Sooners. Yes, Duggan can run, but he’s not going to be able to break tackles in the same way Martinez did Saturday night. Both quarterbacks have the weapons on the outside and in the running game to make life incredibly difficult for the Oklahoma Sooners defense.
And then there’s Jalon Daniels, who is playing like a Heisman candidate for the Kansas Jayhawks. That doesn’t even mention Spencer Sanders who’s looked a lot like the guy who threw all over Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl earlier this year.
The Big 12 schedule is chock-full of potential pitfalls for the Oklahoma Sooners. They have to improve, and that starts Saturday against TCU. A better showing against Duggan, Kendre Miller, Quentin Johnston, and the Horned Frogs would provide a huge confidence boost for the rest of the season.
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