Oklahoma Head Football Coach Brent Venables addressed the media in Tampa Bay, Florida, at SEC Media Days Monday morning.Venables talked about the improvements needed in the offensive line, running game, and the returning starter s on defense.WATCH: Venables at SEC Media Days: 'We have to run it a heck of a lot better' SEC Media Days: Sooners look to improve run game in '26"Make no mistake, we've got a lot of improvement to do there offensively speaking, in being able to run the football. We have to run it a heck of a lot better than we did a year ago, Venables said. I believe in not only them but the other parts around them offensively."Sooners Quarterback John Mateer, who led OU to a 10-win season last year and CFP appearance, listed areas of improvement for his game in 2026."The biggest one has been the completion percentage, moving the ball forward, staying ahead of the chains. That's one of them, said Mateer. It's the accuracy, the timing, the decision-making; that's how that happens."WATCH: SEC Media Days: Taste of CFP has Sooners wanting more SEC Media Days: Taste of CFP has Sooners wanting moreCoach Venables, when asked how he will replicate last year's success on the defensive line, said,"Defensively I don't take anything for granted. We lost four really good players up front, two at defensive end and two at defensive tackle."A year ago at this time, David Stone, very highly recruited guy coming out of high school, top guy in the country, proclaimed him, wrote stories about him, might be a bust, things of that nature. He didn't listen to any of that. He just put his head down and worked and had an outstanding sophomore year," said Venables."I say that to remind certainly myself but everybody that every year there's a new storyline when it comes to players emerging, players coming out of nowhere."The Sooners open their season Friday, Sept. 4 in Norman vs. UTEP.Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere -- 2 News Oklahoma on your schedule | Download on your TV, watch for free. How to watch on your streaming device Download our free app for Apple, Android and Kindle devices. Like us on Facebook Follow us on Instagram Watch LIVE 24/7 on YouTube ...read more read less