The Oklahoma Sooners are 3-0 and undefeated in nonconference play for the second year in a row under [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag]. Last year the wheels fell off after the Sooners’ hot start; they lost seven of their next 10.
But this year feels different. You can tell there has been a noticeable improvement from the team. In particular on the defensive side of the ball.
They look much more confident in what they are doing and the reading they are supposed to make. The tackling is much better. You aren’t seeing as many busts as a year ago.
Things aren’t perfect. This is not an elite team, but Brent Venables told reporters after the game, he has noticed the improvement.
“I do think it is different,” Venables said. “You’re going to avoid the same result? I don’t know. That will be determined by how our guys stay determined and stay committed and stay focused and not get distracted and not get bored with doing the little things over and over and over.”
That is what will make or break this team going forward. If they do stay committed to the little things. In the second quarter, they didn’t look focused but were able to regroup nicely after halftime, allowing just three points.
For Venables, there are a few areas in which he has really seen improvement. “I do feel like we’ve got a better edge. I think we have more maturity. I think we have a better football IQ. I think we have, again, more competitive depth and again, hunger. A chip on our shoulder.”
But as Venables said, will that result in a better record? That is to be determined. The Sooners have to stay committed to the “little things.”
But for now, as [autotag]Bill Belichick[/autotag] once said, “We’re on to Cincinnati.”
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