Anonymous SEC coaches talk about Brent Venables, Oklahoma Sooners

The SEC is holding its annual league meetings in Destin, Florida this week, creating plenty of conversation about where the league is headed in 2024. We’ve got a few start times, including a 2:30pm CT start for Red River. Rivalry game in 2024.

In addition, the coaches met with the media on a number of topics. Over at Athlon Sports, they’ve put together their annual piece on what coaches have said anonymously about their teammates.

Brent Venables Defense is rallying

They’re starting to round out the defense to a unit you’d expect Brent (Venables) to coach at Clemson. That’s the good news going into the SEC. The bad news is that they might be bad on the O line if they can’t get some guys together late in the portal. – Anonymous SEC Coach

This is the expectation. Brent Venables was brought to Oklahoma to restore defensive football in Norman. There have been some growing pains, but the growth is evident. The Sooners went from 99th in scoring defense in 2022 to 49th, improving by nearly a touchdown per game.

After retaining Danny Stutsman, Billy Bowman, Woodi Washington and Da’Jon Terry, bringing in big additions like Damonic Williams and a top defensive recruiting class, the Sooners look poised to make another leap despite moving to the SEC . .

I don’t think they will be bad on the offensive line. Did they have a very high turnover? Absolute. But the Sooners boast one of the best offensive line coaches in the nation, and Bill Bedenbaugh has proven capable of rebuilding offensive lines through the portal in recent years. There is plenty of talent the Sooners can work with up front.

Is Oklahoma ready in the trenches?

Oklahoma is a legitimate top program, but the secret to the SEC is line play, and they won’t be able to do what they want on offense if they can’t protect against the average DL in this league. – Anonymous SEC Coach

The Sooners are one of the premier programs in college football. Seven national titles and 50 conference championships speak to that reality. At the same time, they take another animal when they enter the SEC. Every week, the Sooners will be challenged up front.

Oklahoma added Michael Tarquin, Febechi Nwaiwu, Branson Hickman, Spencer Brown and Geirean Hatchett to the offensive line depth chart via the transfer portal. Tarquin, Nwaiwu and Hickman could be starters in Week 1 and provide plenty of experience and upside to the Sooners’ offensive line.

2022 signees Jacob Sexton and Jake Taylor appear poised to move into the starting lineup. Both guys have had great offseasons and look the part of big offensive line prospects.

Hickman is new to the group, arriving in the spring portal window. However, with more than 2,400 clips under his belt, he should acclimate to the unit by the first week.

This is a unit that feels less concerning now than when the offseason began, and Bedenbaugh and the players will put it together.

Seth Littrell brings the goods

If you’re looking for a new offense, it’s not going to be drastically different from (former offensive coordinator Jeff) Lebby, but they have to run the ball more effectively than they did when he was there. Seth (Littrell) is a made-to-order OC guy, a really experienced guy who will make plans to fit. – Anonymous SEC Coach

Oklahoma passed on both of their coordinator positions this offseason, but they went to an experienced guy in Seth Littrell. Just as important as his time as a playmaker is his time as an offensive analyst with the Sooners in 2023. He’s familiar with the roster, with Jackson Arnold, and in turn, the players are familiar with Littrell.

With Littrell, the hope is a more physical offense with a more aggressive mindset. Jeff Lebby was good, but too often, Oklahoma struggled in short-yardage situations, and Lebby often looked risk-averse. If Littrell can help the offense be more physical minded, it will do well in the SEC.

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