Oklahoma State Cowboys Season Preview

While the Oklahoma State Cowboys are slowly improving as a team and going into the 2011 season, folks out in Stillwater are whispering and wondering if Mike Gundy can ever lead them to a BCS Bowl.

Since the BCS era started in 1998, they have never appeared in any BCS Bowls and are accustomed to playing in the Alamo, Cotton or Holiday Bowl. They are overdue like nobody’s business to play in a BCS Bowl, but they will have to earn it this season.

Outlook

This team has always had the explosive, high-octane offense, but it need its defense to play much better in the crucial prime time games. It essentially had Oklahoma right where it wanted them and still could not find a way to win at Boone-Pickens Stadium.

The game was an absolute shootout, but Oklahoma made some huge plays and Weeden made too many big mistakes early on in the ballgame before he caught his groove in the fourth quarter.

Blackmon was dinged up and was only at about 75 percent, but the defense was healthy and could not perform when it counted the most.

They allowed the Nebraska offense to go off against them as they allowed a boatload of points in the Big 12. Their secondary returns only three starters, though they should be the best Gundy and defensive coordinator Bill Young have ever seen.

The LB corp has never been a unit that has produced NFL quality players, but that may change this season. Shaun Lewis and James Thomas are athletic enough to bottle up the run and step back in pass coverage to help the secondary out even more.

Talent Translates into BCS?

The Cowboy offense may be loaded, but it will be the first time in several years they are without their offensive guru in coordinator Dana Holgersen, who left for West Virginia as the head coach.

If the Pokes can get by Arizona at home in a rematch of the Alamo Bowl, they will have a world of confidence going up against Tulsa, Texas A&M, Texas and Missouri.

That may be considered murderers' row, but with the talent that OKST has, those teams will not be walking into the game with any more talent. There may not be any team in the nation that has more offensive talent at its disposal than the Cowboys (I hear you Boomer Sooner).

With that said, they need a running game and losing Kendall Hunter was quite the loss as he has been productive for so many years. Joseph Randle was a slasher and dasher as he showed off his talent down the stretch of the season.

Jeremy Smith is also part of a two-back system that Gundy prefers to use instead of having a fullback blocking every single down. Gundy will spread you out in a wing formation which can be unstoppable if you cannot get after the passer like Oklahoma has done just enough the past several years.

Oklahoma State must get by those mighty Sooners now rather than later because it is missing out on quite the opportunity with all of its top notch talents that continue to come and go in Stillwater. I believe its preseason ranking states how dangerous the Pokes will be. 

Pokes Need a Better Defense to Win

After a disappointing season in which the Pokes had every chance to win the Big 12 South for the first time in the BCS era, they once again came short against the Boomer Sooners because of their defense.

The defense got exposed as they were only 88th in total defense and 115th in pass defense. Defensive coordinator Bill Young will have to shore up this defense that only returns one defensive linemen. They were solid against the run ranking 37th, but hopefully a top 25 recruiting class will help out what looks to be the weak link on defense.

Richetti Jones was highly touted coming out of high school as he was ranked as the 5th best end according to Rivals. If he can perform like an All-Big 12 performer, then this front four will automatically improve from a year ago.

Jamie Blatnick will be on the opposite side of him. They will be pretty inexperienced inside, but they have never been a team that has desperately relied on interior linemen.

Last Game in Stillwater Decides Their Fate?

The linebacker corp has been under the radar as they do not get many five-star athletes, but they are accustomed to the three and four stars. The loss of leading tacklers Orie Lemon and Justin Gent will hurt a lot, but luckily they have acquired the 31st best community college player in Alex Elkins. 

James Thomas or super sophomore Shaun Lewis may be looked at as the leaders at the LB corp, but they will need other players to take it up a notch if they expect to knock off those Sooners in Stillwater in late November.

The play of the season arguably was by the leaping and athletic ability of Broderick Brown. Against Oklahoma, Landry Jones threw the ball out of bounds but Brown in leaped and while in mid-air, threw the ball to his teammate Shaun Lewis who came away with the miraculous interception.

Markelle Martin and Johnny Thomas are capable of becoming All-Big 12 performers this season but they better improve upon that 115th ranking to have any glimmer of hope of dethroning Oklahoma, who is accustomed to playing in BCS Bowls every season. (Note: Thomas been ruled ineligible for season)

Dan Bailey was the Lou Groza award winner last season and has now graduated, so it will be interesting to see if the kicking game will still be effective, starting with the opener against Louisiana Lafayette.

At punter, Quinn Sharp was named First Team All-Big 12 a season ago, so field position should fall in the favor of the Pokes. That is something to keep an eye on because it will help put the Cowboys in much better position for their defense.

Better Than Chris Weinke Once Was?

This offense will be won and lost by the play of its quarterback Brandon Weeden and wide receiver Justin Blackmon. Blackmon has that rare strength, size and speed you look for in a stud playmaker. He also has a pair of hands that have not let him down in the red zone.

Blackmon reminds a lot of Big 12 fans of a better version Mr. Crabtree, which speaks volumes.  He can stretch the field and at the same time hit the home run ball. He burned Nebraska's first-round corner Prince Amukamara, gliding by him and catching the ball at the last possible second for a long touchdown.

Blackmon can break many records with such a solid QB threading the needle to him, and throw in a Big 12 conference now known as the new Big 10. Despite no conference championship game, the Cowboys can still win ten games because of how dangerous this offense is.

Weeden will be a 28-year-old senior signal caller when the season is a month in, however that is not a liability for the team.

He is not quite as good as Chris Weinke was back in the late 90s with Florida State, but he arguably has a better arm. If he can cut down on the picks, he will lead these Pokes to a BCS Bowl.

Fast and Furious Duo Racing Towards a Conference Crown?

A lot of the credit Weeden receives should be given to the offensive line which is led by right tackle Levy Adcock. The entire line will be loaded with seniors outside of right guard Lane Taylor who is just a junior.

They will be opening some holes up for running back Joseph Randle, who looks to be the next Cowboys star. Also, don’t forget Jeremy Smith, a reliable back that can carry the load for ten carries a game.

Both runners are similar to Kendall Hunter though as both are a few inches taller compared to Hunter's short 5'7" frame that often hid behind his linemen. This new duo could deliver quite the blow to Big 12 foes with their ability to cut through the hole in the drop of a hat. 

Drama's Forecast

If this Cowboys squad can get over the hump of defeating the Boomer Sooners, they will finally play in their first ever BCS Bowl.

I am hitting that point so much because the Big 12 is as wide open as ever before with Nebraska being gone and without a Big 12 championship. The final game of the season against the Sooners on the final weekend of the regular season has a great chance of deciding an automatic tie in to the BCS.

It is important to note that Oklahoma and Texas are the only teams to win a BCS Bowl from the Big 12 South, since the Aggies lost to Ohio State in the ’98 Sugar Bowl.

Playing a much improved Texas team in Austin will be no easy task. They return nearly their entire team and should be a legit top 20. Missouri will not lay down either, and College Station will be extremely difficult.

The non-conference games are fairly easy besides Tulsa on the road and an Alamo Bowl rematch against Arizona.

Closing out the season at home against the Sooners will decide their BCS fate once again, but until proven otherwise those Sooners get the edge since they will still be in the hunt not only for a Big 12 crown but also for a BCS National Championship appearance.                               

RETURNING STARTERS: 10 OFFENSE/ 6 DEFENSE

PROJECTED RECORD: 11-2, 6-2

PROJECTED FINISH: Third in Big 12 (Top 15 Team)

PROJECTED BOWL: Alamo Bowl