Brent Venables identifies the root of Oklahoma's problems on defense

On3 imageby:Andrew Graham10/04/22

AndrewEdGraham

The numbers on Oklahoma’s defense are not pretty after the onslaught the Sooners endured from TCU on Saturday. For Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables, it’s plenty frustrating.

After five games, Oklahoma is 109th in total defense, giving up 423 yards a game and 67th in scoring defense. The root of the problems, Venables said this week, is simple: A lack of discipline.

“Well, again, I think it comes to, our desire’s been there,” Venables said. “Our discipline hasn’t. And it takes discipline. Foundationally, it’s where it all starts. We’ve gotta play with better discipline. And things that I’ve said countless times. And it can be the smallest things. It can be one guy being inside, as opposed to outside. Being underneath as opposed to on top of — we’ve gotta play with better discipline. That’s where it all starts. If we don’t do that, we’ll have the same kind of inconsistent results. And the first three weeks, I thought we played with really good discipline. Last two weeks, not as much.”

CLICK HERE to subscribe for FREE to the On3 YouTube channel

After a 3-0 start where the Sooners gave up 10 points-per-game, but played the likes of UTEP, Kent State and Nebraska, Oklahoma has gone 0-2 in two conference games against Kansas State and TCU.

Oklahoma surrendered a combined 96 points in those losses to go with 1177 yards. And it hasn’t been high-flying passing attacks blitzing the Sooners for all these yards and points. Of the 13 touchdowns they surrendered to TCU and Kansas State, nine were on the ground. Of the 1177 yards allowed, 636 were rushing yards. To call the last two weeks bad defensive performances would be an understatement.

Yet amid all the busted coverages and big runs allowed, Venables has seen the flashes from this defense and plays where it all lines up.

He thinks this defense can still get things on track this season.

“Their effort and their commitment has been there, but it hasn’t been rewarded here the last couple of weeks. So, frustrated for them, that the production doesn’t match the work that they’ve put in. But I know this: If you keep your head down and you don’t get influenced by noise and seeds of doubt and discouragement, we’ll pull ourselves right back out of it, I know that without question. But we’ve gotta go do it. It’s easier said than done,” Venables said.