Why Ruffin McNeill’s a good choice as Oklahoma’s new defensive coordinator

Mike Stoops is finally out as Oklahoma’s defense coordinator, shortly after giving up 48 points to Texas and a few months after costing the Sooners a trip to the National Championship. And his interim replacement is official:

“Ruffin (McNeill) has an impressive résumé,” OU head coach Lincoln Riley said. “That’s why I wanted him on our staff in the first place. I have confidence in his knowledge and leadership. Bob has a lot of experience in very good programs and also has a list of accomplishments that will help him step in and make an immediate impact. We are fortunate to have these men in our program. They’ll be ready to get to work in new roles right away.”

The Sooners also have former Notre Dame and Nebraska DC Bob Diaco on staff as an assistant. He’ll be adding outside linebackers to his responsibilities.

McNeill is the former East Carolina head coach who once hired Riley as offensive coordinator. After ECU mysteriously fired him — he’d led three straight bowl trips, but the Pirates are likely amid their third straight losing season without him — he became an assistant head coach at Virginia and then OU, also coaching defensive tackles for the Sooners.

He has experience as a defensive coordinator at four different schools, including at Texas Tech.

I know the connotations of saying “he ran Texas Tech’s defense.” Bear with me.

McNeill inherited a 2007 TTU defense that’d ranked No. 69 in S&P+. His 2009 defense ranked No. 27 in that same category and No. 24 in yards allowed per play. He’s showed it’s possible to marry competent defense with Mike Leach-inspired air raid offense in the Big 12, and competent would be a big step up for the Sooners, who had S&P+’s No. 101 defense in 2017 — NUMBER ONE HUNDRED AND ONE, AND THE GUY RESPONSIBLE STAYED — and not a whole lot better in 2018.

Brent Venables ain’t coming (back) through that door, but I think McNeill is the best choice available for OU.