Pokes Named National Champs!
Celebration time! Cowboys No. 1.
By John Helsley
follow on Twitter @jjhelsley
Finally, some all-out love for the Oklahoma State Cowboys.
And if cyber-love is your thing, or you’ll welcome any love from any corner when it comes to the Cowboys and their place outside of the BCS title talk, here’s a hug: OSU has been declared National Champion!
And it gets better – a second helping of Bedlam beatdown better.
The folks at nbcsports.com, namely columnist Michael Ventre, put together a 16-team “make believe” playoff.
OSU emerged No. 1.
The Cowboys clobbered OU – again – in a first-round re-matchup, routed Arkansas in the quarterfinals, outlasted Alabama and outscored Oregon (yeah, the Ducks upset LSU in the other semi) to claim this most mythical of national titles.
What does it all mean? Nothing, of course, except that none of us are satisfied with this year’s road to the BCS coronation. So we keep grousing and complaining and wishing for something better to determine our national champ.
In an absence of that, we’re left with a pretend world that isn’t at all satisfying.
As Ventre concludes:
How are you feeling about that? Overjoyed? Outraged? Satisfied? Irritated?
Whatever your emotions, you’ll agree that letting it play out on the field is more in keeping with the spirit of competition than letting computer geeks match wits. LSU and Alabama certainly are deserving, but I’d rather seem them get there with brawn than with math.
In football, goons are better than geeks any old day.
***
The Cowboys basketball team returns to the floor Saturday in the All-College Classic, taking on New Mexico in a tipoff scheduled for 9:30 p.m. inside Chesapeake Energy Arena.
OSU is 6-3 and still in search of a true identity in this season.
But Le’Bryan Nash is starting to play better and coach Travis Ford has begun to tighten his rotation and experimentation, just as the Cowboys prepare for a rugged three-week run into Big 12 play.
Here’s an e-mail discussion I did with Anthony Slater at The Daily O’Collegian, OSU’s student newspaper.
We talk about some of the issues facing the Cowboys, as well as a guess at their outlook.
Under Pressure? Pokes Not Showing It
Joseph Randle and the Cowboys are taking any perceived pressure head on.
By John Helsley
follow on twitter @jjhelsley
As the weeks pass by and the victories mount and the unbeatens shrink and the BCS Standings spotlight increases focus, there’s a perception of growing pressure on the top teams.
This year, that includes Oklahoma State.
At 8-0 for the first time in seven decades, there’s a natural rush to wonder how the Cowboys are coping in unchartered territoroy. They’ve already been placed on upset alert and it’s bound to happen again, possibly as soon as Saturday against Kansas State. They’re now being picked at more for their flaw — a defense that surrenders yards, but not necessarily points — than they’re being celebrated for an all-but-unstoppable offense.
Under Pressure?
If they are, the Pokes sure aren’t showing it.
It was just last week, before OSU routed Baylor and ruined Robert Griffin III’s Heisman hopes, that Cowboys coach Mike Gundy proclaimed: “We’re not going to play under pressure. We’re not going to coach under pressure.”
I know it’s cliche, but the Cowboys are taking things one day at a time, and enjoying every step of the process. And hey, aren’t cliches born out of repeated truth?
A reflection of their too-cool coach and their, ahem, mature quarterback, these Cowboys aren’t intimidated by the new neighborhood, they are taking in the scenery as if they belong and are not just stopping by.
And so they go, day to day, doing what’s necessary to get to the next game day, never beyond. That will come in handy if the Cowboys win again against the Wildcats and climb to the No. 2 spot in the BCS, with Nos. 1 and 2, LSU and Alabama, squaring off Saturday night.
Check out this story at athlonsports.com, which picks up on OSU’s pressure play. The story notes how previous first-timers to the BCS pressure-cooker have folded under the spotlight.
Are the Cowboys different?
So far, yes.
Dynamic Duos: Where Do Weeden/Blackmon Rank?
By John Helsley
jhelsley@opubco.com
follow on twitter @jjhelsley
We published our annual football preview on Sunday — if you didn’t get one, rush out and find one, it’s worth it — and the theme was Dynamic Duos.
At OSU, of course, we focused on the duo of Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon, arguably the best pass-and-catch tandem of 2010, back for more in 2011. The guys posed for some great photos and had fun with the topic, with each saying the other was the hero, while he was the sidekick.
For some fun on that, check out this story on the topic.
Oklahoma State's Dynamic Duo of receiver Justin Blackmon, left, and quarterback Brandon Weeden. PHOTO BY SARAH PHIPPS, The Oklahoman
“There was Zac (Robinson) and Dez (Bryant), Hart Lee (Dykes) and coach (Mike) Gundy, Josh (Fields) and Rashaun (Woods), and the list goes on, but just to be mentioned in those same group of guys is pretty special,” Weeden said.
One correction: The list doesn’t go on and on.
And already, Blackmon and Weeden have surpassed those other duos, at least statistically, in several categories.
And with another number-numbing season like 2010, Weeden and Blackmon may have to be considered OSU’s best passer/receiver duo of all time.
