Brent Venables is highly impressed with Oklahoma’s entirely revamped tight end group, praising their unique qualities and contrasting styles, which add significant strength and versatility to the team’s offensive options.
In college football, the tight end position has evolved from a primarily blocking role to a versatile weapon capable of impacting both the passing and running game. Oklahoma’s coaching staff, led by head coach Brent Venables, has recognized this shift and has taken deliberate steps to build a tight end unit that embodies diversity in skills, physicality, and style. Venables’ recent praise for Oklahoma’s “completely different” tight end group underscores their importance and the strategic advantage they bring.
This analysis explores in depth why Brent Venables is so “really impressed” with this unit, examining their individual qualities, contrasting styles, and the broader implications for Oklahoma’s offense. We will delve into the specific attributes that make this group unique, how they complement each other, and what this means for the team’s offensive scheme, execution, and future success.
The Evolution of the Tight End Role
Before analyzing Oklahoma’s current tight end unit, it’s essential to contextualize the role of tight ends in modern football. Traditionally, tight ends served as hybrid blockers and short-yardage receivers. Over time, their role expanded to include more route-running, downfield receiving, and even split-out wide formations, making them key mismatches against defenses.
At Oklahoma, a program with a rich offensive history, the emphasis on versatile tight ends aligns with contemporary offensive philosophies. Brent Venables, known for his defensive expertise, emphasizes adaptable and dynamic offensive personnel to keep defenses guessing. The tight end unit exemplifies this strategy, providing multiple threats that can be deployed in various formations and situations.
Why Brent Venables Is “Really Impressed”
Venables’ praise is rooted in the unit’s diversity of skill sets, physical attributes, and schematic flexibility. His admiration likely stems from how these tight ends can be seamlessly integrated into multiple offensive schemes, creating mismatches and opening up new avenues for their quarterbacks and skill players.
1. Variety of Player Profiles
The Oklahoma tight end group is characterized by its contrasting styles, featuring players who excel in different facets of the position:
The Blocker: A physical, dependable tight end with elite blocking skills, capable of sealing the edge, opening running lanes, and providing protection in pass sets.
The Receiver: A talented pass catcher, agile and athletic, with the ability to stretch the field or run precise routes over the middle.
The Hybrid: A versatile player who can do both—block when needed and be a primary target in the passing game, often lining up in multiple positions.
This mix allows Oklahoma to adapt its offensive approach based on the situation, opponent, or game plan, which is a hallmark of effective coaching and roster construction.
2. Contrasting Styles and Skill Sets
Venables appreciates the unit’s contrasting styles, which provide the offense with multiple dimensions:
Physicality and Power: Some tight ends bring a mauling, run-blocking presence, enabling the team to establish the run game and protect leads. These players excel in blocking schemes, including zone and man schemes, and are essential for controlling the line of scrimmage.
Athleticism and Speed: Others are exceptional athletes, capable of creating mismatches in coverage and making contested catches in traffic. Their route-running ability and speed make them a primary or secondary receiving threat, especially in play-action or downfield passing.
Versatility and Flexibility: The hybrid players allow Oklahoma to deploy multiple personnel packages, such as 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends), 13 personnel, or even spread formations, maximizing mismatches and confusing defenses.
3. Impact on Offensive Scheme and Play-calling
Venables’ praise reflects his confidence that this tight end unit provides multiple schematic options. The ability to deploy different tight ends in various roles allows for:
Balanced Attack: Combining run-heavy formations with play-action passes.
Mismatches: Creating favorable matchups against linebackers or safeties.
Multiple Formations: Shifting from traditional I-formation sets to spread out, empty backfield, or 21 personnel packages.
This flexibility makes Oklahoma’s offense less predictable and more adaptable, which is crucial in high-level college football.
The Specific Attributes of Oklahoma’s Tight End Unit
To understand why Brent Venables is so impressed, let’s analyze the individual qualities of the key players in the unit, their backgrounds, and what they bring to the table.
1. The Power Blocker
One of the tight ends is characterized by his size, strength, and blocking prowess. His ability to seal the edge, sustain blocks against larger defenders, and contribute to the run game is invaluable. This player embodies the traditional tight end role but has also developed as a pass catcher, making him a dual threat.
Attributes:
Elite run-blocking technique
Strong frame and leverage
Experience in multiple blocking schemes
Implications:
Having a reliable blocker allows Oklahoma to run diverse running schemes, including power and zone runs. It also provides pass protection in critical third-down situations.
