Oklahoma Defensive Coordinator Brent Venables Leaving For Clemson Creates Multiple Voids
by ccmachine on Jan 19, 2012 12:49 AM CST
in Oklahoma Sooners Football
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PrintWhat started with a whirlwind of rumors and speculation over the weekend became official late Wednesday night when Oklahoma defensive coordinator Brent Venables confirmed that he was in fact taking the defensive coordinator job at Clemson. Now what was supposed to be a reunion with Mike Stoops has become a bit of a fiasco of speculation as to why Venables would leave the place he's called home since 1999 for a new gig in a new conference.
While we may never know the true answer to that question the thing that we do know is that Brent Venables' departure from the Oklahoma coaching staff will have a significant impact.
Brent Venables was a good defensive coordinator. Was he perfect? No. Did he have tendencies that seemed to get a bit old and a bit predictable? Yep. However, there were a lot more good defenses under Venables then there were bad ones. He may be remembered for the 2011 defense because it was the last one he coached at Oklahoma but his legacy is much stronger than this last season. He had a great defense in 2008 and in 2009 along with some other defenses and defensive performances that were pretty salty.
Venables was a great linebackers coach! Since coming to Oklahoma in 1999 he has coached Rocky Calmus, Teddy Lehman, Rufus Alexander and Curtis Loftin to be All Americans. Both Calmus and Lehman were two time All Americans. In addition, he's had 11 linebackers named as First Team All Conference selections during that same time span.
Venables was a fantastic recruiter! In Oklahoma's 2012 Venables was the lead recruiter on four star commitment Eric Striker and three star commitment Daniel Brooks. He was also the lead recruiter on five other four star recruits including defensive back Brandon Beaver who is scheduled to make an official visit to OU this weekend.
Most people (I'm one of them) have confidence in Mike Stoops to come up with a solid defensive game plan week in and week out. He has a proven track record and while all of his earlier success at Oklahoma was tied to Venables as the co-coordinator he still has a solid enough reputation as one of the top defensive coaches in the nation.
What we don't know is who will fill the void as the linebacker's coach and top recruiter. I honestly don't see anyone currently on the staff who is capable of standing in the gap. Don't get me wrong. There are some great recruiters on this staff and some outstanding position coaches as well. I just don't see the being a guy who could step in and immediately be who Venables was to Oklahoma.
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I have been as critical as anyone about Venables…but now that he is all but gone, yikes. Maybe that grass isn’t really greener.
I have this bad feeling…and I have had it for some time…that there is a big hot mess brewing somewhere in this program. I don’t know what, but something just seems wrong. So the recruit defections and player defections and coaches leaving, could either be 1) Stoops quietly cleaning house and allowing everyone to save face or 2) people getting out while the getting is good. I hope I am wrong on the hot mess, and if I am not I hope I am wrong on #2.
"Nonsense. By all means, move." Doc Holliday, the movie Tombstone.
I echo those sentiments
I was a big critic of BV too and it’s tough to see him go. I liken this to a break-up; even if it is good for you, it is still weird and kind of scary with all the newness. That being said, I think this move works out okay.
What does concern me is the notion of the giant crapstorm brewing somewhere, very near (or so it feels to me as well). When this suckbomb hits, who knows what’s going to happen. I agree, though, that if feels as though there is “a big hot mess brewing”. I sure hope I am also wrong.
I am afraid....
we are on the verge of an Austin style monumental collapse.
I'm a Sooner Born and a Sooner Bred, and when I die I'll be a Sooner Dead!!!
Again I'll say ...
Brent had no choice. You can’t stay somewhere when you lose the ability to effluence things as you did before. Again, goodbye Brent.
Wish him well for his loyalty & the job he has done.
Really though, people do indeed move on. Just as we all sometimes need new ideas & new insights into our own jobs, BV may need this. Hopefully, new influences, players & personnel will help him achieve his long term goals.
by OU JJ on Jan 19, 2012 6:54 AM CST via mobile reply actions
Agreed
Tenure can be a blessing and a curse. That being said, absolutely nothing against Brent. If he were uncomfortable, can get P A I D, and deal with Clemson, then go get it, and good luck.
As for OU, I am all in with Mike. He can recruit just fine, and I believe he can scheme better than Brent. I have no issue with his tenure at Arizona, as I think his type of defense needs the kind of athlete OU can attract. Lastly, I think he is here for a long while, and he’s not going to make the mistake of taking a HC job at a school with a recruiting flaw again (which I believe is the #1 reason Brent left).
