Oklahoma football: Riley doesn’t see offense ‘dipping’ in 2019

Lincoln Riley confident his offense will continue historic production levels.

Oklahoma football head coach Lincoln Riley didn’t mince words when asked about his offense’s expectation level at Big 12 Media Day.

A reporter asked:

"“You lost Kyler Murray and four offensive linemen, I assume your offense is going to dip. Can your defense arise more than your offensie might slip this year?”"

“We don’t plan on the offense dipping,” Riley told reporters during a Big 12 Media Days press conference.

Riley went on to discuss the defense and how he believes his defense will get better because of key staff hires (see Alex Grinch) and continued improvement in recruiting. Those are statements we’ve heard ad nauseam dating all the way back to Oklahoma football’s 45-34 loss to Alabama in January.

Oklahoma Sooners Football

It was the one sentence response, coupled with the confidence in which it was delivered – that should worry every opponent on the Sooners’ schedule.

Riley isn’t changing his standard. No excuse, not four new offensive linemen nor trying to replace a Heisman Trophy winning quarterback (again) is going to be excepted for a group that has been the best in college football in most statistical categories over the past three years.

Riley went on to talk about Jalen Hurts‘ adjustment to life as an Oklahoma quarterback. Though Riley still hasn’t named him starting quarterback officially, his comments about the Alabama transfer were pretty telling.

He told reporters:

"“He (Hurts) brings game experience that Baker and Kyler didn’t have when they got here, but also doesn’t have as much experience in the system. It has been quicker, but it has been fun…. There have been things that we do that he’s been able to trace back kind of the roots of different things that he’s done to Alabama or even in high school. So it’s not like you’re starting from scratch.”"

It’s hard not to read into some of Riley’s comments about Hurts and not think he’s the defacto starter heading into the season, but until the Sooners make an official announcement we are all just speculating.

One thing is for certain though, Riley expects big things out of his future starting quarterback – whoever that may be – and his offense in 2019.