He fired Bob Stoops brother.
About 48 hours after his defense gave up 48 points to Texas, the most points in Red River Rivalry history.
A rivalry that spanned 114 years at the time.
After placing an interim tag on long-time friend and mentor Ruffin McNeill for the remainder of the 2018 season, Riley made his first coordinator hire with Ohio State defensive coach Alex Grinch.
Grinch came from Ohio State via Washington State where he spent three years honing his Speed-D philosophy trying to keep up with Lincoln Riley’s former coach and mentor Mike Leach’s Air Raid offense.
Whatever he did, it worked as Grinch's Washington State defense ranked 99th in total defense in 2014, the year before his arrival in Pullman, and by his final season in 2017 the Cougars ranked 16th in total defense and only allowed 11 touchdown passes.
Grinch’s philosophy is simple.
There are only so many possessions in football. So if you can create turnovers for your offense, that gives your team more opportunities to score.
Grinch absolutely believes the defenses sole purpose is to return the football to the offense.
So Grinch devised this strategy that placed a premium on creating turnovers.
This strategy believes that playing faster, more aggressively "down hill" causes more opportunities to gang tackle and thus create turnovers.
Grinch's players not only tackle aggressively but they are intent to strip the ball upon arrival as well.
Grinch performed a private study while at Washington State and he found that a defense should create two turnovers per game, or 24 total in a 12 game season.
And that those 24 turnovers should result in a minimum of nine wins per year.
How did that strategy work in 2019 for Oklahoma?
Well, Grinch’s Oklahoma defense created 11 turnovers which equaled the 2018 total.
The Sooners also finished the regular season at 11-1, won its fifth Big XII Championship and made its fourth College Football Playoff suffering another blowout loss to LSU in the Sugar Bowl.
Identical results to the previous regimes in 2018, 2017 and 2015 under Mike Stoops.
However, the Oklahoma defense improved statistically from 114th nationally in total defense to 38th. And the pass defense ranking rose from 130th to 58th while the rushing defense improved from 59th to 32nd.
Overall, the Sooners defense led the Big XII in total defense in league play.
So even without the turnover numbers he so craved, Grinch made huge strides in improving the Oklahoma defense across the board.
Understandably, his Speed D philosophy requires a certain type of player and forced several transfers from the program, most notably highly touted freshman Ron Tatum, moved former top recruits to offense (Michael Thompson, who later entered the transfer portal) and slimmed down the best lineman to a below 300 pound level in Neville Gallimore.
He positioned his corners closer to the line of scrimmage and dared officials to throw more pass interference calls than give up long completions.
His defensive lineman were slimmer and faster and the outside linebackers were longer and faster and created quarterback pressure.
A series record.
That defensive performance propelled Oklahoma to its fifth straight Big 12 Championship and fourth College Football Playoff in five years.
And that’s where the wheels fell off in Alex Grinch’s Speed Defense.
Joe Burrow and his LSU teammates exploited Grinch’s defense in a record-setting 63-28 victory in the Peach Bowl en route to a National Championship against Clemson two weeks later.
Now, to be completely fair to Grinch, the Oklahoma defense was already down two starters when sophomore Bookie Radley-Hiles got tossed for targeting early in the first half.
That might not have made a difference in the outcome but you try playing LSU’s top rated offense without three defensive starters.
So, as Sooner fans we must turn the page and forget about the Peach Bowl results.
Here's what the 2020 Oklahoma defense will look like for the home opener against Missouri State.
Nose Guard
Oklahoma loses its best nose guard in Neville Gallimore plus his two backups in Marquis Overton and Dillon Faumaatau.
Because Grinch was hired in January of 2019 and got a late start in recruiting it was hard for him to make any inroads into the NewWave19 class of 2019.
But he had a full year under his belt in 2020 and he turned his focus elsewhere to the junior college ranks.
Where he signed Perrion Winfrey, the highest ranked player in juco. Winfrey was a standout nose guard at Iowa Western Community College and should provide ample talent to replace Gallimore.
Grinch also dipped back into the juco ranks and signed Josh Ellison from Blinn Junior College.
Another highly rated juco player, Ellison is a former 4-star from A&M Consolidated and was rated as the 8th best juco player in 2019.
Both Winfrey and Ellison will be expected to make immediate contributions.
They will be joined by redshirt sophomore Jordan Kelley from Tulsa Union.
Let’s hope Winfrey and Ellison play up to their hype.
However, I’m skeptical about relying on Juco players as front line starters on your defensive line.
They’re junior college players for a reason: they weren’t good enough to sign with a Power Five School out of high school.
