It’s been an offseason of transition for the Oklahoma Sooners. Most notably, OU has seen a ton of turnover on the offensive side of the ball, and for good reason, the Sooners finished 98th in the nation in scoring offense in 2024. But the other side of the ball has had some changes as well.
This offseason also saw a change in defensive coordinator. One season for Zac Alley and now he’s off to West Virginia. Instead of hiring someone to replace Alley, Brent Venables decided, like Thanos when he took the Infinity Gauntlet from Asgard, “fine, I’ll do it myself.” Venables opted to take back the defensive playcalling duties after giving the reigns to Alley for a season.
He called the plays at Oklahoma in 2023 after Ted Roof led the defense in 2022. The Sooners made a considerable jump in their final season in the Big 12, helping OU go 10-3 that season. But there was still room for growth. After another season in which the defense improved, 247Sports’ Carter Bahns is asking if Venables calling the defense will make a difference.
In a piece where he asked one question for each team in the top 25, Bahns isn’t sure that the change in defensive playcalling will be enough for Oklahoma to ascend from the doldrums of the SEC.
Will Brent Venables’ defensive play calls make a difference? An upgrade in defensive tactics only goes so far for the Sooners, as the offense accounts for greater issues. Venables handling the play-calling duties comes with upside, but it may not be enough to lift OU to the next level. – Bahns, 247Sports
The short answer to Bahns question, is yes. Having a three time national champion winning defensive coordinator calling the plays for your defense will make a difference. Having one of the best defensive minds of the last 25 years calling the plays for your defense will make a difference. But let’s hear…
Source link : https://soonerswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/sooners/football/2025/05/03/oklahoma-sooners-football-brent-venables-defense-2025/83426468007/
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Publish date : 2025-05-03 16:00:00
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