3, 2, 1: Finding Accountability

Bob Stoops faced the media Monday with a 1-2 record for just the second time in his 18 seasons at Oklahoma.

In the "3, 2, 1" feature, we will give a comprehensive look at what was learned about the 2016 Sooners football team that day on the field and off.

1. There will be no fire and brimstone indulgences.

If you were wanting a Bob Stoops on the warpath moment, you will have to keep waiting.

The even-keeled Oklahoma head coach was hesitant to throw too much blame on anyone other than himself.

"Overall execution obviously not what it needs to be... and ultimately that responsibility falls on me as the head coach."

Stoops was reluctant to put much credence to any suggestions of a talent or scheme gap, often relying on the aforementioned "execution" excuse and its iterations.

"Too many times out of position on motions on some of the runs they got. On the 4th and 1 the tight end changes and we don't shift with tight end, end up a guy short, and give up the touchdown... Defensively, we lost consistency at times."

The closest he came to calling out any play-calling or personnel decisions was when he was asked if Joe Mixon's 11 touches on offense signaled they needed to find ways to get their elite tailback the ball.

"That's fair to say. We have to be cognizant and keep track of the number of opportunities he gets, for sure. He's exceptional when you do target him or give him the opportunities."

2. Bob Stoops lost confidence in Austin Seibert on Saturday.

The Sooners actually began the game looking sharp with an impressive looking drive to start the game. In what would become a theme for the game, however, the Oklahoma offense stalled and was forced to send out Seibert for a 27-yard field goal to give the home team an early lead.

In the echoes of the ball doinking of the right upright, Stoops was already questioning how much he could trust his sophomore kicker moving forward. It was a fear that had a direct impact on the game moving forward.

"Kicking game, we didn't hit the first field goal, we didn't hit our first punt very well, which, magnified in that on 4th and 2 we have a 50-yarder, any other time I would've kicked that ball, but being that (Seibert) didn't start very well, 'Well, let's put it in Baker's hands in 4th and 2.'"

Mayfield would go on to take a sack, turning the ball over to the Ohio State offense in good field position.

The shakiness in the confidence of Stoops is not unfounded. Even though he began his career by making 10 consecutive attempts, Seibert has now missed a field goal in seven of his last 10 games.

3. Cody Ford's injury signals more shakeup along the offensive line.

It was a scary moment early in the game Saturday when the Oklahoma redshirt freshman guard had his leg placed in an air cast and was forced to leave the game. On Monday, his head coach confirmed the seriousness of the injury.

"Cody Ford was operated on Sunday morning. They put a pin in his tibia, I believe, and he'll be out at least towards the end of the season."

After Ford left the game, starting center Jonathan Alvarez moved over to guard, a position where he started last year, and walk-on Erick Wren replaced Alvarez at center. It's the third configuration of Bill Bedenbaugh's offensive front, but Stoops believes they played well against Ohio State.

"They really actually played well. Erick (Wren) did a really good job in there - not really surprising to us."

Based on that, it would be a safe bet to assume you'll see the same lineup to start the game against TCU in two weeks.

1. Bob Stoops is going to limit player availability to media going forward, due to the Austin Kendall comments.

True freshman backup quarterback Austin Kendall referred to the Ohio State defense as "basic" leading up to the game, which inevitably became blown up to the point that the Buckeye defense took some form of offense - as you can see in the photo above.

Even though Stoops admitted the quote had no bearing on his own team's execution, he is willing to put his foot down, in this instance, to prevent whatever "it" is from happening again.

After all, there should be accountability after such a disconcerting loss - the Sooners third in their last four games.

"I don't know what he could have been watching - to be quite honest with you. He must not have watched any tape if he had that to say. There's no place for it and sadly, for you guys, there will be a bunch of guys not available anymore. Because we can't trust them. That's just how it will be."

The comments were made on Sooner Sports TV's Sooner Spotlight, a pre-produced and edited show by the University of Oklahoma athletic department's own in-house media organization - a fact Stoops called "ironic."

It's like poisoning your own chocolate, eating eat, and then limiting Halloween to bland Smartie's for everybody just because you got sick.

2. Fans did their job.

Last week, Stoops called for the crowd to create a loud environment.

The Oklahoma head coach admits the fans were there for his team, even if they didn't return the favor.

"I compliment the crowd. The stadium was fantastic. I wish we would've gave them more to cheer about, because they were special."

1. Oklahoma earns more commitments than decommitments from their visitors last weekend.

I know, not exactly a ringing endorsement, but there were legitimate concerns by many that the Sooners' loss - verging on embarrassment - would have a negative impact on the massive amounts of recruits in attendance.

However, Stoops suggested there were plenty of encouraging signs that the weekend was a success.

"I know from visiting with everybody through the weekend - they had a great weekend. They loved it. I thought our personnel handling everybody did an awesome job. All the feedback I got was incredibly positive. They're aware that's unusual for us, we haven't lost at home much, but they also are aware they can come in and help and make a difference."

The last line, the idea that there was obviously room for guys to come in and play right away, confirms what SoonerScoop has been hearing about what OU was selling to recruits on campus.

It appears, at least initially, that Oklahoma's recruiters found a way to craft a resonating narrative to the prospects on campus.