Oklahoma Sooners Practice Report

One day after OU fired offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, the media finally got to hear what Brent Venables had to say about the change...kind of. While he didn't want to go into great detail about the decision, it is clear that Venables has his eyes on the future. What does that mean for John Mateer? It sounds like nothing is out of the question. Jason Witten impressed greatly, enough to earn the opportunity as the interim offensive coordinator. Is it an audition for Witten? Maybe. Maybe not. The defense is coming off of its worst performance of the season against South Carolina. Can they bounce back in the Swamp? All that and more on this edition of the Practice Report.

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At the end of a very eventful day, OU head Coach Brent Venables spoke out about the decision to fire Ben Arbuckle on his Rudy's Coaches Show. Venables also gave a little something on the QB situation (spoiler, sounds like they still like John Mateer). With the firing of Arbuckle we also learned of the decision to move Tight Ends Coach Jason Witten to interim play caller. Can that light any kind of spark for this offense? Guess we'll all find out in Gainesville. All that and more on this edition of the Practice Report.

Soundbite Credit: SEC Network+/Learfield

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Remember the last time South Carolina took the trip down to Norman? I bet you do. With confidence in a much better spot than it was following the loss to Kentucky, what is the new standard in the second half of the season? Brent Venables and Ben Arbuckle spoke with the media Tuesday morning, and while they are proud of the fight the team showed in Starkville, there is still much to be improved. John Mateer had a great outing, but what is the next step to reach the end zone instead of settling for field goals? Was it obvious that John felt more comfortable with the return of Michael Fasusi? Caleb Nitta stepped up in a big way for the Sooners. Just how big was his addition to this roster? Finally, Taylor Wein and PJ Adebawore have had some huge moments in the crimson and cream. How has their bond strengthened the foundation of the OU defense? All that and more on this edition of the Practice Report.

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No Brent Venables today. With the head ball coach unable to address the media today due to illness, Associate Head Coach/Defensive Tackles Coach Todd Bates stepped in to address the media alongside Offensive Coordinator Ben Arbuckle. The Sooners are still giving John Mateer the keys to the offense, but where does this belief come from? Questions about Ryan Fodje's injury still linger, does the coaching staff still believe keeping him in the game was the right call? Manny Choice showed flashes against Kentucky. Will we see more of him going forward? Finally, the defensive tackle group has been incredible, hear what Bate's had to say about his group and why he still believes this team can turn things around. All that and more on this edition of the Practice Report.

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John Mateer made some of his best throws as a Sooner late in the game on Saturday against Texas. Those throws, alongside a run game and an offensive line that looked usable in the second half, may be something Oklahoma can build on for the rest of the season. No defense on the rest of the schedule matches the challenges OU has already faced. Does that mean the offense has a chance to find consistent production? Noah Best had a successful outing on the offensive line in the Cotton Bowl. Is there still more to see from the young guy? Plus, Trystan Haynes stepped up big time with the absence of Eli Bowen; what does that say about the depth this team is building? All that and more on this edition of the Practice Report.

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On to the next one. That's the sentiment in the OU facility this week after the 27-24 win over Texas. With a Kentucky team coming in ranked 15th and off of a huge win over LSU, the Sooners have a real challenge ahead on Saturday. Peyton Bowen has been the leader in the locker room as they try to prevent the hangover from a huge win; Brent Venables holds the same idea as they look to prevent the downward spiral that occurred in 2023. The offense showed promise in the second half of the Red River Rivalry; can the run game continue to improve as the toughest defenses on the schedule are in the rearview mirror? Michael Fasusi may be close to returning. Finally, Carey threw out the question regarding the team's injuries and if they practice "too hard." See what Brent Venables had to say in response, plus much more on this edition of the Practice Report.

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There was plenty to celebrate after Oklahoma's 27-24 win over Texas in the Red River Rivalry. However, one side of the ball group was particularly excellent on Saturday. Doug Deakin spoke with the media on Monday night, breaking down the huge blocked punt that put the Sooners on the board. We also heard from Tate Sandell, who is coming off the game-winning kick in the Cotton Bowl. All that and more on this edition of the Practice Report.

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The Sooners head into the Red River Rivalry with an extra week of rest and preparation thanks to the bye week. On this edition of the Practice Report, we hear from Brent Venables, Ben Arbuckle and several players about what they were able to get out of the bye week. The Sooners offensive line is under fire, and Ryan Fodje talks about what his unit got from the extra week of prep and practice. And is this the best defensive line the Sooners will face so far this season? Fodje spoke on that as well. It's a heavy dose of Texas in this version of the Practice Report.

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Brent Venables said what about the offensive line? Stick around, and your jaw may drop more than Eddie's. It's a tale as old as time: whoever has more success running the ball wins the Red River Rivalry. Now that hasn't been a strong unit for the Sooners so far this season, but isn't the Cotton Bowl where legends are born? Well, ISN'T IT!? For that to happen, the offensive line obviously needs to find something they can hang their hat on, or Oklahoma may lose their third straight to the Longhorns. Brent Venables has continued to back John Mateer, and as of Monday morning of Texas week, that hasn't changed. Was Ben Arbuckle and this offense able to find something over the bye week? All that and more on this edition of the Practice Report.

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It's the most magical week of the year in college football; the Red River Rivalry is upon us. The Sooners have failed to score a touchdown in 3 of the last 4 meetings with the Longhorns; can this be the year they put it together despite the early offensive struggles? The offensive line has their hands full with one of the best defensive line groups in the country. John Mateer is looking to redeem his poor performance from last year. Can a win boost his confidence? Finally, the defense has plenty of reason to be confident, but can they make up for any mistakes the offense might make? All that and more on this edition of the Practice Report.

