Oklahoma football: Five New Year's priorities for Sooner football in 2022

Oklahoma football: Five New Year’s priorities for Sooner football in 2022

By Chip Rouse | Feb 23, 2022

Jan 1, 2021; Arlington, Texas, USA; A general view of the Capitol One and College Football Playoff (CFP) logo on the field during the Rose Bowl between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

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Nov 20, 2021; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson (8) tries to catch a pass as Oklahoma Sooners cornerback D.J. Graham (9) defends during the first quarter at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

Defensive reformation

Former defensive coordinator Alex Grinch made appreciable improvements to a Sooner defense that just a couple of short years ago was one of the worst in college football, especially defending the pass.

Brent Venables has assembled a staff of defensive coaches with sparkling resumes and a proven record of recruiting some of the best defensive talent in the country. And let’s not forget about Venables, himself a mastermind of defensive success.

Defensive coordinator Ted Roof and his defensive assistants have been charged with reforming and building a defense with size and strength that plays aggressively and plays with physicality. With former Clemson and Alabama defensive coaches on staff, you can expect the revamped OU defense to operate under a different philosophy (e.g., out with the Speed D concept) and take a different form and substance.

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