Jeff Lebby press conference Wk 1
Watch Oklahoma offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby meet the press on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023.
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00:00 >> Good to see you again.
00:01 >> Thank you, good to be here, game week.
00:03 >> [LAUGH] >> Just an obvious question,
00:06 Dylan going into the game, we've got an experienced quarterback.
00:09 Just expectations going into game one, and he foreseeing Jackson,
00:13 just getting some reps early in the season.
00:15 And just that mentorship with Dylan and Jackson going into game one.
00:19 >> Yeah, part one of the question, obviously, feel great about Dylan.
00:23 He's had a great camp.
00:25 This is a guy that started 36 games.
00:28 He's had a ton of production.
00:30 So looking for him to be dominant and play really,
00:33 really well at championship level, expect that, he expects that.
00:38 And so excited for him to get on the grass Saturday morning.
00:41 And then with Jackson, we'll continue to work through that.
00:44 We wanna try every way imaginable to create growth
00:49 when those opportunities come up.
00:52 So as we work through that, we'll continue to evaluate and see where that lands.
00:56 >> Ryan Aber?
00:59 >> Yeah, just sticking with Dylan, wanna ask you about his demeanor and
01:03 how that helps him going into this year, obviously,
01:06 with the pressure that comes along with being an OU quarterback.
01:11 And everything that he's been through since he's been here.
01:15 >> Yeah, he's got great edge about him right now.
01:17 Again, he's incredibly confident and it's all about the preparation.
01:21 That's what it's come from.
01:22 He's worked incredibly hard.
01:23 He's put in a ton of time.
01:26 He's got incredible amount of respect in our locker room,
01:29 with our staff, with his teammates.
01:31 So again, excited for him to have the opportunity to walk out there,
01:35 Saturday morning, go play his butt off.
01:38 >> Jenny?
01:41 >> I wanted to ask you kind of a bigger picture question.
01:44 The idea of using NIL money for scholarships, basically.
01:48 Can you talk me through how you guys have worked on that and
01:51 where that's come from, what that can mean for you guys long term?
01:54 >> Yeah, I think from that standpoint, that has the opportunity just to create
01:58 more depth in the roster.
02:00 And that's something that I think everybody's looking at,
02:03 is they're going about their business from a roster management standpoint.
02:07 Having 85 guys on scholarship and then being able to create different ways.
02:11 Those guys being able to use their platform, create NIL.
02:15 And again, it just has the ability to create some real quality depth at
02:20 some positions.
02:21 >> How did you sort of strike on that idea?
02:25 Is that something that you've heard maybe somebody else was doing a variation on?
02:27 >> No, just through conversation in the meeting room.
02:30 Us being together as a staff, obviously following Coach V's lead on that.
02:34 And he felt that that was a great way, there's no doubt about it.
02:37 He's spot on, and so that's kind of where that started.
02:40 >> Down on the right side, George.
02:43 >> Yeah, Jeff, just wondering about your offensive line.
02:45 How do you feel like they've come together so far?
02:48 And do you have a set starting five and are you hoping to rotate guys?
02:52 >> Yeah, we've got a little bit of competition still working through.
02:55 As we move forward throughout the week, you'll see multiple guys playing for
02:59 sure.
02:59 But we feel good about where we're at.
03:03 Again, as you look at it,
03:05 there's guys that maybe haven't played a ton of ball here.
03:08 But they have played a whole bunch of ball.
03:10 Whether it's Walter, but Kate obviously coming back as a starter,
03:13 had all those starts prior to being here.
03:15 Reign has all the starts that he has.
03:18 And you look at guys like Tyler and Savion and
03:21 then Troy having all the starts that he had last year.
03:24 So we feel good about where we're at.
03:27 Again, excited about the opportunity Saturday morning.
03:29 >> Ryan, far right.
03:32 Not necessarily like the Arkansas State, but these week one,
03:35 week two games with the portal, so many guys moving around.
03:38 What has that done from a scouting perspective as far as trying to get
03:41 everybody prepared when you maybe haven't seen a ton of guys in that uniform?
03:45 >> Yeah, I think when you look at it week one, obviously,
03:47 that's kind of the deal.
03:49 We feel pretty good about who we're gonna see on Saturday morning, but
03:52 there's definitely has the opportunity to be some change up too.
