Tulsa World: OSU defense is eager to prove itself

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OSU defense is eager to prove itself
Gundy says Cowboy defense is more mature, faster and its chemistry is improved.

Safety Andre Sexton, shown making a tackle during the Insight Bowl last season, says he is ready to show fans how much the defense has improved this year. Stephen Pingry/Tulsa World

By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Published: 8/30/2008 2:09 AM
Last Modified: 8/30/2008 2:11 AM

Gundy says Cowboy defense is more mature, faster and its chemistry is improved.

Throughout the spring practice period and preseason camp, Mike Gundy was asked the same question about a million times: Will Oklahoma State play better defense this season?

During Gundy's first three seasons as the Cowboy head coach, defensive performances routinely have been inadequate if not outright embarrassing. Now, everyone within the OSU camp seems convinced that the defense finally will be respectable.

Cowboy fans get their first look at the 2008 defense on Saturday, when OSU meets Washington State at 2:30 p.m. at Seattle's Qwest Field. The game will air on FSN-27.

Of his defensive personnel, Gundy said, "They're not going to all of a sudden become a Steel Curtain in Seattle, but they're better, they're more mature and they're faster. I think their team chemistry is much better."

Gundy-coached Cowboy teams have ranked no better than 89th nationally in total defense. Last season, OSU was 101st, which led to the signing of six defensive players from junior colleges.

From that group, tackle Swanson Miller, safety Lucien Antoine, cornerback Maurice Gray and inside linebacker Donald Booker could be significantly involved on Saturday.

"We're trying to build a belief here in Stillwater that we can play defense," said second-year OSU defensive coordinator Tim Beckman.

In home games last season, the Cowboys gave up 718 yards to Texas Tech, 589 yards to Texas (311 during the fourth quarter alone) and 529 yards against Kansas. Dating to the start of the 2005 season (Gundy's first as the head man), nine Cowboy opponents have exceeded 500 total yards.

Offensively, Oklahoma State ranked among national leaders last season. Zac Robinson returns for his first full season as the starting quarterback, and his supporting cast includes an All-Big 12 tight end (Brandon Pettigrew), a star-in-the-making wide receiver (sophomore Dez Bryant) and an extremely effective and experienced offensive line.

The Cowboys are attempting to crash beyond the seven-win mark for the first time since 2003. Whether 2008 becomes a special season depends in great part on the play of the defense.

This week, OSU players were asked whether they are hopeful or certain that the defense can get more key stops and create more turnovers.

"There's been some talk and buzz about it, but now we actually show all the changes we've made," said junior Andre Sexton, OSU's starter at the "star" position (a hybrid safety-linebacker role). "I'm ready to get out there and show our fans that we're a faster, more physical defense.

"It's a big sigh of relief — it's finally here. Let's get out on the field and do what we're supposed to do."

Said Cowboy inside linebacker Orie Lemon: "We know we're a lot better than we were last year."

In 1986-89, while Gundy was quarterbacking the Cowboys, Paul Wulff was the starting center at Washington State. Wulff now is the Cougars' first-year head coach, having completed an eight-year run as the coach at Division I-AA Eastern Washington.

Wulff's Eastern Washington teams were known for throwing the football — last season, 35 times a game for a total of more than 3,800 yards — and Wulff is expected to pass just as often at Washington State.

Mired in a slump of four consecutive non-winning seasons, the Cougars are expected to finish near the bottom of the Pac-10 standings, but they do have a solid running back in junior Dwight Tardy and an exceptional wide receiver in senior Brandon Gibson.

"These guys are going to be ready to play," Wulff said. "It's just about executing what we're trying to do out there. If we can execute extremely well, then I like our chances."

WSU has uncertainty on the offensive line (three new starters) and at the quarterback position. Gary Rogers is a fifth-year senior but a first-year starter at QB. In his career, he has attempted only 52 passes.

"I'm looking for (the Cowboys) to throw some blitzes at me," said the 6-foot-7, 233-pound Rogers. "I'm going to be ready for that."

Bill Haisten 581-8397
bill.haisten@tulsaworld.com

3 storylines

A look at three keys to watch in today’s OSU-Washington State contest.

On the road

Because it won’t be played at Martin Stadium on the Washington State campus, Saturday’s game is not classified as a true road game for the Cowboys. Essentially, however, it is a road test, and the Mike Gundy-coached Cowboys have struggled away from Stillwater (a 7-12 record). Last season, OSU did show signs of being more comfortable away from home, winning at Nebraska, at Baylor and in the Tempe, Ariz., Insight Bowl over Indiana.

Mystery Cougars

Washington State has a new coach (Paul Wulff), a new spread offense and a new quarterback (Gary Rogers). The Cowboy defense knows that Cougar wide receiver Brandon Gibson is a home-run threat. Otherwise, Gundy admits, “we don’t have any idea what they’re going to do.” It will be important for OSU’s ends to at least occasionally pressure Rogers and for the Cowboy linebackers to make solid tackles on short pass plays.

The ground game

OSU’s most valuable player last season was running back Dantrell Savage. He now is a Kansas City Chief. In rushing, the Cowboys led the Big 12 and were No. 8 nationally. OSU is favored over Washington State, and the best way to stifle an upset bid is with a productive, time-consuming ground game. OSU has a deluxe offensive line. Can Kendall Hunter and Beau Johnson become an elite combination at running back?

By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer

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If you see a comment that violates our terms and conditions, please help us by clicking the "Report this Comment" link next to a comment. That will alert the web staff to review the comment. Thank you. -- Web Editor Jason Collington

	Report Comment my2cents, (8/30/2008 7:34:28 AM) They won 8 games in 2004. So much for research.
	Report Comment FIRE GUNDY, TULSA (8/30/2008 9:04:07 AM) .02- what are you referring to? Neither team won 8 games in 2004.
	Report Comment my2cents, (8/30/2008 10:27:22 AM) I guess that was 03-04 when the Cowboys went to the Cotton Bowl. My bad.

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