Oklahoma

Venables Vibes: Oklahoma Placing Continued Emphasis on Special Teams, Growth Mindset

Published

2 years ago

September 20, 2022

Venables Vibes: Oklahoma Placing Continued Emphasis on Special Teams, Growth Mindset

NORMAN — The Oklahoma Sooners aren’t using excessive off an enormous win over the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Brent Venables was little question happy with the efficiency in Lincoln, however for OU, this week is all about enhancing and getting locked in on Kansas State.

Chris Klieman’s Wildcats (2-1) are limping into the competition in Norman contemporary off a stunning upset loss to Tulane.

Simply as Oklahoma (3-0) approached Nebraska, the Sooners are anticipating Kansas State’s finest shot as they open convention play.

Full Efficiency

Marvin Mims has been dynamic returning punts for the Sooners this season

Kevin Jairaj / USA TODAY Sports activities

Each soccer coach preaches complimentary soccer, however Venables has been happy with how the Sooners have executed by three weeks.

Oklahoma broke off 49 straight factors in opposition to Nebraska after giving up a landing on the Cornhuskers’ first drive of the sport.

The protection dialed in on Casey Thompson and Jeff Lebby’s offense acquired rolling, however Venables was fast to level out the position particular groups has performed up to now this yr.

“When you return and watch the sport once more,” mentioned Venables, “you’ll see all of the momentum performs that we’re creating in particular groups and subject place that we’re creating in particular groups.

“I feel we have been plus-64 (yardage) this week which is, you already know, glorious, to say the least.”

Marvin Mims returned three punts for a complete of 60 yards, and the dynamic playmaker has already totaled extra punt return yardage by three video games this yr than OU had all through the complete 2021 season.

“We’re creating a number of subject place and momentum by particular groups,” Venables mentioned. “… Whether or not it’s, once more, pinning any individual deep and that creates momentum and an edge and a distinct mindset for the protection. Or we’re punting out of our personal finish zone and (Michael) Turk smashes one for 57 and now we’re on the unfavourable aspect of the sphere. Now the protection has a distinct sort of cost.

“Or we’re forcing a three-and-out and we’re forcing good subject place that method, and never solely that however we’re returning one for 30 yards, which prices up the sideline and will get the offense excited, everyone. So I really like the pressure that I’m seeing within the particular groups.”

Focusing on Enchancment

DaShaun White was having one in all his finest video games in an OU uniform on Saturday till he was ejected for a concentrating on hit on Thompson.

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Venables mentioned the teaching employees works by conditions like that day by day on the observe subject, however they’ll proceed to emphasise it all through the week.

“We’re all the time teaching (them to) hold your head out of a deal with or hitting the quarterback excessive or hitting them along with your facemask that turns into the crown,” Venables mentioned. “It isn’t a simple factor. I did not do something completely different aside from reemphasizing all the basics. Even then, he ought to have simply jumped up and acquired within the (throwing) window. He sees the quarterback’s arm going ahead.

“So soar up and get within the window, deflect the ball. All people desires to go hit him and take him to the bottom. I get that too. However if you really feel just like the ball’s popping out, you must do a superb job of affecting the quarterback in several methods. You do not all the time must hit him. Hopefully he’ll study from that.”

Fortunately for the Sooners, the ejection occurred within the first half final week, so the veteran will probably be accessible to start out the sport in opposition to the Wildcats.

Embracing the Pleasure

FB - Key Lawrence, David Ugwoegbu — Oklahoma’s Kew Lawrence (12) and David Ugwoegbu (2) have fun a late Oklahoma turnover in opposition to Nebraska
Kevin Jairaj / USA TODAY Sports activities

Venables is all the time pushing for extra, so he’s not happy with the great defensive begin in 2022.

With that being mentioned, he did pick moments from the primary three video games he’s been happy with, as they’ve helped to strengthen perception within the defensive system headed into convention play.

“I really like seeing them have success and the enjoyment by all of it as a result of it is actually exhausting,” he mentioned. “We coach them actually exhausting, we maintain them accountable in the course of it typically. The second’s in all probability not a number of enjoyable, however the fruit of the tree is the success that they are having.

“… After they really get to go play they usually’re not getting yelled and screamed at, they’re really having a number of enjoyable.”

Oklahoma faces one other huge check in KSU working again Deuce Vaughn this weekend, however Venables thinks the strategy by the protection this week has been good coming off a dominant highway efficiency in Lincoln.

“To see them believe however nonetheless stay humble in understanding that we have a number of progress nonetheless to make and this factor solely will get tougher,” Venables mentioned. “… They’re excited to run in the direction of the exhausting. That is not a simple place to get to. You get on this enviornment, you see loads of guys over there tapping out.

“We have nonetheless acquired a protracted season. Hopefully we do not see anyone tapping out. However that occurs. Regardless of the high 20 proper now, in three weeks it ain’t gonna be the identical. I can promise you, you will see an entire script that is flipped. And it is exhausting to achieve success. It is exhausting to indicate up.”

Venables takes on his first Large 12 Convention recreation as a head coach on Saturday at 7 p.m., and the bout with Kansas State will probably be broadcast on FOX.

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Oklahoma

Alabama's upset loss to Oklahoma completes wild day in college football as rankings could look a lot different

Published

4 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Press Room

Alabama's upset loss to Oklahoma completes wild day in college football as rankings could look a lot different

Entering Saturday night, all No. 7 Alabama needed was a win against unranked Oklahoma to remain very safe in the College Football Playoff bracket.

Earlier in the day, No. 5 Indiana was blown out, No. 4 Penn State barely squeaked by Minnesota, and No. 9 Ole Miss and No. 14 BYU both lost.

But, the Crimson Tide could not get the job done, as Oklahoma dominated to a 24-3 victory.

