OSU scouting report: Grambling State
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
Here’s a great website if you want to find out more about Grambling State football. It’s called the Deriso Report.
CLICK HERE to check it out.
And CLICK HERE to read the website’s closer look at the Tigers win over Jackson State last weekend.
OSU insider in-depth: Justin Gilbert
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
It’s time to take a closer look at some of the Oklahoma State commitments: Today, I decided to take a closer look at Justin Gilbert.
Here’s his vitals: Justin Gilbert, 6-0, 173, ATH, Huntsville, Texas, 4.4 speed
Future position: Gilbert is expected to line up at cornerback for the Cowboys.
Analysis: Gilbert is a special player, one of the top commits for OSU’s recruiting class of 2010. A look at Gilbert on film shows a player with great explosiveness, quickness and excellent feet. It’s easy to see why the Pokes would want him at corner. And I could see him developing into a Perrish Cox-type kick returner also. The one concern about Gilbert is his size. He’s going to have to get in the weight room and make sure he can handle the pounding of Big 12 football. That said I would expect him to have a impact as a freshman on special teams.
REMIX: Much thanks to primo who posted a link to video of Gilbert…
CLICK HERE and HERE to watch highlights of Gilbert in action. Be advised… it has music with explicit language playing in the background.
Transcript of today’s Power Lunch
Had a good chat during Power lunch on Newsok.com, here’s a transcript of the question and answer session:
Scouting Report: Tracy Moore
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
Instead of the normal opponent scouting report, It’s a great time to look at some of the young players who could see some playing time this week against Grambling:
Here’s some highlights of Tracy Moore during his high school career at Tulsa Union:
Tracy, wearing #87 for the Cowboys, has played his way out of a redshirt and could emerge as another target for Zac Robinson this year.
Thoughts and observations: OSU 41, Rice 24
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
–I have said it before and I will say it again: Gameplan to get Dez the ball early, OSU did that this game and it was the closest the Cowboys have come to looking like an explosive offense.
–Anytime you win, you should be happy.
–OSU’s offensive guards have been an unsettled situation for the first three games. Clearly the Cowboys are looking for someone to step up at right guard, with Lane Taylor getting the start against Rice.
–The defense and special teams seem to consistently come up with at least one big play per game. If that continues and the offense begins making big plays, that bodes well for OSU’s chances to make noise in the Big 12 South.
–Josh Cooper can make plays, he’s another guy OSU should look to get involved fairly early.
–Gundy said he wasn’t satisfied with the Cowboys running game against Rice… but I don’t think missing Kendall Hunter is the problem. The holes they had last year just don’t seem to be there and I think we are seeing what a loss Brandon Pettigrew was in the running game.
–Zac looked more aggressive and willing to run today. He seems to be getting his confidence back.
–Rice’s 72-yard completion was the perfect example of why coaches stress fundamental football. Maurice Gray went for the INT and 72 yards later Rice is deep in OSU territory. And it clearly gave the Owls offense confidence, because they began moving the ball on the Cowboys after that play. One play, huge ramifications.
–Donald Booker is a playmaker for the defense. He led the Cowboys with 10 tackles and had the 51-yard fumble return for a touchdown after the Owls fumbled a snap on a field goal.
–If his health holds up, Markelle Martin will be a impact player in Big 12 play. Martin was solid in the passing game, had a couple of big hits and it was Markelle who ran down Rice’s Toren Dixon on the 72-yard completion. He finished with five tackles and three pass break ups.
–For the second straight game, the tight ends weren’t involved much in the passing game. Wilson Youman had one big catch but that’s about it.
–The Cowboys can get pressure on the quarterback. They just can’t get sacks. Much like last week against Houston, Rice’s quarterback used his legs to create successful plays for the Owls. And that was a key to the Cowboys defense giving up 21 second half points.
–There was a Richetti Jones sighting! Jones played well against the Owls, getting pressure on the quarterback and even earning a sack.
–With Lucien Antoine and Markelle Martin on the field together, OSU has the chance to be exceptional at safety.
Download the OSU-Rice Pregame Package
Click the image to download your quick look at this weekend’s OSU football game from The Oklahoman and NewsOK.com — in printable and portable form. (Please note that it is a PDF document.)
Behind enemy lines: Rice
Here’s this week’s installment of behind enemy lines with Rice beat writer Jeffrey Martin of the Houston Chronicle.
Brandon Chatmon: Who is the top player on the team?
Jeffrey Martin: Because I haven’t seen too much of this team, all I can base my evaluation on is what I’ve witnessed. I’d go with sophomore safety Travis Bradshaw, who isn’t anything flashy but he’s a sure tackler and he’s solid every Saturday. Right now, that’s a victory.
BC: Who do you expect to win this quarterback competition?
JM: I thought sophomore Nick Fanuzzi was the odds-on favorite, but there’s something about how the team responds to senior J.T. Shepherd. I’ll go with J.T. although Nick is the better thrower.
