✌🏽 Happy Tuesday, friends. Let’s ride.

☀️ Spring football!

Oklahoma’s first spring camp of the Brent Venables era kicks off today.

A new head coach tends to inject excitement into a program, and Venables has done that and then some.

He hopes that energy will be reciprocated with a packed Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on April 23 for the Sooners’ spring game. But that’s still far down the line as OU holds its first practice on this Tuesday, March 22.

So, while we have a little bit of time, a few thoughts/things to watch for as we enter spring:

1. Who’s next in line at running back? As coaches like to say during the offseason, Venables wiped the depth chart clean, he told reporters on Monday. So, who will emerge as the team’s primary back in 2022? The favorite is Eric Gray, who rushed for 412 yards on 78 carries last season. Perhaps it’s finally Marcus Major’s time to have a true breakout season, or maybe a freshmen will breakout to take the starting role by season’s end. The success of OU’s run game will be heavily dictated by the offensive line’s progress. The Sooners replace three starters from last year’s group, but there’s a general feeling of optimism after Bill Bedenbaugh decided not to leave OU for Southern Cal and Venables’ hire of strength and conditioning coach Jerry Schmidt to help the unit regain the physicality it lacked in 2021.

2. Which defensive players will get a bigger opportunity under a new staff? Sometimes the best thing for a player is a fresh set of eyes. It’s why I find it hard to blame any student-athlete for hitting the transfer portal and trying to go where their talents can be best utilized. And a completely new OU defensive staff might be what a few younger players need to fully realize their potential. Can someone like outside linebacker Clayton Smith, who has all the makings for a top-end edge rusher, become a player that’s impossible to take off the field? Can defensive backs such as Bryson Washington and Joshua Eaton get more play? Will David Ugwoegbu find his fit at linebacker? Hopefully, we’ll have answers before too long, because amid all the talk of Oklahoma playing to its talent last season, it will be intriguing to see how Venables manages this team.

3. Dillon Gabriel’s progress. The Central Florida transfer is in a weird spot. His presence is encouraging for OU’s chances to maintain the dangerous offense its grown accustomed to. But even with what he’s proven at the college level, it’s still a mystery how quickly that will translate in his new home. Being the quarterback at Oklahoma isn’t the most glamorous job in the world. Still pretty good, but you’re under a microscope at all times. Gabriel seems to be handling the pressure well so far, or at least, he’s saying the right things in the interviews he’s done since arriving to campus.

4. Which super senior is poised to thrive in 2022? College football is still feeling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including extended eligibility for players that participated in the 2020 season. Last year, Wake Forest was the best example of an older group that took advantage of a good number of its key players coming back for an extra season. OU isn’t quite in the same position, but there’s a few players that could have big years because of the rule. Safety Justin Broiles stands to be the biggest beneficiary as the leader of an inexperienced secondary. He’s had his ups and downs but Broiles became a reliable piece to OU’s defense last season. Linebacker DaShaun White is another interesting player, who will have to earn his time on the field but it’s not hard to see White putting it all together in 2022, especially with a new staff to unlock his talents.

5. Who will still be around after spring ball? In today’s college football, it’s harder than ever to predict rosters. What OU has going into spring likely won’t be what it has leaving it. Players will find out they aren’t in OU’s long-term plans or don’t feel like waiting. I won’t name any names, but there’s good reason to believe a few guys who are running out of eligibility will likely test the transfer portal this offseason. Hearing more on Venables’ roster management philosophy, this staff seems eager to build relationships and ensure guys who want to be at OU are at OU and completely bought in. If a player is on his way out, it won’t be for a lack of trying on Venables’ part.

💍 Commitment philosophy

You might already know that Venables’ former boss, Clemson’s Dabo Swinney, didn’t allow recruits to take other visits after already committing to the Tigers.

Right or wrong, that philosophy was integral to Swinney’s culture, which produced a pair of national championships and a whole lot of wins.

And Venables, at least for now, says he’ll implement the same approach: commit to Oklahoma = no more official visits.

"I'm not going to apologize for having a moral compass,” said an impassioned Venables, who was asked the question by SoonerScoop.com’s Bob Przybylo. “I want to teach our young people what commitment is, what it looks like. Certainly, things can change. Maybe there's 'flaws' in that thinking. But I know this, there's a lot of flaws in taking a commitment, making a reservation and then going and doing your own thing.”

My, how times have changed in Norman.

Share

🚧 Handling adversity

Tulsa World columnist Guerin Emig raises a good question.

What’s going to happen when the honeymoon stage between OU fans and their new head football coach fizzles?

For his perspective, I’d encourage you to read his column on the topic. There’s some really good stuff in there about the lessons Venables has learned from Bob Stoops and Dabo Swinney. There’s a particularly interesting story from Venables about how the program handled the 2006 Rhett Bomar situation.

Read now (tulsaworld.com)

This article leads me to this: what are your expectations for Venables?

How long is too long before Venables needs to start winning?

Are you willing to give him a few years? Would a four- or five-loss season be an immediate red flag?

Let me know in the comments, because I seriously can’t get a great read on quickly the OU fanbase expects Venables to have OU to the level where his predecessor had it before, you know, he seemed to stop trying.

Leave a comment