Oh, and when Mikey was here, there was only one (1) lopsided loss… Since that time there have been six (6). And then there is the whole TTU “issue”.
I am ready to put OnlyOneOU’s “Triangle D” to bed, so let’s put our hybrid LB back at the Roy spot, and get the LB’s to attack downhill.
seriously…..when was the last time you went to Ames? ever?
by PA Sooner 95 on Jan 19, 2012 7:21 AM CST up reply actions
The last two points are a rant
Tried marking it that way, but failed.
seriously…..when was the last time you went to Ames? ever?
by PA Sooner 95 on Jan 19, 2012 7:56 AM CST up reply actions
gotta agree with you
I’m just kinda worried at how this yearsis gonna affect us for the next couple of years
"I feel sorry for peple who don't drink, when they wake up in the morning thats as good as they are gonna feel all day long." Frank Sinatra
If you can believe it
Apparently, BV spoke with Eric Striker on Monday and told him he was coming back. Now this. I’d be stunned if Bob and/or Mike didn’t have some serious damage control to do w/ this kid for (at least as it appears based on his own quote) being lied to.
It makes one wonder...
If the discussions of job definition happened since Monday and when he realized he really was being demoted and losing effluence that the job at Clemson really was a better move for him. There is something really wrong here. Going to take a while and a few recruiting classes to figure this one out. Is mediocrity on the horizon for us? I hope not.
by CrimsonReign on Jan 19, 2012 7:05 AM CST up reply actions
Okay now, come on. OU is bigger than 1 coach.
Or 2 if you include Willie. If a recruit is coming because of 1 coach they are not coming for the right reasons. I pretty much stayed out of the mess with D Harris. But really, a kids decision is based on playing time, scheme, options for “pro” career, history of that position at OU etc. sure they may love that 1 guy, but that’s the icing on the cake. Look at the de from Arizona, staying despite it all.
by OU JJ on Jan 19, 2012 7:31 AM CST via mobile reply actions
Clemson fan here.
First of all, this is the first time I have been to your site so I just want to say good luck for 2012….would love to play yall in a big BCS bowl game.
Second, what are yall’s thoughts on BV? What can you tell me about his defenses? Does he like man coverage or zone, does he blitz a lot or play it safe, how does he do against the spread teams, ect? We basically replaced our guy because his scheme was too complicated and our stud recruits could not get on the field early because they did not know what to do. Also, our old DC never found an answer for spread offenses with running QB’s, and we made a lot of average QB’s look like All-Americans.
Thank you in advance for your thoughts, and again, good luck next season.
"Clemson is coming!" - Stephone Anthony
Excellent recruiter, schemes well enough, lays the odd clunker just when you least expect it almost annually, and blitzed less as the years went on.
His schemes are complicated, like Steele’s, but he has been facing spread O’s for a decade, on game day, and every day practice. Just beware the 3 man line (Triangle D), and never expect adjustments before halftime if things are not working.
seriously…..when was the last time you went to Ames? ever?
by PA Sooner 95 on Jan 19, 2012 8:06 AM CST up reply actions
Is he good at halftime adjustments?
"Clemson is coming!" - Stephone Anthony
by Tigerplowboy on Jan 19, 2012 8:24 AM CST up reply actions
IMO, no
From what I’ve seen, they develop a gameplan throughout the week and that’s what they stick with on Saturdays. He’s made more than his fair share of OU fans bash their head against a wall for repeatedly trying to fit a square peg through a round hole year after year after year.
i disagree,
there we’re more than a few times this year where we absolutely destroyed teams in the 3rd qtr
"I feel sorry for peple who don't drink, when they wake up in the morning thats as good as they are gonna feel all day long." Frank Sinatra
Only to quit/do nothing in the 4th
but I digress, I think there was an improvement (overall) in the halftime adjustments. It didn’t always stick with the guys for the whole 2nd half, but I’d say the majority of OU’s 2nd halves were improvements over the 1st.
Maybe the stats will prove me daft, raving, fool, but that’s how I see things in hindsight. However, a daft, raving, fool is just about par for the course, I guess. LOL
haha, thats why i said 3rd qtr and not 2nd half
fourth quarter was a completly different story most of the year
"I feel sorry for peple who don't drink, when they wake up in the morning thats as good as they are gonna feel all day long." Frank Sinatra
If you want a simple scheme
I’m not sure BV is the greatest fit for the fan. Unless he has his own ideas that Bob wouldn’t let him try, I’d brace myself for more complex, athletic ability-minimizing schemes.
