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Oklahoma State Cowboys (Last Year: 9-4)
2009 College Football Season Preview:
Star Players:
QB Zac Robinson, RB Kendall Hunter, RB Keith Toston, WR/PR Dez Bryant, WR Damian Davis, T Russell Okung, T Brady Bond, DE Ugo Chinasa, DE Jeremiah Price, OLB Andre Sexton, OLB Patrick Levine, CB/KR Perrish Cox.
Draft/Graduation/Transfer Losses:
TE Brandon Pettigrew, G Steve Denning, C David Washington, DT Tonga Tea, DT Jeray Chatham, CB Jacob Lacey, S Ricky Price, S T.J. Bell, S Quinton Moore, P Matt Fodge.
2009 Oklahoma State Cowboys Offense:
There is a lot of hype in Stillwater about this year’s Cowboys offense, as there should be. This is the first time in a long time that Oklahoma State fans have national championship aspirations, and it all starts with the high-powered offense led by senior Zac Robinson.
Robinson was third in the nation in yards per attempt and he does a good job of taking care of the football in this pro-style spread attack. Robinson has a decent arm and is a projected mid-round draft pick next April.
The big star on this offense is Dez Bryant, who many think is the best receiver in the country. Bryant is a big target at 6-2 and he creates mismatches across the middle of the field. Bryant accounted for more than 41 percent of the receptions in this offense and 76 percent of the touchdown receptions. Bryant lacks speed deep for the NFL, but he has a good vertical for jump balls against smaller corners in the Big XII.
What is overlooked in this offense is how dominant their running game is. Mike Gundy’s offense runs the ball more than any other team in the Big XII at 64 percent of the time. Tailback Kendall Hunter was second in the nation in yards per carry for all players with a minimum of 200 rushing attempts. Hunter totaled 1,555 yards and 16 touchdowns last season. He is on the smaller side at 5-8, 190, but he is a tough running back with surprising power.
The best pro prospect on this offense is left tackle Russell Okung, whom I was very high on going into the 2008 season. Okung is a big athlete and has outstanding footwork. Robinson will never feel pressure from the blind side because of Okung. Okung is also an underrated threat in terms of his run-blocking ability because of his level of physicality on the line of scrimmage. I would like to see Okung pack on another eight or 10 pounds this offseason to be even more dominant against defensive ends, but he can do that in the NFL as well.
2009 Oklahoma State Cowboys Defense:
Of Oklahoma State’s four losses last season, I would say three of them occurred because the defense did not show up. The lone loss being the four-point defeat in Austin to the Longhorns in which the rush defense finally showed up.
When you look at the Cowboys’ defense, the only legit pro prospect I see is defensive end Ugo Chinasa, whom I expect to have a big senior season. Outside of Chinasa, not much is there and it shows up statistically.
Oklahoma State was 77th in the country in scoring defense at 28.1 points per game. They were 78th in total defense at 5.6 yards per play. They only generated 15 sacks last season and gave up 4.33 yards per rush. I can’t find one statistic that impresses me with this defense, and I don’t see much reason this unit can really improve with a more difficult schedule.
The Cowboys hope Chinasa and senior defensive end Derek Burton have career years, but hope doesn’t win football games.
Patrick Lavine is expected to be the leader of the linebacking corps in this upcoming year. Lavine has some range and playmaking ability. Rover Andre Sexton can match up against opposing tight ends and slot receivers in man coverage.
The only way I think this defense can be more effective is if they get more sacks and turnovers. If this defensive backfield can get more interceptions, it simply puts up more points on the board because Zac Robinson and Dez Bryant will score touchdowns.
The key to this defense is just making more plays. They don’t have the talent to be an elite unit, but if they can somehow come up with the football and give it to their offense, then they can win some big games next season.
2009 Oklahoma State Cowboys Schedule and Intangibles:
The non-conference schedule is slightly tougher in 2009. Instead of playing Washington State in the opener, the Georgia Bulldogs travel to Stillwater. Georgia isn’t nearly as strong as last year’s team with the loss of Matt Stafford and Knowshon Moreno, but their defense and offensive line is still a threat on the road.
Houston won’t be as good defensively or on the offensive line as they were in 2008, but they do return junior quarterback Chase Keenum. I think Oklahoma State should dominate this matchup because of everything Houston lost in graduations.
Oklahoma State should be undefeated going into the Oct. 31 match against Texas, which will probably be a nationally televised game at home for the Cowboys. Oklahoma State played Texas close last year on the road, so it isn’t crazy to think they can upset the Longhorns.
Iowa State, Texas Tech, and Colorado shouldn’t give this team any problems. Therefore, if Oklahoma State beats Texas, then they will be playing at Oklahoma for a chance to get into the national championship. That’s easier said than done, but you can see why Oklahoma State fans think they are legitimate contenders.
The special teams unit is one of the best in the country. Perrish Cox was third in the nation in kickoff return average and took back two for scores. Dez Bryant was third in the nation in punt return average and also scored two touchdowns. Dan Bailey is an accurate kicker in short range, but doesn’t have a big leg. The Cowboys must find a way to replace graduated punter Matt Fodge.
2009 Oklahoma State Cowboys Positional Rankings (1-5 stars):
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Coaching |
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2009 Oklahoma State Cowboys Analysis:
Oklahoma State should blaze through their schedule in the games they don’t play Texas and Oklahoma. However, their defense might let them down at some point. I am not projecting a surprise loss because the Big XII isn’t as strong as it was last year, but you never know in college football. I really don’t think Oklahoma State can beat Texas because the Cowboys don’t have the athletes to stop the Longhorns. Beating Oklahoma on the road will also be a tall order for Oklahoma State, and I can’t see them stopping Sam Bradford. This team has the potential to play in the national championship, but that just doesn’t happen for teams that lack great talent defensively.
Projection: 10-2
More 2009 College Football Season Previews
NFL Power Rankings - Oct. 22
NFL Picks - Oct. 21
2025 NFL Mock Draft - Oct. 16
Fantasy Football Rankings - Sept. 4
