{"id":6827,"date":"2019-08-08T16:00:22","date_gmt":"2019-08-08T21:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/?p=6827"},"modified":"2019-08-09T01:42:38","modified_gmt":"2019-08-09T06:42:38","slug":"sanders-or-brown-quarterback-is-the-key-for-pokes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/?p=6827","title":{"rendered":"Sanders or Brown? Quarterback is the key for Pokes….."},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/h2>\n

<\/h2>\n

<\/h2>\n

OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Head Coach:\u00a0 Mike Gundy (121-59, 14 years)<\/span><\/h4>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Last Year:\u00a0 7-6\u00a0 (3-6 in conference)<\/span><\/h4>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Oklahoma State has a very good running back and maybe the best wide receiver in college football going in this season. That is the positive of Mike Gundy\u2019s stable in the Stillwater corral.\u00a0 But without a great cowhand managing the live stock, Gundy might not get the best from his top line mounts and another disappointing season could await.\u00a0 The Pokes posse could be fast and exciting but it could also fail to get their man if fifth year senior transfer Dru Brown (Hawaii) or redshirt freshman Spencer Sanders lead this group into turnovers, three-and-outs, and a general discombobulation of an offensive that is usually productive. New offensive coordinator Sean Gleeson (Princeton) has not coached at this level and that also is a concern, even if the sets and system is not changing.\u00a0 Too much to ponder to think the Aggies are championship material for 2019.<\/span><\/h6>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Offense:\u00a0 As the saying goes, if you cannot find your staring quarterback and are going to play two, you do not have a quarterback.\u00a0 As the opening game gets closer, Gundy has not committed to either Sanders or Brown.\u00a0 Sanders, more talented, is believed to be prone to turnovers. Brown, two-years a starter at Hawaii, has the experience at this caliber of football. With one year learning the system as of sitting in 2018, Brown does not have the overall talent that Sanders possesses,\u00a0 but might be the better choice in the early games.\u00a0 With that, and if Gundy goes with experience in game one, Sanders will play. This youngster (Texas 2017-18 Gatorade State Player of the Year and also named Mr. Texas Football by Dave Campbell\u2019s Texas Football magazine) from Denton, TX (Ryan HS)\u00a0 is the future at the position for OSU.<\/span><\/h6>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Oklahoma State\u2019s Tylan Wallace (2) catches a touchdown pass between Oklahoma\u2019s Brendan Radley-Hiles (44), Kenneth Murray (9) and Justin Broiles (25) late in the forth quarter of a Bedlam college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Nov. 10, 2018. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Cowboys will be excellent in most other others of the offense.\u00a0 New offensive line coach Charlie Dickey (Kan. State Univ. past eleven years) is an upgrade over the previous O-line coach and the Pokes should be better on the run as this assistant is one of the best run game teachers in the country.\u00a0 The O-line will also get better in pass protection and rely less on quick one step passes (as of last year) giving the receivers time to get open downfield and in pressure situations.\u00a0 The running game with Chuba Hubbard and LD Brown are quality.\u00a0 Hubbard could be all-conference and Brown\u2019s talent needs to be cultivated as he is too good to be sitting.\u00a0 Tylan Wallace is the stud wideout and Dillion Stoner is good enough to get a strong look at the next level. The backups are young but very talented.\u00a0 The offense could be great, good, or a big disappointment, depending upon the gunman pulling the trigger.\u00a0 Brown or Sanders will be deadly as Bill Tilghman or just another Pop Gun (Machine Gun Kelly) faker.\u00a0 Offense grade:\u00a0 B<\/span><\/h6>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Defense:\u00a0 The defensive coordinator Jim Knowles believes his two returning cornerbacks are as good as any in the country.\u00a0 A.J. Green and Rodarius Williams are excellent no matter what Knowles has to say, and with 52 starts between them, experienced. They will not be fooled in their duties and will lead a much improved secondary.\u00a0 The safeties are also returning, with Malcolm Rodriguez and Jerrick Bernard giving OSU a chance to stymie the conference\u2019s better passing offenses.\u00a0 It must be noted that this group was 118th in pass defense and had only five interceptions last year.\u00a0 Expect much improvement.