STs is one of those areas where a team with lesser talent can impact a game and take stabs at traditional powers.  An Abney in a smart system can be a game changer.  Momentum is shifted on KOs and KORs.  FGs made and FGs blocked keep teams in games and improve their chances.  This article tells me what we realized over the offseason during the coaching moves, that Stoops knows his ST coaching-by-committee approach last year was a fail.  Buh was targeted by other teams.  Stoops fought to keep him.  Let's hope that pays dividends.  A young coach sometimes needs to learn.  Stoops seems to be capable of that.  
People seem to be impressed with the atmosphere at practice.   Recruiting has not leveled, but is actually getting better. Stoops replaced staff members who needed to be replaced and those he lost to big programs, it appears he made good hires. 
These are reasons for fan patience, IMO.