NORMAN As a team, Oklahoma endured a serious rough patch that not many teams in Norman have faced recently.The Sooners lost three straight games, including two blowout defeats. Three lo ses in a row is out of the ordinary for a team that hasnt had three total lo ses in a season since 2014.After back-to-back conference wins, though, the Sooners are starting to rebuild some of that lost confidence from the beginning of the conference season.Specifically, the defense has taken a Cameron Johnson Jersey step forward.The unit was heavily criticized after giving up nearly 50 points in back-to-back lo ses, and even allowing 42 points to an injury-riddled Kansas team. Nothing seemed to be working for the Sooners. But the secondary especially seemed to Trevor Ariza Jersey struggle.Through all the ups-and-downs, though, the defense never lost confidence or belief. Saturday at Iowa State, it was finally on display.Believe it or not, I dont think we ever lost confidence, veteran cornerback Jaden Davis said Monday night after practice. It was more just we were self-questioning why all this hard work like you see guys still out here putting in work so like why is all this work not translating? We need that breakthrough. And I feel like last Saturday was just a step in the right direction.Scroll to ContinueSaturday in Ames, Oklahoma held the Cyclones to just 13 total points. The secondary stepped up in a big way, forcing two of the team's three interceptions and allowing just one touchdown in 57 pa sing attempts.Both Woodi Washington and Justin Broiles came up with interceptions on the back end, showing the week-to-week improvement from the unit. It couldve been the confidence from the Kansas win, or it couldve been the bye week preparation, or it could have been a limited Iowa State offense.Whatever it was, the secondary looked a lot more comfortable on Saturday. Dario Saric Jersey Coach V, Davis answered when asked why the team never lost confidence. All your position coaches. You never lose confidence because you gotta continue to put in work."Brent Venables' confidence and belief in the team hasn't wavered Langston Galloway Jersey much since his arrival 10 months ago. But it's more than just him and his staff."Weve never lost confidence because everyone keeps reminding everybody else how much work we put in to be here," Davis said. "Regardle s of record, we all love each other and we all know that weve put in that much work. All that work doesnt come unnoticed. Its gonna come, and its gonna be a moment where its like Oh, this is what it feels like, and I think Saturday was a step in the right direction.As the rest of the Big 12 Conference continues to beat each other Abdel Nader Jersey up, Oklahoma will certainly have big games remaining down the stretch despite three early lo ses. If Saturday was a turning point for the defense moving forward, the Sooners could be in a good spot to make a late run at a solid bowl game.It feels great, you turn in that (performance), and now other teams have to watch that, Davis said. They have to watch that on film and say These guys can really play. Its a great feeling.