Dana Holgorsen’s offense officially arrives at OSU
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
There are some very interesting tidbits amongst OSU’s pre-spring depth chart.
Plenty of position changes and lots of new faces.
Here’s a closer look, position by position. Let’s start with the offense:
Kendall Hunter in space, expect to see plenty of this in 2010.
Quarterback
No surprises here, Brandon Weeden sits atop the depth chart. Actually I take that back, one surprise: Weeden will wear No. 3 this season. First, he took Alex Cate’s backup job now he took his number.
With Alex Cate no longer around, Clint Chelf and spring enrollee Johnny Deaton are listed together as the backup. It will be interesting to see (or in our case with closed practices… hear) both Chelf and Deaton in action this spring.
Running back
Senior Kendall Hunter is your starter and will carry the load. The most interesting thing about the running back spot is sophomore Travis Miller being listed alongside freshman Jeremy Smith behind Hunter. Miller has great speed and is good in the open field. He should be one of the happiest guys about Dana Holgorsen’s new offense.
At the other running back spot, senior Bryant Ward is listed first team and redshirt freshman Dexter Pratt is second team. This will likely be the spot for short yardage situations or if OSU is looking to pound the ball to protect a lead.
Expect Hubert Anyiam to get plenty of opportunities in 2010.
Receiver
Four receivers, no tight ends. Dana Holgorsen’s offense is officially in Stillwater.
Junior Hubert Anyiam and sophomore Justin Blackmon appear to be listed as the outside receivers and redshirt sophomore Josh Cooper and sophomore Tracy Moore appear to be the slot receivers. It appears one slot receiver spot is for big, physical receivers and the other is for quick scatback types.
Senior Colton Chelf and sophomore Isaiah Anderson back up Anyiam and Blackmon. Redshirt freshman Charlie Moore and sophomore Justin Horton back up Cooper and Tracy Moore.
Offensive line
The big news here is redshirt sophomore Lane Taylor’s move to center. It’s seems like a great plan to move your most experienced lineman to a position where he can help get the other linemen situated. They have depth at the guard spot, so why not move Taylor to center?
Junior Jonathan Rush and senior Anthony Morgan are listed as the starters at guard though I wouldn’t be surprised if redshirt freshman Brandon Webb battles into the conversation for one of those spots.
At tackle, junior Levy Adcock and junior Nick Martinez are the starters. Adcock played in short yardage situations last season while Martinez was Russell Okung’s backup at the end of the year. Redshirt freshman Parker Graham is Martinez’s backup and I would expect him to work his way into the conversation to start at tackle at some point in 2010.
Cowboys pre-Spring depth chart released
The Oklahoma State pre-Spring football depth chart is out and full of heady goodness. Here’s my quick look at the most intriguing things (OSU beat writer Brandon Chatmon will be supplying his breakdown later today…). Here’s the depth chart: 2010 OSU Spring Depth Chart
WIDE RECEIVER
The Cowboys now list four WR spots on the depth chart. Last season, it was three WRs and a TE. Hubert Anyiam, Josh Cooper, Justin Blackmon and Tracy Moore are listed as the “starters” at the four WR positions. Shouldn’t be all that big of a surprise, I guess. Neither Texas Tech nor Houston used a tight end under new Cowboy offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen.
RUNNING BACK
The fullback has gone the way of the dodo. OSU now just lists two RB positions, though with four WRs that makes 12 offensive positions. Kendall Hunter, obviously, is listed as the “starter” at the first RB position, followed by Travis Miller and/or Jeremy Smith. Bryant Ward, formerly known as ‘fullback’ Bryant Ward, is listed as the “starter” at the second RB position, followed by Dexter Pratt. Houston only listed one RB on it’s 2009 depth chart, so, I’m just guessing here, but I’d think that second RB position will be used for short-yardage situations.
OFFENSIVE LINE
I would guess that sophomore center Lane Taylor is the only one of this bunch that is listed as the solid starter. The other four spots will likely be open for competition. That said, here are the listed “starters”: LT – Nick Martinez; LG – Jonathan Rush; C – Taylor; RG – Anthony Morgan; RT – Levy Adcock.
