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Oklahoma coach Brent Venables defended his choice to take over defensive playcalling during a wide-ranging interview with “Josh Pate’s College Football Show.” Venables, a legendary defensive coordinator, takes over command on that side of the ball entering a pivotal year for his program.
“Instinctively, that’s a very natural space for me,” Venables said. “I’ve got a great staff that several of us have been together for a long time, so there’s a deep understanding of what we do. I’ve got my fingerprints deep all over the defense, always have and always will.”
Calling plays can be a touchy topic for former coordinators turned head coaches. No playcalling head coach has won a national championship since Jimbo Fisher in 2013. Ohio State coach Ryan Day won the national title the first year he handed off responsibilities to Chip Kelly. However, a few elite coaches like Texas coach Steve Sarkisian still hold responsibilities.
Venables has gone back and forth on playcalling during his time at Oklahoma as he attempts to balance the responsibilities of being an on-field coach and the type of off-field CEO necessary to be an SEC coach in 2025. He helped call the defense in 2023 during a 10-win campaign.
Last season, he hired young up-and-comer Zac Alley, a former Clemson graduate assistant who has received comparisons to Venables. Alley unexpectedly opted to rejoin Rich Rodriguez at West Virginia. He coordinated the defense under Rodriguez at Jacksonville State.
Despite losing Alley, the Sooners return co-defensive coordinators Jay Valai and Todd Bates. In addition, Oklahoma made a big swing to try and poach championship defensive coordinator Jim Knowles from Ohio State. Instead, Knowles opted to join Penn State. After missing on Knowles,…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/oklahomas-brent-venables-defends-decision-to-assume-command-of-sooners-defense-very-natural-space-for-me/
Author : Shehan Jeyarajah
Publish date : 2025-03-31 15:59:00
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