Why Brent Venables is Confident He Can 'Build a Defense Around' Danny Stutsman at Oklahoma
NORMAN — Oklahoma’s defense struggled more than expected a season ago. With Brent Venables sliding in as the head coach in Norman, the defensive makeover was supposed to be drastic.
Instead, the Sooners battled injuries up-and-down the depth chart and inconsistent play on the field. Oklahoma ranked 122nd in total defense, giving up 461 yards per game, and not much better in scoring defense, where OU ranked No. 99.
There was plenty of roster turnover however, with a lot to learn in a short period of time. It was never supposed to be perfect right away, no matter the expectation. Heading into year two under Venables, the pressure is now on. Oklahoma’s defense should experience serious progression in 2023.
“The growth process is really slow when everybody’s brand new,” Venables said Thursday. “So we’re a lot further along there with what they’re going to expect. Then how we do what we do, coaching each other. We actually have a veteran group. I don’t think we’re real deep there, but we have a veteran group that can teach the 26 newcomers now.
“Where a year ago at this time, everyone was a newcomer. It wasn’t like we just had a couple of new coaches, everybody was new. So we’re just a lot further along. Strength, speed, I think this is, if you compare the mid-years, I think we’ve got more depth than what we had a year ago. More impact players than we had a year ago.”
Oklahoma added talent across the board by way of the transfer portal and high school signees and even a junior college transfer, but the real progression will come from within. Venables is certain that junior linebacker Danny Stutsman will play a big part in the turnaround.
The Sooners’ head coach has been around his fair share of next-level players, and his glowing recommendation of one of Oklahoma’s hardest hitters isn’t smoke. At 6-foot-4, 240 pounds, Stutsman has all the tools needed to anchor OU’s defense. It looks like he’ll get a chance this fall.
“Danny was outstanding in our bowl game,” Venables started. “I think it was quite obvious, he’s the best player in our defense. And I say that because I'm not worried about Danny, you know, getting full of himself. But I'm also going to recognize a guy that I think we can build a defense around. And he's got a lot to improve at too, you know, physically, fundamentally, understanding. But he's a guy that's been putting in the work, and he's fanatical about putting in work and improving. Got a great sense of desperation.”
Stutsman led the Big 12 in total tackles at 126 on the season. He averaged 9.6 takedowns per game and landed three sacks in total. His individual production skyrocketed from his freshman season, but Oklahoma’s defense as a whole couldn’t quite put the pieces together.
When talking to the media on Thursday, though, Venables recognized Stutsman’s newfound attention to detail catching up with his raw talent. He has fully embraced a leadership role heading into his third season in Norman, and Oklahoma will benefit on the field because of it.
“Guys that have a very strong football acumen, that’s going to lend to a quicker transition, if you will. A group of guys that are hungry. They’re in the film room. Danny Stutsman, he didn’t come ask for a playbook for 8-10 weeks a year ago (when Venables first arrived.) I wanted to see who was going to come ask for it. I know that we’ve talked about that. We had a good conversation — 'come to Jesus, what do you want to do with your career. Did you come here to be a funny guy, or are you going to be serious about being great?'
“Obviously, he’s flipped the switch. So we’re a lot further along.”
Stutsman building on his progression as an impact player is critical for the linebacker group and for the Sooners’ success on the field overall next fall.
“They still did some really good things (last season) and there was some achievement there,” Venables said. “But I feel like we're just barely scratching the surface on what that group still can be. And needs to be for us to make the improvement on defense.”
