Hold the Line! A Tale of Two Oklahoma Defensive Coordinators

Look at the following scores/games/results: What is the difference?

L Notre Dame 34, Oklahoma 30

L Texas 38, Oklahoma 28

L Texas Tech 38, Oklahoma 28

W Oklahoma 41, Kansas State 31

W Oklahoma 35, Texas A & M 31

W Oklahoma 38, Kansas State 37

L Kansas State 35, Oklahoma 7

W Oklahoma 38, Oklahoma State 35

W Oklahoma 42, Texas A & M 35

L USC 55, Oklahoma 19

L UCLA 41, Oklahoma 24

L Texas 45, Oklahoma 12

L Oregon 34, Oklahoma 33

L Boise State 43, Oklahoma 42

W Oklahoma 41, Missouri 31

L Texas Tech 34, Oklahoma 27

L West Virginia 48, Oklahoma 28

L Texas 45, Oklahoma 35

W Oklahoma 45, Kansas 31

W Oklahoma 58, Kansas State 35

See the difference? It is the Mike Stoops Era (1999-Nov. 2003) as defensive coordinator to the Brent Venables Era (Dec. 2003 - Present).

Using the above games, during the Mike Stoops era Oklahoma's defenses allowed the opposition to score 31+ points six times. Since Venables has taken over, last week's game against Kansas State made the 14th time, and the third time this season alone (third game in a row, by the way) that Oklahoma's defenses have given up this many points.

The problem: OU is 8-12 in these games. The reality is that a team's chances of winning decrease dramatically when you let the opposition score 31 or more points.

Luckily Oklahoma has an offense to keep up this year. If that was not the case, OU might have lost the last three in a row.

These are just a few of the stats I want to share with you in differentiating Stoops from Venables. Let me say this right off—this article is not calling for Venables to be fired, but at least to get him some help and hire a co-defensive coordinator (in addition to Bob) that will help pep this defense back to the way it was earlier this decade.

I also understand the circumstances of the times, such as Bo Pelini assisting Venables in the 2004 campaign.

All of the following were calculated with Mike Stoops not coaching the defense in the 2003 Big 12 Championship or the 2003 Sugar Bowl National Championship (he was hired at Arizona in November of that month).

1999-Nov. 2003 (Mike Stoops Defensive Coordinator)

Losses: Nine

Dec. 2003-present (Brent Venables Defensive Coordinator)

Losses: 14

1999-Nov. 2003 (Stoops)

Bowl Game Record 3-1

BCS 2-0

Dec. 2003-present (Venables)

Bowl Game Record 1-4

BCS 0-4

1999-Nov. 2003 (Stoops)

Games when opposition scored 31 or more points: Six

Dec. 2003-present (Venables)

Games when opposition scored 31 or more points: 14

1999-Nov. 2003 (Stoops)

Shutouts: Six

Dec. 2003-present (Venables)

Shutouts: Three

1999-Nov. 2003 (Stoops)

Holding the opposition to single digits (not counting shutouts): 16

Dec. 2003-present (Venables)

Holding the opposition to single digits (not counting shutouts): 10

1999-Nov. 2003 (Stoops)

Holding the opposition to 20 or below (not counting shutouts): 39

Dec. 2003-present (Venables)

Holding the opposition to 20 or below (not counting shutouts): 28

1999-Nov. 2003 (Stoops)

Total points allowed: 229 ('99) + 194 ('00) + 169 ('01) + 216 '(02) + 158 ('03: 12 games) = 966

Dec. 2003-present (Venables)

Total points allowed so far: 56 ('03: two games) + 219 ('04) + 277 ('05) + 242 ('06) + 284 ('07) + 180 ('08 so far) = 1,258

1999-Nov. 2003 (Stoops)

Points given up to non-BCS conference teams: 79

Dec. 2003-present (Venables)

Points given up to non-BCS conference teams (not counting Boise State): 132