Dillon Gabriel discusses his comfortability working under Oklahoma OC Jeff Lebby again

Much has been made about Dillon Gabriel and Jeff Lebby’s relationship with one another. That’s because Lebby had been Gabriel’s offensive coordinator at UCF in 2019. After that season, in which Gabriel put up massive numbers, Lebby moved onto Ole Miss. Following an injury in 2021, Gabriel decided that he didn’t fit into new head coach Gus Malzahn’s system and decided to transfer. He, eventually, ended up at Oklahoma, where Lebby had taken the offensive coordinator job.

The expectation is that this marriage of Dillon Gabriel and Jeff Lebby is going to create an explosive offense throughout 2022 for Oklahoma. Now, with one game under their belt, it’s easier to see the comfort that they have with one another.

While speaking to the media following practice, Dillon Gabriel was asked about the operational side of the offense with Lebby.

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“I think, it’s something we practiced, obviously, from January, and all the sideline operations,” Dillon Gabriel said.

“But, mostly, just getting on the phone on the sideline and being able to talk through drives. I think that you know, kind of reminded me of being back at UCF with him and just playing the game with him, so.”

Dillon Gabriel was then asked for a follow-up to explain what their conversations on the phone are like during the games.

“Calm demeanor. He’s the same guy and just being able to talk through things from a different perspective. But, we’re able to translate it very well, communicate very well, and that’s why, you know, it’s easy to make adjustments, talk through things, and find ways to be more efficient.”

Dillon Gabriel on finding improvements

Teams and individual players can learn things from every game that they play. Dillon Gabriel knows this and was able to identify where he needs to improve following Week 1.

“Cleaning that up, taking what they give me and also just being extremely efficient. Moving the chains, finding ways to move the chains. So those are a bunch of things you always clean up, and there’ll always be something you want to, you know, have back from the game,” Dillon Gabriel said.

“Man, good ain’t ever good enough at the quarterback position, and you’ve got to continue to clean that up.”