Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables had plenty to share during his Tuesday press conference, touching on the Sooners’ offensive struggles, challenges with cornerbacks, and general team inconsistency. The primary cause, he explained, stems from the numerous injuries that have forced Oklahoma to rely heavily on younger, less-experienced players. As a result, inconsistency, penalties, and indecisiveness in critical moments have plagued the team this season.
“Nobody wants to hear it, but I’m going to say it anyway because that’s just how it is,” Venables said. “When you’re playing freshmen, sometimes they play like freshmen. They lack experience and wisdom to fall back on, which showed up a few times against Ole Miss.”
Venables also provided injury updates on key players, particularly on the offensive line, which has struggled due to ongoing injuries. “We’ll move Isaiah Autry there. Not sure if Jake Taylor will be available, and Jacob Sexton will be out for a while,” Venables said, noting that freshman guard Heath has had to step in early. “He’s done some really good things for a freshman in a challenging position.”
The Sooners’ cornerbacks faced similar difficulties, with Ole Miss quarterback Jaxon Dart passing for over 300 yards and frequently finding escape routes in tight situations. Venables pointed to injuries as a major factor affecting defensive consistency.
“Jacobe [Johnson] played but had a hamstring issue that sidelined him in the latter part of the game. Dez [Malone] has been banged up and limited to game days only, which has left some rust,” Venables noted. “And Makari [Vickers] missed most of camp due to an injury and got hurt again after returning. Staying healthy is crucial, especially after losing Gentry Williams for the year.”
Venables’ remarks provided a candid look at the challenges Oklahoma is facing, including the toll injuries have taken on both sides of the ball, impacting the team’s rhythm and performance as they look to push through a demanding season.
