How much did OU football’s defense improve in 2023? A look at the numbers for Sooners.

SAN ANTONIO — After Thursday’s 38-24 loss to Arizona in the Alamo Bowl, OU coach Brent Venables’ mind kept flashing back to one play.

It wasn’t Jalil Farooq’s fumble which led to a Wildcats’ defensive touchdown or any of the other five turnovers the Sooners committed.

It wasn’t to Jacob Cowing’s 57-yard touchdown reception with 5:28 remaining to break a tie either.

Instead it was to a moment a few plays before Cowing’s touchdown.

“If we played a little better on defense when the game is tied up,” Venables said. “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, I’ve got to put them in a better position. I think two plays later they scored a touchdown to go up.”

More: How OU football’s defense showed ‘disruptiveness’ up front in Alamo Bowl loss to Arizona

OU defensive back Billy Bowman Jr. (2) brings down Arizona receiver Tetairoa McMillan (4) in the first half of the Alamo Bowl on Thrusday night in San Antonio.

Venables has high standards for his defense, no surprise given his background as a defensive coordinator with the Sooners and at Clemson.

Venables expects his defense to be better than it was Thursday, and better than it was as a whole in 2023, but the Venables/Ted Roof defense definitely made improvements from the disappointing 2022 season.

How much better was OU’s defense?

The Sooners improved in virtually every major defensive category this season:

Total offense allowed went from 461.0 yards in 2022 to 389.4 yards per game in 2023.

Yards allowed per play went from 5.7 to 5.4.

Rushing yards allowed went from 187.5 to 138.6.

Yards per carry went from 4.5 to 3.9.

Passing yards allowed went from 273.5 to 250.8.

Completion percentage went from 61.9 to…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/much-did-ou-footballs-defense-120325250.html

Author : The Oklahoman

Publish date : 2023-12-31 12:03:25

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