Grades, talent deficiencies or attitude kept them sidelined.
And heaven forbid they bring a drug riddled past to Norman.
We already have three players suspended for the first five games because of failed drug tests prior to the Peach Bowl.
Yes, one of those three was a first-year juco player.
Just sayin’!
Defensive Tackle
Midwest City redshirt sophomore Jalen Redmond returns from a stellar season and will start at defensive tackle.
Redmond was sidelined by a rare blood clot disorder his true freshman year that sidelined his season.
However, Oklahoma trainers moderated his snap count early and he showed no signs of any problems playing throughout the season.
Redmond is a beast and has the quickness to wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks. Just ask Sam Ehlinger.
Backing up Redmond will be junior college transfer, senior LaRon Stokes.
Stokes played well in 2019 and will provide added toughness and experience.
Redshirt freshman Kori Roberson will provide added depth and athleticism.
Hopefully, Wichita, Kansas redshirt freshman Marcus Hicks can find playing time, as well. Hicks has bulked up considerably from his arrival in Norman and wouldn't surprise if he squeezes into the rotation.
Defensive End
St. Louis junior Ronnie Perkins established himself as a top defensive player in 2019 and was added to the Bednarik and Nagurski Award Watch list as well as named a pre-season All Big 12 selection for 2020.
Perkins solidified the defensive end position and proved a formidable run stopper and pass rusher.
However, he was one of three Sooners who failed a drug test prior to the Sugar Bowl and he will have to sit out the first five games.
Just as his absence hurt the Sooners chances against LSU, Oklahoma will miss Perkins presence until he is cleared to play against Iowa State on October 17.
At least he’ll be fresh for the second half of the season.
Sophomore Marcus Stripling had the Sooner coaches raving toward the end of the season.
The former 4-star from Houston possesses the size, speed and athleticism to provide quality snaps. He’s not as physical as Perkins but will make up for it with his speed and length.
Redshirt junior Isaiah Thomas from Tulsa Memorial will round out the rotation. Sooner fans will remember Thomas' fourth quarter sack against Baylor in the Big XII Championship game which left many looking around asking, "Who was that?"
Inside Linebackers
Oklahoma loses Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Kenneth Murray at the “MIKE” position.
Murray chose to leave a year early and was rewarded with a first round NFL draft selection by the Los Angeles Chargers.
He will be replaced by redshirt sophomore DaShaun White.
White played well in 2019 beside Murray at the WILL spot and has already been selected as a Butkus Award Watch List player in 2020.
Joining White at the WILL linebacker spot will be redshirt senior Caleb Kelly.
Kelly was a 5-star heavily recruited player who was phenomenal in the 2016 Sugar Bowl against Auburn, Big 12 Championship game versus TCU in 2017 and his strip fumble against Georgia in the 2017 Rose Bowl resulted in a scoop and score by Steven Parker.
Yep, Kelly is the real deal and only an injury last season has stunted his progress.
But he’s a gamer and instead of sitting out last year and taking his chances in the NFL draft, he chose to return late in the year and was prepared to give up his redbshirt by playing in a fifth game had the Sooners beaten LSU.
Yes, I like both White and Kelly in tandem to maintain the level of play Murray and White provided in 2019.
Sophomore Brian Asamoah played well when given his chance and will backup Kelly at WILL. Kelly would probably get first shot at MIKE if anything happens to White.
Inside linebackers Coach Brian Odom has done a good job getting his players lined up correctly and they are playing sound fundamentally which is something this group had not always done in the past.
Expect more of the same level of consistency in 2020.
Outside Linebackers
Jamar Cain was a surprise late addition to the coaching staff in 2020. Cain arrives in Norman fresh from Arizona State where he helped Herman Edwards resurrect the Sun Devils defense.
Cain will coach both defensive ends and outside linebackers. He will find the outside linebackers cupboard is full of quality players to choose from in 2020.
Tulsa Victory Christian redshirt senior, Jon Michael-Terry was having a standout season at RUSH linebacker before he suffered a season ending injury early in the season.
Expect him to regain his starting spot for the season opener against Missouri State.
Joining Terry at the RUSH position will be sophomores David Ugwoegbu and Nik Bonitto.
Both Ugwoegbu and Bonitto fit Alex Grinch's Speed Defense by adding plenty of speed and length to the outside rush position and both played extremely well in 2019.
Bonitto’s game-ending interception saved our season in Waco.
Cornerbacks
First-year coach Roy Manning arrived last year from UCLA and immediately impacted Alex Grinch's Speed Defense philosophy by creating more aggressive press coverage.