LINEBACKER
The Cowboys lost their three leading tacklers, and team leaders, in linebackers Donald Booker, Patrick Lavine and Andre Sexton. So there will be some new faces there. James Thomas (Jr.), Tolu Moala (Sr.) and Justin Gent (Sr.) are listed as the “starters”. It’ll be interesting to see if any of the freshmen coming in for fall practices – Shaun Lewis, Caleb Lavey, etc. – can make a run at a starting position.
SPECIAL TEAMS
How do you replace Perrish Cox and Dez Bryant in the return game? Well, you likely don’t, but the Cowboys will hold open competitions for punt returners and kick returners. Quinn Sharp (punter) and Dan Bailey (place kicker) will hold down the fort in the kicking game.
– Ryan Sharp, Asst. Sports Editor
Clardy’s a Cowgirl forever
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
Ally Clardy’s career has not gone as she expected. The senior guard from Argyle, Texas battled injuries and saw limited action in her first three years. She played six games as a freshman, averaged 4.5 minutes per game as a sophomore and six minutes per game as a junior.
Yet she cherishes her time at OSU as if she played 40 minutes per game for four straight seasons. But it wasn’t easy.
“I have learned your plan is never God’s plan,” she said. “Everybody is a star in high school, and you come in thinking: ‘I’m going to be that again’ but that was definitely not his plan. I had to learn to be a role player and that was very difficult at times. It’s hard to learn how to be a part of a team when you’re not on the floor. I had to learn how to make myself a part of the team when I was sitting on the bench.”
But she’s grown a lot and developed into a team leader despite inconsistent minutes on the floor.
“That’s made me a much better person,” she said. “I’ve learned to overcome adversity and never give up. I’m walking away from here knowing that I never gave in, I never gave up when everything was against me. I feel like I can take on anything. This has definitely prepared me for my future.”
Many players would have left for greener pastures and more opportunities to play but Clardy stuck it out and she’s happy she did.
“I’ve questioned it but there’s not a doubt in my mind I made the right decision,” Clardy said. “I was supposed to come here and learn the things I did to carry on to my future. I don’t regret my decision at all, I this was where I was supposed to be, I’m a Cowgirl for life you could say.”
Moving Past Kansas
Pilgrim Making An Impact
By John Helsley
jhelsley@opubco.com
Matt Pilgrim couldn’t deny the buzz still circling his Cowboys Monday, a full two days after OSU’s stunning and convincing win over Kansas.
“To tell you the truth, I’ve still got a natural high from it,” said Pilgrim, who enjoyed a bit of a breakout with 18 points. “It felt good to play well in front of that national spotlight. It’s going to be unforgettable.”
Unforgettable perhaps, but Pilgrim didn’t mean the Pokes couldn’t or wouldn’t move past it. That’s not how coach Travis Ford rolls.
“Coach Ford is going to humble us so quick,” Pilgrim said before Monday’s practice. “There’s two things he’s good at, that’s motivating and humbling people. I may expect to practice an hour and 45 (minutes), but I know it’s going to be a tough hour and 45.”
Still, there are some things Pilgrim needs to cling to from the Kansas game, like just how good he can be. The junior forward continues to make strides in his first season at OSU, after sitting out last year at Kentucky as a transfer.
Saturday’s game should provide a leap in confidence for Pilgrim, who owned the interior against KU center Cole Aldrich, a projected first round NBA draft pick. Pilgrim has gone from early season starter, to reserve, to starter again. Oh, and impact player.
“At the beginning of the year, when (coach Ford) put me on the bench, I was like, ‘I’d rather start on the bench than start,’” Pilgrim said. “But now, I’m just basically feeling myself more. I’m gaining confidence with my game. I’m just feeling more of a flow.”
And the Cowboys are better for it.
“When he’s focused, when he’s just in the zone of doing whatever he can to help our team win — screening and rolling and defending — when he’s in that mindset, he’s a valuable member of our team,” Ford said. “When he’s in that mindset, I think he’s one of the best big men in our league. I think he’s physically talented enough. He can affect the game in a lot of ways for us, because we don’t have anybody else like him.