\u00a0 The defensive line will be challenged by good rushing teams but Calvin Bundage is a top flight linebacker that does disrupt as of his eight tackles for loss last year.\u00a0 Bundage is an all-conference type player.\u00a0 Defense Grade:\u00a0 C<\/span><\/h6>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Special Teams:\u00a0 OSU could win a game or two with all thing equal with some opponents as of an excellent kicker in Matt Ammendola (40-52 FG lifetime with two 53 yard makes and 6th nationally in points with 251); a new punter, Tom Hutton, from Australia (28 years comes highly regarded.\u00a0 The return game suffered from mistakes last year but there is talent on this team for some big time returns.\u00a0 Special Teams: B<\/span><\/h6>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Forecast:\u00a0 2019 could be a very good year in Stillwater.\u00a0 It also could be a repeat of 2018 and speculation on which way the season goes depends upon the quarterback play on offense and the defensive line on defense.\u00a0 Those two areas of concern cannot be overlooked.\u00a0 Gundy usually follows up a not-so-great campaign with a much better one and the Cowboy program is strong as of the consistency of it\u2019s head coach and the general overall feel of the situation. The money has been put into this Big Twelve member school with facilities, excellent pay for all the coaches, and a strong fan base that does care.\u00a0 I can see OSU having a good season but a great one I think not.\u00a0 A year off of a conference contender but if any team takes OSU for granted they could find themselves on the bad end of a lopsided blowout. The talent is there and if the position coaches get it done, the Cowboys will not be an easy out.<\/span><\/h6>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Game OSU will win:\u00a0 Oregon State (A); McNeese State (H); Kansas (H)<\/span><\/h6>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Games OSU will be favorites to win (but you never know):\u00a0 Tulsa (H); Kansas State (H);<\/span><\/h6>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/h6>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/h6>\n
Toss up games:\u00a0 Texas Tech (A); Baylor (H); TCU (H); West Virginia (A)<\/span><\/h6>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Games OSU will be dogs but have a fighting chance:\u00a0 Iowa State (A)<\/span><\/h6>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Games OSU will lose:\u00a0 Texas (A); Oklahoma (H)<\/span><\/h6>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Final prediction for 2019:\u00a0 7-5 and 4-5 in conference<\/span><\/h6>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
T. Boone PIckens-Home of the Pokes\u2026.(60,000)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Feature photo:\u00a0 Chuba Hubbard runs against Oklahoma in Norman, OK in a 48-47 loss in 2019. Photo credit:\u00a0 found at saturdayblitz.com.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Secondary photo: Jonathan Bachman\/Getty Images<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/path><\/svg><\/i> \"Loading\"<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS \u00a0 \u00a0 Head Coach:\u00a0 Mike Gundy (121-59, 14 years) \u00a0 \u00a0 Last…<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/path><\/svg><\/i> \"Loading\"<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6833,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,11,10,4,7],"tags":[1488,1486,1483,1484,1481,1490,1262,1489,1491,1494,63,16,169,1493,1487,1482,1480,1492,1485],"class_list":["post-6827","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-college-football","category-college-sports","category-featured","category-home","category-latest","tag-a-j-green","tag-calvin-bundage","tag-charlie-dickey","tag-chuba-hubbard","tag-dru-brown","tag-jerrick-bernard","tag-jim-knowles","tag-malcolm-rodriguez","tag-matt-ammandola","tag-mcneese-state-univ-tulsa-golden-hurricane","tag-mike-gundy","tag-oklahoma-sooners","tag-oklahoma-state-cowboys","tag-oregon-state-beavers","tag-rodarius-williams","tag-sean-gleeson","tag-spencer-sanders","tag-tom-hutton","tag-tylan-wallace"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":338,"today_views":0},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6827","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6827"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6827\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6841,"href":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6827\/revisions\/6841"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6833"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6827"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6827"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6827"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}