What Oklahoma coach Brent Venables said about Tennessee on the SEC Teleconference

What head coach Brent Venables said on the SEC Coaches Teleconference on Wednesday previewing No. 17 Oklahoma (6-2, 2-2) at No. 14 Tennessee (6-2, 3-2 SEC) on Saturday night (7:30 Eastern Time, ABC) at Neyland Stadium:

Opening Statement

“We’ve got an excellent matchup here this week with a really good Tennessee football team that’s playing fantastic football. Really disruptive and aggressive defense with an incredibly explosive offense. Coach Heup has done a great job of new people, plugging them in. Historically speaking, one of the best offenses they’ve had in their program’s history up to this point in time. Again, defensively, they lead the SEC in turnovers. Lead the country in defensive touchdowns. They’ve been really unstoppable in conference play, other than one game when they had to go on the road to Alabama. Otherwise, again, they’re a playoff-worthy team with a great, great roster. It’s going to be a great environment going to Knoxville.”

Oklahoma defensive back Jaydan Hardy

“Another good, young player that’s got great natural instincts. From Lewisville, Texas. Just a really good football player. He’s been a special teams player, as well, important part of our special teams unit the last two years. Just trying to get him more and more involved. Again, we play – our safeties play a lot of snaps. We use a number of safeties schematically. He’s really improved as the season’s gone along.”

How unique Josh Heupel’s offense is, how it has evolved

“They’ve got really good players. He puts them in positions schematically to execute at a high level. He’s a really good game-day caller. Certainly, I think he’d be the first one to tell you, from where he was 15 years ago, he certainly has, I think good coaches are willing to always look for new ways to do things in their system. Continue to evolve. Nothing ever stays the same. He’s done a really good job of trying to stay in front of the what’s next of his philosophy and within his system.”

The next step for Oklahoma’s defense

“We got to always catch up to the offenses and what they’re doing. We’re still trying to catch the offenses in their RPO world and those types of things. There’s a lot of things that are going on that may or may not be apparent to the naked eye. Lots of eye candy. People are always trying to put you in conflict offensively, so you’re always finding ways to combat that, not allowing yourself schematically to be put in conflict in both the run and the pass. Not an easy thing to do, but something that we strive, certainly, to do. We’re like everybody. We learn through some tough moments, but we’ve got a group that’s really intelligent, really smart, really highly invested, as well. It’s allowed us to take the next step from a consistency standpoint from where we were the last couple of years.”

If he has been to Neyland Stadium

“I have not.”

If he’s looking forward to going to a historic venue like Neyland Stadium

“No doubt. It’s all part of the experience. Traveling, taking your team to a new environment. Certainly for me, myself, something I’m looking forward to. I know it’s going to be incredibly challenging. As somebody who has great respect and appreciation for college football, the history, the coaches, the teams, the moments, this is something that I’m looking forward to. Seeing and experiencing what it’s all about.”

How Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer has progressed since his injury

“First of all, he’s fearless. He’s got tremendous courage and toughness. Determination. He’s got a great leadership ability. He’s incredibly competitive and he’s hit everything head-on. He’s a no-nonsense guy when it comes to football and competing and leading. He’ll level up everybody around him. Makes everyone better.”

Tennessee’s pass rush

“Just very aggressive, very sound in what they do, but very aggressive philosophy. They’re going to make you really earn what you get. Not give you a lot of free access. That resonates with me. You got to have an attack mindset, as well, and be fearless in what you do. There’s a physicality piece that’s a requirement to be successful. Again, the mental and the physical toughness to go on the road and win, everyone has to have that shared philosophy at all three phases.”