Who would you want to replace Mike

[coeSooner81]

Most people agree that OU would be a better if we had a different play caller on the defensive side of the ball. There are several names I would like to see. of course Venebales is at top of list but he isnt leaving Clemson.
So:
1. Barry Odum
2. Bob Shoop,

Any thoughts???

 

[phillinois]

No one, he's doing fine.

 

[JB4AU]

OU's loss to Clemson really had less to do with defensive play calling, than it did just the physical disparity between the two teams. Sure Mike could have put in another DL, but Clemson was still gonna impose their will in the long run. OU generally had guys in position to make plays, but that's pretty irrelevant when OUs LBs are getting run over for 5+ yards after contact.

 

[Blair Sanderson_rivals]

OU's loss to Clemson really had less to do with defensive play calling, than it did just the physical disparity between the two teams. Sure Mike could have put in another DL, but Clemson was still gonna impose their will in the long run. OU generally had guys in position to make plays, but that's pretty irrelevant when OUs LBs are getting run over for 5+ yards after contact.

I'd have to disagree a bit. It's a combination of scheme and the fact that OU was flat out manhandled up the middle. With Walker & Evans out, they rolled. But... the defense did not blitz often either. MS indeed called a different game for fear of allowing Watson to break free and run. In the end, they did what they wanted.

I still believe that if we played the top QBs of Baylor, TCU, and OkieSt, we may not have even made the playoffs. Allowing a true freshman to rack up over 30ptss in the Baylor game was pretty telling for me. Having said this, I also believe that the Air-Raid offense was employed by Stoops to 'outscore' our conference foes. It did but fell short when playing the top teams in the country. At least this game.

 

[ETU]

I agree, WNAS. Bob figures the best way to win is to score 45-50 points. He knows that 30 won't do. Everytime the Sooners scores less than 30, they lose. So that may suggest Bob isn't confident that he can have a dominating defense at OU. Even though defense is what won the national championship for him against Florida State. I am surprised that a Bob Stoops' team is considered an offensive power first and defense takes a back seat. I would have never dreamed that would happen. But it has been that way for several years now.

 

[SSS!!!]

I seem to recall that when BV left OU people were wanting him to go .... he was really no good any more.

Is my memory wrong?

 

[Forneysooner]

BV is the same guy at Clemson, as when he was at OU. All of a sudden become a great coordinator. There's a lot more talent he is working with, no doubt.
I really don't understand the Mike Stoops haters. Do people realize that 9 of 11 starters for OU were 3 star players coming out of high school. Steven Parker is the highest recruit, and he is a sophomore.
People need to lay off M. Stoops. He knows he's short handed right now. There's better talent we'll see next year, and more coming on defense.
Yea, we need more 4 star recruits, but I personally blame the conference we are in to be the biggest issue here.

 

[SoonerTulsan]

If ignorance is bliss, we have some very blissful fans. We need help at MLB and more depth in the front 7. Lost two key players before/during the Clemson game that killed us. I'm thrilled Alexander declared he's going Pro. We are still recovering from hit to our LB depth when we lost Box and then Cory Nelson left a year early.

 

[jsmitty2.0]

We are probably missing BV's recruiting ability more than anything else

 

[OUSOONER67]

Just need to recruit some studs.

 

[Blair Sanderson_rivals]

BV is the same guy at Clemson, as when he was at OU. All of a sudden become a great coordinator. There's a lot more talent he is working with, no doubt.
I really don't understand the Mike Stoops haters. Do people realize that 9 of 11 starters for OU were 3 star players coming out of high school. Steven Parker is the highest recruit, and he is a sophomore.
People need to lay off M. Stoops. He knows he's short handed right now. There's better talent we'll see next year, and more coming on defense.
Yea, we need more 4 star recruits, but I personally blame the conference we are in to be the biggest issue here.

OU will always need better players for the next season. Having said this, MS fielded his own recruits/players yesterday. They fell short, but I enjoyed the season this year. I enjoyed watching a new offense, it was a very good season for OU.

 

[OUSOONER67]

Even if Mike needed to go would Bob do it? I don't think he ever would unless told he had to do it. Mike leaving to take a HC position probably won't happen again so it would take a firing or Mike stepping aside if asked by Bob. I just don't see any of that happening at least not anytime soon. I am not saying he should go, I have no say in that, I will leave that up to the people that do.

 

[OUgradJeff]

I still believe that if we played the top QBs of Baylor, TCU, and OkieSt, we may not have even made the playoffs. Allowing a true freshman to rack up over 30ptss in the Baylor game was pretty telling for me.

Um, did you see what Baylor did to #10 UNC in their bowl game? They didn't have their Freshman backup QB in that game. Nor did they have their 1,000 yard RB Linwood, nor their Belitnikof winning WR Coleman. All those guys played against us and we still beat them solidly. In Waco.