BC: How are the Oklahoma natives on the Rice team progressing for example Turner Petersen, Kevin Gaddis, Tanner Shuck, etc??
JM: Petersen looks like a redshirt candidate. Gaddis returned a punt against Texas Tech. Shuck started against Tech and recorded five tackles.
BC: What is the strongest unit on the team?
JM: I’d go with the wide receivers, who are talented but with the offense out of synch – the quarterback situation and the offensive line is young and inexperienced – they haven’t been able to show what they can do.
BC: What is Rice’s biggest concern heading into the game?
JM: Getting better. It’s tough to assess how much improvement is being made when two of your first three opponents are Big 12 teams likely to finish in the top six.
BC: Do the Owls expect this to be a rebuilding year?
JM: I think they knew the schedule would be rough, but rebuilding? I think they felt they were past that. I think they still believe a bowl game is a possibility.
BC: Are there any true freshman you expect to make an impact on Saturday?
JM: No. At least not a positive impact.
BC: Who is the most underrated player on the team?
JM: Senior placekicker Clark Fangmeier. Doesn’t that sound like a placekicker’s name? He’s on the Groza Award watch list, and he’s been solid this year, maybe the Owls’ best offensive weapon. I think it’s great for a kicker to be underrated. Or rated at all.
Defending spread offenses
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
In today’s Oklahoman, I wrote about the Pokes trying to get a pass rush. It’s hard to get pressure on a quarterback with today’s spread offenses. My man Mike Baldwin asked coaches around the Big 12 about getting how to defend those offenses and get pressure on the quarterback.
Here’s what they said:
Nebraska coach Bo Pelini believes you have to mix it up.
“You can’t live in press coverage, especially if you’re hanging your guys out there because that’s when you give up big plays. That’s got to be some give and take and adjust according to the type of passing game you face.”
“If somebody is getting rid of the ball quick you have to cover them. There are different types of spread offenses and you have to be able to adjust.”
Missouri coach Gary Pinkel feels it’s critical to jam receivers, knock them off their routes:
“What a lot of people are doing is they’re trying to jam receivers and play real tight coverage and force (receivers) into double-moves which creates more time needed by the quarterback which allows your defensive line maybe to get in. It’s significant. It’s a little more difficult (than it used to be) but that’s where it comes down to the coverage part and choices you make coverage-wise. If you play very aggressively five yards within the line of scrimmage it allows you a little bit more time.”
Texas coach Mack Brown
“You’re not going to get a great pass rush because of the rule changes and the offenses now. The quarterbacks are taught so well they’re going to get the ball out of their hands. With (Texas) Tech they’re (offensive line) splits are so big, and their quarterback is so deep, those guys aren’t going to let you sack them very often. I don’t think (Tech) has given up a sack all year.”
Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy
“We’ve talked about this each week. Teams that spread you out and live and die by the pass they’re taking into consideration their number of attempts and are trying to fatigue your defensive linemen. If you don’t have much depth they get tired chasing the passer. After the game I mentioned he attempted approximately 50 passes and we never tackled him with the ball behind the line. It’s hard to get pressure and get to them. But certainly it’s something you have to continue to try to do and force him out of the pocket and get him down.”
Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops
“It depends on what they’re trying to do. Some of it is they’re trying to get the ball out quickly. You’re hoping for some tips and deflections. The whole idea is to get them to squeeze it and hold it a little bit longer so you can get a rush to them. Pressure when you’re blitzing, you have a chance on those shorter routes. The ball is coming out lower and shorter you have a better opportunity for deflections and tips. That’s what you’re trying to do.”
Kansas coach Mark Mangino
“One of the things we decided in the off-season we dedicated a lot of time on pass-rush fundamentals. Tom Sims, our defensive line coach, has worked incredibly hard in becoming a better pass-rush team because people are getting rid of the ball very quickly. Get your hands up. Try to knock some balls down. Use your hands. Get good take-offs. Be fundamentally sound. We were against UTEP and think that will continue.”
Yo, Where’s the O?
By John Helsley
There was reason to wonder if OSU really deserved top-5 status in the national polls.
But the questions didn’t figure to focus on the offense.
If anything in OSU’s disappointing 1-1 start to this season, a sputtering offense has been the most puzzling development.
With the Triplets back, along with key personnel up front, we all expected the Cowboys to install a scoreboard spinner this year, with records surely going down.
Now you’re hoping it’s simply a slow start. Or then what?
Cowboys fans are concerned with their offense, as I found out in Thursday’s live chat on newsok.com. Lots of questions about the offense. Did my best to provide some answers, but those really have to come on the field, beginning Saturday night against Rice.
OSU scouting report: Rice Owls
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
Here’s a good read from the Houston Chronicle’s Jeffrey Martin about Rice running back Tyler Smith battling back from injuries to contribute this season.
Here are highlights from Texas Tech’s 55-10 win over Rice:
