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Gameday: Spring edition -- Taking a look at OSU football
Published: 3/30/2012 8:08 PM
Last Modified: 3/30/2012 8:08 PM

All the news about Tulsa hiring Danny Manning as its new basketball coach derailed us from our spring football rounds.

So today, for your weekend consumption, here's a look at the Oklahoma State football program.

I'll catch up with Tulsa next week in advance of the Golden Hurricane's spring game.

Oklahoma State
2011 record (Big 12):12-1 (8-1, first)
Returning starters: 6 offense; 8 defense
Remaining spring practice dates: April 2, 4, 6, 9, 11, 13, 16, 18.
Spring game: April 21, open to the public

Don't worry about...
1. Mike Gundy
By all accounts, Gundy, who received a nice pay raise after the Cowboys' Fiesta Bowl win, has grown into the job. His fan-favorite status as a player helped him become an OSU assistant coach. A risky choice when named head coach, Gundy has developed into someone who would be considered for any high-profile vacancy. Boone Pickens' money creates a lot of pressure, but Gundy has used it and a Texas recruiting base to develop a national program.

2. Running back
There are plenty of holes on the offensive side of the ball, but this isn't one of them. Joseph Randle and Jeremy Smith, who had break-out seasons in 2011 by combining for nearly 2,000 yards rushing, both return. Sophomore Herschel Sims showed flashes of brilliance in limited carries last season. The issue with the running game won't be who's carrying the ball, but who's blocking. The Cowboys must replace nearly 80 starts of experience on their offensive line.

3. Schedule
It's definitely not sexy for the season ticket holder, but it may be just what the doctor ordered for an offense that could experience some growing pains. Savannah State, Arizona and Louisiana-Lafayette to start the year won't be confused with LSU, Alabama and Arkansas, but it will allow a new quarterback and offensive line to develop. The Cowboys also get Texas, TCU and West Virginia at home. And OSU's only back-to-back road trips of the season -- Bedlam and Baylor -- don't occur until the final two games of the year.

It's worth worrying about...
1. The quarterback situation
There's always concern when you replace a quarterback as experienced and decorated as Brandon Weeden. Throw in the departure of a top five draft pick at receiver and three offensive linemen, and it's easy to see where the offense might struggle. It will also be interesting to see what the offense looks like. By most accounts, first-year coordinator Todd Monken made few changes last year to an offense designed by Dana Holgorsen. But Monken's background is in more pro-style offenses. Any tweaks he makes could also impact the quarterback situation.

2. Turnovers
Oklahoma State led the nation in turnover margin and forced turnovers, a big reason the Cowboys won the Big 12 and contended for a spot in the BCS title game. It was the second straight year OSU was in the top 10 nationally in forced turnovers. Turnovers, however, are often as much about good fortune as good play. In fact, OSU is one of only five teams in the last five years to rank in the top 10 nationally in forced turnovers in consecutive seasons. The Cowboys have eight starters back defensively and a deep linebacking corps. But an explosive offense and those turnovers masked some defensive deficiencies in 2011. Needed to be the dominant unit this season, at least early on, can the defense hold up?

3. Recruiting
It's said the recruiting dividends for a great season on the field don't appear until at least two Februarys later. OSU has to hope that's the case. The 2012 class wasn't what you might have hoped off a 12-1 season. While national champion Alabama pulled in the No. 1-ranked class in the nation according to Rivals.com, Oklahoma State was outside the top 30. The Cowboys stole one player late from Tulsa and signed another who they hope to resign after he develops in junior college.

Reader Comments

4 Total

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Bart78 (11 months ago)

I agree with your "No Worries" list for the most part. On your "Worry A Little" list, your perspective on #1 is what I've pointed out in some comments on fan sites about Monken wanting to put his own stamp on the offense. I think the don't fix what isn't broken concept doesn't get the respect it deserves especially when the male ego is involved.

Tulsa World Sports Editor Michael Peters (11 months ago)

You would think a coach with mostly pro-style experience would want to introduce some of those concepts into the current offense. We'll have to wait and see.

indigo montoya (11 months ago)

Recruiting ranking is a concern? Since when? oSu doesn't have to "hope" anything. It is clear that the OSU coaches are as good or better than any other group at evaluating talent. Look at where 10 years of top 5 recruiting rankings has gotten Texas.

Tulsa World Sports Editor Michael Peters (11 months ago)

Recruiting rankings aren't the be all, end all, but they are a decent indication of future success. The three Oklahoma State recruiting classes that made up the heart of this year's team had 16 four-star signees. The last two classes have had five. Will that lead to less success on the field? Maybe not. But I don't think any school tries to sign less talented players.

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The Editor's Desk

Tulsa World Sports Editor Michael Peters has nearly 20 years of daily newspaper experience. A 1993 graduate of Texas A&M, he worked at papers in Bryan-College Station, Texas, Beaumont, Texas, and Galveston, Texas, before joining the Houston Chronicle as High School Sports Editor in 2008. While in Houston, he coordinated coverage of the 2008 Texas Class 5A state football championships and the 2011 NCAA Men's Final Four.

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