“The way he can play above the rim, the way he can offensive rebound, the way he can block a shot, the way he can defend. He’s athletic, big, quick, fast, strong. We’re just always hoping that he continues to do that today. And tomorrow.
“We’re trying to build habits of consistency with him, to make him realize just how great he can be, because I still don’t think he truly and fully understands how great he can be as a basketball player. And it’s all about consistency for him.”
More of the Q&A: QB J.W. Walsh, 2011 commit
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen knows he will need a trigger man for his pass happy offense to succeed in Stillwater. And Holgorsen believes Denton (Texas) Guyer quarterback J.W. Walsh has the ability to be that type of player.
Walsh, who committed to the Cowboys in early February, spoke with the Oklahoman about OSU’s new offense, his creativity on the field and his decision to be a Cowboy:
Your dad (Guyer coach John Walsh) said you were looking for a quarterback friendly offense. How much did that have to do with it?
It had a lot to do with it, you don’t want to make a wrong decision with the offense where you go. Looking at Oklahoma State’s offense, it would be perfect.
What do you feel like are your best assets?
One of my best assets is making plays with my feet. If a play breaks down I can make a play with my feet and make something happen.
Is that something you enjoy?
Yes, I like to have a lot of creativity when I play. It helps that I can make a play with my feet or make a throw on the run.
Who were the main coaches recruiting you?
Coach Holgorsen, when he got in he came down. And coach (Gunter) Brewer.
When Coach Holgorsen got the job it seemed like he made it a priority to come see you, do that make you feel good?
It made me feel like I was a guy he really wanted. That was another reason I made the decision. They pulled the trigger pretty quickly and he was really excited about me which made me really excited about him as well.
You got the chance to watch some film of OSU’s offense. What did you like about it?
The creativity. He does a lot of what we’ve been doing at Guyer. A lot of motion and lot of formations. It’s a fun offense you can throw for 300 yards one game, run for 100 yards the next. And you’re always winning.
One of the things about the offense is that you can earn the trust to call plays at the line. Did that intrique you?
Yes. At Guyer, I have a little bit of freedom to change the play when I see something. That always helps because it means you have the trust of your coach and when you have that trust it helps you play better.
How do you feel about your ability to read defenses?
In high school, I feel like I can read defenses real well. I get a lot of freedom at the line and when I see something I like I take advantage of it.
When OSU decided to change offenses did that make them more attractive? Or did it not change at all?
I don’t think it changed anything. Before, they ran a lot of zone read with Zac and threw the ball deep. There wasn’t much of a change. They were putting up big numbers with Zac and their offense before. Now with Coach Holgorsen he’s had a lot of different quarterbacks with a lot of big numbers.
Do you enjoy running the ball?
I do. As a quarterback you’re supposed to throw first but here and there I want to make a play with my feet. It keeps the defense on their toes and it adds creativity to the offense.
When did you realize you had the potential to be a pretty good player?
My freshman year. I pee wee and middle school I though I was good but it was hard to tell, I wasn’t really open to the thought I could be a Division I football player. When I got to my freshman year, I realized I had a shot at it, so let’s work towards it.
When you went to camps and threw against Connor Wood, Blake Bell, did that give you confidence that you could match up?
Last summer I went to a couple camps and when I was throwing next to them, it added to my confidence that I can throw with big name guys going to big name schools.
Are you solid with the Cowboys?
I’m 100 percent Cowboy. I’m very solid right now.
Tell me about your experience at Junior Day.
I had a great time, they did a great job running it and emphasized their facilities.
When Holgorsen came down, what did he say to sell you on the program?
He said I fit the offense perfectly and I remind him a lot of Case Keenum. When he told me that I was like, ‘Hey if I’m a great fit for this offense, it’s probably where I need to go.’”
Who were some of your favorite quarterbacks growing up?
Over the past couple of years I’ve really admired (Tim) Tebow. He’s been a great leader for Florida on and off the field. He’s one of those guys you want to model yourself after.
Do you feel like you’re pretty good at those things?
I feel like I have gotten to where I can come into a unknown place and be a leader even if I don’t know the people there. I can get out of my comfort zone and still be a leader.
