Oklahoma Sooners legend Bob Stoops makes a strong statement regarding Brent Venables calling the defense in 2025
The Oklahoma Sooners found their offensive coordinator replacement in Ben Arbuckle. That wasn't a very hard job as once the idea came, everyone was on board, and everyone bought into the idea of having Arbuckle bring his elite offensive scheme over to the SEC, along with his quarterback, of course. But finding a new defensive […]
The Oklahoma Sooners found their offensive coordinator replacement in Ben Arbuckle. That wasn't a very hard job as once the idea came, everyone was on board, and everyone bought into the idea of having Arbuckle bring his elite offensive scheme over to the SEC, along with his quarterback, of course.
But finding a new defensive coordinator, which they have had to do since Zac Alley left for West Virginia, has been a task. The Sooners fought and they fought hard for the Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles to join the squad. Ultimately, they were outdone on those sweepstakes by Penn State.
Since then Brent Venables has announced that he will step in and handle the defensive responsibilities as the head coach as well. And, for all of the people who are treating that as a bad idea, legendary OU head coach Bob Stoops doesn't see the issue.
"Mike Zimmer did it forever, Todd Bowles with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers still does it," Stoops started on The REF. "There are plenty of guys in the NFL and in college that still do it. If you can call it on offense, then no reason you can’t call it on defense. So, sure you can. Now, if you're fortunate enough to have someone that like-minded or has come through your defense that can call it, then he could just oversee it."
This is the biggest form of being so sure of yourself that you can have. This is obviously a season where Venables is on the hot seat, and yet, he is taking matters into his own hands, doing what he knows best — defense. But, it's risky because he's doing that along with all of the defensive stuff.
But Stoops is right. Offensive coaches do it all the time, but with Venables, it's a problem. I get it, he's on the hot seat, so everything is being measured with great severity.
Oklahoma Sooners add bright young defensive mind to round out Brent Venables’ coaching staff heading into 2025
The Oklahoma Sooners replaced former defensive coordinator Zac Alley on Friday, rounding out their staff heading into 2025. According to On3's SoonerScoop, the Sooners are zeroing in on hiring Nate Dreiling to join Brent Venables's staff in Norman next season. Dreiling will be coaching the team's linebackers. At just 34 years old, Nate Dreiling is […]