Also, TCU just beat a darn fine #15 Oregon without their star QB.

So I do think our end of season run holds up on the impressiveness scale.

 

[Bill Nolan]

I seem to recall that when BV left OU people were wanting him to go .... he was really no good any more.

Is my memory wrong?

You are correct. All of the positive BV posts since the game is too much. These are the same people that were ripping him and wanted him out of here a few years ago. Now he gets some better players than he had at OU and all of a sudden he's a great coach again. He's always been a great coach, but so has Mike Stoops. Mike just needs better players and I have confidence in him to get them.

 

[OUgradJeff]

OU will always need better players for the next season. Having said this, MS fielded his own recruits/players yesterday. They fell short, but I enjoyed the season this year. I enjoyed watching a new offense, it was a very good season for OU.

I will also add that Mike's D also improved a great deal this year when fielding all of his own recruits.

We were not as poor defensively than many seem to think, especially when looking at it when equalized per number of plays(these ranking do include all bowl games concluded through yesterday):

Year________________2015________2014
Total Defense__________39__________51
Pass Defense__________34_________117
Pass Eff Defense_______10__________55
Rush Defense__________53___________8
Rush yds/carry Def_____33___________4
Scoring Defense________28__________55
3rd Down Conv D_______78__________47
Red Zone Defense______32__________53

Are this year's rankings acceptable? No, but there has been a significant improvement and I hope that continues. And I cannot access the per/play rankings, but they make the Defense look even better this year.

 

[JB4AU]

BV is his own man at Clemson and is able to do exactly what he wants in regards to the defense at Clemson. I've read some from people on the pay board that BV was pretty much stuck running the system/scheme that Bob wanted to run while at OU. At Clemson he has more of a free reign.

 

[coeSooner81]

I believe the problem with BV was that his scheme was to complicated and he tried to put to much on. He is a great LB coach and an even better recruiter. Not sure if he took this same scheme to Clemson or if he simplified his gameplanning.

 

[OUgradJeff]

Not sure if he took this same scheme to Clemson or if he simplified his gameplanning.

Several excellent points, and this is the question that I was wondering.

 

[Bill Nolan]

I believe the problem with BV was that his scheme was to complicated and he tried to put to much on. He is a great LB coach and an even better recruiter. Not sure if he took this same scheme to Clemson or if he simplified his gameplanning.

This is what I remember everyone always complaining about in regards to BV. His system was too complicated for the players. He needed to go. We needed something simpler. Now we need him back. In a year or two the same fans that wanted Josh gone will be calling for him to come back too. Hilarious!

 

[SoonerTulsan]

This is what I remember everyone always complaining about in regards to BV. His system was too complicated for the players. He needed to go. We needed something simpler. Now we need him back. In a year or two the same fans that wanted Josh gone will be calling for him to come back too. Hilarious!

Amen.

 

[Blair Sanderson_rivals]

I believe the problem with BV was that his scheme was to complicated and he tried to put to much on. He is a great LB coach and an even better recruiter. Not sure if he took this same scheme to Clemson or if he simplified his gameplanning.

Most likely a bit different w/ respects of the offense he's playing against. There is much more passing, spread type offenses in the Bg12, so palagine his offense I'md change somewhat.

 

[Blair Sanderson_rivals]

Um, did you see what Baylor did to #10 UNC in their bowl game? They didn't have their Freshman backup QB in that game. Nor did they have their 1,000 yard RB Linwood, nor their Belitnikof winning WR Coleman. All those guys played against us and we still beat them solidly. In Waco.

Also, TCU just beat a darn fine #15 Oregon without their star QB.

So I do think our end of season run holds up on the impressiveness scale.

Yes, I saw the game. My point is that Baylor attempted to play the limp/gimp playmakers against us and failed. Briles had to re-invent himself to win his bowl game. I think we caught them at the right time.

 

[Blair Sanderson_rivals]

This is what I remember everyone always complaining about in regards to BV. His system was too complicated for the players. He needed to go. We needed something simpler. Now we need him back. In a year or two the same fans that wanted Josh gone will be calling for him to come back too. Hilarious!

Not me. His playbook is thin. Great player. Avg at best coach.

 

[Blair Sanderson_rivals]

I seem to recall that when BV left OU people were wanting him to go .... he was really no good any more.

Is my memory wrong?

My memory is that the board appeared to have more support for Mike Stoops than BV. I personally didn't like the move because if he failed, OU would be stuck w/ him as Bob would never fire him. Bottomline, it appears that the best defense that can be employed these days is an offense that can out score the opposing team. A few key stops is very important in the bend but not break defense that Mike employs.

