Brent Venables' defense is primed to improve again in 2024, but major questions still linger about the Sooners' pass rush.
Venables’ group made modest improvements during his first year in charge before rounding into a top 25 unit in both total and scoring defense in his second season.His 2014 unit finished first in total defense, third in scoring defense, second in passing defense and fifth in rushing defense.Now Venables admitted last year at Big 12 Media Days that the defense he took over in Norman was behind in the talent department, so the realistic expectations aren’t to be the nation’s best unit.
But OU may lack a bonafide star rushing the passer off the edge, which could prevent the Sooners from truly becoming a lights out unit.As Clemson made its first improvements from 2012 to 2013, Beasley increased his output from eight quarterback sacks to 13 sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss.No other Tiger defender had more than 3.5 sacks in 2014, but they didn’t need to with Beasley making a living in the backfield.
The Sooners have yet to generate a consistent pass rush under Venables in conference play, and really haven’t lived in the backfield sincewho the Sooners will face this year — Venables unit has to find a way to create negative plays in the passing game.Defensive end R Mason Thomas struggled with a pair of ankle injuries that hampered his production in 2023.
Last year, Thomas put on weight and was primed to win a starting job out of camp before an ankle sprain set him back.Thomas is listed unofficially at 240 pounds on Oklahoma’s online roster page, and he looked much more mature physically throughout limited viewings at fall camp.
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