Venables feels ‘better’ about LB depth after first few days of fall camp

NORMAN — Brent Venables has liked the growth across both sides of the ball through the first few practices of fall camp. But there’s one spot where that growth has been the most encouraging — linebacker. The linebacker spot has always been a particular focus for Venables, who spent the first several years of his […]

NORMAN — Brent Venables has liked the growth across both sides of the ball through the first few practices of fall camp.

But there’s one spot where that growth has been the most encouraging — linebacker.

The linebacker spot has always been a particular focus for Venables, who spent the first several years of his career coaching that position. But with the departure of three-year starter Danny Stutsman — along with other key departures like Dasan McCullough and Lewis Carter, and Jaren Kanak moving to tight end — linebacker depth had been one of the few question marks for the Sooners’ defense heading into fall camp.

So far, the improvement has been there.

“I feel better about that (spot),” Venables said on Wednesday. “That position was a little bit of a concern. There’s a lot still to be figured out, developed. Consistency, the things from the spring, just to get a feel for that. (It) didn’t feel great (in the spring), only because I didn’t have enough time to feel great in the spring and through summer and through the first part of camp. And the coaches have done a wonderful job.

“Players have done a great job attacking the areas that we needed to attack. We’re starting to figure out, You know what three guys can do together, strengths and weaknesses, areas that we’ve still get to work on, things like that. I feel a lot better, feel really good about group actually now.”

Things certainly aren’t settled at the linebacker spots — which is probably a good thing for the Sooners — but the picture has gotten clearer.

The competition has been fierce, particularly at the MIKE linebacker and cheetah spots. Kip Lewis is the favorite to reclaim his starting spot at WILL linebacker, but Kobie McKinzie and Sammy Omosigho are fighting for the starting spot at MIKE linebacker. McKinzie, heading into his senior year, played 337 snaps last season and has the most experience.

But Omosigho has impressed since transitioning from the cheetah position in the spring.

“Sammy can make a ginormous leap,” McKinzie said. “He really, really can. He’s really athletic, smart. And the most important thing for Sammy is going and taking it. I told Sammy — I believe it was two weeks ago — ‘If you want my job, go and take it.’ I truly believe that because either way, it will make both of us better and the best man will win or however you see that.”

Kendal Daniels has asserted himself at the cheetah position and has seen the majority of the first-team reps. But even with Kendel Dolby moving primarily to cornerback, several Sooners have emerged as real options at the cheetah spot, including Reggie Powers, Michael Boganowski and Jeremiah Newcombe.

“You’ve got to be able to play more than one position on the field,” Daniels said. “That’s going to be like that for the rest of our lives, just to be able to bring value to the team. Coach (Venables) always talks about bringing value, even on special teams. You got to be able to know everything. Just being able to move around, mess with the quarterback’s eyes and be in different positions.

“I think everybody in the back end can play. Right corner can play cheetah, the cheetah can play corner or vice versa with the safeties. I feel like everybody can switch around, even the linebacker group.”

Versatility has been the key focus for the Sooners’ defense this fall, particularly at linebacker.

“The other guys have all gotten better,” Venables said. “That’s the best part of all of it is you know, Kip Lewis, Kobie McKinzie, Sammy (Omosigho), Taylor (Heim), James Nesta. Owen Heinecke, he’s played really, really well. He’s had as good a camp as anybody through six days. You see a lot of hard work in the summer.”

With three weeks until the season opener, the Sooners still need to figure out the depth chart at linebacker. But Venables has liked the depth and the competition that has emerged over the last few days.

Regardless, McKinzie knows the expectations are high.

“Every day, just trying to get better,” McKinzie said. “Uphold the standard of Oklahoma linebackers. No matter who’s in the room, who came, who left — the standard is the standard. And to be a great here, you have to live by that standard. Danny carried that and it’s up to the rest of us to carry it.”

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Category: General Sports