Oklahoma State: college football's X-factor
Published: 7/23/2009 4:27 PM
Last Modified: 7/23/2009 4:27 PM
Entering the 2009 college football season, Oklahoma State could be considered the most prominent national X-factor.
The Cowboys seem destined for a Top 10 preseason ranking, but there are glaring uncertainties:
* Can new defensive coordinator Bill Young devise a way to generate more pressure on opposing quarterbacks? Last season, OSU managed only 15 sacks – the Big 12's lowest total. Can Young squeeze a 30-sack performance from the Cowboys' front-seven personnel?
* Last season, OSU was 93rd in total defense. In order to sustain a Top 10 poll ranking, must the Cowboys jump to No. 50 or better in total defense? Not necessarily. Oklahoma was No. 5 in the final 2008 AP poll. The Sooners were 68nd in total defense. Oregon was No. 10 in the final poll. The Ducks were 82nd in total defense. If the TCU Horned Frogs can lead the entire nation in total defense (as was the case last season), why can't Oklahoma State rank, say, 45th? Obviously, TCU's Mountain West schedule doesn't compare to OSU's Big 12 challenges, but the Cowboys can't become a true national player until they dramatically improve their defensive product.
* Can the Cowboys overcome the loss of Brandon Pettigrew? You don't often view the departure of a tight end as being overly damaging, but Pettigrew was a great college player. He not only was a weapon in the passing game, but he was a tremendous blocker (especially on option plays) and for three years was a brilliant performer on special teams. There's a reason he was a first-round draft pick.
* OSU has no clearly defined No. 2 wide receiver. What if Georgia limits Dez Bryant to four catches for 68 yards? Is any other Cowboy receiver ready to make winning plays?
* Can Zac Robinson stay healthy for an entire season?
Olin Buchanan, a former Austin American-Statesman sports writer, now covers college football for Rivals.com. In a column last week, he presented lists of "possibly overrated" and "possibly underrated" teams.
Topping Buchanan's "possibly overrated" list: Oklahoma State. (The list also included Ole Miss, Penn State and Southern Cal.)
Topping his "possibly underrated" list: Georgia. (The list also included Rutgers, North Carolina State, East Carolina and Colorado.)
Written by
Kelly Hines
Sports Writer
