Transcript of Friday’s OSU chat
Here’s Friday’s OSU chat in case you missed it:
OSU scouting report: Georgia Bulldogs
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
Another day, another injury for the Georgia Bulldogs. The AJC’s Tim Tucker reports that starting center Ben Jones missed practice with a ankle injury and the team is uncertain when he will return.
One of the advantages Georgia may have in the season opener is with an offensive line which is considered one of the best in college football. OSU defensive tackle Derek Burton will be playing his first game as a defensive tackle and will have to hold his own in the trenches for the Cowboys to have defensive success.
On macon.com, David Hale has a nice story about UGA freshman Abry Jones, who has impressed the Bulldogs coaching staff.
Jones emergence has made defensive tackle one of the deepest positions on the UGA roster. Fortunately for OSU, the Cowboys have a solid offensive line and Zac Robinson, who has the ability to make plays with his feet.
OSU scouting report: Georgia Bulldogs
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
–According to David Hale of Macon.com, running back Richard Samuel appears to be the front runner in the UGA running back battle. Samuel, Caleb King and Carlton Thomas are the main Bulldogs in the running to replace NFL 1st rounder Knowshon Moreno.
Much like OSU, the Bulldogs had a sluggish practice on Tuesday after an off day on Monday. The two teams, who will face each other Sept. 5 at Boone Pickens Stadium, have had similar preseason camps. The injury bug has hit both teams as they prepare to be more physical in 2009 than they were a year ago.
Lastly, here’s a look at UGA defensive tackle Geno Atkins, one of the top defensive tackles in the SEC…
Hoops and Hardball
By John Helsley
Monday delivered some interesting tidbits for two off-the-radar sports at OSU: basketball and baseball.
The countdown to Major League Baseball’s deadline to sign draft picks had several potential Cowboys in play. When the smoke all cleared in the hours after midnight Monday, it didn’t go as well as hoped for the Pokes, yet wasn’t a total loss, either.
Of the four players in play — 09 pitchers Andy Oliver, Tyler Lyons and Tyler Blandford, and prep SS signee Mychal Givens — three agreed to last-minute deals, with Lyons the one returning to Stillwater.
The Givens signing, by the Orioles, hurt worst, since the O’s had cut off negotiations heading into the weekend and it appeared the nation’s No. 2 recruit would be heading to OSU.
Overall, it wasn’t a lost result. To the contrary, it was a big win, just to plug an ace like Lyons into the top of the rotation for 2010.
When last season ended, Cowboys coach Frank Anderson couldn’t have counted on any of the four to be at OSU. Only an economy that strapped MLB teams left those players dangling for so long. And even then, deals were eventually done across the board, marked by the Nationals signing of Stephen Strasburg for a cool $15 million.
On to basketball, the Cowboys welcomed everyone expected, including big men Jarred Shaw and Matt Pilgrim.
Shaw, a 6-10 freshman from Dallas, has been cleared by the NCAA and is eligible to play this season. The No. 15 center prospect in the nation by Rivals.com, Shaw averaged 13.5 points and 9.7 rebounds for Carter High’s state title team last season. There had been some question about his eligibility.
Pilgrim’s status for this season remains an issue. He transferred from Kentucky when new coach John Calipari declined to renew his scholarship. It’s now up to the NCAA to decide if he’s immediately eligible to play for the Cowboys.
The decision is critical for Pilgrim, who already sat out last season at Kentucky, after transferring there from Hampton.
Wheeler’s a good get at DT
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
Oklahoma State got a commitment from defensive tackle Diamonte Wheeler from Arlington (Texas) Bowie.
OSU is trying to develop some depth on their defensive line and defensive tackle may be the hardest position to recruit. Wheeler had offers from several schools including Nebraska and Texas Tech. Solely based on that fact alone, I think Wheeler could be a solid prospect for the Cowboys. When I heard Wheeler had committed I thought it was one of the most important commitments of the summer.
He joins Chase Rome as OSU’s lone defensive line commitments for 2010.
OSU scouting report: Georgia Bulldogs
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
In this article, David Hale of Macon.com takes a deeper look at UGA coach Mark Richt’s plan to use his true freshman on special teams.
