Brent Venables explains decision to bench Jackson Arnold, criticizes QB's handle of Oklahoma offense

Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables is going to stick with the decision he made late in the first half to bench Jackson Arnold at quarterback, turning to true freshman Michael Hawkins against Tennessee. And he shared some of his reasoning with ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe.

The driving force: Arnold’s trio of turnovers, all costly and two notably ugly. But Venables highlighted some other issues to Rowe.

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“Brent Venables said that turnovers were a big factor on why he made a quarterback change in the first half and he is going to stick with the true freshman Michael Hawkins here in the second half,” Rowe said. “He said it was the turnovers but also stuff has to run on time in our offense. We have timing plays, things that have to happen and it just wasn’t on time. He also said the turnover margin is a big factor. They’re up one for Tennessee. That’s unusual for OU.”

Arnold struggled heavily in the first half on Saturday night, including a trio of turnovers, two of them particularly ugly. He was 7-of-16 for 54 yards and an interception plus two fumbles at the time of his benching.

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Hawkins led a series right before halftime and the Sooners quickly punted.

The final straw seemed to be a backwards pass that Arnold left short of his receiver with minutes remaining in the second quarter, as the Volunteers recovered the fumble and went on to score. It was Jackson’s third turnover in less than 30 minutes.

In the first quarter, Arnold threw his interception trying to connect on a deep corner route, instead finding double coverage and a Tennessee defender. Minutes later, right after Oklahoma forced and recovered a Tennessee fumble, Arnold fumbled himself to give the ball right back.

Then came his third turnover, which was the final straw.

One analyst thinks Hawkins is the choice going forward

Plenty was expected to come from the Oklahoma–Tennessee showdown to welcome the Sooners to the SEC on Saturday night. But a quarterback controversy in Norman was not in the cards for many.

But after the Sooners struggled for a half with Arnold under center before showing life under Hawkins, color commentator Kirk Herbstreit felt like he knew which quarterback was the right pick. And it was the quarterback that managed to lead touchdown drives on Saturday.

“This kid’s your quarterback,” Herbstreit said of Hawkins in the dying moments of the game. “This is the quarterback right here, No. 9, moving on into next week. He’s done enough in these handful of series in the second half.

“This is what it’s all about right here. This kid is fighting for every inch.”