Oklahoma’s week took another turn Tuesday as Brent Venables opened his press conference with the status of defensive lineman David Stone, then shifted into the bigger-picture issues facing the Sooners before Saturday’s visit from No. 2 Georgia.
Stone was hurt in practice Monday night, and Venables said the initial X-rays looked encouraging. He also noted that Stone’s pain was at a “two out of 10” and said the staff would see how things progress from there. When asked about a possible return timeline, Venables said Stone could miss time “if at all.”
“I know it was reported that he was hurt last night at practice,” Venables said. “He wasn't on offense.
I guess that was out there that he was on offense, but he wasn't on offense. He got banged up.
He ran his knee into a scout-team player in a jog-through, and it kind of popped out. We'll see where he's at.”
That update matters because Oklahoma already came into the season with only two proven interior defensive linemen in Stone and Jayden Jackson, and the depth chart behind them had been a question from the start. That uncertainty is part of why the Sooners added Danny Saili and Braxton Fely late when the chance came.
Venables said he feels better about that room now than he did when camp ended.
“I feel better three weeks in going on Game Four than I did coming out of camp,” Venables said. “You just got to go do it.
There's some signs that guys are getting better, and so we've got out depth OK there. Great opportunity.
If David is unavailable this week, we're going to need some guys to step up and play big and play with heavy hands and great pad level and striking people.”
If Stone can’t go, Oklahoma would be looking harder at Trent Wilson, Bishop Thomas and Nigel Smith II as part of the answer, with Venables also making clear he likes what he has seen from Jackson.
“I know Jayden has been playing really good as well,” Venables said. “I feel good about that group of guys.”
The offensive side of the ball gave Venables plenty to chew on too after another uneven showing in the Sooners’ 14-6 win over New Mexico. He said the biggest problems have been the inconsistency up front and the giveaways.
“Probably just the inconsistency on offensive line and not being able to take care of the ball.” Venables said.
He pointed to John Mateer’s first-drive interception against New Mexico, but the issue started before the turnover. Oklahoma had a well-designed quarterback run on the second play, Venables said, but on second-and-nine Mateer was held to a 1-yard gain when the play should at least have produced a first down. That set up a third-and-long, and the Sooners soon gave the ball away.
“We have a 6-7 tight end on a spin-down safety and we don't block him,” Venables said. “That's a problem. That shouldn't happen.
“We can't have those kind of busts and not get into any kind of a rhythm.”
Venables’ tone Tuesday was sharper and more energetic than it was a week ago, when Oklahoma was coming off a 17-10 loss to Michigan. He also spent time on Georgia coach Kirby Smart, tracing their relationship back to Smart’s days as LSU’s defensive backs coach in 2004 under Nick Saban, his first full-time FBS job.
Their connection deepened in 2008, when Smart was on Saban’s Alabama staff and Oklahoma was preparing for Florida in the BCS National Championship Game after the Gators beat the Crimson Tide in the SEC Championship Game.
“Coach Saban was on a tirade about these three-back offenses and all the option with his defensive acument and he was just pissed off at the world because of the option,” Venables said. “It was hard to defense with what Urban Meyer was doing.”
The two coaches have stayed in contact since then, and Venables said Smart has earned his place near the top of the sport.
“The way youo become a great coach is that you learn from other people,” Venables said. “There's some shared philosophis and values, probably the biggest similarity is that we want to play the gae a certain way.
How you do what you do as much as anything. He's bee at the top of the food chain for a long time.”
Venables also had high praise for Georgia running back Frazier.
“Man he’s a dude. Great player.
Our guys are going to have to bring it. He runs through people through their soul over and over and over,” Venables said.
Frazier has 202 yards and five touchdowns through three games, averaging 8.4 yards per carry.
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