I'd recommend cutting your hair very, very short
Because his defense and it’s tendency to get beat constantly with short crossing routes over the middle will want to make you pull your hair out.
by Jordan Esco on Jan 19, 2012 10:10 AM CST up reply actions
My opinion
is he will do well if he has a good secondary coach to handle the passing D. As for half-time adjustments, I think he has probably learned a lot lately.
He is used to dealing with the most prolific spread offenses in the entire country, and he does a great job with LB’s and scheming to stop the run (usually). I like him a lot better than some folks around here. I my humble opinion I think you’re getting a very good DC.
"Gentlemen we must all hang together, or assuredly we will all hang separately."
Benjamin Franklin
by leatherneck1061 on Jan 19, 2012 2:03 PM CST up reply actions
Adios BV, best wishes, make all the 'jack' you can and don't put it in Wall Street!
I thought BV did a good job at OU but there were 2 things that I thought were major blunders, the 3 man front line and the ‘complicated’ defensive scheme. I really got tired of hearing ‘they player doesn’t understand’ the scheme. Cry me a friggen river! Tell the kid to follow the ball and drill the unlucky guy that has it!
The one thing being a lot older has going for it, most of us older have seen more CFB than most younger people have seen web pages.
Let the Speculation Begin
So who is the new LB coach going to be?
Leavitt is the name of a guy like that everyone keeps mentioning
And I just don’t see that happening. I know Stoops and he have the KSU connection, but if he comes back to college I think it’s for a head coaching job.
by Jordan Esco on Jan 19, 2012 10:11 AM CST up reply actions
and according to dan cody
those buttercups at OU right now CAN’T HANDLE mike stoops, let alone jim leavitt and the intensity/expectations they will bring
Team FIRST, Effort SECOND, Talent THIRD, Selfish NEVER
we’ll know the defense is back when a player faints on the sideline due to intensity!
by CharlotteChop18 on Jan 19, 2012 11:10 AM CST up reply actions
Classic.
seriously…..when was the last time you went to Ames? ever?
by PA Sooner 95 on Jan 19, 2012 11:14 AM CST up reply actions
Venables,,, so nice to see you go!!!!!!!!
He has some great qualities, recruiting, coaching defensive linebackers etc, but the predictable nature of his defense is WAY over the top. As mentioned above, he will completely fail to have his defense ready for at least one game every season… usually to a team that is at least a 10 point underdog, the opposing teams can expect to have record breaking performances against his defense if their qb has legs and can move, and if you face a passing team, well, let’s just say that the long ball over the middle is going to be a touchdown most of the time… other than that, he’s great.
good luck Clemson, you’re really gonna need it.
Buh-bye BV!
I’m mostly happy to see him go, for the reasons Alan just pointed out above. The only downside is the Team of Mikey & Brent was an awesome team, but even they had a bad day once (or more) at OSU when Jason was our QB …. neither of them could stop the long ball that day either. Alan: Thank you for your post!! I’m in a haze here at work today (too much Guinness last night), and your statements above brought back the ire I’ve had for BV for years. I cannot remember the last time I’ve felt comfortable against underdogs and comfortable when we’ve had a 3 TD lead IN ANY GAME. He’ll be good at Clemson though. The ACC doesn’t have the complicated offenses to prep for and if he gets in some good recruits (as expected) he’ll do well.
Last few sentences is why I think it's good.
Jump out of the stoops shadow, re energize, bring some credibility & he stands a better shot of a hc position.
by OU JJ on Jan 19, 2012 9:57 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
Can't blame him that he's leaving
I mean lets call it what it is he got demoted he wasn’t about to be co-anything he would have been a linebacker coach and that’s it. I will miss him only because he was a really good recruiter and he could get quality talent but as a defensive coordinator he didnt know what to do with the talent he had recruited. BV could very well be one of those people who are made to be assistants like some coaches are made to just be coordinators like Weis from Notre Dame. Wish him well and hope he can turn clemson’s defense around for the better.
I'm going old man on you all.....but this was a good one I learned 30 years ago from the King
In the early 80’s Barry Switzer had some off years for him and Oklahoma standards. Some said he should be running the Option-I which was the rage, and Nebraska was using. Some said maybe the game had passed Switzer by.
In response, here is what he King said. It was true in 1982, and it’s true in 2012:
“It’s not the alignment that’s the problem, It’s not the Align-ers that’s the Problem…..it’s the Align-ees. We need to recruit better players.”
He did, and one another NC, and came close a couple more years.
It's not always Xs and Os
It’s quite often Jimmies and Joes.
