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

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.

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

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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