Jackson Arnold says the quiet part out loud that Brent Venables refuses to say for good reasons
2024 went wrong for so many reasons for the Oklahoma Sooners and their first season in the SEC. Yes, it was embarrassing, but it happens. It just had to happen in the inaugural season, for some reason. Some would point to the quarterback play last year and think that was the root of all the […]
2024 went wrong for so many reasons for the Oklahoma Sooners and their first season in the SEC. Yes, it was embarrassing, but it happens. It just had to happen in the inaugural season, for some reason.
Some would point to the quarterback play last year and think that was the root of all the bad play. The defense was elite, so you really can’t place any blame there. If they did something bad, it was usually because of a position they were put in by the offense. In 2025, the defense could be even better, too.
As far as the offensive issues go, though, the quarterback position was always the hot topic. But it wasn’t just the QB play. They fired offensive coordinator Seth Littrell during the season and swapped quarterbacks a few different times to get a spark because the scheme was so bad.
Injuries played a huge factor, too. Remember, there was one point where the Sooners were without their best five receivers on the team at the same time. Then, they had so many different combinations of offensive line starters because of injuries there, and there was just no consistency.
With that all being said, the QB position was still a problem. And, even the QB who may have been the biggest issue last year has admitted it.
“I mean, for whatever reason, I didn’t, didn’t play good,” Jackson Arnold said on SEC Network at SEC Media Days. “Sometimes things don’t work out the way it’s supposed to be. You know, we’re on God’s timing, you know, not our timing. For me, I thought the best decision for me was to move on and move on somewhere else, to get fresh start. Like you said, you know, go out and do what I know I can do with this Auburn squad this year.”
That is the mature thing to do by Arnold, but maturity was never his issue last season. It was decision-making and a few other things that got him where he is now, chanting War Eagle as the starting quarterback for the Auburn Tigers.
But, Brent Venables refuses to say that, and for good reason. He said that Arnold was thrown into an unreal situation, and he was, which is evident from everything I listed prior. But, if it’s not his fault, why did he pull Arnold and never put him back in the gam as the full-time starter?
His refusal to say it was Arnold’s play is good, because that can really kill a kid’s confidence. Now, this season, when the Tigers play the Sooners during the season, we will see if he still has that confidence.