2. The Dynamic Receiver
Another tight end is noted for his athleticism, speed, and receiving skills. He often lines up split out wide or in motion, creating mismatches against linebackers or safeties. His ability to catch contested balls and run after the catch adds explosive potential to the offense.
Attributes:
Exceptional route-running
Good hands and body control
Ability to stretch the field or work over the middle
Implications:
This player allows Oklahoma to threaten defenses vertically and horizontally. Play-action passes and quick throws to the tight end can exploit soft coverage and create big plays.
3. The Hybrid Playmaker
The third tight end combines qualities of both—solid blocker and capable receiver. His versatility allows him to shift seamlessly between roles, making him a Swiss Army knife in Oklahoma’s offensive arsenal.
Attributes:
Good size and agility
Reliable in both blocking and catching
Experience playing multiple positions
Implications:
This hybrid tight end enhances the offense’s unpredictability, allowing for creative formations and personnel packages.
The “Completely Different” Aspect
Venables’ emphasis on the tight end unit being “completely different” highlights the diverse skill profiles within the group, which stand in contrast to more homogeneous units in other teams or even earlier iterations of Oklahoma’s roster.
1. Contrast with Traditional Tight End Units
Many programs have relied on a single type of tight end—either a blocking specialist or a pass-catching threat. Oklahoma’s current group defies this trend by integrating contrasting styles, creating a multi-dimensional unit.
2. Difference from Previous Oklahoma Tight Ends
Historically, Oklahoma has had productive tight ends, but this year’s group stands out in terms of size, athleticism, and versatility. The emphasis on contrasting profiles allows the coaching staff to deploy the tight ends in a more sophisticated and flexible manner.
3. Strategic Advantage
This “completely different” makeup makes Oklahoma’s offense less predictable, forcing defenses to prepare for multiple threats simultaneously. It also enables creative play-calling, such as lining up the same player in different roles or formations, confounding defenders.
Broader Impact on Oklahoma’s Offensive Philosophy
Brent Venables’ enthusiasm suggests a strategic vision that leverages this tight end unit’s strengths to complement other offensive components:
1. Enhanced Play-Action Passing
The threat of multiple tight ends who can both block and catch creates natural play-action opportunities. Defenses must respect the run, opening passing lanes to the tight ends and other skill players.
2. Mismatches and Explosive Plays
The contrasting styles allow Oklahoma to engineer mismatches—such as a fast tight end against a slower linebacker or a physical tight end against a safety—leading to explosive plays down the field.
3. Personnel Flexibility
The group’s diversity affords Oklahoma the flexibility to switch between multiple personnel packages, keeping defenses off-balance and exploiting favorable matchups.
4. Protection and Run Blocking
A reliable blocking tight end enhances the offensive line’s effectiveness, leading to a more balanced attack and sustained drives.
The Development and Future Potential
Oklahoma’s tight end unit, with its contrasting styles, has the potential to evolve into one of the most dynamic groups in college football. If the players continue to develop their skills and chemistry, their impact could be transformative.
1. Player Development
Brent Venables’ coaching emphasizes fundamentals and adaptability, meaning these tight ends are well-positioned to improve their craft and maximize their roles.
2. Offensive Scheme Integration
As the offense becomes more sophisticated, these tight ends will be central to game plans, especially in critical situations like third down or red zone.
3. Recruiting and Future Cohesion
Oklahoma’s success with this diverse tight end group could influence recruiting efforts, attracting prospects who excel in multiple facets of the position.
Brent Venables’ high praise for Oklahoma’s “completely different” tight end unit underscores their significance and the strategic advantage they offer. Their contrasting styles—ranging from physical blocking to agile receiving—provide Oklahoma with unmatched versatility, creating mismatches and expanding their offensive repertoire.
This group exemplifies modern football’s evolution, where multiple tight ends with diverse skill sets are key to an unpredictable and explosive offense. Their development and integration will be critical for Oklahoma’s success in 2024 and beyond, making this unit a focal point of the team’s offensive identity.
In summary, Oklahoma’s tight end unit is a carefully curated, multifaceted group that embodies the evolution of the position, and Brent Venables’ enthusiasm reflects his confidence that they can be a game-changing component of the Sooners’ offensive strategy.
