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Oklahoma Football: Top 5 Takeaways from Lincoln Riley’s Spring Press Conference

By Matthew Hodowany

MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 29: Head coach Lincoln Riley of the Oklahoma Sooners reacts against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 29: Head coach Lincoln Riley of the Oklahoma Sooners reacts against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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With the weather starting to change leading into warmer temperatures and longer days, all signs point to the highly anticipated start of Oklahoma football spring practice.

Holding their annual spring press conference last week, Sooners each coach Lincoln Riley spoke with the local and national media and which left fans with some interesting takeaways.

1. Changing the bodies to fit the defensive system 

Riley noted that there was going to be the different skill set that was going to be required but Riley went on to talk more about the physicals more than skills. Saying that he wants players to come in at a certain weight-varying on position- shows that he is trying to get his team smaller at big positions and bigger at smaller positions. Riley emphasized one of the main goals of the winter training sessions was to trim his defensive/offensive line players but in the process recruit longer defensive backs.

2. Injury roundup 

Riley addressed the injury situation early on in the conference which gave little to no room for reporter in attendance to pounce on the opportunity to come up with angles. Riley noted that secondary players Robert Barnes (S), Jordan Parker (CB), Starrland Baldwin (CB) would be out. Along with some players in the trenches with Creed Humphrey (OL) and Jalen Redmond (DL/LB)  out for the spring sessions. Though Riley addressed them as injured, he emphasized the fact that they are already able to handle a workload but will look to increase it in the coming weeks.

The major cause for concern is the injury to Creed Humphrey. This now leaves the Sooners entering spring training with a brand new line. Look at this the way you will, but this can be seen in an optimistic way or a pessimistic way. On the upside, it allows all the new recruits to get their reps in during a time where the returning Junior and Senior players would command most of the reps in practice. On the flip side, you have to get an entirely new unit that is paramount for a team’s success ready in a limited amount of time.

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