It’s a interesting plan by Richt and one that could play off in the long term. UGA will be getting its true freshman key game experience early on in their careers and they will be better prepared later on in the season if the injury bug hits.
In this small notebook, the AJC’s Tim Tucker points out the key injuries on the UGA roster.
OSU: No. 1 Offense
By John Helsley
Folks, give yourselves a hand.
This forum and others has propped up the possibility that the Cowboys might just have the best offense in the land. Today, CollegeFootballNews.com chimed in.
In their eyes, you are right.
The Web site ranks OSU’s offense No. 1 in the nation.
“Want to beat Oklahoma State?” asks CollegeFootballNews.com. “You might have to put 45 points on the board just to hang around with Zac Robinson and the Cowboys… After finishing seventh in the nation in total offense two years ago, the OSU offensive machine was even better finishing sixth in the country averaging 488 yards and 41 points per game. Possibly the nation’s most balanced and efficient attack, there are four superstars to build around in QB Zac Robinson, WR Dez Bryant, OT Russell Okung and RB Kendall Hunter, with Bryant and Hunter likely to be among the top 10 players taken in the 2010 NFL Draft.”
The rest of the Top 10, according to the Web site:
2. Oklahoma
3. USC
4. Florida
5. Texas
6. Georgia
7. Ohio State
8. Illinois
9. LSU
10. Oregon
Personally, I’m having a hard time buying Georgia this high. Not without Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno. Ohio State is going to have to get a lot more out of Terrelle Pryor. Illinois… maybe, if Juice Williams shows some consistency.
The OSU pick isn’t out of line, although there are questions.
Like, who’s the No. 2 receiver? And is tight end still a legitimate weapon?
Either way, the Cowboys should move and score at a rapid rate. But to be No. 1, they’ll need positive answers to those questions, or a wild card to jump up somewhere else.
More from CollegeFootballNews.com:
* OSU’s quarterbacks, running backs and offensive line all rank No. 4 overall.
* Dez Bryant ranked No. 1 among wide receivers and No. 7 overall.
* Russell Okung ranked No. 1 on the o-line and No. 38 overall.
OSU scouting report: Georgia Bulldogs
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
-Much like Oklahoma State, Georgia is looking to create more turnovers this year than they did a year ago. The Bulldogs weren’t happy with a defense which finished 74th in the nation in turnover margin at minus-0.23. They were solid in total defense, ranking No. 22 in the nation.
-One guy to keep an eye on for UGA is receiver Marlon Brown. The true freshman from Tennessee is a big, talented receiver who could provide a target opposite All-SEC receiver A.J. Green on the other side. That means not only will Perrish Cox need to bring his A-Game, Terrance Anderson will be counted on to make plays also.
-In this report on Macon.com, the Bulldogs talk about using pre-snap motion to get A.J. Green in mismatch situations against opposing defenses.
Staley out, Smith in?
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
With Kye Staley out for the season, former Tulsa Union running back Jeremy Smith may have the opportunity to play himself out of a redshirt. Smith’s name has been brought up multiple times by the Oklahoma State coaching staff.
The 2008 Oklahoman All-stater surprised some in the Cowboys program with his big-play ability and practice habits as a true freshman.
“He’s broken several long runs in camp,” OSU running back coach Robert Gillispie said. “He has shown the ability to make plays in this offense. He’s another young kid who has a bright future for us.”
Smith has impressed with his ability to pick up the offense and then translate that onto the field.
“He has dedicated himself to the playbook,” Gillispie said. “He’s earned the respect of his peers.”
OSU focused on getting tough
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
STILLWATER– After practice on Friday, I asked OSU coach Mike Gundy how preseason camp compares to previous preseason camps during his tenure in Stillwater.
“It’s hard to tell,” Gundy said. “But we’ve been a little bit more physical. Our players have responded in the right way.”
That’s clearly been the focus of preseason camp. Gundy wants to make sure his football team is tougher and in better condition than they were last year. In the bowl game against Oregon, the Ducks were more physical than OSU, simple as that.
And Gundy wants to make sure that doesn’t happen again.
Coupled with the fact Georgia is focusing on being physical in their preseason camp (to the point their players keep getting hurt), it looks to be a bruising, hard fought opener on Sept. 5 at Boone Pickens Stadium.
