Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Kansas fans witnessed the explosiveness of the Oklahoma State offense firsthand last year when the Cowboys scored 42 second-half points and gained more than 600 total yards.
The nation was next to notice the Cowboys when coach Mike Gundy’s dream of bringing a high-octane offense to Stillwater, Okla., was becoming a reality.
Not much will change this year as the Cowboys’ offense is littered with NFL talent. The only concern is whether the defense has enough talent to compete with other college programs.
Record: 6-6 overall; 3-5 Big 12
Bowl game: Independence Bowl vs. Alabama, won 34-31
Points per game: 35.2
Opponents’ points per game: 25.6
OFFENSE
Any discussion of Oklahoma State’s offense starts with senior Adarius Bowman, who is one of the nation’s best wide receivers. Bowman is 6-foot-4, 220 pounds and combines his size with stifling speed and perfect hands.
Junior Bobby Reid will once again be the quarterback throwing to Bowman. Reid threw 24 touchdowns in his sophomore season, but he can also beat teams outside of the pocket. He rushed for more than 500 yards.
The danger doesn’t end there for opponents. Oklahoma State also returns senior running back Dantrell Savage, who would likely have been the Big 12’s leading returning rusher if he hadn’t missed two games last season. Savage still averaged 6.5 yards per carry last season and adds yet another dimension of blistering speed for the Cowboys.
The offensive line should also improve. All five starters have sufficient experience and junior center David Washington and senior tackle David Koenig are two of the Big 12’s best.
DEFENSE
The hope is that with seven starters returning, the Cowboys’ defense will be improved. Make that much improved, because only Baylor’s and Iowa State’s defenses ranked lower than Oklahoma State’s in the Big 12 last year.
The linebackers are where the ascent to respectability must start. The Cowboys return senior middle linebacker Rodrick Johnson and sophomore outside linebackers Chris Collins and Patrick Lavine. Johnson also will see some playing time at defensive end to bring a new intensity to the pass rush.
Lavine recorded seven tackles per game his freshmen season and should improve this year. Collins may miss some time because of legal troubles and could possibly be suspended, which would be devastating to this unit.
The secondary also returns all four starters from 2006, including the defense’s leading tackler, sophomore strong safety Andre Sexton. Senior cornerback Martel Van Zant has the size and athleticism to cover the Big 12’s best receivers.
SEASON OUTLOOK
This could be the year the Cowboys rise to become one of the best teams in the Big 12 South. They first must get through their non-conference schedule, which features the toughest first game of any Big 12 team. Oklahoma State travels to Athens, Ga., Saturday to take on the Georgia Bulldogs of the SEC.
Oklahoma State also plays at Troy, which is a tougher game than it seems because Troy is the best team in its conference and upset Missouri three years ago.
The Cowboys have tough Big 12 road games at Texas A&M, Oklahoma and Nebraska. Oklahoma State is capable of pulling a couple of upsets and having its best season under Gundy.
PREDICTION
8-4, Alamo Bowl
— Edited by Matt Erickson
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