All Sooners

Venables Vibes: Oklahoma's Defensive Issues Correctable Ahead of Black Friday Clash

Despite working on a short week, OU coach Brent Venables believes the Sooners can shore up the issues defending the run that plagued them in Provo.

Ryan Chapman

In this story:

NORMAN — And just like that, Oklahoma is preparing for its regular season finale — one that will close the book on the Sooners’ Big 12 era in Norman.

No. 13 OU (9-2, 6-2 Big 12) hosts the TCU Horned Frogs (5-6, 3-5) Friday morning, needing help to qualify for the Big 12 title game from elsewhere around the conference.

Brent Venables maintained his team is only worrying about the task ahead, as the Sooners are trying to navigate a short week ahead of Senior Day.

Quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who stayed in the locker room for the entire second half of Oklahoma’s 31-24 victory over BYU this past Saturday, is tracking toward being available said Venables in his weekly press conference on Monday. Getting Gabriel back would be huge for OU’s offense, as the crucial start would fall on the shoulders of true freshman Jackson Arnold, who helped deliver the victory in Provo.

Regardless of who starts at the helm of the offense come Friday, Venables has the chance to guide the program to its first 10-win season under his guidance this week, which would be a radical improvement from last year’s 6-7 finish.

Mind the Gap

FB - Aidan Robbins, Key Lawrence, BYU Cougars
BYU running back Aidan Robbins spearheaded a Cougar rushing attack that totaled 217 yards in Saturday's 31-24 loss to OU.  :: Rob Gray / USA TODAY Sports

BYU’s offense found a ton of success on the ground this past Saturday

The Cougars rushed for a season-best 217 yards, knifing through every level of Oklahoma’s defense.

While Venables said the coaching staff is hard at work correcting the mental errors that led to gaping holes for BYU running back Aidan Robbins to exploit, the OU coach did note that the issues were very correctable.

“We had to overcome several things,” Venables said. “Whether it’s losing our quarterback and not having him in the second half or not fitting gaps right pretty consistently for most of the day with our linebackers.”

As frustrated as Venables was with the out of position linebackers, he said its an issue he and defensive coordinator Ted Roof can correct on the practice field this week.

“Every once in a while we kind of found our way into the right spot and we’d stop them,” Venables said. “… It’s one guy… You want to know what I really felt, truth serum? I feel more relieved. Okay it wasn’t somebody getting their butt whooped. You get your butt whooped, you don’t like it.

“… If we've had the problem all year, that would be another (thing)… But we got the right guys without question.”

Those corrections will have to be made quickly, as TCU’s explosive passing attack could open up running lanes for the Horned Frogs.

Sonny Dykes’ team is ranked 74th in the country in rushing yards per game, but the quarterback change to redshirt freshman Josh Hoover has actually helped the passing game.

TCU throws for 309.3 yards per contest, the ninth-best mark in the FBS entering the weekend.

Sticking With the New Guy

FB - Gavin Sawchuk, BYU Cougars
Oklahoma running back Gavin Sawchuk ran for over 100 yards for the third straight week, with sophomore Jacob Sexton starting at left tackle in the last two of those contests.  :: Rob Gray / USA TODAY Sports

Regardless of who is taking snaps at quarterback for the crimson-clad hosts, the offensive line will have to hold up.

Even if the Sooners didn’t score on every drive in Provo, OU protected both Gabriel and Arnold while having plenty of success on the ground against the Cougars.

Sophomore Jacob Sexton got another start at right tackle Saturday, though Venables said it wasn’t due to Tyler Guyton being unavailable for the contest.

“I think (Guyton) was back,” Venables said. “You know, Jake (Sexton) just did a great job, you know? So there's something to that, too.”

Sexton has been steady when called upon this season.

He was far from an issue when he filled in for left tackle Walter Rouse against Kanas, and the Sooners have had no trouble moving the ball up and down the field with him at right tackle the past two weeks against West Virginia and BYU.

Running back Gavin Sawchuk has rushed for over 100 yards in three straight games as he’s found his groove behind OU’s more settled offensive line — an emergence Sexton has played a large role in.

“Jake's done a really good job, made the most of his opportunity,” Venables said. “So I think it's more about Jake was about Tyler (Guyton), but he's available."

Volatile on the Corner

FB - Kani Walker, Dasan McCullough, BYU Cougars
Oklahoma linebacker Dasan McCullough (1) and cornerback Kani Walker (26) combine to stop BYU's resurgent offense in OU's 31-24 victory over the Cougars on Saturday.  :: Rob Gray / USA TODAY Sports

Woodi Washington has been a steady presence at cornerback all year for Oklahoma.

His counterpart on the other side of the field has been a bit of an adventure for the Sooners, however.

Gentry Williams has been an impact player at times this year, but he’s struggled to stay on the field.

Kani Walker has generally been called upon when Williams is confined to the sideline, but even Walker has missed time at points this season, turning snaps over to true freshmen in Jasiah Wagoner, Jacobe Johnson and Makari Vickers.

The depth will be tested again across from Washington on Friday. Four different TCU pass catchers have hauled in at least 29 receptions this season, giving Hoover plenty of options to exploit OU’s pass defense that has allowed 232.9 yards per game this year.

Venables said Williams practiced on Sunday, but he acknowledged how difficult it’s been to find consistency behind Washington on the depth chart.

“That hasn't been ideal,” Venables said. “… Going into the year I talked about that position group not having much experience and then, you know, we've been snake-bit there.”

Oklahoma’s defensive backs have struggled to build on chemistry week-to-week due to the injuries, Venables said, which is a reality that will be tested on Friday.

The regular season will close out with an 11 a.m. kickoff on Black Friday, and the game will be broadcast on Fox. 

Published
Ryan Chapman
RYAN CHAPMAN

Ryan is deputy editor at AllSooners and covers a number of sports in and around Norman and Oklahoma City. Working both as a journalist and a sports talk radio host, Ryan has covered the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma City Thunder, the United States Men’s National Soccer Team, the Oklahoma City Energy and more. Since 2019, Ryan has simultaneously pursued a career as both a writer and a sports talk radio host, working for the Flagship for Oklahoma sports, 107.7 The Franchise, as well as AllSooners.com. Ryan serves as a contributor to The Franchise’s website, TheFranchiseOK.com, which was recognized as having the “Best Website” in 2022 by the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters. Ryan holds an associate’s degree in Journalism from Oklahoma City Community College in Oklahoma City, OK. 

Home/Football