As I wasn't able to be a part of yesterday's pod - have listened and so should you, good stuff from Eddie and Carey - and I've heard from several of you that would rather me skip the MMI I thought I'd just post some thoughts and maybe that way I won't have to drag us all back through it when we record the U40.
*First, I want to be clear before I say anything else any talk of 'firing Brent Venables' is so short-sighted it's hard to put into words. Think you're upset now? Remove the only thing holding the most complete recruiting class in 15 years.
It will go real bad, real fast and you're talking about setting your program back 3-4 years.
I'm not here to tell you that I know this staff will get it right, I don't and I don't know how anyone could act that confident about it - there are valid questions (I'll get to mine in a minute) but there's a world where Oklahoma emulates 2019/2021 Baylor or hell...how about 2022 Texas?
But you let this recruiting class implode and you'll find out about REAL pain and ACTUAL talent deficiencies.
**And that last little jab takes me to my next thoughts...the chicken or the egg argument that is wheee the problem comes from - players or coaching?
The simple answer?
Both.
I know that hurts the ability to focus blame but it's just a more complex problem than 'that player/position group/side of the ball isn't doing what it should' or 'the scheme is bad'.
I'll start with the part I feel most strongly about, the talent question. Is Oklahoma as overwhelmingly talented as they once were - compared to other groups who have spent several years playing together? No. Not just no, but HECK no.
Are they still more naturally gifted than all but Texas? You can scream at me until you're blue in the face and you'll never change my stance that the answer is yes.
Need an explanation of why?
Look at Kansas, look how they fared against TCU - who just annihilated Oklahoma 9 days ago - we really arguing they are more talented than Oklahoma? They are comfortable in what they are doing and are well organized.
Now does that mean 'oh this is coaching'? Not exactly.
What Oklahoma is learning on defense is complex but does that really matter when even simple mistakes (angles, etc.) are not being avoided? I mean guys are ignoring things they know better than to do. Add in a numbers crunch at several positions and the absence of clearly Oklahoma's best defender - Billy Bowman - and you get an unmitigated disaster on defense.
So, the answer of what is the problem on defense..."it's complicated" but I do think it can improve.
***Offensively, I'm less concerned, I feel like a lot of people are choosing to ignore what we all knew - the loss of Dillon Gabriel was the one loss Oklahoma just COULD NOT afford. We said it and were far from the only ones. But when he went out it feels like OU was already down so much to TCU and then Texas going so badly it's like people were too emotional to see the reality.
Without Dillon Gabriel there isn't a guy on this team that is capable of winning games. And I agree with the idea that the wildcat was probably Oklahoma's best option for playing offense.
Now, that's a reality. It's also something that you feel Oklahoma could have been addressing. The idea that the Sooners had no one they felt could run an even stripped down version of their offense with Lebby being on campus for 10 months?
In the words of Venables..."It ain't good enough."
****As for what's next?
Time to focus on the future, the question in just about EVERYTHING - 'what would be best for 2023?'. THAT's where the focus is - we're thinking about next year, the future, that is ALL THAT MATTERS.
You think a guy could be ready to help you next year, I'm not saying he needs to be taking every snap but he needs SNAPS - get him on the field, let him get a little understanding and (if you're lucky) build a little confidence in what he is seeing.
Again, no one is calling for 'start the entire freshman class' but you do sound things to avoid having the same conversations next year of 'we've got a lot of guys learning'. Of course they will always be learning but the faster you can get them up to a 'reasonable' speed, the faster you can get moving.
Guys that have earned a chance to be on the field a lot more between now and the end of whatever the final six games will be...
Nate Anderson
Nic Anderson
Jovontae Barnes
Savion Byrd
Jayden Gibson
Gracen Halton
Jaren Kanak
Jacob Sexton
Clayton Smith
Robert Spears-Jennings
Jake Taylor
R Mason Thomas
Kani Walker
Gentry Williams
*First, I want to be clear before I say anything else any talk of 'firing Brent Venables' is so short-sighted it's hard to put into words. Think you're upset now? Remove the only thing holding the most complete recruiting class in 15 years.
It will go real bad, real fast and you're talking about setting your program back 3-4 years.
I'm not here to tell you that I know this staff will get it right, I don't and I don't know how anyone could act that confident about it - there are valid questions (I'll get to mine in a minute) but there's a world where Oklahoma emulates 2019/2021 Baylor or hell...how about 2022 Texas?
But you let this recruiting class implode and you'll find out about REAL pain and ACTUAL talent deficiencies.
**And that last little jab takes me to my next thoughts...the chicken or the egg argument that is wheee the problem comes from - players or coaching?
The simple answer?
Both.
I know that hurts the ability to focus blame but it's just a more complex problem than 'that player/position group/side of the ball isn't doing what it should' or 'the scheme is bad'.
I'll start with the part I feel most strongly about, the talent question. Is Oklahoma as overwhelmingly talented as they once were - compared to other groups who have spent several years playing together? No. Not just no, but HECK no.
Are they still more naturally gifted than all but Texas? You can scream at me until you're blue in the face and you'll never change my stance that the answer is yes.
Need an explanation of why?
Look at Kansas, look how they fared against TCU - who just annihilated Oklahoma 9 days ago - we really arguing they are more talented than Oklahoma? They are comfortable in what they are doing and are well organized.
Now does that mean 'oh this is coaching'? Not exactly.
What Oklahoma is learning on defense is complex but does that really matter when even simple mistakes (angles, etc.) are not being avoided? I mean guys are ignoring things they know better than to do. Add in a numbers crunch at several positions and the absence of clearly Oklahoma's best defender - Billy Bowman - and you get an unmitigated disaster on defense.
So, the answer of what is the problem on defense..."it's complicated" but I do think it can improve.
***Offensively, I'm less concerned, I feel like a lot of people are choosing to ignore what we all knew - the loss of Dillon Gabriel was the one loss Oklahoma just COULD NOT afford. We said it and were far from the only ones. But when he went out it feels like OU was already down so much to TCU and then Texas going so badly it's like people were too emotional to see the reality.
Without Dillon Gabriel there isn't a guy on this team that is capable of winning games. And I agree with the idea that the wildcat was probably Oklahoma's best option for playing offense.
Now, that's a reality. It's also something that you feel Oklahoma could have been addressing. The idea that the Sooners had no one they felt could run an even stripped down version of their offense with Lebby being on campus for 10 months?
In the words of Venables..."It ain't good enough."
****As for what's next?
Time to focus on the future, the question in just about EVERYTHING - 'what would be best for 2023?'. THAT's where the focus is - we're thinking about next year, the future, that is ALL THAT MATTERS.
You think a guy could be ready to help you next year, I'm not saying he needs to be taking every snap but he needs SNAPS - get him on the field, let him get a little understanding and (if you're lucky) build a little confidence in what he is seeing.
Again, no one is calling for 'start the entire freshman class' but you do sound things to avoid having the same conversations next year of 'we've got a lot of guys learning'. Of course they will always be learning but the faster you can get them up to a 'reasonable' speed, the faster you can get moving.
Guys that have earned a chance to be on the field a lot more between now and the end of whatever the final six games will be...
Nate Anderson
Nic Anderson
Jovontae Barnes
Savion Byrd
Jayden Gibson
Gracen Halton
Jaren Kanak
Jacob Sexton
Clayton Smith
Robert Spears-Jennings
Jake Taylor
R Mason Thomas
Kani Walker
Gentry Williams
