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Baylor

Dave Aranda shares thoughts on Oklahoma offense under Jeff Lebby

Alex Weberby:Alex Weber•11/03/22
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(Photo by David K Purdy/Getty Images)

Baylor head coach Dave Aranda has already faced a Jeff Lebby offense once this calendar year. In last season’s Sugar Bowl (this past January), the Bears thwarted Lebby’s Ole Miss offense, which was a top unit in the country, holding them to just one score in an eventual 21-7 victory. They were pretty much the only team who found a way to stop the Rebel offense in 2021.

After that Sugar Bowl win, Lebby left Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss for a bigger job at Oklahoma, where he took over the offensive coordinator spot and play-calling duties directly under new head coach Brent Venables, who college fans knew well as Dabo Swinney’s longtime defensive guru and No. 2 in command at Clemson. So it was a marriage of smart minds — one on each side of the ball.

Obviously, though, the season hasn’t gone as planned with the defense struggling like usual while the offense has experienced extreme ups and downs. But the Sooners are back on the upswing, having scored 79 points in a pair of wins over their last couple games. Baylor head coach Dave Aranda is giving this unit some respect, even with the rocky start.

When asked about Lebby’s offensive unit at Oklahoma and whether it’s easier to stop since Baylor faced him at Ole Miss last season, Aranda answered:

“It’s a good question. I think, the tempo is familiar. I think there’s less spread out sets. At least, you know, here lately, there’s been more of a focus on the run game. And there’s a fair amount of runs that you remember back from OU a year ago to two years ago. Kind of shown up, whereas before it, you know, it didn’t.

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“I think when you’re looking at Ole Miss, there was some of that. But it was just more speed and more balls on the perimeter here lately. And as was kind of highlighted before, I think some of it is to help just the overall team and the pace of play and the defense and that. And so, there’s some but not a lot.”

So plenty of differences between Lebby’s groups at Ole Miss and now at Oklahoma, but still a similar style overall. Dave Aranda not letting the Texas game or other low points for OU distract from the talent the Sooners have both in their coaching staff and on the roster. Expect a well-prepared Bears unit on Saturday.