03:55 So there'll be a little bit of guesswork in who you're seeing.
04:00 I think structurally, we're gonna get what they've been.
04:02 There's been stability there from a coordinator standpoint, but
04:06 the portal definitely for these early games has created some
04:09 uncertainty on who you're gonna see for sure.
04:13 >> Has that changed at all when you've got returning coordinators?
04:15 Is that kind of similar to your week ones of years past?
04:20 >> Yeah, I think when you look at just this year, again,
04:24 knowing what we're gonna get structurally or what we think we're gonna get.
04:27 Obviously, we've got to be ready to adjust if we get into it and
04:30 there's something different.
04:31 But when you're watching the tape, you feel like you know what you're gonna get.
04:37 And they're doing the exact same thing, right?
04:40 Just cuz of stability on our staff and everybody being back.
04:44 So that's where it's at right now.
04:45 >> Back in the middle, James.
04:48 >> Yeah, Jeff, could you talk about your wide receiver you wore?
04:51 That was the big question mark or some of it coming into the camp.
04:55 Where do you think it's at and how confident is it?
04:57 And also, did you talk more about Arkansas State, just their personnel?
05:02 What you really see from on the defensive side of the ball?
05:05 >> Yeah, so the receiver spot, and talked a little bit about it last week.
05:09 But I think we got a chance to see six or seven guys.
05:11 And so I think that's one thing that I'm incredibly excited about.
05:15 We're excited about is that we've really got a chance to play multiple guys,
05:18 which that, again, was not the case as we stood here a year ago.
05:22 So excited about these guys getting an opportunity, now they gotta go do it.
05:25 They've had great summers, they had great springs.
05:28 They've had really good fall camps from multiple guys.
05:30 So now going to make them play on Saturday morning is gonna be huge.
05:34 And then Arkansas State, they've got a group back on the back end.
05:39 That's played a bunch of ball.
05:42 They've got three returning starters on the back end, their field backer.
05:45 Their nickel is a returning starter, probably their best player on defense.
05:48 They lost a bunch of guys up front and two interior backers.
05:52 But guys on the back end that have played a lot of balls.
05:55 So you turn the tape on, you see great effort, you see great intensity.
05:59 Guys play with a lot of toughness and play incredibly hard.
06:01 So again, our guys are excited about Saturday morning.
06:04 >> Jeff, obviously you came here with some history with Dylan.
06:10 Last year, in terms of maybe the in-game communication,
06:12 what did you learn in that one season?
06:15 Is there anything in the offseason you evaluated in the mechanics that
06:18 didn't be different?
06:19 >> I think the biggest thing is just for
06:21 us making sure that we're having great conversations in between drives.
06:24 As soon as he comes over and gets the sheet and gets on the phone, man,
06:28 those conversations just continuing to be as high level as possible.
06:32 And being able to see exactly what he saw, speaking the same language.
06:36 He does a great job of that, and so expect that to continue.
06:39 >> Jeff, obviously you've been in any one of those conversations before.
06:43 Are there ways he's grown from when he got started with you at UCF to now in
06:47 those times?
06:48 >> Yeah, I think without a doubt.
06:49 I think he understands now more than ever maybe why I'm calling the play that I'm
06:53 calling and the intent of it.
06:54 And I think that's a huge deal as you go try to attack defenses and
06:58 then situationally understanding why I'm calling things.
07:01 So he's thinking like we do as a staff, which is a big part of it.
07:06 >> Jeff, going back to the receivers, some of it is those guys being more comfortable.
07:13 Some of it is the arrival, I mean Jones,
07:15 what impresses you so much about what he's been able to do?
07:18 >> There's great connection in that room.
07:21 For a room that has a whole bunch of talent that does not have a ton
07:25 of production, this room fights like heck for each other.
07:30 And we've got great teammates in that group.
07:32 We've got guys that are accountable every single day.
07:35 They become dependable.
07:37 And a bunch of guys that are incredibly unselfish,
07:39 which is to me it's hard to find in that room all the time.
07:43 And we do, we've got guys that root for each other, that pull for each other,
07:47 that understand regardless of who's on the field,
07:49 the expectation is to play really dang well.
07:51 And it's been fun to watch that group come together as Coach Jones has led them.
07:58 >> Jeff, you've touched on having, or feeling confident that you have multiple
08:01 guys at different positions that can play.