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Defensive end R Mason Thomas of the Oklahoma Sooners gets his hands in the face of quarterback Jalen Milroe of the Alabama Crimson Tide at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on Nov. 23, 2024, in Norman, Oklahoma. (Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, who had been one of the nation’s best players, had his worst game of the season. He completed 11 of 26 passes for 164 yards with three interceptions and gained just seven yards on 15 carries for Alabama (8-3, 4-3). The Sooners held Alabama to 234 yards. He went just 2-for-7 for 62 yards before the half.

True freshman Xavier Robinson ran for career highs of 107 yards and two touchdowns as Oklahoma became bowl eligible and took coach Brent Venables off the hot seat.

The Sooners’ victory resulted in yet another edition of fans storming the field too early, but at least this one was practically over anyway, unlike the BYU-Arizona State game.

Oklahoma students and fans rush the field after they efeated Alabama, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Norman. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)

APPALACHIAN STATE FANS PELT JAMES MADISON PLAYERS WITH SNOWBALLS BEFORE GAME

Ole Miss and Alabama, both in the bracket prediction last week, now have three losses on the season. This leaves the door wide open for 9-2 teams like Clemson and Iowa State, who had been ranked 17th and 22nd in the nation, respectively.

And now, Indiana’s college football playoff hopes, right after their undefeated season ending, may not look all that over. No. 10 Georgia and No. 11 Tennessee figure to move up a few spots with three teams ahead of them in the rankings all losing.

Although, it’s certainly not out of the question that Alabama could be on the outside looking in.

Oklahoma spirit team member celebrates after a touchdown against Alabama, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Norman. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)

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The next rankings will come out on Tuesday, and it should be very exciting to see what the committee has in store.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Oklahoma

‘So what? Now what?’: Alabama players react to loss to Oklahoma

Published

12 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Press Room

‘So what? Now what?’: Alabama players react to loss to Oklahoma

No. 7 Alabama football should have defeated unranked Oklahoma. But the Crimson Tide didn’t.

Oklahoma had only won one SEC game all season. It wasn’t even bowl eligible before Saturday.

Then, the Alabama offense failed to score a touchdown and sputtered for much of the night. The Crimson Tide defense couldn’t stop Oklahoma’s rushing attack when the game was still close.

Alabama turned the ball over three times, with three Jalen Milroe interceptions.

As a result, the Crimson Tide fell 24-3 to the Sooners on Saturday at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma.

“There is no excuse,” linebacker Jihaad Campbell said. “None. Everybody saw it. Whoever was watching the game. We lost, and we’ve got to take it on the chin and keep learning from that.”

Alabama (8-3, 4-3 SEC) gave up 325 yards, with 257 yards, on the ground to Oklahoma and two touchdowns. Oklahoma (6-5, 2-5) had the nation’s 90th ranked scoring offense entering the game.

“Our job was to out-execute those guys, and we fell short tonight,” Campbell said.

Meanwhile, the Alabama offense tallied only 234 yards, with 164 through the air and 70 on the ground, to score only a field goal.

Milroe, who gashed LSU on the ground two weeks ago, couldn’t get anything going with his legs with only seven yards on 15 carries.

“They had a great game plan for us,” offensive lineman Tyler Booker said. “We’ve just got to get a hat on a hat. We have to execute better.”

The Alabama players who took part in interviews postgame showed a clear and intentional interest in moving on quickly from the result and performance in Norman.

“So what? Now what?” Booker said. “Can’t do anything about what just happened. What we can do is make sure we prepare our tails off.”

Next up is a matchup with Auburn in the Iron Bowl at Bryant-Denny Stadium to close out the regular season. Alabama won’t make the SEC Championship Game, but it might not yet be eliminated from the playoff just yet. The Allstate playoff predictor on Saturday night gave the Crimson Tide a 31% chance to still make the postseason.

“Got a big game next week,” Booker said. “Got to put all of our focus and energy there. Can’t do anything about what just happened. We’ve got to put all of our focus and energy into next week.”

Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.

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Oklahoma

Live Updates: No. 7 Alabama Football at Oklahoma

Published

21 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

Live Updates: No. 7 Alabama Football at Oklahoma

NORMAN, Okla.–– Alabama has one final road test to pass in the regular season if it wants to compete for an SEC title and make it back to the College Football Playoff.

The No. 7 Crimson Tide plays at Oklahoma on Saturday night in the first matchup as conference foes in the SEC. BamaCentral will have coverage all night from Norman. Follow along for updates.

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(latest updates at the top)

Who: Alabama (8-2, 4-2 SEC) vs. Oklahoma (5-5, 1-4)

When: Saturday, Nov. 23, 6:30 p.m.

Where: Gaylord Family Memorial Stadium

TV: ABC/ESPN+

Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network (Play-By-Play: Chris Stewart, Color: Tyler Watts).

Series: Oklahoma leads 3-2-1

Last meeting: Alabama defeated the Sooners in the Capital One Orange Bowl as part of the College Football Playoff 45-34. Tua Tagovailoa passed for 318 yards and four touchdowns while the Crimson Tide rushed for 200 yards across 42 carries between Josh Jacobs, Damien Harris and Najee Harris.

Last time out, Alabama: The Crimson Tide dominated Mercer 52-7 at home behind three touchdowns from Jalen Milroe and two touchdowns from Ryan Williams. The Alabama defense forced three more turnovers as they’ve now forced 16 in the last five games, making life challenging on opposing offenses.

Last time out, Oklahoma: The Sooners were off this past week, but went to Missouri two weeks ago and lost 30-23 after losing a fumble for a touchdown in the game’s final minutes. Oklahoma’s played five conference games and only won at Auburn this season.

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