This was a welcome relief from the seven yard cushions in the Mike Stoops era that drove Sooner fans nuts.
No one perfected this new style of play more than senior Parnell Motley who had a record year.
However, Motley graduated.
That leaves Tulsa Union senior Tre Brown holding down one corner spot.
Brown started all 14 games in 2019 and recorded 40 tackles and 11 pass break ups.
He possesses ridiculous 4.43 speed which was never more on display than his come-from-behind tackle of Baylor receiver Chris Platt to save the Big XII Championship game in December as well as the Sooners College Football Playoff hopes.
Brown will anchor one side of the field.
The other spot will be contested between sophomore Jaden Davis, who played in all 14 games last year and recorded one start versus West Virginia, and redshirt junior Tre Norwood, who returns after a season ending knee injury in August camp that wiped out his junior season.
Norwood started 14 games in 2018 and tied for fifth on the team with 58 tackles. He will bring experience at the other corner spot if he can beat out Davis.
Expect new-comber, 4-star freshman Joshua Eaton from Houston to compete for back up duty. At 6' 2", Eaton has the length and speed Alex Grinch wants at this position.
Safeties
Junior strong safety Delarrin Turner-Yell should make a full recovery from his collarbone injury suffered in preparation for the Sugar Bowl game.
His absence was sorely felt as Joe Burrow repeatedly picked on his replacements in freshman Woodi Washington and redshirt sophomore Justin Broiles.
Redshirt freshman Jeremiah Criddell will back up Turner-Yell and expect incoming freshman Bryson Washington to get on the field at some point.
A 4-star recruit from Los Angeles, Washington possesses the size that Alex Grinch wants here at 6' 2" and was rated as the #8 safety in the 2020 recruiting class by ESPN. Washington chose Oklahoma over Alabama and Texas and won't sit on the sidelines long.
Redshirt junior Justin Broiles played in all 14 games in 2019, including a start in the Sugar Bowl. Not sure Broiles can squeeze past Criddell and Washington in this spot but he provides added depth at the position.
Tulsa junior Patrick Fields returns at free safety and will be backed up by redshirt freshman Woodi Washington who gained valuable experience in the Sugar Bowl.
Brendan "Bookie" Radley-Hiles returns for his junior season at nickel back after an embarrassing exit from the Sugar Bowl for an unnecessary targeting call in the first half.Bookie was very sound all season for Alex Grinch's Speed Defense and seemed to settle down in his second season and performed very consistently.
However, knucklehead plays like the one that go him ejected from the Sugar Bowl hurt the team and cannot be repeated in 2020.
Expect Jeremiah Criddell to double as his back up here as well as at strong safety behind Dellarin Turner-Yell.
Alex Grinch likes to have Swiss knife interchangeable players in the secondary and after the Sugar Bowl melt down, do you blame him?
So expect Criddell to get long looks here and at strong safety.
A late-addition wildcard to this mix is Justin Harrington from Bakersfield College in Bakersfield, California.
Harrington was a late signee in December after the early signing period. However, he was a no-show for the July 1 reporting date in Norman.
Several verified reports now have him enrolled at OU and in Norman with the team.
If so, that’s good news for Alex Grinch.
Because Fox Sports just ranked Harrington as a top 10 juco signee in the class of 2020.
At 6’ 3” and 215 lbs., Harrington would make an ideal nickel back and is flexible enough to stay on the field for both passing and rushing downs. He can play safety and if he adds weight could also be a candidate at linebacker.
At any rate, Harrington’s size is what Grinch wants at safety and he will be an interesting mix into the secondary.
Summary
Alex Grinch made a difference in restoring credibility to Oklahoma's beleaguered defense in 2019 despite the lopsided loss to LSU in the Sugar Bowl.
He improved all facets of the defense and its total ranking rose from 114th to 38th.
Even though he fell way short of his 24 turnover margin with 11, the Oklahoma defense was dramatically improved.
He needs more influx of his type of players for his system and 2020 showed some marked improvement toward that goal.
New-combers Perrion Winfrey, Josh Ellison, Bryson Washington, Joshua Eaton and Justin Harrington all will see playing time in 2020.
They will add to the 2019 class that includes Kori Roberson, LaRon Stokes, Marcus Hicks, Marcus Stripling, David Ugwoegbu, Nik Bonitto, Jaden Davis, Jeremiah Criddell and Woodi Washington.
That's a pretty impressive group of new faces who weren't around in 2018 for that 48-45 record-breaking loss to Texas that resulted in Alex Grinch's arrival in Norman.
Here's to more Speed D in 2020 and another Big XII Championship and fifth College Football Playoff appearance for Oklahoma.
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