A few good men
Published: 10/23/2008 8:56 AM
Last Modified: 10/23/2008 8:56 AM
I get a kick out of writers and broadcasters who put together mid-season All-America or All-Conference teams. Obviously, they have a little more time on their hands than your friendly OSU writer for the Tulsa World does. Hey, more power to them.
In all seriousness, I do enjoy analyzing these kinds of teams to see how they view players. Dave Matter does an excellent job covering Missouri football for the Columbia Tribune. Last week, Matter picked a midseason All-Big 12 team. OSU had a good representation on Matter's team.
Matter listed running back Kendall Hunter, offensive guard Steve Denning, linebacker Andre Sexton, cornerback Jacob Lacey, and Dez Bryant as kickoff returner.
My takes on Matter's OSU picks:
***It has been said in this blog on more than one occasion, but it still remains true. Hunter is the best running back in the conference. No one is close to Spud.
***The OSU offensive line deserves some love for the offensive output, especially the running game. Matter's team went literally by position on the line (left tackle, left guard, center, right guard, right tackle). Left tackle Russell Okung is OSU's best lineman, but Matter's pick was OU's Phil Loadholt. Both Okung and Loadholt are stalwarts. Denning might be OSU's most underappreciated lineman.
***Playing the star position in OSU's scheme, Sexton has been a star all season. If the Cowboys need any sort of big defensive play, it's likely that Sexton will be involved.
***Matter wrote that no Big 12 cornerback makes more plays on the ball than Lacey. I agree. The senior leads the conference in passes defended. While he only has one interception, opposing quarterbacks know where Lacey is all the time.
***Matter listed Bryant as the league's elite kickoff returner. Sorry Dave, but that's Bryant's teammate Perrish Cox. Bryant is the league's elite punt returner. He also is a fairly good wide receiver. Quite possibly an elite receiver, for that Matter.
---Matt Doyle
Written by
Bill Haisten
Sports Writer
