New Oklahoma offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby is not worried about his new quarterbacks or the new look of the Sooner offense

New quarterback Dillon Gabriel, a transfer  from Central Florida, who has been named the starter, has been working overtime not only to improve his skills but to lead the team.

“I think the thing that he’s done has been exactly who he is,” said Lebby. “He’s been very intentional on creating relationships and making sure that everybody in the locker room knows who he is as a person.

“And so he’s done a great job of that. The thing that we’re looking for coming into fall camp is taking care of the football, operating at a really high level. Those are the two things to me that are the most important. The ball is the only thing that matters, so take care of the rock and we’re gonna be in good shape.”

Speed kills and Lebby wants an up-tempo offense.

“As we sit here today, we’re always going to want to be faster,” Lebby said. “  think that’s something that is absolutely critical as we move forward. Foot speed is going to be a huge deal with who we are and how we play. But definitely we’ve got enough in the room to go get done what we want to get down for sure.”

Fans don’t need to worry about Gabriel’s talent.

“No, I think one of the greatest things that Dillon does is throw the deep ball,” Lebby said. “You know, I think if you look at all of his throws on tape and you go back to his freshman year, sophomore year, and then before he got hurt last year, he can push the ball down the field.

“And so he’s got great touch on it, understands how to get the ball out of his hand a little earlier if he needs to. But that’s actually the strength of his for sure.”

OU has had a string of Heisman Trophy quarterbacks. Gabriel has been rated as a potential pro by NFL scouts.

“I think that’s for those guys to answer,” Lebby said of Gabriel future. “I do think he’s gonna have a production that’s unmatched. I think he’s gonna have experience that’s unmatched. I think he’s gonna have leadership ability that’s unmatched.

“So, from those three standpoints, I think he’s got a great future and has the ability to go do this for a long time.”

After OU’s top two quarterbacks transferred, the Sooners had to restock the quarterback room. Two additions are  Davis Beville and General Booty.

“Yeah, it was incredibly important,” Leddy said of the transfers. “I think what’s still a little bit concerning is we sit here today and we’ve got one guy that’s thrown a bunch of footballs in live action.

“Now, Davis has got some action, which I thought was huge, being able to add that to the room. And then General, in the same light, has played some college ball at a much smaller level. But those guys know how to work. They know what it means to be a quarterback. They’ve got great presence about them. They’ve done everything the right way. So, excited about getting on the grass with them for sure.”

Nick Evers is a freshman quarterback at OU.

“I’ve said this and will continue to say this: Nick is very, very talented,” Leddy said. “I love where he’s going to end up when it’s all said and done. He understands the reset process as you come in and you’re getting going in college, having to reset and be in a room full of talented guys. But again, Nick’s got a big time future, and I’m excited about what he’s going to end up being for us here.”

It was a big plus for the Sooner when offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh opted to stay at OU. Leddy is happy he stayed.

“(Our) relationship is great,” Leddy said. “Bill recruited me when I was coming out of high school, so we’ve got a ton of history. And a lot of people don’t know that. But again, got a ton of history. Man, we’ve had a lot of fun getting going, again, got great rapport, got a great relationship. He’s the best O-line coach in the country, bar none. So, dang glad he’s in the room.”

OU opened camp on August 4 with no major injuries.

“Yeah, we’re probably 99% healthy,” new head coach Brent Venables said. “Nothing that we’re really concerned about with that other 1%. Hopefully, within the first couple of weeks we’ll have everybody ready to go. But I feel great about the health of our team, you know, the gains that we’ve made in the weight room, our strength, our size. A bunch of guys that have PR-d through the course of the summer and have trimmed up, lost body fat, gained muscle, mission accomplished. So, I think our guys are in a really good, confident, strong position going into camp.”

Venables brought back long-time conditioning coach Jerry Schmidt.

“It’s been incredible,” Leddy said. “You get around our guys in the summer, you get around Schmidty in the summer, man, you automatically get inspired. You can’t help but be in that room and be inspired by the way guys are working and sweating. We talk about sweat equity all the time.

“And Schmidty does an unbelievable job reaching these guys every single day and giving us the ability that when we walk down that tunnel, man, our guys are gonna be prepared and ready to go to war.”

And Leddy is ramping up the mental preparation, too.

“Yeah, we’re applying pressure from an install standpoint,” Leddy said. “We want to make these guys strain as much mentally as physically, while putting them in positions of success as well. So, it’s a fine line. Our guys, we’ve got a smart football team.

“We’ve got guys that understand football and guys that love learning and love getting better when they’re not on the grass. So, that’s a huge part of it. It’s a credit to them that we’re able to go as deep into it as we are as fast as we are.”

Leddy, who played at OU and was a student assistant, is glad to be  back with the Sooners.

“Yeah, I think at the end of the day, man, if there’s a guy inside the room that wants to do that or that comes to us, I think it’s our responsibility as coaches to be able to learn those young guys and bring them along and give guys an opportunity,” Leddy said. “That’s the only reason I’m standing here today, is because I got that chance.

“And so with that being said, we’re always looking for guys that want to help and do a great job every single day. So, I think there’s great value in that for sure.