08:03 Maybe early in the season, how much of the balance is it to, obviously you wanna do
08:07 what you can to win games, but you also maybe wanna get some guys on the field,
08:11 see what you have with that competitive depth.
08:13 >> Yeah, I think the first part of it is we wanna put our offense in the best
08:17 position to have success and go score points, take care of the football, and
08:21 be incredibly efficient.
08:23 So whoever gives us the opportunity to do that will do that.
08:27 Again, I think there's multiple guys that can play at a bunch of different positions
08:31 that give us that ability.
08:32 And that's what's, again, most important.
08:35 So those guys are gonna play, you will, you'll see a bunch of different guys play
08:39 on Saturday, which is gonna be by intent, and that's our plan.
08:43 >> We'll go way back, John.
08:46 >> Yeah, Jeff, follow up on the wide receivers again.
08:49 Could there, you said I think six or seven guys,
08:52 could that conceivably stretch to eight or nine at some point during the season?
08:55 >> I think so.
08:56 As we move forward and continue to get guys back, again,
09:00 we've got some young guys in the room that are incredibly capable, but
09:05 they are young, and guys that hadn't played a ton of balls.
09:09 So their reps from a game standpoint might be five to ten,
09:14 where that's got a chance to grow as long as they get on the field and
09:17 do what we think they're gonna do.
09:18 So we wanna be able to roll multiple guys at those positions to be able to go play
09:23 fast and guys being able to be really fresh and fast in the fourth quarter.
09:27 And I think that'll be a huge advantage.
09:28 >> Can you describe, as long as we're talking about wideouts,
09:31 can you describe the difference in the rapport that Dylan has with those guys
09:35 this year compared to last year?
09:36 >> Yeah, just another year in it.
09:38 All the throwing and catching through the spring, all the throwing and
09:41 catching this summer, and then also in the fall camp.
09:44 These guys have spent a ton of time.
09:47 And I think with that, it's been a huge part of why we've had success in fall camp,
09:52 pitching and catching, and there's a ton of trust there.
09:55 >> Okay, second row this side, Lewis.
09:58 >> Hey, Jeff, wanted to ask you about Savion Byrd.
10:01 Just what have you seen in terms of his maturity in the past couple years, and
10:04 how big was that Florida State game?
10:06 >> Yeah, with Savion, this is a young man that's got an incredible amount of ability
10:13 and plays with a toughness and an edge and a demeanor about him that we need and
10:17 we want.
10:18 He has become accountable.
10:20 He's become dependable.
10:21 He's taken care of things outside of this building,
10:24 which in turn has created consistency for him inside the building.
10:28 And that's been huge.
10:29 And that's something that we talked about last spring is,
10:32 if we can get the best version of Savion, man, we got a chance to have a special
10:37 player, and we're doing that right now.
10:38 He's doing that.
10:39 Credit to him, and there's been a ton of maturity through the process.
10:43 >> Right here, Garrett.
10:46 >> Jeff, staying with the O-line for a second.
10:48 I know that what you want out of that group has to do with the here and now.
10:51 What establishing a presence, being physical this year.
10:56 But given your experience at Ole Miss, I was gonna ask you about the importance of
11:00 laying something foundational for what you're getting into next year and
11:03 how that, what happens this year,
11:05 especially at the line of scrimmage, will really help you guys out moving forward.
11:08 >> Yeah, again, probably as lame as it sounds,
11:12 I'm concerned about Monday's practice, Tuesday's practice.
11:16 Playing really, really well Saturday morning.
11:18 Bill's done an incredible job recruiting that room, and
11:23 we've got really good depth in that room.
11:26 And playing well at the line of scrimmage is something that we've been able to hang
11:30 our hat on here for a long, long time, especially with Bill.
11:33 So feel good about where the young guys are.
11:37 The focus, without a doubt, is playing our butt off on Saturday morning, but
11:41 do feel like we signed a really good class last year.
11:45 And we're in the heart of it right now, so it's good.
11:48 >> Let's go back to the right, second row, Mason, and then Justin.
11:52 >> Jeff, last year, this time, you really just had Eric Gray that had a lot of
11:55 experience on tape.
11:56 How big is it now to have really two, three guys that have put a lot of good
12:00 stuff on tape and have a lot of experience?
12:02 >> Yeah, it matters.
