Tilting at Windmills

Not that there’s anything wrong with that (unless you’re the NCAA).

Really … Stoolwater versus this …

SELLER: Deion and Pilar Sanders
LOCATION: N. Preston Road, Prosper, TX
PRICE: $21,000,000
SIZE: 29,122 square feet, 10 bedrooms, 9 full and 4 half bathrooms
DESCRIPTION: The ultimate party and family ranch. 2 story entry, sunken living, banquet dining, your own Dave and Busters, indoor basketball court and bowling alley, indoor and outdoor pools, movie theatre, billiard room, hall of fame gallery, football field, 12 acre lake, tennis court, guest house, 10 car garage, furniture negotiable, approx. living area 29,112 sq. ft. and 38,831 gross sq. ft. footage in main home.

Dez isn’t as dumb as I thought he was, which admittedly would have taken some doing.

When it is August in Oklahoma, several things are predictable. It’s going to be hot, it’s going to be dry and the Oklahoma State fans are going to be talking Big 12 championship. In most years they are dismissed as dreamers, but this year they can make a credible argument. With an agreeable schedule that has them opening against a rebuilding Georgia team in the friendly confines of T. Boone Pickens stadium, the road is as open for Oklahoma State as it has been for years. Couple that with the majority of an offense returning that was ranked 6th in the nation overall last year, and Poke fans can actually see some reason for optimism.

Today we will take a quick look at the Oklahoma State offense, later the defense and then a glance at Mike (I’m a Man) Gundy.

Eight starters return on offense, and the skilled player positions at Oklahoma State are really solid at the starting position. Depth is an issue, but it is obvious that the Aggroids have some star power at key positions. Dez Bryant (87 catches – 1,480 yards – 19 td’s) returns at wide receiver and he gives Gundy an outstanding option to consider as Gundy sits on the sidelines during the game drawing up plays and NOT watching the defense. The other receiver positions are question marks, but Bryant draws so much attention from opposing defensive coordinators that T. Boone himself could play WR and catch a few passes.

It's like being the Mayor of WTFville.

Running back is a position of strength for the porcupine haired head coach. Kendall Hunter and Keith Toston return. Last year they combined for 2,421 yards and 27 tds. Oklahoma State relied on the running game last year as the O State offense was ranked 8th in the nation in rushing offense, and first in the Big 12. Contrasting that with their #38 national ranking as a passing offense and 10th place conference finish, it is apparent that Hunter and Toston were a key part of their success last year. It is doubtful that Gundy will try to rely on the sometimes erratic arm of Zac Robinson but will force feed his 2 backs, run some option and allow Robinson to hit a few passes when the defense is in run mode.

The offensive line returns 3 starting seniors and 4 starters overall. The line will be anchored by tackle Russell Okung who briefly flirted with entering the NFL draft last year but decided to return for another year of Eskimo Joe’s. The whispers from Stillwater are that the line has the potential to be as effective as the 2008 group, and if so then opposing defenses will have a hard time getting the OSU offense off the field.

Brandon Pettigrew has taken his game to the NFL so Robinson won’t have that weapon available. The projected starting TE Youman has OSU coaches hopeful, but he will not fill the shoes of the departed Pettigrew. The big target bailed out Robinson at some key times in 2008. It will be interesting to see how the offense is refined without the presence of one of the best TE’s in the nation.

The triggerman for the OSU offense is Zac Robinson. A decent passer but a very shifty runner, Robinson also plays the game with poise and smarts. If Gundy can keep him out of a situation where Zac is decapitated then the OSU offense has the proper pilot. But if Robinson gets smacked around as he did against Oregon in 2008 and against OU in 2007, then Gundy would be calling on 2 unproven backups. That would not be a good situation for the Pokes.

Oklahoma State starts with 4 home games, including the much anticipated opener against Georgia. Following that Houston, Rice and Grambling head to Stillwater. The first road test will be at College Station against a questionable aTm squad followed by a home game against a retooling Missouri team. OSU’s biggest test may actually come at Baylor on October 24. That game is a week before the anticipated battle against the Whorns in Stillwater, and Okie State could be looking ahead. Also, the Baylor team is improving under Briles and that game could be a trap. Following the game against Texas (which many OSU fans are penciling in as win already), the schedule wraps up with trips to Iowa State and Norman and home games against Texas Tech and Colorado. In a future report I’ll look at the schedule in depth and make a pick on where Gundy will lead OSU.

Oklahoma placed eight (8) players on the first team preseason All-Big 12 team, selected by the ubiuqitous “media reps who cover the conference.”

2008 Heisman-winner Sam Bradford was named Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh is the preseason pick for Defensive Player of the year and Baylor’s Phil Taylor, a defensive tackle transfer from Penn State who sat out 2008, is the media’s pick for Newcomer of the Year.

The Big 12 South put 22 of 26 players on the squad (including OSU’s Dez Bryant, who is listed at both wide receiver and punt returner). OU’s dominant defensive line was rewarded with two players on the first team, Gerald McCoy and Jeremy Beal.

Other Sooners on the first team are Jermaine Gresham, Trent Williams, Demarco Murray, Travis Lewis and Dominque Franks.

Here’s the full list:

OFFENSE
WR Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State, 6-2, 215, Jr, Lufkin, Texas
TE Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma, 6-6, 258, Sr, Ardmore, Okla.
OL Russell Okung, Oklahoma State, 6-6, 305, Sr, Fort Bend, Texas
OL Trent Williams, Oklahoma, 6-5, 318, Sr, Longview, Texas
C Chris Hall, Texas, 6-4, 295, Sr, Irving, Texas
OL Adam Ulatoski, Texas, 6-6, 310, Sr, Southlake, Texas
OL Brandon Carter, Texas Tech, 6-7, 354, Sr, Longview, Texas
WR Dezmon Briscoe, Kansas, 6-3, 202, Jr, Dallas, Texas
QB Sam Bradford, Oklahoma, 6-4, 223, Jr, Oklahoma City, Okla.
RB Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma State, 5-8, 190, Jr, Tyler, Texas
RB DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma, 6-1, 214, Jr, Las Vegas, Nev.
PK Alex Henery, Nebraska, 6-2, 175, Jr, Omaha, Neb.
KR Perrish Cox, Oklahoma State, 6-0, 195, Sr, Waco, Texas

DEFENSE
DL Ndamukong Suh Nebraska 6-4 300 Sr/3L Portland, Ore.
DL Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma, 6-4, 297, Jr, Oklahoma City, Okla.
DL Jeremy Beal, Oklahoma, 6-3, 261, Jr, Carrollton, Texas
DL Sergio Kindle, Texas, 6-4, 255, Sr, Dallas, Texas
LB Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri, 6-2, 245, Sr, Jasper, Texas
LB Joe Pawelek, Baylor, 6-2, 240, Sr, San Antonio, Texas
LB Travis Lewis, Oklahoma, 6-2, 232, So, San Antonio, Texas
DB Darrell Stuckey, Kansas, 6-1, 205, Sr, Kansas City, Kan.
DB Jordan Lake, Baylor, 6-1, 215, Sr, Houston, Texas
DB Dominique Franks, Oklahoma, 6-0, 192, Jr, Tulsa, Okla.
DB Earl Thomas, Texas, 5-10, 197, So, Orange, Texas
P Derek Epperson, Baylor, 6-3, 235, Jr, Southlake, Texas
PR Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State, 6-2, 215, Jr, Lufkin, Texas