Sooners Get Defensive About Their Team's Perceived Shortcomings

For Oklahoma to take home the BCS trophy, its defense will need to be more stout than in the regular season. (By Lynne Sladky -- Associated Press)

"We're going to give up some points," Florida defensive coordinator Charlie Strong said, "but we can't give up 60 points."

Florida's defense, at least, enters the game with pedigree of its own, having allowed only an average of 12.8 points, fourth best in the nation.

"It will be difficult for them when they see the speed of our defense," Spikes said. "I feel like this game will be really physical for them."

Tebow, who stands 6 feet 3 and weighs 240 pounds, is as versatile as he is big. He has run for an average of just more than 43 yards per game and passed for nearly 200. A signature move is his "jump pass," in which he approaches the line and leaps like a shooting guard, double-pumping before sending what looks very much like a jump shot to a receiver.

But it is Tebow's running ability that Bradford admits he covets.

"I wish I was 240 and could run over people," he said.

Bradford's pregame routine might serve him well. He admitted Monday he reads the Bible before every game, always including the story of David and Goliath. Asked if he considered himself, going into Thursday's game, a bit like David, he had a succinct response: "No."

Said Bradford: "We have so many different weapons, it makes my job so easy. I can look left, I can look right and I can look behind me, and there's playmakers. It's kind of like a quarterback's dream."

Both defenses would like to turn the night into a nightmare, but even Stoops seemed uncertain about whether his squad could be a truly defensive force. The Sooners' players pointed out that they have faced high-powered offenses in the Big 12, and surrendered points after games have been put out of reach, but questions remain.

"Florida has played really good defense," Stoops said. "We've been inconsistent."

Oklahoma defensive end Jeremy Beal seemed to think he had a bit more confidence. Maybe.

"People say we can't play defense," he said, "but I think we know we can play defense."

At least Oklahoma, which has won 10 or more games for three straight seasons but lost in the last two Fiesta Bowls, has tried to do all of the right things in preparation. Players say they have avoided South Beach. They have vowed not to treat this trip like a vacation, despite being exposed to some of the lures of South Florida.

"The women we've seen are extremely beautiful," Harris said. "Coach told us, 'Hands off,' so we've been pretty much holding each other."