OSU hopes to identify No. 1 QB very soon, Gundy says
BY BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Sunday, April 22, 2012
4/22/12 at 6:23 AM
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STILLWATER - A lot transpired during Oklahoma State's spring-finale football game.
There were 123 plays. There were punts and kickoffs and tackles. There was a breakout performance by junior wide receiver Charlie Moore, who totaled nine catches for 243 yards and three touchdowns.
But at the end of the two-hour exercise, there was one overwhelmingly prevalent conversation topic - the three-man competition at quarterback.
For the record, there was a final score: 31-21, with the Gray team prevailing over the Orange. OSU announced the attendance as having been about 11,000, but the actual number looked to be closer to 15,000 or even 18,000.
This event was known for years as the Orange-White game, but Cowboys were clad on Saturday in orange and gray jerseys. As they played for both teams, and with each getting a fairly equal number of snaps with first-team personnel, only the quarterbacks wore white jerseys.
Far more compelling than the score or jersey colors were the QB statistics.
Fourth-year junior Clint Chelf was 18-of-31 passing for 212 yards and two touchdowns.
Redshirt freshman J.W. Walsh was 16-of-27 for 310 yards and two TDs.
First-year freshman Wes Lunt was 15-of-23 for 215 yards and two TDs.
On a combined total of 81 pass attempts, none of the quarterbacks was intercepted. Senior wide receiver Tracy Moore had two touchdown catches.
In spite of an insistence that there was virtually no separation between the quarterbacks during 14 previous spring-practice sessions, and in spite of a mostly even performance on Saturday, coach Mike Gundy says he and offensive coordinator Todd Monken likely will identify a No. 1 QB next week.
"I thought each quarterback at times showed signs of being good enough to start next year, and I saw at times some deficiencies with each one of them," Gundy said. "I have an opinion on what I think is best. ... We'd like to name a quarterback this upcoming week, and that way we can move forward and know who our leader is in the summer. I think that's best for the team."
Following the game, the quarterback issue was addressed by the participants and their teammates.
"I really want to be the starter," Chelf said. "I think I did a pretty good job this spring. Whatever happens, we're all friends. J.W. had a great spring. Wes had a great spring. We'll just have to see what happens."
Gundy is scheduled to meet with Monken on Wednesday. The announcement of a decision may be immediate.
"I don't know what to expect," Walsh said. "I'm anxious and ready to hear it. Whatever decision they make, we'll roll with it and just take each and every day to make the Cowboys better."
As a first-year member of the program, Lunt is not made available for interviews.
"We did a good job as a defense, pushing each and every one of (the QBs) in practice," junior linebacker Shaun Lewis said. "All three of them made good plays. ... I think it's a three-way tie, really. I think it will probably go to the older guy (Chelf)."
Said junior running back Joseph Randle: "We've got three guys who can all get it done. We'll let the coaches do their job and make that happen. ... The freshman (Lunt) really did surprise me with how he developed. As soon as he learned the offense, he was really doing things and being very productive for a guy his age at the quarterback position."
The quarterback situation has overshadowed one extremely positive aspect of Spring 2012 - the development of a defense that should be Oklahoma State's best since Gundy became the head coach in 2005.
On Saturday, Cowboy defenders combined for eight sacks and 12 pass break-ups. When compared to that of other Gundy-era OSU teams, the athleticism and depth at the linebacking positions is striking.
"I think we got two or three coverage sacks today because we did have great coverage in our secondary and (from) our linebackers," defensive coordinator Bill Young said. "That's always a heck of a bonus."
Spring Game Highlights
Player of the day: Charlie Moore. You're not alone if you saw his name and said "Charlie who?" A 6-foot-2 junior receiver with career totals of seven catches and 114 yards, Moore was perhaps anonymous until surfacing as the star of the spring game. He caught nine balls for 243 yards and three touchdowns. Said coach Mike Gundy, "I think we are going to see a lot of great things out of him this year."
Play of the day: After escaping from a heavy pass rush, Wes Lunt launched a deep throw to a streaking Moore near the right sideline. Moore collected the 30-yard throw in stride and raced to the end zone, completing a 59-yard touchdown play.
Biggest surprise: Once again, it's Moore. But former OSU quarterback Brandon Weeden perhaps wasn't surprised by Moore's big day. During a pre-Fiesta Bowl media function, Weeden was asked about Cowboy receivers who were returning to the program. Said Weeden, "Charlie can play. Keep an eye on him."
Best non-development: No news was good news. Said Gundy, "We made it through without getting anybody hurt, which was really good."
Best NFL draft advice: Regardless of who starts at quarterback, Gundy offered a disclaimer on what OSU fans can expect. "It's not going to look like Brandon Weeden is out there early in the season," the coach said. "We could play really well and we expect to win games, but you are talking about a really special guy (in Weeden) - a guy that in my opinion still should go in the first round and whoever doesn't take him is going to be sorry. He's just different."
OSU 2012 SCHEDULE
Sept. 1: vs. Savannah State TBA
Sept. 8: at Arizona TBA
Sept. 15: vs. La.-Lafayette TBA
Sept. 29: vs. Texas TBA
Oct. 13: at Kansas TBA
Oct. 20: vs. Iowa State TBA
Oct. 27: vs. TCU TBA
Nov. 3: at Kansas State TBA
Nov. 10: vs. West Virginia TBA
Nov. 17: vs. Texas Tech TBA
Nov. 24: at Oklahoma TBA
Dec. 1: at Baylor TBA
Original Print Headline: The QB question
Bill Haisten 918-581-8397
bill.haisten@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
OSU's Charlie Moore caught nine passes for 243 yards and three touchdowns in Saturday's spring game. CORY YOUNG / Tulsa World
OSU's Charlie Moore caught nine passes for 243 yards and three touchdowns in Saturday's spring game. CORY YOUNG / Tulsa World
Quarterback J.W. Walsh completed 16-of-27 passes for 310 yards and two touchdowns in Saturday's spring game. CORY YOUNG / Tulsa World
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