NORMAN, Okla. Oklahoma defensive coordinator Alex Grinchs mind works in fascinating ways. He is practical and analytical, yet also gimmicky and metaphysical. Sometimes those contrasting qualities appear all at once.

Twenty-four takeaways in a season equals nine wins, he famously discovered through intense research, and if his defense doesnt get at least two in a game, he considers it a massive failure. But in the same breath, he can spout off something like this statement, made at his introductory news conference in January.

And, oh, by the way, the ball doesnt have any working knowledge of who its supposed to be thrown to. It doesnt know the quarterback is supposed to throw to a receiver. It doesnt know its supposed to stay in the running backs arm. So if the ball doesnt know, how on earth do we know?

Oklahomas defense was historically bad in 2018, ranking near the bottom of the nation in virtually every important...

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How Alex Grinchs motivational tactics have helped turn around Oklahomas defense - The Athletic