 

[Forneysooner]

I think a lot of people seem to get in Mike's grill after a loss expecting a different gameplan, etc., but the bottom line is this conference doesn't prepare you to step outside the conference and slap people around in the trenches. The style of play in this conference is not being about Physicality.....look at OU's starters on defense. Every single lineman and linebacker were 3 star recruits.....is that Mike's fault? Can you blame him for recruiting? Maybe, maybe not. This conference just doesn't attract a lot of high profile linemen, it's that simple. These players are 3 star talent for a reason, they are what you are. Even BV said after the game, "these games at this level are normally won in the trenches". Clemson is not Baylor or TCU or Texas.

 

[Blair Sanderson_rivals]

I think a lot of people seem to get in Mike's grill after a loss expecting a different gameplan, etc., but the bottom line is this conference doesn't prepare you to step outside the conference and slap people around in the trenches. The style of play in this conference is not being about Physicality.....look at OU's starters on defense. Every single lineman and linebacker were 3 star recruits.....is that Mike's fault? Can you blame him for recruiting? Maybe, maybe not. This conference just doesn't attract a lot of high profile linemen, it's that simple. These players are 3 star talent for a reason, they are what you are. Even BV said after the game, "these games at this level are normally won in the trenches". Clemson is not Baylor or TCU or Texas.

Yes. I can. To some degree anyway. BV managed to get better recruits in Clemson. BV had a similar defense at OU and he managed to get better ranked recruits. The OU brand is powerful & should draw the attention of better recruits. I'm not buying into the whole mantra, "We can't get better players because we're in the Big 12." OU has a better brand than this, as does Bob Stoops. I still believe OU can do better than a #4 ranking in the playoffs. It's as if some have accepted the fact that MS can't do better than we just saw. This may play out to be correct. But I do think OU can.

 

[OUgradJeff]

Yes, I saw the game. My point is that Baylor attempted to play the limp/gimp playmakers against us and failed. Briles had to re-invent himself to win his bowl game. I think we caught them at the right time.

Coleman and Linwood were not "limp/gimp" for that game. They were fully healthy. Neither was Stidham until we hit him hard in the game.

And Stidham is a really good QB. His numbers on the season:

75-109 (68.8%), 1265 yards, 12 TD, 2 Ints, 13.0 Yds/Att, 199.0 Passer Rating.

OU beat an outstanding Baylor team in Waco.

 

[JB4AU]

I'd have to disagree a bit. It's a combination of scheme and the fact that OU was flat out manhandled up the middle. With Walker & Evans out, they rolled. But... the defense did not blitz often either. MS indeed called a different game for fear of allowing Watson to break free and run. In the end, they did what they wanted.

I still believe that if we played the top QBs of Baylor, TCU, and OkieSt, we may not have even made the playoffs. Allowing a true freshman to rack up over 30ptss in the Baylor game was pretty telling for me. Having said this, I also believe that the Air-Raid offense was employed by Stoops to 'outscore' our conference foes. It did but fell short when playing the top teams in the country. At least this game.

Well gotta say I do agree with you on the blitzing. Would have loved to see more, especially when it was obvious Clemson was just gonna hammer away on the ground and force OU to stop it. I may be wrong in my hindsight here, but Mike's best defensive performances in the past is when he is very aggressive and puts pressure on offenses. And it doesn't take a football genius to realize why that's effective. Mike's defenses do struggle, and for good reason, when they back off and play less aggressive. That's one thing BV has always been a master of, is his blitzing schemes are just ridiculously good. Sure he gets burned sometimes, but like BV showed the other night, his blitzing packages are just insane at putting pressure on offenses.

 

[Blair Sanderson_rivals]

Coleman and Linwood were not "limp/gimp" for that game. They were fully healthy. Neither was Stidham until he hit him hard in the game.

And Stidham is a really good QB. His numbers on the season:

75-109 (68.8%), 1265 yards, 12 TD, 2 Ints, 13.0 Yds/Att, 199.0 Passer Rating.

OU beat an outstanding Baylor team in Waco.

Oh, don't get confused. I'm happy as hell that OU won. You the right to believe as you wish, but I'm not buying into it. Coleman was not 100%. And if Stidham was all that he would have been their starter. He was a freshman w/ very little if any PT. Look it is what it is. OU may very well would have beat them if they were 100%, but the facts are they didn't because Baylor wasn't. Neither of us can change this and neither can the two teams. You play with who you got against who they got.

 

[OUgradJeff]

Oh, don't get confused. I'm happy as hell that OU won. You the right to believe as you wish, but I'm not buying into it. Coleman was not 100%. And if Stidham was all that he would have been their starter. He was a freshman w/ very little if any PT. Look it is what it is. OU may very well would have beat them if they were 100%, but the facts are they didn't because Baylor wasn't. Neither of us can change this and neither can the two teams. You play with who you got against who they got.

