Brent Venables Sees potentials: Football Fans Receives More Tantalizing News to Cheer About
To Brent Venables, many of Oklahoma’s difficulties during their three-game losing streak have been self-inflicted, especially concerning the offensive line.
However, in the first half of their 26-14 loss to Mississippi, where OU rushed for 125 yards and held a 14-10 lead at halftime, the team demonstrated their potential when playing clean football.
“This just reinforces what I’ve been saying,” Venables remarked during his weekly press conference on Tuesday. “If we get out of our own way and don’t undermine ourselves, we can compete with anyone, even with injuries. It’s challenging, especially this year against tough opponents, but if we stick to the basics, we can win against anyone.”
He noted that the Sooners allowed 10 sacks on Saturday, totaling 19 in just two weeks, with six coming on their last 11 plays.
Redshirt sophomore Jake Taylor didn’t travel with the team, and junior Jacob Sexton left the game with an injury, forcing redshirt freshmen Heath Ozaeta and Logan Howland into action on the left side of the offensive line. Venables attributed some of the issues to their inexperience.
“Nobody wants to hear it, but freshmen tend to play like freshmen,” Venables explained. “They lack the experience to draw from. However, I felt we had winning performances from the offensive line for most of the game.”
Offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh, who has a strong history of developing players for the NFL, is facing scrutiny as his unit leads the nation with 39 sacks allowed this season.
Despite rumors about Bedenbaugh’s job security within the fanbase, Venables expressed his confidence in him. “Bill Bedenbaugh is one of the best in the business. He knows how to do more with less and develop players effectively.”
Regarding sophomore quarterback Jackson Arnold, Venables believes he wants to return to Oklahoma next season. “Of course he wants to be back. Why wouldn’t he? He’s the starting quarterback at Oklahoma, which is a dream come true,” Venables stated.
Arnold has had a challenging season, referring to his time on the bench behind freshman Michael Hawkins Jr. as “the hardest few weeks of my life” after turning the ball over three times against Tennessee. He made a strong return against South Carolina, performing notably well with 10 of 13 passes completed for 110 yards and two touchdowns in the first half against Mississippi.
“I thought Jackson had his best game of the year,” Venables praised. “He performed well against a top-ranked defense, completing over 70% of his passes and making solid decisions.”
With both Arnold and Hawkins showing potential, questions arise about whether Oklahoma can retain both players. Venables dismissed concerns about the program’s NIL resources, asserting, “We have good NIL opportunities, and new revenue-sharing initiatives will put us in a strong position.”
Leadership within the team has been critical during this tough stretch. Venables commended the player leaders for stepping up amid the team’s struggles.
Seniors Billy Bowman and Danny Stutsman, who chose to return instead of entering the 2024 NFL Draft, exemplify this leadership. Stutsman expressed no regrets about his decision despite the team’s current record. “If I could do it all over again, I would, without a doubt. I love this team, coach Venables, and this school. I sleep great at night; it’s the best decision I’ve made.”
Having experienced a challenging 6-7 season in 2022, players like Stutsman and Bowman have been prepared to guide the team through adversity. Consequently, the mood in Oklahoma’s locker room remains upbeat despite the setbacks.
“I haven’t seen any negative attitudes among the team,” junior defensive lineman R Mason Thomas said. “We know we haven’t played our best lately, but there’s no doubt seeping in. This season feels different—we have more experienced players, and those of us who went through the 2022 season are now in key positions across the offense and defense.”