What I think of OU's current situation......

[CTOkie]

First, hiring Venables and losing Riley will prove to be a two-way blessing for OU.
Riley's coaching style doesn't fit playing in the SEC.
Riley's inability to bring about improvement as this this season progressed reflected, in part, his desire to exit at season's end. This tells me he cheated his profession, his players and his fan base.
OU now is in position to move upward as it readies its program to play in the SEC. This would not be the case had Riley stayed. Riley knew this and bailed out.
Recruiting is taking a hit, but I feel OU will ultimately have a good class, even if it has dropped off these past two weeks. But future classes under Venables will be rock solid.
With its future in the SEC, OU will be more active in sharing the recruiting turf (the deep South) of the other SEC teams.
OU will find a QB in the 2022 class if Rucker or Bowens aren't the answers. Transfers and JUCO's might come in....in several positions as well. And I do not expect Caleb Williams to leave.

 

[newnasty]

Good stuff CT Okie.
Like you I think we'll take a hit and setback but it may not be witnessed until until or about 2023-24. This is when OU will most likely hit the SEC and do so with this 2022 class. If it can't be improved in the next couple of weeks, it will fall out of the Top 15 talent wise. It's also going to take some time to beef up and strengthen the players. They were built to be lean and for speed. So the new S&C Coach is going to be a huge important hire.

Really looking forward to the future. Short term... IDK yet, but long term, this will prove to be a much improved staff. Having said that, expectations will need to be tempered a tad.

 

[Oklabama]

When Riley took over he had the advantage of running the offense for a couple of years and his staff was basically in place. Brent is coming in and having to basically overhaul both sides of the ball just like Bob had to do. There are several of you guys that have a better handle of how our current players are ready to compete than I am, but I look at the offensive line and wonder what to expect next season. I’m not concerned whatsoever about Brent getting the best out the squad but I’m also not going to get all crazy if we take a step back next season in terms of win-loss.

 

[CTOkie]

Here's something else to consider:
If Baylor, Iowa State and OSU and others can get a few stud players with classes rated outside of the top 30 each year, why can't OU do the same as this 2022 class materializes ?
Recruiting is such an inexact science, it's beyond ranking a recruiting class as soon as it comes together. It really should be ranked/rated 2-3 years down the road.
OU now has 13 commitments and is ranked 21st on Rivals. Not bad considering the dirty diaper left by Riley.
My bet is that in the next few days it will be ranked much better.....and OU may add some other team's de-commitments.

 

[CTOkie]

When Riley took over he had the advantage of running the offense for a couple of years and his staff was basically in place. Brent is coming in and having to basically overhaul both sides of the ball just like Bob had to do. There are several of you guys that have a better handle of how our current players are ready to compete than I am, but I look at the offensive line and wonder what to expect next season. I’m not concerned whatsoever about Brent getting the best out the squad but I’m also not going to get all crazy if we take a step back next season in terms of win-loss.

Agree. The O-line needs to improve greatly whether it's by replacing players or motivating them. Every lineman now on the roster came to OU with very high ratings as high school players and were far removed from championship caliber. By OU standards, the 2021 OL sucked.

 

[Oklabama]

Agree. The O-line needs to improve greatly whether it's by replacing players or motivating them. Every lineman now on the roster came to OU with very high ratings as high school players and were far removed from championship caliber. By OU standards, the 2021 OL sucked.

The OL was very disappointing so the new offensive coordinator and his staff have a big job ahead of them even with the talent on hand, IMO. Basically it comes right down to “attitude and mental toughness”. If Lebby comes that will be huge.

 

[kcstorm06]

Is Bedenbaugh still a OU Coach? If so why did he jump on a plane with LR super genius/coward?

 

[coeSooner81]

Yes he is, he didnt leave with Riley, but Washington just hire the O line coach from USC so look for Bedenbaugh to head west. For whatever reason the line wasnt what we were use to. Bedenbaugh is still one of the best OL coaches/recruiters out there. BV will expect more out of his players the culture in Norman should change. That being said Benenbaugh likes to coach his OL to be nasty and physical, BV will probably be able to light the fire in Bedenbaughs big belly again if he stays.

 

[coeSooner81]

Im hearing Dabo possibly making jump to NFL as the Raiders head coach.

 

[newnasty]

Yes he is, he didnt leave with Riley, but Washington just hire the O line coach from USC so look for Bedenbaugh to head west. For whatever reason the line wasnt what we were use to. Bedenbaugh is still one of the best OL coaches/recruiters out there. BV will expect more out of his players the culture in Norman should change. That being said Benenbaugh likes to coach his OL to be nasty and physical, BV will probably be able to light the fire in Bedenbaughs big belly again if he stays.

Bedenbaugh will most likely stay. He wants to anyway. His wife's family all live in Oklahoma and this is where they've made their home. I'm thinking he stays if Lebby & him see eye to eye.

 

[kcstorm06]

Bedenbaugh will most likely stay. He wants to anyway. His wife's family all live in Oklahoma and this is where they've made their home. I'm thinking he stays if Lebby & him see eye to eye.

Thanks for the insight. Really hope we retool OL. A huge problem as season got deeper. Should get stronger as season moves forward. Not this year however obviously.

 

[iasooner2000]

I remember in past years he got huge praise from members of this board that know a lot more about X&O’s than I

 

[newnasty]

I remember in past years he got huge praise from members of this board that know a lot more about X&O’s than I

With each passing year, they grew soft & softer w/ the S&C coach that left w/ Riley. We need some strong beef up front to bring back the run game. A quality S&C will fix this.

 

[ClemDent]

First, you guys got a great one. Venables is as advertised and more. There are just so many examples, some of them I’ve experienced first hand, some observed as a lifelong Clemson fan and Grad. (my son has been to several Clemson football camps. These aren’t combine camps, the coaches and their players work with the kids and you can see the quality of the people)
Regarding the comment about recruiting in the SEC. UGA is just an hr away from little ol Clemson. We are in SEC country and Venables has put together defensive recruiting classes to rival all of them. In addition he has taken kids that were 3 stars and turned them into 5 stars. Congrats!

 

[humblesooner]

First, you guys got a great one. Venables is as advertised and more. There are just so many examples, some of them I’ve experienced first hand, some observed as a lifelong Clemson fan and Grad. (my son has been to several Clemson football camps. These aren’t combine camps, the coaches and their players work with the kids and you can see the quality of the people)
Regarding the comment about recruiting in the SEC. UGA is just an hr away from little ol Clemson. We are in SEC country and Venables has put together defensive recruiting classes to rival all of them. In addition he has taken kids that were 3 stars and turned them into 5 stars. Congrats!

Thanks. I think a lot of fans were on Venables maybe before Joe C (AD) was. We had Brent for a lot of years. Two things I remember about him are his intensity and his recruiting prowess. When he went to Clemson, I felt the thing we would miss most was his recruiting. Won't go in to details, but I feel like he was reined in the last few years here by Bob Stoops. His immediate impact at Clemson affirms my feelings. Brent is going to be a good one for us and when all the dust settles, OU will be in better hands than with the previous guy.