OSU football rewind and fast forward
Published: 1/5/2009 1:37 PM
Last Modified: 1/5/2009 1:37 PM
The first few days of 2009 have already impacted what will take place on the football field for Oklahoma State this fall.
Losing two quality assistant coaches to similar jobs (running backs coach Curtis Luper and co-offensive coordinator/receivers coach Trooper Taylor) to Auburn is a significant blow. OSU coach Mike Gundy told our Bill Haisten late Friday this is "what happens when you win games. In January every year, our profession becomes a revolving door."
Luper and Taylor will be missed from a coaching standpoint, a recruiting standpoint, a life development standpoint, and, from a selfish standpoint, a media standpoint.
Now Gundy has three vacancies to fill on his coaching staff. In addition to fill the spots left by Lupe and Troop, the all-important defensive coordinator spot is a crucial decision and hire for Gundy.
Now let's take a quick look back at 2008:
MVP: Zac Robinson. In case you needed a reminder of the junior quarterback's value to this team, check his stats before and after he got hurt in the Holiday Bowl loss to Oregon. Maybe replacing Robinson with Alex Cate would have been a prudent play. But without Robinson, OSU is a 4-8 team at best.
Offensive player of the year: Dez Bryant. It was a sensational season for the sophomore, who now has moved into the hierarchy of Hart Lee Dykes and Rashaun Woods as OSU great wide receivers.
Defensive player of the year: Andre Sexton. The junior linebacker was OSU's most consistent performer on an inconsistent unit with a team-best 100 tackles. Sexton became the first OSU defender to have at least 100 stops since Dwayne Levels' 109 in 2001.
Most pleasant surprise offensively: Kendall Hunter. Viewed as part of a three-back rotation in the preseason, Spud finished his sophomore season with 1,555 yards rushing. It was the sixth-best OSU single-season rushing performance.
Most pleasant surprise defensively: Orie Lemon. The junior and first-year starter found a home at middle linebacker and solidified the position with 90 tackles. Linebacker will be the strength defensively next season with Lemon, Sexton and Patrick Lavine all returning as starters.
Biggest disappointment offensively: No consistent threat at wide receiver besides Bryant. The final stats show the disparity. Bryant had 87 catches. The next best total for a wideout? Damian Davis' 19.
Biggest disappointment defensively: The drop off down the stretch by the overall unit. After solid play for the first nine games, Texas Tech, OU and Oregon averaged 53 points and 587 yards in defeating the Cowboys.
Best game: OSU's 28-23 win at Missouri. Yes, this was the first game that exposed Mizzou as a fraud. But it also showed the potential this OSU team had and that it could win a big game away from Stillwater.
Worst games: Tie between the 56-20 loss at Tech and the Holiday Bowl setback to Oregon. The Tech loss was the only game where OSU was not competitive. The Holiday Bowl setback was a big missed opportunity to finish 2008 strong and generate a lot of positive publicity entering 2009.
Speaking of 2009, here's a quick look at next season's schedule:
The nonconference slate automatically is better than 2008's because of the opener against Georgia. Even if quarterback Matthew Stafford and running back Knowshon Moreno turn pro, the Bulldogs still are very formidable. The Bulldogs battled a bevy of injuries, particularly on the offensive and defensive lines, this past season.
Houston and Rice are no pushovers. Remember how Case Keenum and Houston challenged OSU in Stillwater last September? The Cougars will be better in '09. Grambling closes out the non-Big 12 slate and they are bringing the band. That will be worth whatever ticket price Mike Holder charges for that game.
The Big 12 opponents in '09 remain the same as '08. Texas A&M can't be any worse in year two under Mike Sherman and playing at Kyle Field is always a challenge. Missouri will be in transition from the Chase Daniel, Jeremy Maclin and Chase Coffman era. Baylor is better because of Robert Griffin, who will be more seasoned. Texas is Texas, but this game is in Stillwater. Is OSU finally due to breakthrough against Mack Brown and the Longhorns?
Playing at Iowa State in early November is a depressing thought even if the Cyclones have a new coach. What will Texas Tech look like offensively without Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree? Colorado will be a sleeper in the Big 12 North. Bedlam on Thanksgiving weekend in Norman has not been a pleasant experience the last few times for the Cowboys.
It's too soon for predictions regarding win-loss record. But OSU could be a better team in 2009, but may not have a better record.
---Matt Doyle
Written by
Bill Haisten
Sports Writer
