NORMAN — As a group, Oklahoma endured a critical tough patch that not many groups in Norman have confronted just lately.
The Sooners misplaced three straight video games, together with two blowout defeats. Three losses in a row is out of the atypical for a group that hasn’t had three complete losses in a season since 2014.
After back-to-back convention wins, although, the Sooners are beginning to rebuild a few of that misplaced confidence from the starting of the convention season.
Specifically, the protection has taken a step ahead.
The unit was closely criticized after giving up practically 50 factors in back-to-back losses, and even permitting 42 factors to an injury-riddled Kansas group. Nothing gave the impression to be working for the Sooners. But the secondary particularly appeared to battle.
Through all the ups-and-downs, although, the protection by no means misplaced confidence or perception. Saturday at Iowa State, it was lastly on show.
“Believe it or not, I don’t think we ever lost confidence,” veteran cornerback Jaden Davis stated Monday evening after observe. “It was more just we were self-questioning why all this hard work — like you see guys still out here putting in work — so like why is all this work not translating? We need that breakthrough. And I feel like last Saturday was just a step in the right direction.”
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Saturday in Ames, Oklahoma held the Cyclones to only 13 complete factors. The secondary stepped up in a giant manner, forcing two of the group’s three interceptions and permitting only one landing in 57 passing makes an attempt.
Both Woodi Washington and Justin Broiles got here up with interceptions on the again finish, exhibiting the week-to-week enchancment from the unit. It may’ve been the confidence from the Kansas win, or it may’ve been the bye week preparation, or it may have been a restricted Iowa State offense.
Whatever it was, the secondary regarded much more snug on Saturday.
“Coach V,” Davis answered when requested why the group by no means misplaced confidence. “All your position coaches. You never lose confidence because you gotta continue to put in work.”
Brent Venables’ confidence and belief in the team hasn’t wavered much since his arrival 10 months ago. But it’s more than just him and his staff.
“We’ve never lost confidence because everyone keeps reminding everybody else how much work we put in to be here,” Davis said. “Regardless of record, we all love each other and we all know that we’ve put in that much work. All that work doesn’t come unnoticed. It’s gonna come, and it’s gonna be a moment where it’s like ‘Oh, this is what it feels like,’ and I think Saturday was a step in the right direction.”
As the remainder of the Big 12 Conference continues to beat one another up, Oklahoma will definitely have huge video games remaining down the stretch regardless of three early losses. If Saturday was a turning level for the protection shifting ahead, the Sooners could possibly be in a great place to make a late run at a strong bowl sport.
“It feels great, you turn in that (performance), and now other teams have to watch that,” Davis stated. “They have to watch that on film and say ‘These guys can really play.’ It’s a great feeling.”
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