12:02 And those guys, the way they played in the bowl game,
12:05 obviously was huge with Gavin and Javante.
12:07 Javante obviously was sprinkled in a little more throughout the season
12:11 than Gavin was.
12:12 But both those guys look to do big things.
12:15 This fall, obviously with Marcus, again, he's had a really good camp.
12:19 I've talked a lot about him, excited about where he's at.
12:22 And then you'll see Talwee as well.
12:23 Talwee's had an incredible camp, had a great spring.
12:26 And this dude plays the game the way you want it to be played,
12:30 with a ton of toughness, and excited for him.
12:33 >> Justin.
12:36 >> Jeff, you talked about last year's recruiting class.
12:38 Can you talk about just the emphasis the guys placed on bringing in or
12:41 retaining the in-state talent?
12:43 >> Yeah, Coach V, day one when he got here, he talked about being inside out.
12:46 And understanding what our footprint is, who we are, and
12:50 making sure that we go get the best players from the state.
12:53 So it's been a huge focus for us.
12:56 I think you can probably tell that as we're moving forward.
12:59 But feel great about guys loving Oklahoma.
13:02 And those guys understanding what it means to be able to put that interlock and
13:07 OU on.
13:07 So we wanna be inside out.
13:09 That's Coach V's vision, his lead, and that's all of our vision.
13:13 So that's something that's been important to us.
13:16 >> Left side, third row, Randall.
13:19 >> So you mentioned the running backs.
13:21 How are you planning to split up the carries between those guys?
13:23 And is that something that you guys are planning before the game, or
13:25 that you guys plan as the game goes on?
13:27 >> Yeah, you talk about target touches for sure.
13:29 But as you get into the flow of the game, understanding who's got the hot hand.
13:34 Subbing when we need to sub when guys are tired, and inside the flow of drives.
13:39 So that's really, it's different week to week, and series to series.
13:42 And that'll play out a little differently every single week.
13:45 >> Any more questions for Coach Levy?
13:50 >> Yeah, Jeff, you got more depth to quarterback.
13:53 Does that mean Dylan will have a little more green light to run and
13:57 scramble this year?
13:58 >> Yeah, I think we'll try to do a great job of taking hits off of him,
14:01 just like we always have.
14:03 We talk about hits on the quarterback, not as much as anything else, really.
14:08 So Dylan's gonna play free, he's gonna have the ability to go play free.
14:14 There's gonna be some things that we'll do differently for sure.
14:17 But I like where he's at from just being able to run the football and
14:21 do the things that we want him to do throughout.
14:23 >> You guys got a chance to get Gavin Freeman a scholarship.
14:28 What was that moment like, and why did you guys make that move?
14:32 >> Well, he's earned it.
14:34 I mean, more than anything,
14:35 the guy has just absolutely earned every single bit of what he's gotten.
14:40 And he's a young man that, again, we just talked a little bit about it, but
14:44 somebody that loves the interlock and OU, that's Gavin.
14:46 And Coach V talked a little bit about it, but a dream come true for him.
14:51 This kid is an absolute pleasure.
14:53 He does everything right all the time, works incredibly hard.
14:56 He's really dang talented.
14:58 And I couldn't be more excited for what's ahead for him.
15:01 >> Brian?
15:03 >> Yeah, Jeff, I wanna ask you about Brent and
15:05 the way that he's handled some of the struggles over the last year.
15:09 What have you learned about Brent Venables through what's happened over
15:15 the last year?
15:16 >> Consistency.
15:17 He talks about it all the time, but he says, if we don't, they won't.
15:24 And that's just setting the standard of how we operate every single day as a staff.
15:28 And he is so incredibly consistent in how he operates every single day.
15:34 And to me, that's what makes him such an incredible leader for our program,
15:38 for our guys, for us as a staff.
15:40 That's who he is.
15:42 >> How big is that for setting the tone when things don't go the way that you
15:47 would like or you expect?
15:49 >> Yeah, I think it's huge.
15:51 Everybody's looking at Coach to see the response, and
15:54 the response is exactly what you would think it would be from a man that's
15:58 lives by it, doesn't talk about it, he lives it every single day.
16:02 And so for me, having the ability to walk in those double doors every day,
16:06 go to work for him, it's humbling, and it's been great to see.
16:10 >> That's all we have time for.
16:12 Thanks, Jeff.