Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma offense focused on improving situational football

No one has to tell Dillon Gabriel where he and the Oklahoma offense have to improve the most in 2023.

It’s situational football. That’s the term Oklahoma’s starting quarterback harped on at Big 12 Media Days and where he and the offense have put most of their attention in the offseason. The Sooners were one of the worst teams in the Big 12 in situation football last season, finishing ninth in fourth down percentage (40.5%) and eighth in red zone offense (84%). Oklahoma ranked 108th in fourth down conversion percentage and 65th in red zone offense in the country in 2022, compared to 14th (fourth down) and first (red zone), respectively, in 2021.

“I think we learned from this last season, is that the difference between winning and losing is very small,” Gabriel said. “And it can come down to a couple of plays, just the ways we ended up losing. But I think the situational football piece of it, getting better on that end to be able to take steps to convert on third down or have confidence in going for it on fourth down and in two minutes. Getting points and then fourth quarters finishing. So, just being super locked into those details, trying to get better every day. With those, which I think we’ve done a great job of in spring ball, and then a huge emphasis during summer training.”

Last year, Gabriel struggled at situational football, especially on fourth down, which he ranked last among Big 12 quarterbacks when passing. He converted only 1-of-7 fourth downs when throwing. And he was also below average on third down, completing only 53.4% of his passes and converting on 37.5% of third downs when throwing.

Here’s how Gabriel stacked up against other Big 12 quarterbacks in those three categories in 2022.

2022 Big 12 quarterbacks	3rd down completion %	3rd down conversion rate	4th down conversions
Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma	53.4%	37.5%	1/7
Spencer Sanders, OSU	53.1%	33.3%	2/6
Max Duggan, TCU	54.3%	35.3%	8/11
Blake Shapen, Baylor	57%	34.2%	11/20
JT Daniels, West Virginia	52.1%	41%	9/14
Hunter Dekkers, Iowa State	66.2%	40.1%	11/16
Quinn Ewers, Texas	54.1%	35.1%	5/12
Tyler Shough, Texas Tech	54.3%	34.2%	3/6
Jalon Daniels, Kansas	65%	56.7%	2/7
Will Howard, Kansas State	65.1%	49.2%	6/9

Gabriel and Oklahoma especially struggled in the fourth quarter of games last year. He threw only four fourth-quarter touchdowns, the lowest of any quarter, recorded his lowest rating of any quarter at 148.36, and converted the fewest first downs at just 18. Compared to his first quarter, Gabriel threw nine touchdown passes, posted a 164.57 rating, and converted 52 first downs.

It was as if Gabriel and the Oklahoma offense got worse as games went on.

“Finishing, finding ways to win. That’s important for me,” Gabriel said when asked what he’s personally worked on in the offseason. “Finding ways to win, whether it’s in workouts, whether it’s in lifts — just being extremely competitive and putting an emphasis on it.”

Gabriel is aware of his shortcomings, which is why he and offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby have spent most of the offseason in the film room. For Gabriel, efficiency and execution in situational football will be key in 2023 if he wants to see those numbers improve.

“In the film room and how much we’ve been able to grow. Talking through either the games or practices, spending a lot of time together,” Gabriel said. “Gotten a lot better in situational football, having that emphasis in spring and taking that into the summer. Just working on those concepts but also just those critical situations with the receivers and, of course, with the tight ends and the running backs. I also feel like efficiency that’s high on my list. Have to find ways to be even more efficient.”