Baker Mayfield sets Oklahoma record for offense, but Sooners defense gets wake-up call

By Tommy Tabler | Sep 19, 2015

The Oklahoma Sooners came into the Tulsa game on fresh off a big win over the Tennessee Volunteers. With a high scoring win over Tulsa, the question on Sooners’ fans minds is Oklahoma Sooners’ defense ready for Big 12 play?

Oklahoma’s offense was the story against Tulsa with quarterback Baker Mayfield setting a new program record for total offense with 572 yards against the Golden Hurricane. He threw for 487 yards and four touchdowns on 32-of-38 passing and has been on on a roll since the second half of the comeback win against Tennessee last week.

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Mayfield is scrambling out of the pocket and not turning the ball over, which makes the past three games even more impressive, but the problem for the Sooners does not appear to be on the offensive side of the ball, rather it’s the defense that had issues vs. Tulsa.

The Sooners’ defense gave up 603 yards of total offense against the Golden Hurricane. During the first half against Tennessee, the Vols offense couldn’t be stopped as they raced out to an early 17-0 lead. The play improved on the defensive side of the ball during the second of the Tennessee game, but at some point Oklahoma will have to get a complete game out of the defense.

Defensive coordinator Mike Stoops has two weeks to prepare for West Virginia who always likes to use the high-powered hurry-up style of offense.

Oklahoma has the talent on the defensive side of the ball to cause problems for the Big 12 but too many more games like Tulsa and people are going to worry about this defense. If they struggled slowing down Tulsa where former Baylor offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery is now the team’s head coach, what will happen when they play the Bears and their roster that has superior talent?

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