Bob Stoops, who has had several stout defenses in his 11 seasons as Oklahoma’s head coach, said he never compares one year’s unit to another.

Oklahoma defensive back Brian Jackson, right, returns a Texas A&M fumble 52 yards for a touchdown during the Sooners' 65-10 win last week. It was the third touchdown this season for the Oklahoma defense. (AP)

If he had to rank them, though, this year’s Sooner defense would certainly be a candidate for the top spot.

“It is definitely one of the best ones we’ve had,” Stoops said earlier this week. “Really through the entire season, they’ve played excellent.”
The statistics back up that claim. Oklahoma is on pace to set
Stoops-era records for rushing defense and scoring defense.

The Sooners rank among the top nine teams nationally in eight different defensive categories, and they’re among the top five in sacks, tackles for loss, red-zone defense, rushing defense and scoring defense. In four other categories — pass defense, interceptions, turnovers forced and third-down defense — OU ranks no worse than 18th in the country.

The Sooners have surrendered more than 21 points in just one game this season, and in their last two games, the only two touchdown drives they allowed were of 1 and 5 yards. Oklahoma’s opponents in those two games, Nebraska and Texas A&M, had as many combined punts (20) as first downs.

“The biggest thing they do is the basic sound defense, the ultimate basic fundamental defense,” said Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach, who is charged with cracking OU’s defense at Jones AT&T Stadium today. “They go out there with great fundamentals and energy. I think they do that as good as anybody.”

Ask the Sooners what they do best on defense, and they’re not quite sure. Stoops said at this point, it’s “too close of a call” between stuffing the run and keeping aerial attacks grounded. His defense has allowed only 840 yards and four touchdowns rushing this season, and it’s also produced 33 sacks and 14 interceptions.

Junior cornerback Dominique Franks said it doesn’t really matter which quality is best, because each facet of the defense helps the other thrive.

“It’s pretty much even,” said Franks, who has one of Oklahoma’s three defensive touchdowns this season. “We just want to be known as a great overall defense and not just known for one.”

The Red Raiders will have plenty of poison from which to pick. Franks and fellow defensive backs Quinton Carter and Brian Jackson have combined for nine interceptions this season, and each has five passes defended.

Starting linebackers Travis Lewis, Ryan Reynolds and Keenan Clayton do a little of everything — they’ve combined for 197 tackles, including 20 behind the line of scrimmage, and have had hands in seven turnovers — while Jeremy Beal and Gerald McCoy are among the best pass rushers in college football.

Beal, a defensive end, has 11 sacks and 16 tackles for losses, ranking among the top 10 nationally in each category. McCoy, a defensive tackle whom Tech offensive lineman Marlon Winn called an “awesome athlete,” has four sacks, 131/2 tackles for loss and a team-high 10 quarterback hurries.

“Whoever makes a big play, we’re always excited for one another,” Franks said. “We feed off each other’s energy, and that makes us a better defense.”

Stoops said the group’s intelligence and preparation sets it apart, while Franks credited the defensive players’ camaraderie on and off the field as well as their thirst for perfection. Franks said the Sooners have a “third-and-out mentality whether we’re up by 30 (points) or down by three.”

He said Oklahoma’s defense still has plenty of room for improvement, which could be bad news for the Red Raiders, Oklahoma State and whoever the Sooners face in a bowl game.

“We’ve been playing really good at times, but at the same time, we go back and watch film and there’s still plays we can play better,” Franks said. “We’re never satisfied as a defense and want to play a lot better.”

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