You could see in his body language and in his voice that head coach Brent Venables and the Sooners are excited and ready to get the season started.
Venables addressed reporters on Monday in his Week 1 game-week press conference ahead of the 2024 season opener against the Temple Owls. "I know our team is really excited to go out and compete," Venables said.
"I have a great appreciation for out players and our staff that's prepared so incredibly hard for the past several months, put together our roster, recruiting and all the hard work that our players and coaches have put in in regards to development and getting ready, prepared for the season."
Asked about what he was seeing from the defense as he begins his third season as head coach, Venables reiterated that the defense wasn't very good in any area his first season, but what he's seen since then in incremental and positive improvement. We were better defensively last season, he said, but we consistent enough.
Venables said he is looking forward to seeing the offense with new co-coordinators Seth Littrell and Joe Jon Finley now in charge. He said hopes to see an offense that "runs the ball downhill, takes care of the football, creates explosive plays, is really efficient in all areas, especially in the red zone, and puts pressure on the defense through both the scheme and pushing the ball downfield."
On the defensive side, which also has someone new in the coordinator role with Zac Alley replacing Ted Roof, the Sooner head coach said in his opening remarks that he wants to see a unit that "stops the runs, swarms the football, tackles well, gets off the field on third down, creates turnovers and plays with great passion."
In the kicking game, Venables referenced the position battle between Florida State transfer Tyler Keltner and incumbent Zach Schmit. Both Keltner and Schmit were listed as co-starters on the first official depth chart for the new season, released on Sunday. Venables did say on his Coaches Show on Sunday that Keltner would get the first shot as the OU placekicker in the game on Friday against Temple, but that Schmit would get plenty of opportunities over the course of the season.
Where is the Sooners' defense at in its rebuild?
Asked about what he was seeing from the defense as he begins his third season as head coach, Venables reiterated that the defense wasn't very good in any area his first season, but what he's seen since then in incremental and positive improvement. We were better defensively last season, he said, but we weren't nearly consistent enough.
We've got great leadership in the defensive unit, he said, and it's a veteran group with 15 seniors and juniors in the two-deep. What he and the defensive coaches are looking for this season is a level of consistency and a group that takes the next step in their development and performance.
Will Sooners play fast on offense like they did under OC Jeff Lebby?
Tulsa World sports columnist Berry Tramel noted that former offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby liked to play fast and asked Venables if that would be the case under Littrell and Finley. "I do believe in putting pressure on the defense," said Venables, "but I also, first and foremost, believe in game control."
Venables said he's not against tempo on offense, but to control the game, you also must be patient on offense. "But you have to be effective and efficient in all the areas, running and throwing, in order to do that," he said.
A Stone's throw away from a starting spot
One thing that caught everyone's attention when the depth chart came out on Sunday was freshman Jayden Jackson earning a starting spot as defensive tackle with former five-star recruit David Stone listed as a backup.
"He knows what he wants," Venables said on his Sunday Coaches Show about the first-year player Jackson. "He's willing to sacrifice things that don't help get him what he wants. He leads a really disciplined lifestyle, and that's a prerequisite to earn an opportunity to play at a consistent level. He's really (starting) because he's worked for it."
The Oklahoma head coach did note that Stone led the defensive tackles in sacks through fall camp. "He's just trying to get refined fundamentally," Venables said. "We love where he's at."
We can be sure that Stone will get plenty of opportunities to shine and make important contributions as the season progresses.