OU football OL has 'long list' of issues under Bill Bedenbaugh entering Red River Rivalry

NORMAN — Bill Bedenbaugh established himself as one of the country's top developers of offensive line talent in the 2010s.

Oklahoma's offensive line coach has put 14 linemen into the NFL in 13 full seasons since 2013. But in recent seasons, and for most of coach Brent Venables' tenure, the elite development and consistency of the unit as a whole has dipped dramatically.

"It's been incredibly inconsistent, very disappointing," Venables said during his weekly press conference Tuesday. "That is a critical place. That is a place that probably requires the most development at any position that you have on your roster."

The Sooners' offensive problems so far this season aren't limited to their line but the unit has played a major factor. Even when he's had time, quarterback John Mateer's catastrophic turnovers haven't helped and the lack of playmaking ability at the skill positions has been a problem as well.

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But an offense's success is highly dependent on the line of scrimmage and OU hasn't been nearly effective enough. Venables points to the transfer portal and the lack of continuity as a big piece of why the development on the offensive line has stalled at times.

"The portal's the No. 1 reason," Venables said. "Obviously, the first couple years you have two free-agent windows and some guys could come and go so the instability is part of it, certainly done an uneven job where it comes to choosing the guys that we've brought in here, way too many guys are coming and going at that position group and we need continuity and consistency in order to develop that group into what we want."

Bedenbaugh remains an elite high school recruiter.

He landed Michael Fasusi and Ryan Fodje in the 2025 class and those two have been perhaps the Sooners' most consistent linemen the past two seasons. OU also currently has six offensive linemen committed in the 2027 class, including five-star Kaeden Penny of Bixby and four-star Cooper Hackett of Fort Gibson.

"It’s going to be incredibly important to bring back a good majority of the guys that are already here," Venables said, "that are young guys, that are developing as we speak, but it's been very unstable and certainly not the kind of development that you want from top to bottom."

It'd certainly help Bedenbaugh's group Saturday against No. 1 Texas if Fasusi could return from injury this week. Venables declined to speak about injuries during his coach's show Monday, referring to Wednesday's first availability report.

When asked to pinpoint specific struggles on the offensive line, Venables didn't sugarcoat it. There's a lot to fix between now and when the Sooners lineup against the Longhorns' defensive line.

"It's a long list," Venables smirked.

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Could OU football RB Jonathan Hatton Jr. break out vs Texas?

Venables raved about freshman running back Jonathan Hatton Jr.'s continued development.

OU has yet to find a true No. 1 back through four games. Hatton has showed glimpses of why he was one of the most coveted rushers out of high school but has only been given 14 carries, one of which he broke for a 21-yard gain.

Some have speculated whether Saturday will be when he breaks out. After all, there's something about Sooners running backs from Texas in this rivalry.

"He’s getting better and better each week," offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle said. "He’s getting more and more comfortable each week. He’s becoming a college football player more and more each week, and I think that’s expected with a true freshman. Someone as big as him and as talented as him, I just see him continuously over time continuously getting better just with his growth and his development."

If Hatton — or any running back for that matter — can finally get it going, it'd take a lot of pressure off of Mateer. But it'll also largely depend on the Sooners' offensive line.

"Jonathan, he cares a lot," Arbuckle said. "He cares a lot about his teammates. He cares a lot about his individual performances, too. Takes a lot of pride in how he performs for his team. Do I do my job right? He does that over and over again. He’s really a pretty quiet kid, so he just puts his head down and he works. But Jonathan, he’s come a long way, and I just think he’s going to keep on going a long way."

OU has 'gotta be aware of where' Texas' Colin Simmons is at all times

Colin Simmons will be the best player on the field when he walks out of the Cotton Bowl tunnel.

While it's unlikely to shut him down completely, OU's job is to try to limit him. Simmons recorded more sacks against Tennessee than any Sooner has through four games.

"Everybody knows No. 1, Colin Simmons, right," Arbuckle said. "Unreal talent, plays his butt off, extremely twitchy, can definitely be a game changer, right? If you let him be a game changer, he’s one definitely. You gotta be aware of where he’s at."

Venables complimented the job new Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp has done thus far. The Longhorns' defense ranks eighth among Power Four teams in points allowed per game.

The Sooners' coach added he thinks Simmons will be the first defensive player taken off the board in the 2027 NFL Draft.

The most lopsided matchup Saturday might be OU's struggling offensive line against a stacked Texas defensive line.

"Those guys hold it down there in the inside gaps, the interior gaps," Arbuckle said. "Got a lot of respect for what they do on the defensive line, namely No. 1, Colin Simmons. Coaches do a great job of letting them play, be the really good players that they are. And those guys go out and they execute. So a lot of respect for those guys, a lot of respect for how they play. It’s going to be a great challenge for us."

Colton Sulley covers the Oklahoma Sooners for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Colton? He can be reached at csulley@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @colton_sulley. Support Colton's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing adigital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football OL has 'long list' of issues under Bill Bedenbaugh entering Red River Rivalry