As Nebraska enters a crucial fifth season underneath head coach Scott Frost in 2022, we determined to take a look at the place issues stand with the Huskers’ 12 opponents popping out of spring practices.
At the moment, we take a look at Oklahoma’s first spring with its new head coach Brent Venables. Bob Przybylo from SoonerScoop.com gave us his ideas on the Sooners who come to Lincoln for per week three matchup.
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1. New head coach Brent Venables
Oklahoma has a brand new head coach in former Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables. Lincoln Riley moved on to USC after 5 seasons because the Sooners’ head coach.
Przybylo mentioned Venables has introduced a brand new tradition and vitality to the staff and “reenergized” the campus. He mentioned all the Oklahoma followers are fired as much as see what Venables will do.
Venables requested Sooner followers to indicate as much as the spring recreation they usually did. Oklahoma had a record-number 75,000 followers at its spring recreation.
Sooner Nation has contemporary vitality and pleasure surrounding its staff with a brand new head coach.
2. Defensive-minded head coach
Throughout Riley’s time at Oklahoma, the offense was its strongest part and the main focus of the staff. However now with a defensive-minded head coach, it is the protection’s flip.
Przybylo mentioned eyes have been on the protection all spring questioning simply how good they’ll get with Venables on the helm.
Oklahoma has began getting defensive gamers on the recruiting path that Przybylo mentioned they by no means had an opportunity at earlier than.
Having the defensive reputations of Venables and co-defensive coordinator Todd Bates is paying off with recruits however will likely be one of many predominant focuses to see if they will translate it to the sphere.
3. Quarterback Dylan Gabriel
Oklahoma flipped UCF switch quarterback Dillon Gabriel to OU from UCLA.
Each of the quarterbacks that began for OU final season, Spencer Rattler and Caleb Williams, are each gone and it’s Gabriel’s present to run.
Sooner offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby, who coordinated UCF’s offense in 2019, had an affect on Gabriel’s resolution as he recruited him to UCF and OU.
As a junior at UCF in 2021, Gabriel went 70-of-102 for 814 passing yards with 9 touchdowns and three interceptions.
Przybylo mentioned it has been stunning how briskly Gabriel took over the locker room and have become considered one of its high leaders.
Przybylo: “It is gonna be quite a lot of enjoyable. I do know OU followers are just a little stunned to be taking part in in opposition to Casey Thompson once more. They thought they had been completed with Casey Thompson after the best way he performed in opposition to OU final 12 months with Texas and naturally all of the ties that he has to OU.
“I do not know if it might be extra aggressive than 2021 nevertheless it’s gonna have the sensation that it must be. This should not be a recreation the place you assume OU will win by 20-30 factors they usually win by seven and also you’re type of shocked, this must be a aggressive recreation.
“I do know Brent Venables, I am certain he is gonna be so thrilled to be going again to Lincoln with all of the reminiscences that he is had there through the years. However it is going to be a fantastic first check. As a result of we all know what Venables has completed as a defensive coordinator for years and years.
“This is able to really feel like the primary mini-tests he is gonna should go as a head coach entering into a hostile atmosphere, having the ability to address that as a head coach in comparison with being a coordinator. This will likely be our first actual signal of “All proper, you needed Venables as the top coach? That is what he brings to the desk.””
Przybylo: “It is humorous as a result of once you’re listening nationally, everybody thinks OU is in shambles and once you’re within the OU bubble, you truly really feel like this system is in a greater state of affairs than it was 12 months in the past, however does that imply the product on the sphere is definitely higher?
“It seems like in the long term, OU is getting extra outfitted for the transfer to the SEC. It is feeling higher when it comes to its amenities, when it comes to its personnel and it is getting all of its geese in a row, because it’s about to make that transfer. However what does that imply for 2022? And that is a respectable query.
“Once you take a look at the best way OU has performed lately, there’s all the time that recreation or two, that makes zero sense, the place OU has a hiccup and you do not perceive it. Can Venables deliver out the consistency with each single recreation, with each single week? It is one thing he preaches, each little factor issues. That is been type of his mantra ever since he is taken over is like, “you possibly can’t overlook concerning the little issues as a result of all of them add as much as the massive issues.” So we’ll discover that out.
“I feel, OU goes to be in an excellent place. I can not see why OU would not win the Huge 12. And if they do not, I’d truly see it as a fairly large, not indictment, however a large disappointment for Venables and for all of the followers.”