Brent Venables is confident in the culture of accountability he’s nurtured in his second season at Oklahoma.
Though the No. 16 Sooners are off to a 3-0 start, Venables is aware of what happened last season and how he needs to avoid that same outcome. Oklahoma's head coach has seen “affirmation” that his players have grown, adapted to a culture of accountability and are more confident in their abilities to avoid the dreaded fate of last season.
“Y'all don't get to see all the work and the investment that goes on behind the scenes relentlessly,” Venables said on Tuesday. “This is a group of guys that want to be pushed and challenged and held accountable.
“I think it's critical, foundationally, in your success we've fallen short, but they've handled it the right way. … They want to welcome the strain of what the sport brings to you. That makes you believe as a coach and as a leader … the direction that we're going.”
The correlation to the “cultural foundation” of on-field success has been noticeable on both sides of the ball this season. The Sooners have converted 67.6% (25-for-37) of their third downs, the best mark in college football.
Last season, Oklahoma’s offense converted 40.5% of its third downs.
Venables, who stressed the importance of run defense and improving in the trenches all offseason, has seen improvements in numerous areas. OU has allowed 2.3 yards per carry through three games, much better than 2022’s average of 4.3 yards per carry.
Venables said the newfound accountability has led to more execution, but it’s a process that needs to continue to roll into the SEC for the foreseeable future.
“That process never stops,” Venables said. “You're always building, you're always nurturing, you're always protecting, you're always rehearsing, your values, beliefs, (we have a) developing and nurturing culture.
“We've got 97 players that are either in their first or their second year on our roster. So we've worked hard at trying to create an environment where we recruit guys and get our guys to buy into relationships and get to know each other and spend lots of time doing that.”
Venables’ culture of accountability was on full display during OU’s 66-17 win over Tulsa last Saturday. Despite the blowout, Venables ripped into freshman defensive back Peyton Bowen on the sideline late in the game.
Senior offensive lineman Andrew Raym, redshirt senior defensive back Woodi Washington and redshirt senior offensive lineman Walter Rouse before the game against SMU on Sept. 9.
Redshirt senior offensive tackle Walter Rouse was scolded by offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh, as well. Against SMU, left guard Savion Byrd was benched for offensive lineman Tory Everett after allowing a sack in the first quarter.
“Creating value for yourself as a player, even if you're not a starter, is important,” Venables said. You can separate (yourself) and get on the bus. … Developing confidence and accountability and all those things that will help transition when you do get in as a player helps your confidence and everything that you're doing.”
That accountability has stretched to the quarterback room, as redshirt senior quarterback Dillon Gabriel has felt more competition with freshman quarterback Jackson Arnold sitting behind him.
“I would expect so,” Venables said of whether Arnold has pushed Gabriel toward improvement. “Competition should bring out the best in everyone if you’re made of the right stuff. I don’t think Dillon has ever felt threatened, but (he) certainly knows the young guy is watching him everyday and he’s incredibly talented in his own right.”
While it might not be a direct correlation of Arnold’s presence, Gabriel’s numbers have improved dramatically in 2023, compared to his first three starts of 2022.
Through three games last season, Gabriel threw for 759 yards and seven touchdowns. He’s started with 905 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2023.
Redshirt senior quarterback Dillon Gabriel during the game against Tulsa on Sept. 16.
“He looks like he's having a lot more fun and that was prior to the start of the season," Venables said. "I think that group of guys around him — both players and coaches — everybody's more comfortable. It's been in the system for another year. And then some of the newcomers have really adjusted quickly. I think again, he's a guy that's played a lot of football. His best football is at the end of his collegiate career because it slows down for you.”
As Oklahoma (3-0) pivots to its Big 12 opener on the road against Cincinnati (2-1) at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday, Venables is hoping to reap more benefits of the “buy-in” he’s seen all throughout fall training camp and now the first three games of the season. With winning, in his mind, comes more gratification for the players, who eventually want more of it.
“Young people want to be affirmed,” Venables said. “I think human nature is to be even more bought in when you do have, you know, the results that you desire. As a football program, we realize these are the areas that we fall short on. We're going to spend a lot of time improving in all the things that that entails.
“I'm hopeful that’s gratifying for the players and coaches. We know that we’re always one week away from humility. (We just) have to keep our heads down and continue to do the things that you've been doing to make the improvement.”
