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Streaky Alamo Bowl Shows Oklahoma's Defense Is Still Far From Finished Product

There was plenty of good from Brent Venables' defense on Thursday, but the Sooners must make strides this offseason to succeed in the SEC.
Ryan Chapman|
Streaky Alamo Bowl Shows Oklahoma's Defense Is Still Far From Finished Product
Streaky Alamo Bowl Shows Oklahoma's Defense Is Still Far From Finished Product

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Oklahoma Sooners

SAN ANTONIO — The Alamo Bowl was a microcosm of the 2023 season for Oklahoma’s defense.

The Sooners played well for stretches, limiting one of the most explosive offenses in college football, but Arizona had enough success to stage a second-half comeback in the Alamodome.

Brent Venables had a wrinkle for the Wildcats, rolling out three defensive lineman to get an extra defensive back on the field in hopes of keeping Arizona’s talented receivers out of the end zone.

Despite taking a bigger body off the field, OU (10-3, 7-2 Big 12) generated plenty of pressure.

The Sooners sacked Arizona (10-3, 7-2 Pac 12) quarterback Noah Fifita five times and totaled 11 tackles for loss.

But Oklahoma lost Tetairoa McMillan in coverage too many times, often on third down, as he hauled in 10 catches for 160 yards and teammate Jacob Cowing finished with seven grabs for 152 yards and two touchdowns.

The game was tied 24-24 in the fourth quarter, but Arizona slipped another receiver through the OU secondary and took the lead for good.

“Just thought that having a little more speed on the field would be important,” Venables said after the game. “… To me, if we played a little better on defense when the game is tied up, the second-and-17 , we can't give up a conversion there and expect to win in a game that's — through all the adversity that's happened and the game is tied and it's second-and-17 (to McMillan), I've got to put them in a better position. I think two plays later they scored a touchdown to go up.”

OU’s defense didn’t lose the Sooners the game.

Six turnovers from Oklahoma’s offense that the Wildcats cashed in for 20 points is why Arizona took the Alamo Bowl trophy back to Tucson.

But the inconsistencies defensively show the improvement the Sooners still have to make to enjoy success in the Southeastern Conference.

As has been the case all year, OU gave up yardage in the first quarter but rallied to force Arizona to kick a pair of field goals.

Venables’ unit then pitched a shutout in the third quarter, as the Wildcats’ only score came on a scoop-and-score.

There were still mental errors, however, ones that will need to be eradicated as the defense enters its third year under Venables.

“I feel like we did a great job preparing for Arizona,” safety Billy Bowman said. “Coaches put the right stuff. I just feel like tonight Oklahoma beat Oklahoma, and if you do that, you can't expect to win.

“I feel like we did a good job putting them behind the chains. We've just got to find a way to get off the field.”

Entering bowl season, the Sooners ranked 79th in the country in total defense, allowing 389.9 yards per game.

Oklahoma was much better at keeping opponents out of the end zone, allowing just 22.2 points per game (41st), but those numbers are far from where Venables will want his defense to finish in 2024.

The returning core is strong.

Linebacker Danny Stutsman and defensive linemen Ethan Downs, Jacob Lacey and Da’Jon Terry will all join Bowman in Norman in 2024.

Linebacker Kip Lewis, who finished tied with Woodi Washington for the team lead with seven tackles in the Alamo Bowl, again seemed to be at the center of everything good on Thursday night. He had a pair of tackles for loss, including a huge sack, to help lead the Sooners.

Still, Oklahoma has to find more consistency applying pressure up front across a 12-game season, and OU certainly must ratchet up a pass defense that entered the Alamo Bowl ranked 99th in passing yards allowed per game.

The Sooners have the elements to take another step forward defensively in 2024, and they’ll have to as Jackson Arnold enters his first full season as the starting quarterback while offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh has to completely revamp his unit.

“That's a really athletic (Arizona) offense and again, good skill, and give you a little more variety in coverage and things of that nature,” Venables said. “Some of it was really good, some of it not so good.

“ ... I think there was some disruptiveness that took place. ... Again, we've got to get off the field a couple of other drives, but I thought there was some good stuff that came out of it.”

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Ryan Chapman
RYAN CHAPMAN

Ryan is co-publisher at Sooners On SI and covers a number of sports in and around Norman and Oklahoma City. Working both as a journalist and a sports talk radio host, Ryan has covered the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma City Thunder, the United States Men’s National Soccer Team, the Oklahoma City Energy and more. Since 2019, Ryan has simultaneously pursued a career as both a writer and a sports talk radio host, working for the Flagship for Oklahoma sports, 107.7 The Franchise, as well as AllSooners.com. Ryan serves as a contributor to The Franchise’s website, TheFranchiseOK.com, which was recognized as having the “Best Website” in 2022 by the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters. Ryan holds an associate’s degree in Journalism from Oklahoma City Community College in Oklahoma City, OK. 

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