- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,192,314
- Reaction score
- 59
When Brent Venables came to Oklahoma, there was an expectation that the defense would improve.
Venables runs a complex defensive scheme designed to stress opposing offenses and force quarterbacks into difficult pre-snap and post-snap reads. He uses disguised coverages and aggressive pressure packages to create confusion and disrupt timing. That approach helped him win three national championships as a defensive coordinator.
He was taking over an Oklahoma program that hadn't played good defense in over a decade. In just four seasons, he got the defense into the top 10 in the sport.
One of the key contributors in that system over the last three seasons has been linebacker Kip Lewis. He's totaled 207 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, five sacks and two interceptions during that time frame. He described what makes Venables' defense so challenging to learn.
"It was pretty hard, not gonna lie," Lewis said on the 'Sooner Smiths Live' podcast. "Like you, you get here, and he's like, he's saying all this stuff, and I'm like, what are you saying? Like this sounds like a foreign language, right?"
The learning curve underscores the complexity of Venables' system, even for players inside the program.
Venables' defense also changes significantly from week to week. Looks that appear similar on film can result in completely different coverage rotations or pressure packages depending on the opponent. That variability forces offenses to play more cautiously and often react rather than dictate.
The combination of disguise, pressure and weekly variation is a major reason Venables' defenses have consistently been among the most difficult to prepare for in college football.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X (formerly known as Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on X @Jaron Spor.
This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Brent Venables defense requires a big learning curve
Continue reading...
Venables runs a complex defensive scheme designed to stress opposing offenses and force quarterbacks into difficult pre-snap and post-snap reads. He uses disguised coverages and aggressive pressure packages to create confusion and disrupt timing. That approach helped him win three national championships as a defensive coordinator.
He was taking over an Oklahoma program that hadn't played good defense in over a decade. In just four seasons, he got the defense into the top 10 in the sport.
One of the key contributors in that system over the last three seasons has been linebacker Kip Lewis. He's totaled 207 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, five sacks and two interceptions during that time frame. He described what makes Venables' defense so challenging to learn.
"It was pretty hard, not gonna lie," Lewis said on the 'Sooner Smiths Live' podcast. "Like you, you get here, and he's like, he's saying all this stuff, and I'm like, what are you saying? Like this sounds like a foreign language, right?"
The learning curve underscores the complexity of Venables' system, even for players inside the program.
Venables' defense also changes significantly from week to week. Looks that appear similar on film can result in completely different coverage rotations or pressure packages depending on the opponent. That variability forces offenses to play more cautiously and often react rather than dictate.
The combination of disguise, pressure and weekly variation is a major reason Venables' defenses have consistently been among the most difficult to prepare for in college football.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X (formerly known as Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on X @Jaron Spor.
This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Brent Venables defense requires a big learning curve
Continue reading...