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With John Mateer's turnover struggles, the pressure to perform is greater than ever for the Sooner quarterback. We caught up with a few players on Wednesday night who had plenty to say about Mateer and how they support their teammate during a time of criticism. Mateer's turnovers aren't the only issue plaguing the Oklahoma offense. Rocky Beers gave his insight into the shortcomings and is more than confident that the offense can still find its stride. Plus, Brent Venables discusses how the current state of college football changes teams year by year, and how important the turnover battle will be in the coming weeks. All that and more on this edition of the Practice Report.

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We've had an interesting few days around the Scoop offices. The OU football survey put numbers to job security for some. And Wednesday evening when Brent Venables met with the media, he wasn't talking about surveys, but he was talking about his starting quarterback, his offensive line and the weight on the shoulders of John Mateer. Is John Mateer still OU's starting quarterback? What are the Sooners getting out of this bye week as Texas looms? And what did he learn from a similar situation with quarterbacks and coaching changes in 2024 that he applies to today? In-depth with Brent Venables Wednesday night.

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While it's obvious the fanbase isn't too happy with the Sooners' performance through the first three weeks, plus the recent injury news of David Stone and the absence of Michael Fasusi, the outlook for the players is much more positive than you may think. The offense may be struggling, yet Ben Arbuckle and co. still see the light at the end of the tunnel for this team. The defense is looking to continue its dominance against Georgia, but is the pressure of needing to make big plays too much to handle? All that and more on this edition of the Practice Report.

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After bad news struck Norman on Monday night with David Stone suffering a lower body injury, Brent Venables gave a positive update on the defensive lineman. While it's unknown how much time Stone will miss; if any, who are the guys next in line that can contribute for this defense? On the offensive side of the ball, what needs to happen for Oklahoma to have a chance against an elite Georgia defense? Is it the run game? Is it the offensive line? Finally, is the offense just the Ben Arbuckle show? Or does Brent Venables get involved with the gameplan? All that and more on this edition of the Practice Report.

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We finally have answers...kinda. Brent Venables and Ben Arbuckle spoke with the media Tuesday morning previewing the Sooners matchup, but the real topic of the day was still the Michigan game, shocking right? We start this one with an update on the status of Trell Harris before jumping in to the questions regarding the offense's struggles. Is this the right scheme for the Sooners? is John Mateer not seeing the field well enough? Also, what happened to the run game that was supposedly a major emphasis all offseason? Will this offensive line find their stride before SEC play? Speaking of, we wrap this one up with a look ahead at the gauntlet of a schedule that faces Oklahoma. All that and more on this edition of the Practice Report.

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OU football players met with the media Monday evening and the obvious talk was the performance of John Mateer against Michigan. What is the mindset of the team? How are they approaching John Mateer as the noise surrounding his performance only gets louder? We also spoke with ESPN College Football Analyst Aaron Murray who broke down some of the issues with Mateer's game against Michigan. What does he see going wrong with John Mateer in the passing game? *We are excited to have Homefield as our official, exclusive apparel sponsor all season long. Take 20% off YOUR first purchase with code SOONERSCOOP at checkout. That’s SOONERSCOOP, no spaces, at checkout at https://www.homefieldapparel.com, or on the Homefield App!

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The college football world is talking non-stop about the Michigan Wolverines...and not for a particularly good reason. Oklahoma just happens to be the next team up on their schedule, and while the outside noise may be hard to ignore, we spoke with Head football Coach Brent Venables on Tuesday about preparing his team to play against an opponent that did not impress. Venables touched on the physicality of the Wolverines and the challenge playing at the Big House may bring. Is Bryce Underwood a real challenge for this Sooner defense? Plus, where do these late transfer portal additions fit in on this team? All that and more on this edition of the Practice Report.

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After hearing from Brent Venables on Monday, we now look at what a few Sooners had to say as the season opener approaches quickly. With high expectations on all sides of the ball, is this team prepared to answer the noise? A lot of pressure lies on John Mateer, so where is the signal caller's headspace going into game one? Hayden Hansen is looking to lead the tight end room to big heights under new coach Jason Witten and he details the progress he and the rest of the room have made. Trell Harris is ready to hit the field, could this be the explosive piece to the puzzle? Finally, David Stone and Bishop Thomas weigh in on the defensive line and where the unit is compared to a season ago. All that and more on this edition of the Practice Report.

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Brent Venables addresses the media as the countdown to kickoff begins for OU football. Starting with a preview on UTEP, Venables highlights everything he has seen so far from the Sooners' week one opponent. We then shift focus to the offensive line where we get Venables' thoughts on Ryan Fodje and his progression as he looks to start at center for the Sooners come Friday. With the return of some key players and the addition of experience through the portal, we also hear everything the head ball coach had to say about the offense's progression going into the season, including the importance of key receivers such as Trell Harris and Elijah Thomas. Finally, we cap off this one on the defensive side of the ball, where recruiting and development is the secret to an elite squad. All that and more on this edition of the Practice Report.

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Eddie and George hit the studio after speaking with players on Tuesday night. We finally get to hear from Elijah Thomas, who has supposedly had an "explosive"...you will get that about 20 seconds into the video...fall camp. We also got to hear from Taylor Wein, who is more than ready to hit the field with a defensive group that is trying to build on its success from last season. Eli Bowen is heading into the season at full health, an accomplishment he is more than grateful for as he looks to lock down the secondary with his brother Peyton. Finally, we end this Practice Report with a word from Tate Sandell...and remember...if things go south, blame Carey and George. All that and more in this edition of the Practice Report.

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