Coach - 

As #14 Oklahoma prepares for the 2024 season, there is anticipation and high expectations with Seth Littrell taking the reins as offensive coordinator. 

Following Jeff Lebby's departure to become the head coach at Mississippi State, Littrell, who served as an offensive analyst for the Sooners in 2023, now steps into a role where his offensive ingenuity can shine. 

With a successful track record at as an OC at Arizona, Indiana, and North Carolina, Littrell is renowned for his ability to transform offenses and elevate quarterback play. 

As Littrell integrates his system, the spotlight will be on how he molds the offense around rising star quarterback Jackson Arnold. Littrell's innovative play-calling and quarterback development skills are set to propel Oklahoma's offense into a thrilling new era, promising a dynamic and high-scoring 2024 season.

We look at how Coach Litrell thinks about the game offensively, sharing his thoughts on condensed formations which he spoke about a Texas High School Coaching School while he was the head coach at North Texas, but firs let’s go over the outlook for the Sooners.

Season Preview Capsule

Oklahoma's move to the SEC is a good one, despite the tougher competition. They have the financial resources and a strong offense to succeed, but the success hinges on the young offensive line gelling and the defense finally living up to Coach Venables' reputation. Key factors will be avoiding turnovers and not getting shredded by opposing quarterbacks.

Oklahoma Sooners Strengths:

Offense:

• Wide Receivers: Deep and talented group with potential to be the best in the SEC. (Nic Anderson, Andrel Anthony, Deion Burks, Jake Roberts, Bauer Sharp)
• Quarterback (potential): Jackson Arnold has the talent and opportunity to be a star.
• Overall Efficiency: Scored the most points since 2019 and ranked 3rd nationally in total offense (2023).

Defense:

• Linebackers: Danny Stutsman and Kip Lewis form a dominant 1-2 punch.
• Secondary: Deep and strong overall, especially with good safety and cornerback play. (Billy Bowman, Gentry Williams, Woodi Washington, Kendel Dolby, Dasan McCullough)
• Third Down Defense: Excellent at getting off the field on crucial downs.
• Turnover creation: Improved ability to take the ball away from opponents.

Clinic: Condensed Packages

Condensed packages really provide a number of issues for the defense that if nothing else causes them to practice facing during the week. These sets can be lethal in both the run and pass game and allow you to dictate the spacing of the defense and also causes them to get out of their normal alignments where they are comfortable. 

These formations provide a lot of clarity for the offense especially to coaches in the box as you are likely able to see the safeties rocking or playing specifically to shore up numbers against the condensed the set. It gives numbers that are easy to account for and if you are weak in an area it becomes very clear from the beginning. 

Video: Running Game

While basic run schemes and many RPO’s can be run out of these sets, there is also a strategic advantage to putting plays in that you really like out of this. A really common play is the idea of a quick pitch or rocket pitch that allows you to take advantage of leverage and numbers in many cases and in the event they have the corner to leverage you still have a blocking angle. The variety this formation provides is really up to your imagination. 

Video: Passing Game

Building on the idea of what you create from there then you really want to lean toward figuring out your complimentary plays while also categorizing them by what they allow you to take advantage of. 

This allows you to speed things up then as well and in some cases avoids the possibility of the defense recovering and maybe you are able to rattle off a few plays that pay dividends for you and give you easy reads. 

Video: Leverage Beaters/Shot Plays: Mesh

A great example of this is the idea of the mesh concept, while very common and commonly ran out of the 2x2 condensed set, there is so much more it offers up and much more on top of it that it then sets up. 

This can really be a play as that is all purpose. You can beat man and zone and really you put the defenders in a situation where it is hard to sort through traffic. In this case, you offer up a scenario where they are challenged in the middle through the rub routes and then are also challenged in a short yardage by the back opening up windows and creating alleys.

These plays allow you to then expand and see where they are favoring covering and from then you get deeper plays and can take your shots with space for the receiver to operate. Either way regardless of how you use the set, it can clear many things up for your offense and allow you to function even when things may not be working. Look to incorporate this into your scheme as it could prove to be as reliable as anything in your offense. 

-Coach Grabowski, Coach Kauffman and the CoachesClinic Team

Other Clinics from the Oklahoma Staff:

Building a Multiple Defense - Littrell & Bennett

Jay Valai - Oklahoma - The Elite Instincts Theory

Resources for the 2024 season:

2024 OC School Bundle

2024 Prep for Camp - WR Edition

2024 Prep for Camp - RB Edition

2024 Prep for Camp - OL Edition Bundle

2024 Prep for Camp TE Edition