Over at Football Study Hall I broke down how Stoops’ chosen successor earned that opportunity with his brilliant offenses over the last few years. After a good deal of reflection I think I’m ready to say that 2016 was probably the best offense that Oklahoma ever put on the field, they just didn’t have the defense to match.
That’ll now be the most interesting thing to watch about the Lincoln Riley era. It’s easy to see one of two scenarios play out:
Scenario 1: Mike Stoops and the defense rebound and Riley sees Mike as a veteran with HC experience and a willingness to be a lifer DC that he keeps around to help anchor the program.
Scenario 2: The defense collapses without Bob’s oversight or experienced LBs and Riley has to make the call both to replace Mike AND to find a replacement that prevents the Sooners from falling into the trap so many other programs led by Air Raid HCs have fallen into.
I think scenario 2 is more likely, in scenario 1 I still think Riley will ultimately have to replace Mike but it’d be helpful if that didn’t have to come so early in his tenure.