Check out Dez’s new UnderArmour spot
Zac Robinson on NFL Network
OSU’s offense perfect fit for Walsh
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
Oklahoma State appears to have secured on if its top priorities of the 2011 recruiting class with the commitment of Denton (Texas) Guyer quarterback J.W. Walsh. Playing for his father John Walsh, the head coach at Guyer, J.W. Walsh put up stellar numbers in 2009. He passed for 2,600 yards and 30 touchdowns with just six interceptions. The dual-threat quarterback also rushed for 1,563 yards and 25 touchdowns.
Earlier this week, I got the chance to talk to John Walsh about his son and his decision to be a Cowboy.
Tell me a little bit about J.W.
J.W. is my son and our quarterback. We went several places during the recruiting process. He wanted to be close enough for his grandparents and family to go watch his college football days. He had it narrowed down pretty quickly to Oklahoma State, Texas, OU and TCU. Those four are top programs around Denton. Once he started getting offers and Coach (Mike) Gundy offered on a Monday, he said everything felt right about it, we’d been to campus about three times. I tried to get him to be a little patient and not just jump on the high he felt from it. So he let it go for about a day and he was ready to make the decision. He’s excited about it and there’s no wavering, he’s had to tell a lot of people “No.” since then and didn’t think twice about it.
Sounds like he’s excited to be a Cowboy.
Yes. When the coaching change happened you thought there may have been a little change in the thought process of who they recruit but Coach (Dana) Holgorsen came in and wanted him too. And that just solidified for him that is the right place.
Did Coach Holgorsen make it clear J.W. was a high priority for them?
Coach Holgorsen came by and visited with us. When he went back to Stillwater, the offer came pretty quick.
How does he fit in that style of offense?
I think it’s perfect for him. He’s been offered by a lot of different offenses, he’s been offered by guys who get under center and drop back, guys who want to run the football at the quarterback position. We watched some film with Coach Holgorsen on Junior Day. (He likes) that style and having to make a lot of decisions from the quarterback position. He’s a heady kid. He can run the offense from a hot center and he has a accurate throwing arm. And if things break down he can make a bad play a good play with his athletic ability.
Does he like the opportunity to have that freedom at the line of scrimmage?
Absolutely. The one thing that was important to him in this recruiting process was being in a quarterback friendly offense, that trusts the quarterback to make decisions on the field. When you have that ability you can always be in a good play. In our offense, he’s always changing to get us in a good play. It’s a good luxury to have.
When did you realize he had the ability to be a Division I quarterback?
You don’t know until you see them play high school football but last year as a sophomore we made a deep run in the playoffs and it became evident that he was able to help us win ball games through the air and on the ground. He was able to have his hands firmly on the steering wheel throughout games. Then going to summer camps and seeing him side to side with, at OU’s camp, Blake Bell and I thought he threw right with him. Then we go to Texas and he threw next to Connor Wood, Case McCoy and those guys. I think sophomore year throwing next to those guys side by side, I think he realized, ‘I belong here.’ And it confirmed it for me.
How is his competitive nature?
He’s only loss three games in two years. He’s 21-3 as a starter. Two of those losses are in the semifinals. If we lose, he doesn’t mind putting the blame on himself because he doesn’t mind putting the team on his back.
Has he always been real competitive?
Yeah. We can’t even play Candyland with him, if he doesn’t have the right cards he’s going to get ticked off. He’s very competitive.
Does he play other sports?
He played basketball until this year when he decided he just wanted to be a quarterback. He still runs track on three relays, 4×100, 4×200 and 4×400.
Here Comes No. 1
By John Helsley
jhelsley@opbuco.com
Bill Self readies for another return to Stillwater. Yet in a stark departure from the past, that’s not the prominent story line for Saturday’s KU-Cowboys clash.
You’ve got OSU in search of securing an NCAA Tournament bid, something a win over the Jayhawks would all but clinch.
“It’s a great opportunity,” Cowboys true combo guard Keiton Page said.
You’ve got the Jayhawks lugging the nation’s No. 1 ranking, making them the first top-ranked team to invade Gallagher-Iba since 1989. For perspective on that rarity, consider this:
“I was born in 1989,” OSU star James Anderson said.
