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sportsOklahoma Sooners

Lincoln Riley on tailoring Oklahoma's offense for new QB, expectations for Jalen Hurts

Oklahoma football head coach Lincoln Riley joined the Dennis and Cowlishaw show on ESPN Dallas 103.3 [KESN-FM] during last week's Big 12 media days to discuss the Sooners' upcoming season. Below are highlights of the interview, edited for clarity.

On how the offense may change with Jalen Hurts at QB...

Riley: "(There are) none yet. We get the guys that are competing for (quarterback) and we teach them the base things. Understanding our base offense, concepts, fundamentals and then once we make a decision on who the starter will be, we'll tailor it at that point and for the rest of the offense too -- what that begins to look like as far as personnel. But right now it's teaching them the base things and then let's make the right decisions personnel-wise and then let's tailor it to that group.

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"They have to come win (the competition) just like Kyler (Murray) did last year. Same with Baker (Mayfield) when I first got there. That’s just something I believe in and we believe in as a program is that you have to earn it, no matter what you’ve done before. And we’ve got really good other players in that room. It’s either going to make somebody better or reveal another individual as better."

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On the expectations for Hurts if he wins the job...

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Riley: "All of the previous (quarterbacks) had things they liked and didn't like. I think every quarterback on earth has that. Baker and Kyler were different skill sets and we could do a lot with them. If Jalen does win the starting job from everything I've seen, I'm not sure there's anything we've done before I wouldn't do with him."

On overall offensive production for 2019...

Riley: "I don't expect it to take a dip. That's just my mindset. I said it up here (at media days) last year and everybody thought I was crazy. Can I promise it? No. But I think we can be very very good. We have to do a lot of things right but I think we have the right people in the room."

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Listen to the full interview below.