I do think we need tougher Jimmies and Joes…that falls to the coaches.
Wow. I go one day without checking into CCM and all hell breaks loose.
I’m sure the BV-haters will all be wildly dancing with joy under the erroneous impression that BV leaving for Clemson is the same as them having his scalp on their wall. I like Mike Stoops as DC….a lot. I’m glad he’s back, and I hope very much he will breathe new life into this defense. But as for Venables, I simply can’t join in the celebration with those who clearly don’t realize we just lost a very good coach.
"Gentlemen we must all hang together, or assuredly we will all hang separately."
Benjamin Franklin
by leatherneck1061 on Jan 19, 2012 2:09 PM CST reply actions
Believe me, I feel humbled and chastened at my unbelievable dereliction of duty.
Should have known such neglect would lead to this kind of domino effect.
Now my only question is who are they gonna bring in to fill the void? It’s not like we’re likely to get Kirby Smart to pull up stakes and head to Norman to be Co-DC.
"Gentlemen we must all hang together, or assuredly we will all hang separately."
Benjamin Franklin
by leatherneck1061 on Jan 19, 2012 3:23 PM CST up reply actions
Good question
I think Randy Shannon would be a great place to start. Who knows, maybe Gary Gibbs makes his triumphant return to Norman (he’s doing quite well in KC…may even get the DC nod there).
I’d like to see Shannon and then an NFL guy. If those don’t happen…there have to be others out there.
I liked Gary
Spoke to him several times when I was a young pup. Guy proved himself a great D-coach in college, and the NFL. Remembering him get fired for a 44-23-2 record, and replaced by the Schnellenhamburgular always reminds me not to be too too critical of Bob.
Watching Solich at Nebraska get “Gibbed” for the same thing (unsuccessfully following a legend) 9 years later just reinforces it.
seriously…..when was the last time you went to Ames? ever?
by PA Sooner 95 on Jan 20, 2012 7:49 AM CST up reply actions
scarab made a good point on another thread
He said it never works out to “come home”. I think it is a valid point. I just think he’s exactly the kind of coach OU needs from the NFL; good LB coach who has the potential to be, or currently IS a DC. Money is usually better in college, so that could prove enticing to guys in the NFL. Plus an NFL guy is going to bring some extra allure to to any program.
Meh
The list of NFL guys who have come to college and failed is a lot longer than those who have succeeded. Gary Gibbs is obviously a little different, because he’s had success in college, too, but there’s no indication that he wants to come back and be a position coach at a school that booted him two decades ago.
by ClarkusKentus on Jan 20, 2012 11:03 AM CST up reply actions
just saying I liked the guy. He can coach.
seriously…..when was the last time you went to Ames? ever?
by PA Sooner 95 on Jan 20, 2012 11:17 AM CST up reply actions
Tim Kish was one name I heard
on a couple sites. Mike Stoops’ former defensive coordinator and the interim coach after he was fired. He’s supposedly a good recruiter. He coached the linebackers there and the best part is he also coached special teams. I’m in favor of any way that we can bring more consistency to our special teams.
by BoomerWolverine on Jan 19, 2012 2:10 PM CST reply actions
my problem with that is
his defenses at arizona we’re horrible! I know he was the hc and didn’t coach D but Kish was on his defensive staff, maybe he is an outstanding LB coach, it just makes me uncomfortable. but i do agree about the special teams
"I feel sorry for peple who don't drink, when they wake up in the morning thats as good as they are gonna feel all day long." Frank Sinatra
Yeah last year was bad for them
but that was kind of a unique situation and like you said, he couldn’t really just concentrate on the defense because of his new responsibilities. From what I understand though, before that Arizona’s defense was consistently rated in the top four in the Pac-10 with all of the offensive teams that they have. I wouldn’t want him running our defense, but if OU can’t find better he may do in a pinch. I’m with you though, I’d rather they found a up and comer who could possibly run the defense in case Mike Stoops moves on after a couple years or so.
by BoomerWolverine on Jan 19, 2012 7:54 PM CST up reply actions
Time for a change
Doesn’t anyone remember TT or Baylor not to mention OSU. I liked BV but it was time for a change. It seemed his defenses were to complicated, causing players to react to slowly instead of just reacting. Trust in Bob, he will bring us back to where we want to be.
I mentioned Sunady night we really dont know how the death of Box impacted him.
I had forgotten until now, reading a newspaper, that his brother died unexpectedly the very next day. You can really understand how he would be looking inside & asking “what to I really want” professionally et al.
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