Brent Venables Oklahoma Defense: What to Expect on 3rd down in 2023

This year, Brent Venables will be more involved at Oklahoma on the defensive side and I expect him to be making many of the calls. He is one of the top defensive coaches in the country. Before 2022, where he was 81st in 3rd down efficiency and 90th in scoring (30ppg), he was always a top 10 defense at Clemson.

By the Years

2021 #2 in the country allowing 15 points per game.  8th in rushing defense allowing 97 yards per game. 31st in 3rd down efficiency.

2020  They were ranked 3rd overall and #2 in points allowed at 15 per game.  5th in sack rate at 3.8 sacks per game.

2019 #1 defense in the country and  ranked second nationally in scoring defense (15.0 ppg), red zone defense (62.1 conversion percentage), fourth in sacks (3.4 per game), eighth in rushing defense (98.8 ypg) and ninth in total defense (308.4 ypg)

In 2018, Clemson led the country in scoring defense (13.1 points per game) for the first time in school history in 2018. Ranked fourth in rushing defense (96.3 yards per game), fifth in total defense (285.9 yards per game). Unit set a school record with 54 sacks in 2018, the third-most by any FBS team in a season since 2000

You can see all his accomplishments here! Venable's Resume  

What to Expect on 3rd down:

I expect Venables to get back to some of the things that made him successful at Clemson. I expect to see more simulated pressures and mug pressures in 2022.

1. More 6 and 7 man mug looks from odd and 4 man traditional fronts

2. More overload pressures vs slide protection

3. More mixture of odd and even front as well as bear fronts. The Venables I know got pressure because of scheme more so than great pass rushers. He was always great at creating issues in protection, which I expect in 2023.

4. Some new innovative, creative ways he generated pressure.

5. Maybe some more 4-2 coverage as well as cover 2. from his pressure looks. Here is an example of that where its cover 4 to one side and cover 2 to the other.

6. Some more 6 man pressures, both inside pressures with Linebackers and some exotic safety type pressures added to the arsenal.

   2 to the boundary and 4 to the field with pressure below:

Clemson's 3rd Down Defense

I love studying Clemson's 3rd down defense. They really get after it. They run some great 3-2 looks and mug it from the 3-2 look.  Clemson's pressure package on 3rd down is where it is at.  They know how to force protection issues vs both man and slide protection.

The best thing about what he did is he kept teams off balanced. Here’s a game vs Pitt where he goes 2 under 3 deep early in the game then later goes a similar 6 man pressure and plays man free.

Maybe we will see some more 2 under 3 deep.

Here’s a 3rd and 24

He goes 2 under 3 deep and he sends 6 rushers. Most teams would get soft in that situation but he gets after it.

You see the Strong safety up top and will LB playing eyes technique and reading the qb. Good stuff from Coach Venables.

This is a 2 under 3 deep defense with a 6 man pressure. Forces the bad throw and interception.