Oklahoma’s defense has spent much of this season playing cleanup crew, and Todd Bates says that is exactly how the group sees itself.
Turnovers, three-and-outs and basic execution issues have repeatedly left Brent Venables hunting for an offense that can hold up its end. In the meantime, the Sooners’ defense has often been shoved into bad field position, with opponents starting more drives on Oklahoma’s side of the field than not in the 13 touchdowns the unit has allowed.
Even with those circumstances, the defense has not shown signs of folding. Bates said the group has embraced that reality and turned it into its identity.
"You kind of take on the mentality of a fireman," Bates said on Tuesday, filling in for Venables. "What does a fireman do? Firemen, they run to the fire when things go wrong, when a fire starts when everybody else is running from it."
That mindset has become a central message inside the room. Bates said the defense believes it is built to handle the messes the other side of the ball creates.
"They know that they are equipped to put it out. And so that’s the mentality that we try to instill in our guys. In our group, that’s what we hang our hat on," Bates said.
The nickname has even made its way into the group text, which Bates said is called "Firemen."
"It’s a reminder of that mentality that you’re equipped for whatever adversity you may face," Bates said.
Bates extended the comparison by noting that firemen have to move quickly, get to their spots and do their jobs without losing focus on the details.
"You’re prepared for it, you’re equipped for it and you just keep plugging away at that and pounding that and believing that," Bates said.
The Sooners were expected to get more help from Ben Arbuckle’s offense this season, with projections pointing to a unit far more capable of supporting a run back to the College Football Playoff. Instead, outside of the season-opening win against UTEP and some Sooner Magic in the Cotton Bowl, the offense has mostly ignited problems rather than solved them.
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Sooners Finally Got The Formula Right But One Problem Wont Go Away
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Still, the win did not come without another familiar concern hanging over it. The Sooners left points on the field with missed field goals by Sandell, a reminder that even when the broader formula works, the margins remain too tight for comfort. Oklahoma got the result it needed and some much-needed traction in conference play, but the lingering issue is whether it can keep that balance intact when the pressure rises again. [Read more 🡒]