Brent Venables notebook: Dillon Gabriel, Jalil Farooq ‘progressing’
Short week for OU, taking away one day where perhaps some guys could rest up and be ready to play. All eyes, obviously, go toward quarterback Dillon Gabriel but also wide receiver Jalil Farooq.
Gabriel left the BYU game at halftime with an apparent concussion. Farooq took a nasty shot on the game-clinching third down conversion. He was celebrating after the game, but it looks like this week will determine more.
OU hosts TCU 11 a.m. Friday on FOX, its first Friday game since 1994.
“I’ll just give you a quick update – Dillon and Jalil, I feel like both of those guys, if they continue to progress throughout the week, they’ll be available this weekend,” head coach Brent Venables said.
True freshman Jackson Arnold entered the game in the second half, officially losing his redshirt by playing in his fifth game.
He did what was asked of him, completing some throws and showing his ability as a runner.
“I would say that the number one thing that stands out for me as I watch him and his growth is just his consistency,” Venables said. “He’s never too high, never too low. He’s just always the same guy every day. Likes to compete, makes the most of his opportunity, values his opportunity, respects the game and what it takes to develop.”
Gabriel’s questionable status means it will be imperative for OU to get Arnold ready as much as possible in the upcoming days.
Venables stressed that offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby does a nice job of distributing the practice reps. But it is just a bit different going from No. 2 to the No. 1 guy.
“The things that we’re asking him to do, he’s good at,” Venables said. “We don’t have to — ‘OK, now Jackson’s in, let’s do this.’ There’s some things that maybe he might be good at, but the game plan is going to be the game plan based on things you’re going to see from the opponent.
“And then the things that we do every single week. It’s important that he has those things down, so that we can go execute the offense. And so we take advantage of his best skillsets.”
Sexton earning the time
Sophomore Jacob Sexton was the starting right tackle for the second consecutive game last weekend. Venables made it sound like it wasn’t because of injury.
Tyler Guyton missed the West Virginia game because of a concussion, but Guyton was suited out and available to play in Provo.
He just didn’t. It was Sexton.
Tyler Guyton missed the West Virginia game because of a concussion, but Guyton was suited out and available to play in Provo.
Sexton was also one of the team captains last week.
Kicking has to get better
It was another rough game for kicker Zach Schmit. Another timely miss that OU is very fortunate didn’t come back to haunt it later in the game.
Venables did explain that Gavin Marshall has been unavailable for most of the season because of injury. It’s still Schmit’s job, but OU needs the confidence and the results to come back.
“We got to get a little better with our confidence and our fundamentals at kicking,” Venables said. “We’ve been too inconsistent there, and you know, right now—again, we kick multiple guys in practice, and Zach’s been our most consistent. We just got to be better.”
Schmit missed a 28-yard field goal with the score 24-24 in the fourth quarter.
Williams working toward return
It’s not fair to say the cornerback room has been a disaster for OU. But it’s fair to say the room has nearly never been healthy all season.
Woodi Washington has been a rock all year. But injuries have plagued the rest of the guys. Venables did have some encouraging news regarding Gentry Williams, though.
“Gentry’s back, he practiced yesterday, so,” Venables said. “You know, that hasn’t been ideal. You know, again, going into the year I talked about that position group not having much experience and then, you know, we’ve been snakebit there.
“Woodi’s been fantastic. Man, he’s been great in every way you would want an older guy to be. But the rest of the group is, you know, when they’ve been available, pretty good. But continuity and getting the chemistry and getting into a good rhythm and then getting better because you’re available. And so you’re practicing all those things and the things that it takes to get better, has been obviously lacking top to bottom.”
Scouting the Frogs
TCU has looked like a different team with Josh Hoover at quarterback. He has thrown for more than 300 yards in each of the last three games with five touchdowns.
“They’re going to test us in every way. Just been fantastic. Averaging 350-yards-plus per game. He’s been fantastic. So they’ve done a great job. Receivers, they’ve got really good receivers. Their running game’s been good, which gives them opportunity. Tight end’s 6-foot-7. Got a big 6’5 receiver as well. They’re blocking up front good. And protecting the quarterback well.”
TCU lost by one score against Texas Tech and Texas before blowing out Baylor. The Frogs will be bowl eligible with a victory.
Incremental improvement showing
It’s not just with the defense. But OU is now 3-2 this season in one-score games compared to the ultra-rough 0-5 mark last season.
For Venables, though, it’s not just about luck.
“You gotta be good at what you’re doing. I don’t think it’s just luck,” Venables said. “I really believe that. I think it’s confidence in those stressful moments. Coaches have responsibilities, tremendous responsibilities. This is the player’s game. It’s still, are we putting them in position to be successful? You gotta make plays.
“Everything matters. Coaching matters. Having good players matters. Being physical matters. Being sure of yourself matters. The fundamentals, the details, the precision, the anticipation, everything matters. So we’re a little better than what we were. We were terrible a year ago. I was terrible. It’s all terrible, it’s all bad. But there’s a big difference between losing and winning, and I know what losing feels like and I know what winning feels like. And they don’t feel anything remotely the same.”
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