Brent Venables likes what he’s seeing but wants to see more playmakers
By Chip Rouse
Oklahoma football head coach Brent Venables knows that making plays is what the game of football is all about, and it’s not just on offense but equally as important on defense as well.
The big problem in the 2022 season for the Sooners was that their opponents were able to make more plays — and at critical times in the game — than they did. The result of that was a 6-7 overall record and four losses by just three points.
The Sooners always seem to have a nice cadre of playmakers on the offensive side of the ball, but second-year quarterback Dillon Gabriel has lost several of the team’s major offensive weapons and playmakers off of last year’s team. It is still a highly talented group — young and largely unproven, however, at the skill positions aside from Gabriel and WR Drake Stoops.
Sophomore running back Jovantae Barnes saw quite a bit of action a year ago, but was overshadowed by Eric Gray. Austin Stogner returns for a second stint at OU at tight end after a transfer year at South Carolina, which will help replace the departure of Brayden Willis, one of the OU offensive cogs from a year ago.
Although Venables stresses the essential need for playmakers on both sides of the ball, it isn’t the on offensive that the need in the coming season is most imperative.
"“We’re getting better,” he told reporters late in the week after practice. “Had some situational work. There’s a lot of give and take and that’s what you want to see in a team.“Guys are making some plays. Not just layups, the guys that are making plays.”"
The OU head coach didn’t say it directly, but one of the areas in which he wants to see players stepping up and making more plays is on third and fourth downs…on both sides of the ball.
Venables stresses that the key to making plays is being in the right spot at the right time.
“We challenge the guys, ‘If you don’t like the quality of the results that you have, then look for the quality of the process that you have,” he said. “Make sure that process is where it needs to be.”
Venables says he like what he has seen after the first several days of camp in the books. Several players are making plays early in camp and that’s great to see.
“We need to continue to see that, ” said the OU head coach. “It’s everything, and it’s at all three levels. Anxious to continue to see that on both sides of the ball.
“There’s a lot of work to be done, but really pleased with the buy-in and leadership and toughness of the guys.”