And you’ve got Anderson and KU’s Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich all in the thick of the Big 12 Player of the Year race, with Saturday perhaps serving as a separator.
Then you’ve got self, who played at OSU and graduated at OSU and depending on who you believe, was all set to coach at OSU before working out a massive extension to remain in Lawrence, spurring Cowboys athletic director Mike Holder to openly admit being broken hearted nearly two years ago.
Of course, OSU ultimately went another direction, hiring Travis Ford, who’s job of reshaping and recasting the Cowboys is ongoing.
And now, as Self returns to his alma mater for the first time since that 2008 courting, the emotional connection seems to have subsided — for now — on both sides.
Both have more pressing matters; a Big 12 championship for Self; a big win for the Cowboys.
Time, we know, changes everything.
Self’s take:
“When I was head coach at Oral Roberts, we played there every year. It wasn’t as emotional when were down 41 (points), but it was still an emotional deal. And then when we come back here (to KU), people made a big deal about going back. And that was emotional to me.
“It’s not emotional any more. It’s a business trip. We will not mix personal on this business trip.”
That’s not to say Self doesn’t still harbor love for OSU. He does. As he said this week, “That’s my school. That’s my wife’s school.”
But KU is his profession.
“There will be some people that I will love to see, but that will be when we’re coming out of the locker room after the game. That’s not a negative toward OSU, but I can’t do both.
“I would think that anybody going back and playing their alma mater, it’s probably a little different the first few times you do it. But once you do it a while… I think when (Michael) Jordan was playing for the Wizards and every time he went back to Chicago to play, it probably lessened a little bit as far as being emotional. I could be wrong. Of course I’m not comparing that to Jordan, gaw, that’s a bad comparison.
“I don’t think it’s going to be that big a deal.”
OSU-Texas: Who’s Got Who?
By John Helsley
jhelsley@opubco.com
Made it safety to Austin, where just yesterday they were hurling snowballs and building snowmen and one young man even went skiing down the Capitol steps.
Today, however, there’s no evidence of the weather that was.
Thank, gawd, this annual trip is always about escaping the cold, not dragging it along across the border. And after being in Ames a week ago, the promise of warmth keeps you going.
Now, it’s up to the Cowboys to heat things up inside the Erwin Center tonight, where the Longhorns still haven’t revealed a definite starting five.
After losing point guard Dogus Balbay — one of the defensive stars of Texas’ win in Stillwater — to a blown knee, the Horns are likely to go big, with 6-6 forward Gary Johnson joining a front line of 6-7 Damion James and 6-10 Dexter Pittman.
That would make for matchup problems, not that it’s anything new for these vertically challenged Cowboys. But it could also create advantages for OSU on the offensive end, where the Horns would have to scramble to keep up with James Anderson and Co. on the perimeter.
As for the defensive dilemma should Texas look large, the Cowboys could sure use a re-appearance of Marshall Moses.
This has not been a welcoming town for OSU over the years. Since the formation of the Big 12, the Cowboys have won just twice in Austin. So the Pokes will be leaning heavily on the improved leadership that has been evident through a three-game winning streak.
“It’s been fun watching Obi (Muonelo) and James kind of taking this team under their wing a little bit and understanding what this time of year is all about,” said Cowboys coach Travis Ford. “You can see they’ve raised their leadership ability this time of year. You can see the intensity they have and the sense of urgency they have.
“That’s been fun. They’re using their experience to help these younger kids, in practice, the day of games and things like that. We just hope it continues. It’s something these guys have worked on over an extended period of time this year. They haven’t always been comfortable doing that. But now’s a good time to have it, that’s for sure.”
Keiton Page, while just a sophomore, is contributing, too.
“I think Keiton provides it in that guys know that he was starting this time last year and playing a lot of minutes into the NCAA Tournament. He’s starting to speak up more.
“It’s pretty much those three and Nick (Sidorakis) can jump in there, the players respect him.”
And Ford emphasizes how important that kind of leadership can be during a season’s stretch run.
“It’s important this time of year,” Ford said, “as important as anything we do, making sure players hold themselves accountable. And holding players accountable is the leadership within the team. We’ve been doing it for a long time, but when you can get players doing it, that helps a lot.”
