When Showing Looks Shows Your Ass

Brent Venables is a well-respected defensive mind and one of the most lauded defensive coordinators in the game for his ability to deconstruct an opposing offense to its component parts. Credit film study, an ability to communicate actionable keys to his players, clever late check calls from the sideline and outright signal stealing.

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He’s got a problem though. His offense is bad and he’s pressing to make things happen.

Right now he’s flirting with the dangerous idea that “showing looks” to confuse opponent offenses and force turnovers is more important than sound football on key downs. It’s not at Todd Orlando levels, but I recognize the signature stink. It’s having an effect on OU’s defensive play.

Here’s one example:

Putting Edge Trace Ford as an apex linebacker isn’t a great idea against a good passing team. Pretty obvious he’s gonna blitz a lot and then Texas had a 2-on-2 against an adjusting secondary. https://t.co/qVKyYbxMgm

— Captain Bruisin, cruise director (@Ian_A_Boyd) October 13, 2024

It’s 3rd and 6 and Texas leads 7-3. The game isn’t out of hand yet, though it’s about to be.

Oklahoma is in nickel and they’re going to bring five, but their alignment ultimately earns them two Texas receivers on the wide side in single coverage.

Ian Boyd is absolutely right that 6-2, 250 pound Trace Ford lined up at nickel is fooling no one. He can’t cover DeAndre Moore and his purpose is obvious. Ford drops down late to become a blitzer along with interior LB Kip Lewis in an attempt to overload the protection. The idea that the most experienced part of the Texas OL will blow the protection based on a telegraphed drop down defender is ambitious.

Now look at the coverage OU has created.

OU shifts into single high. The two defenders on the wide side in single man coverage don’t stagger their alignments. Is that so their man coverage suggests zone in what’s basically now 4 across up top?

I don’t know. Texas doesn’t care.

The look is now actively hurting their ability to defend the concept coming their way. They’re 8 yards off of the ball on 3rd and 6 in man coverage and neither defender is staggered to avoid rubs.

Sark has the perfect play call. The interior receiver Moore clears both Sooner DBs by running outside at perfect depth but without making any contact for a potential OPI – yet another reason our staff loves No. 0 – and Ryan Wingo‘s guy now has to travel around Moore and his own teammate to get to a 6-2, 210 pound 4.4 guy running away from him on a shorter line.

OU fans bemoaning that player’s effort don’t understand what they’re watching.

Texas’ response to a bunch of pre-snap movement was simplicity.

Wingo releases on a wide open classic blitz beater on a Sooner pass defense that’s already beaten by alignment.

The Sooner single high safety doesn’t stick around to help inside on the slant either. He’s in a predetermined bail out. Uh oh. Might have wanted to let him be a football player to help clean up your call.

The result is an easy pitch and toss to Wingo and the freshman gallops for 44 yards.

This is one example. I saw a few instances where exotics, junk looks or unexpected defenders bailing to spots to fool Texas into a turnover became primary over sound defense. It caught up to them. And Quinn Ewers‘ only turnover had nothing to do with confusion.

This approach also degrades tackling (OU missed 15 tackles on Saturday) as players serving the call find themselves out of position, thinking right before the snap as Venables signals in a late adjustment, or find themselves in uncomfortable deployments.

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Most of the teams remaining on the Sooner schedule will have varying levels of competency or recognition in exploiting this, but we may see Venables press more on defense to make something happen if his offense continues to flatline.