Oklahoma is heading into Saturday’s matchup with No. 2 Georgia with a fresh injury concern and a clear sense that the Sooners need cleaner football on both sides of the ball.
At his weekly press conference Tuesday, Brent Venables said defensive lineman David Stone got banged up in practice and that the initial X-ray results were encouraging. He also made it sound like Stone’s status could remain uncertain for a while.
“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.”
Venables added that Stone’s pain level was low and that the Sooners will get their first SEC Availability Report of the season Wednesday night.
“He said his pain was about a two out of 10 right now, so we'll kind of go from there,” Venables said.
When asked about a possible timetable, Venables said “if at all” in reference to how much time Stone might miss.
The injury discussion was only part of a press conference that also centered on Oklahoma’s depth up front, especially on the interior defensive line. Venables said the Sooners entered the season with two strong starters in Stone and Jayden Jackson, but with real questions behind them - one reason Oklahoma added Danny Saili and Braxton Fely late.
“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.”
Beyond Saili and Fely, Venables pointed to Trent Wilson, Bishop Thomas and Nigel Smith II as options. He also praised Jackson.
“I know Jayden has been playing really good as well,” Venables said. “I feel good about that group of guys.”
Venables’ tone Tuesday was noticeably more energetic and forceful than it had been after Oklahoma’s 17-10 loss to Michigan last week. That urgency showed up again when he turned to the offense, which has struggled over the last two games, including a 14-6 win over New Mexico.
He said the biggest problems have been simple to identify, even if they haven’t been easy to clean up.
“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 said the play before the turnover was the bigger issue. On second-and-nine, Mateer was held to a 1-yard gain on a quarterback run that Venables felt should have produced a first down.
“We got a well-designed quarterback run on play two,” Venables said.
The Sooners were left in third-and-long after that, and Mateer later put the ball in a bad spot and turned it over.
“We can't have those kind of busts and not get into any kind of a rhythm,” Venables said of the second-down play.
Venables also singled out Georgia running back Frazier, making it clear the Sooners will have their hands full on Saturday.
“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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