Defense Wins Championships

[Eielson]

Who all still believes that?

[ocsooner]

I do. You just have to have some offense, too.

Turnovers trump good defense.

[JLEW1818]

Defense does help you win championships

but your offense has to be average or better

this teams offense is below average

[batonrougesooner]

With just a touch more offense this team could realistically be undefeated.

So yes, I agree with that.

[aero]

I agree. Defense does win championships. But when your offense is 3 and out, or gives up multiple turnovers, or gives up scores to the opponents defense, you could have the Steel Curtain out there and there is only so much they can do. Unless your offense is scoring fast and often, time of possession usually favors the winner. Leave the D on the field too long and they get tired and 1 busted play can be 6. I don't view our D as giving up any points against Neb. Hard to fault them. Hope they aren't getting too frustrated.

[Curly Bill]

You need to have both. The ol' defense wins championships mantra is "coach speak."

[Sooner98]

Having a marginally competent place kicker doesn't hurt, either.

[delhalew]

The folks who coined that phrase back in the day assumed you could make a field goal.

[rawlingsHOH]

Defense wins championships, offense gets you there.

[oksoonerdave]

We just played a team that had no offense but a great defense and they beat us.

[mehip]

Didn't that neb. defense carry their offense on saturday? If the bug eaters had an average defense we win that game by at least one touchdown.

[PDXsooner]

i believe it -- OU has been in every game BECAUSE of this defense, even though the offense has been HORRIBLE!

[yermom]

see, the problem is that you are missing the first part about offense winning games ;)

[goingoneight]

Well last year we all said the defense was horrid and we went 12-2 "all offense."

It's a team sport. Every play matters. It would have been ugly to win on four FGs, but ST could have realistically been the key Saturday Night had we a hot foot to kick FGs. 1/4... 4/4 = 12-10. Not a satisfying win to be held out of the endzone, but you get the point.

[GKeeper316]

i think id give just about anything to have last years offense and this years defense.

[GKeeper316]

Didn't that neb. defense carry their offense on saturday? If the bug eaters had an average defense we win that game by at least one touchdown.

hell if we had a kicker that could put the ball between the posts we'd have won that game

[SGT Park3R]

I still believe it.

[tulsaoilerfan]

hell if we had a kicker that could put the ball between the posts we'd have won that game

If the refs would have called defensive holding on the Int that was ran back to the 2 yard line this game might still be going on

[rainiersooner]

With just a touch more offense this team could realistically be undefeated.

So yes, I agree with that.

If we had Garret Hartley with us still, we'd be undefeated. Hell, we could win a national championship with him.

[Sasakwa]

2009 NCAA Defensive Stats - Yards per Game:

1. Texas
2. Florida
3. TCU
4. Alabama

Those teams are a combined 36-0 this year and are currently holding the Top 4 spots in the BCS Poll.

2009 NCAA Offensive Stats - Yards per Game:

1. Houston
2. Nevada
3. Cinncinatti
4. Texas A&M

These teams are collectively 28-8, none are in the Top 4, two aren't ranked at all. Thats not a bad record, but its nothing like the other list.

So yeah, I'm going to have to stick with this Defense winning championships concept. There is a really good chance the MNC winner will come from that first list.

[BoulderSooner79]

You need to have both. The ol' defense wins championships mantra is "coach speak."

^This! I hate the old "D wins championships" coach speak. CFB has grown beyond that and the team has to be all around good to win it all. A weak link will get you beat.