Sooners Need Unconventional Traditionalism

You can't question the success of Bob Stoops and the University of Oklahoma football team, but you can question the recent direction of the program.  The Sooners are no longer perennial championship contenders.  Despite notching double digit win totals and a Big XII championship, OU has been unable to run the ball or defend consistently the last four seasons.  Defense and ball control are the first two ingredients to championship football. The trend of mediocrity can be blamed on recruiting, defense, Landry Jones or Josh Heupel, but the main culprit is the offensive philosophy.

The Sooners were ahead of the no-huddle, hurry-up, spread offense trend.  With Sam Bradford and Kevin Wilson, OU's no-huddle became the most prolific offense in college football history.  They were often unstoppable and scored touchdowns at a record breaking rate.  No one worried as the defense dwindled.  That was just collateral damage.

That was also the past.  The unbelievable players from 2008 are gone along with Wilson.  Also missing is offensive balance, defensive pressure, and any novelty advantage once possessed by the Sooners.  Almost every team in the Big XII runs no-huddle killing their own defense along with the opponents.  It's either a quick score or quick punt which negates ball control and forces the defense into more possessions.  Also since Wilson's departure, the Sooners have failed to maintain a run/pass balance despite great talent and depth at the running back position.

Stoops should stay ahead of the trend once again, and scrap the no-huddle.  Keep a package for late half situations and change of pace, but otherwise, huddle up, run the football, and control the clock.

When Oklahoma State catches up, it's time to rethink your brand of football.  The current Big XII resembles the WAC with most games producing basketball type scores.  It's embarrassing for the Sooners to be associated with that.  OU has traditionally been a great defensive program, but last year's Sooners gave up over 41 points in three of their last four games.  Against OSU and West Virginia (who also use no-huddle) OU's defense was on the field 100 snaps.  Why not shorten the game?  You can't expect the defense to perform in the fourth quarter after playing so many snaps.  Stoops also can't expect to recruit top defensive talent with the current system.  The talent drop off is already alarming.  Where are the playmakers?  Probably in the SEC where they're not on the field 100 plays a game.

Unconventional traditionalism is what the Sooners need to evolve.  Stoops has shown that he actively looks for trends and is willing to try unconventional offenses.  His first season as a head coach he hired Mike Leach to run his unconventional spread offense.  A return to a traditional huddle up approach would be unconventional in the current Big XII.  Kansas State played ground control football while the rest of the conference aired it out and they're reigning conference champs.

With the departure of Landry Jones the Sooners offense is ripe to convert to a run focused system.  Blake Bell has already proven himself a capable ball carrier and there is a stable full of underused running backs.  Plus, the best player on the team is fullback Trey Millard.  The Sooners would dominate time of possession and keep the potent Big XII offenses on the sidelines.

I will be eternally grateful to Bob Stoops for what he has done for OU football.  He restored pride to a demoralized fan base.  He woke the giant and I believe he earned the right to coach the Sooners as long as he wants, but he is under pressure.  In over twelve years as head coach Stoops never fired a coach.  He has since fired four in 18 months.  There has been a muted tensity surrounding the program the last few years.  Several players grew disgruntled and transferred while others inexplicably left for the draft despite terrible draft stock. 

The best way to cure the Sooners is to win.  If defense wins championships (as the saying goes) the Sooners should scrap the no-huddle and control the clock.  Unconventional traditionalism.