Coleman was 100%. Please provide a link that says he wasn't.

Stidham proved he is an excellent QB, pretty much the equal of Russell (Stidham the superior passer, while Russell was a bit better runner). 75-109 (68.8%), 1265 yards, 12 TD, 2 Ints, 13.0 Yds/Att, 199.0 Passer Rating. Those are great results that he proved on the field.

And do you give the same pass to OU when OU isn't 100% like against Baylor & OSU in 2014?

 

[Snake98]

Mike Stoops is not going anywhere unless it's demanded by the big time donors. The Sooners were very fortunate to make the playoffs. Both TCU and Baylor would have probably won had they had their starting QBs and all American WRs.

Watching the bowl games, Baylor, and TCU did a much better job of coaching thier teams (which they always do). Both will out recruit OU in 2016 despite the Sooners winning the Big XII and getting into the playoffs. Very telling.

Having said all that, Bob Stoops will retire from OU and rightfully so. He's up there with the best. But he will never win another NC and will struggle to win B12 championships.

Fan for life. Boomer Sooner.

 

[Blair Sanderson_rivals]

Coleman was 100%. Please prove a link that says he wasn't.

Stidham proved he is an excellent QB, pretty much the equal of Russell (Stidham the superior passer, while Russell was a bit better runner). 75-109 (68.8%), 1265 yards, 12 TD, 2 Ints, 13.0 Yds/Att, 199.0 Passer Rating. Those are great results that he proved on the field.

And do you give the same pass to OU when OU isn't 100% like against Baylor & OSU in 2014?

No link, I just remember the talking heads discussing their injuries.

Never said Stidham wasn't a good QB. I still think a Frsh QB could have been rattled a bit more.

And yes, I give credence to when OU has banged up players. I think OU would have given Clemson a better game w/ Evans & Walker playing last Thursday.

 

[TAVlonghorn]

If ignorance is bliss, we have some very blissful fans. We need help at MLB and more depth in the front 7. Lost two key players before/during the Clemson game that killed us. I'm thrilled Alexander declared he's going Pro. We are still recovering from hit to our LB depth when we lost Box and then Cory Nelson left a year early.

And just what kind of help in Major League Baseball are you expecting?!?!

 

[Raysor]

We are probably missing BV's recruiting ability more than anything else

I think that's pretty accurate. And when he has a home base with more talent, he's done great. When they lost their best DL in the first quarter, they didn't seem to miss him much.

I also think that Dabo is a terrific offensive mind, and he can make his defense better by giving them sufficient rest. As Bob emphasized all year, that stuff works together. It did for them in the Orange Bowl.

 

[John Otterstedt]

Brent Venables said it himself in the pre-Orange Bowl interviews. He was "comfortable" and in a "routine" at OU. Going to Clemson helped him start fresh and inspired, so saying Clemson BV is the same as OU BV doesn't even jive with what BV thinks of himself.

 

[John Otterstedt]

The upcomers have already been snatched.

1. Don Brown snatched by Michigan
2. Dave Aranda snatched by LSU
3. Barry Odom only in Missouri for 1 year
4. Nate Woody (big gamble on a lower tier coord)

 

[ctsoonerfan]

As someone posted, we built a defense to stop the pass happy B12 and it did a wonderful job, and struggled against the more balanced run/pass teams. With depth and size on DL OU can become multiple. Look at Clemson, Lawson goes down and they plug in another 6'5" 270 DE. There is something to be said with playing with 4 DL and getting pressure and being able to stop the run.

My biggest complaint about our defense is we don't finish the tackle at the initial point of contact, do that and instead of 2nd and 4 it is 2nd and 7 or 8. Tackling in our two losses was a big issue, that is coaching but I think that is on the position coaches.

We can win with this scheme, we need to be a bit more multiple at times against the run balance teams.

 

[SoonerTulsan]

And just what kind of help in Major League Baseball are you expecting?!?!

That would be you're old run-of-the-mill STUD middle linebacker. Thinking a Rocky Calmus or Teddy Lehman.

 

[Blair Sanderson_rivals]

Most people agree that OU would be a better if we had a different play caller on the defensive side of the ball. There are several names I would like to see. of course Venebales is at top of list but he isnt leaving Clemson.
So:
1. Barry Odum
2. Bob Shoop,

Any thoughts???

I'm going w/ #2. For no other reason than the names...

Two Bobs
Stoop & Shoop

 

[John Otterstedt]

I'm going w/ #2. For no other reason than the names...

Two Bobs
Stoop & Shoop

The Two Bobs