Sooners thin at cheetah, Mateer “not rrumbling,” Everett eyes sixth year as Venables defends return to play-calling
NORMAN, Okla. — Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables addressed the media Tuesday ahead of Saturday’s regular-season finale against No. 7 LSU.
The Sooners will be without backup cheetah Reggie Powers III for the first half after he was ejected for targeting in last week’s win vs. Missouri.
Oklahoma is extremely thin at the cheetah position. Starter Kendel Dolby has missed the last five games and is preserving his redshirt, leaving sophomore Kendal Daniels as the only experienced cheetah on the active roster.
On quarterback John Mateer, who has thrown for less than 200 yards yards in the last three games, Venables pushed back on the idea that his redshirt freshman is pressing too hard.
Senior left tackle Troy Everett will participate in Senior Day festivities despite playing only one game before suffering a season-ending injury.
Everett has been a mentor on the sideline as a captain. The Sooners have broken in three freshmen along the starting five on the offensive line.
Everett confirmed Monday he has applied for a medical redshirt and is hopeful he’ll be granted an additional year of eligibility.
Finally, Venables was asked about his decision to reclaim defensive play-calling duties after Zac Alley left for West Virginia. He pointed to the passion he brings to the role, and passing it along to his players.
1. The plan to replace Power III at the cheetah position for the first half
"The number one challenge is, we have players that can play that have great skill to play that position. So you're either looking to, what's the easiest transition there? So we've worked through that from a scheme standpoint and the ability to maybe somebody playing more than one position. Because you don't want to compromise the ability to execute the things you need to execute within the game plan."
2. Venables says Mateer is not putting too much pressure on himself
"He's been great. He doesn't walk around like he's carrying all these heavy burdens. He's an alpha. He's somebody that runs toward that responsibility and what you've gotta carry, the weight you've gotta carry at that position. I think it brings out good qualities in him as a leader. The team sees him working every day. He's got great humility, but he's also got great passion and energy at practice."
3. Everett applying for medical redshirt, still has significant role as captain
"He's been great. He doesn't walk around like he's carrying all these heavy burdens. He's an alpha. He's somebody that runs toward that responsibility and what you've gotta carry, the weight you've gotta carry at that position. I think it brings out good qualities in him as a leader. The team sees him working every day. He's got great humility, but he's also got great passion and energy at practice."
4. Venables on his passion in coordinating the defense
"You've always put that pressure on yourself as a coach, that everything rides on your position or your unit's ability to produce. That's who I've always been, and the staffs that I've been on hold the same type of philosophy, mindset, attitude. Again, the credit goes to the players. They're the ones that are putting in the time, straining, knocking people back, getting off the ball, chasing with incredible passion and pursuit and physicality. I want the position coaches and the coordinators to create that attitude, that confidence, nurture the momentum. Don't be a bunch of stiffs. This is a passionate, intense, enthusiastic type of game that is very real. Not being rah-rah, not making stuff up. Celebrate the things that we've asked them to do that we've said are critical in winning and you make it a big deal. Go over there and double punch somebody right in the freaking chest because they did what you've been talking about. This is what winning looks like. So I don't want it always to be me, the lunatic head coach. I want it to be everybody sharing that passion and the energy."