Oklahoma's pass defense didn't look invincible.
The Sooners won the war, defeating Tulsa 62-21 at Skelly Field.
But for a half, OU's defensive backs lost the battle.
"Sometimes you get lulled to sleep because no one has been able to throw on you,” said defensive backs coach Bobby Jack Wright. "We got a little bit complacent thinking we were all this.
"That's when someone like Tulsa exposes you pretty quick.”
Golden Hurricane quarterback Paul Smith exposed OU early, finishing with 350 yards and two touchdowns on 22-of-32 passing.
And it could've been worse.
In the first half, Tulsa's inexperienced receivers repeatedly broke wide open against OU's cover-2 zone, a scheme designed to give help to the cornerbacks on long passes.
But help didn't always arrive.
Nickel back Lendy Holmes looked especially shaky in the first half.
Holmes, responsible for covering a deep half of the field, lost Tulsa's Jesse Meyer in the corner of the end zone on Tulsa's first touchdown pass.
Later, Brennan Marion blew past Holmes on a 48-yard touchdown bomb that pulled the Golden Hurricane to within 21-14.
"It was a wake-up call,” Holmes said of the two busted coverages. "I just didn't get to the spot I was supposed to be at.
"I was letting the team down by how I was playing out there.”
Holmes partially redeemed himself by picking off Smith nine minutes into the third quarter.
"I had to step it up,” he said. "I still feel like I played a bad game, but at least I picked it up.”
Until Holmes' interception, though, the secondary appeared bemused by Tulsa offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn and his gimmicky attack.
After the first quarter, Tulsa's offensive players sprinted to the other end of the field for the start of the second quarter.
Cornerback Marcus Walker, apparently confused, ran with them for 10 yards, in fear Tulsa was executing a trick play.
"Early on, they had us on our heels a little bit,” coach Bob Stoops said. "But we'll be better having gone through it.”
OU — which coming into Friday had allowed just 135 yards passing per game and had five interceptions — shored up its pass defense in the second half.
After Tulsa scored on its opening drive in the third quarter, the Golden Hurricane didn't score again.
Smith only had 86 yards passing after halftime.
"I was glad we came up in a ball game where we really got tested,” Wright said. "What I liked about our guys is that they owned up to it.
"In the second half, I thought we played much better.”
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The TV announcers were as bad as I have ever seen. We had endless camera shots of thise guys standing there talking about Notre Dame while a game that they weren't watching was being played. They didn't even know what happened in the game - just had to be cued in a few plays later to bring people up to date. And who cares about two losers. If they want to talk about it, get on all the sports talk shows. And stop putting on split screens where Barry Bonds gets the big screen while a live football game gets the little one. This was bad. Get rid of those guys.
Agree... who cares what 2 nobodies & 2 has beens think about Notre Dame. I actually have on the WV game rigth now & the announcers are still talking about it. And they did it during the funniest ga,e of the month OSU/Troy. Put that email address out....
What is that ESPN e-mail address. The Notre Dame Talk Hour had me screaming at my TV. The worst part was, it seemed neither announcer was prepared to talk about Oklahoma or Tulsa for the duration of the game, so they just gabbed about other stuff. Almost made me wish Brent Musberger was calling the game.
That was the worst broadcasting that I have ever heard. They spent almost the entire 2nd quarter talking about Notre Dame (who is 0 and 3) Bob Davie drove two hours from Arkansas to hype the Irish and poor old lou holtz has lost it. the commentators did not explain 3 plays (flags) because they were caught up in the Notre Dame hype. I emailed ESPN and told them how I felt. Let us watch the game. It is not an Irish talk show...anyone else feel this way?
Way to go Sooners. I agree with Cheryl, the team had it under control and only had to make a few defensive adjustments.We could go on and on about the press corps and their desire for a perfect game.
OU played the same way they plat texas tech. Give up alot of yards but not points. As far as the playing against others QB's in the league OU shouldn't have any problems. That was the best offense we will face this year besides texas tech.
The special teams play was a lot better. We can't get beat deep like that on defense but I think Paul Smith probably has a stronger arm than Colt McCoy so we may be okay going into the Texas game. I'd like to see teh TE's involved more in the passing game if they're going to stack the box/double Kelly.
The article is right. The secondary was very shaky in the first half, but got it together in the second half (aided by a much better pass rush in 2H). Tulsa's pretty good on offense. They'll win their division if their defense can get a few stops against UH. Even with TT in Lubbock we won't see so gimmicky an offense the rest of the year. The defense will be fine. Hartley's out of the Groza race, though.
i really would like to know what game you watched on friday nite. the sooners were so good that even when they messed up they still beat tulsa by 40 points. i truly think that you people at this paper would like to see okla. get beat. shame on you////// we will go on and win and make you look at fools.
Oklahoma's Marcus Walker, left, and Lendy Holmes break up a pass intended for Tulsa's Brennan Marion during the Sooners' 62-21 win on Friday. Tulsa quarterback Paul Smith exposed a weakness in the OU secondary with 354 total yards passing and two TDs. BY STEVE SISNEY, THE OKLAHOMAN
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What is that ESPN e-mail address. The Notre Dame Talk Hour had me screaming at my TV. The worst part was, it seemed neither announcer was prepared to talk about Oklahoma or Tulsa for the duration of the game, so they just gabbed about other stuff. Almost made me wish Brent Musberger was calling the game.