Not bad, considering each emerged amid major questions, even doubts a year ago.
“Who would have thought a year ago that it would have gone down the way it did. In kind of a surreal way, it ended up pretty good.”
Pretty good?
How about dang good.
“You’ve still got to pinch me every once in a while,” Weeden said. “It’s kind of unreal. It’s hard to look back and reflect on it, but when we’re done here, we can look back and look in the record books and see our names. That will be really cool then. When you have kids, that sort of stuff.
“But right now, everything’s still overwhelming that you don’t want to look back, and you don’t have time to.”
OSU: Outside Views
Athlon magazine ranks Justin Blackmon No. 1 among Big 12 players.
By John Helsley
follow on twitter @jjhelsley
When I was a kid, I couldn’t wait for the summer football magazines to hit the newstands. Loved them for the fix of feeding anticipation for the upcoming season. And in those seasons when the beloved Cardinals looked out of the pennant chase, the magazines couldn’t arrive soon enough.
Athlon was always a favorite, both for the good info and the “spirit” pages, where cheerleaders from seemingly exotic places like UCLA and USC and Tennessee were always featured.
Athlon is still putting out a good magazine, but it doesn’t end there. The folks there, like many of us in the news business, recognize the hunger for more and are delivering it with regularity online at athlonsports.com.
And they think highly of the Cowboys.
In a recent online story, Athlon ranked the top players in the Big 12. OSU came in at No. 1, 5 and 6. No surprise, Justin Blackmon is No. 1 and Brandon Weeden is No. 5. At No. 6, tackle Levy Adcock gets high mention as the only offensive lineman in the top 15.
The Cowboys are clearly commanding respect, occupying three of the top six spots in the league-wide rankings. And there’s more, with Markelle Martin at No. 16 and Shaun Lewis at No. 33 in what amounts to a Top 35.
Building the case for Blackmon, Athlon wrote:
Why he’s ranked 1st: After a standout sophomore season, what will Blackmon do for an encore? It’s possible a defense may hold him under 100 yards at some point in 2011, but it’s unlikely for him to suffer much of a drop in production. Even though (Dana) Holgorsen departed to West Virginia, Brandon Weeden is back at quarterback, and Oklahoma State’s offense will once again rank among the best in the Big 12.
More Athlon links of note:
Projected Big 12 breakout players: http://www.athlonsports.com/college-football/predicting-college-footballs-breakout-players-big-12
Texas A&M’s impact if it bolts for the SEC: http://www.athlonsports.com/college-football/college-football-realignment
OSU-Baylor: Five Keys
Nick Sidorakis is one of three seniors being honored before tonight's game against Baylor.
By John Helsley
follow on Twitter @jjhelsley
Senior Night in Gallagher-Iba Arena.
And while a detoured season – and detoured careers of the three: Marshall Moses, Matt Pilgrim and Nick Sidorakis – probably limits some of the fuzzy feel-goodness of the proceedings, there’s something to be said for each man’s journey.
* Moses nearly quit, yet stuck it out and became a captain and a hard-working force for the Cowboys, while playing out of position.
* Sidorakis never reached his potential, due to a series of nagging injuries at OSU, including a bad back that plagued him this season. But his value as a leader and stout character guy shouldn’t go overlooked.
* Pilgrim’s path revealed a series of ups and downs. Yet, just when it looked like he may drift out of sight quietly, he’s played his best – and his hardest – of late.
In advance of Senior Night, Moses (with help) has produced a video of his career highlights dating back to his prep days in Aiken, S.C. It’s really well done.
And dig the Michael Buble backdrop.
As for tonight’s main event, the clash with Baylor, the Cowboys continue their quest for some late-season momentum into, presumably, the NIT.
Five Keys:
1. Senior Sendoff. OK, so it hasn’t been the season everyone expected. But the guys going out have all been a part of good times at OSU. So give them a proper salute before getting up for Scott Drew and the Bears, which isn’t all that hard for Cowboys fans.
2. Man Up. Bottom line: this is a bad matchup for the Cowboys, especially with Darrell Williams no longer available. Going 6-11, 6-11, 6-10 across the front line, the Bears hold a major advantage in size. OSU’s only answer is to play big and play tough. And, at all costs, play smart. None of the silly fouls that regularly haunt the Pokes.
3. Welcome Back? After a brief disappearing act, Jéan-Paul Olukemi resurfaced in the nick of time Saturday, carrying the Cowboys to a win over Texas Tech that halted a crippling four-game losing streak. Olukemi didn’t do much the first time against the Bears in Waco, managing but four points on 1-of-7 shooting in 18 foul-plagued minutes. To help combat Baylor’s length, the Cowboys need the good Olukemi tonight.
4. Dunn Deal. Markel Brown did a solid job defending LaceDarius Dunn in the first meeting, with the players exchanging chatter throughout. Dunn did get 16 points, but that’s below his average of 20.2 ppg, and he was limited to nine shots from the floor.
5. Perk Up Page. The Cowboys have heaped a lot on the shoulders of Keiton Page this season, from minutes to scoring expectations and point-guard duties to leadership needs. And Travis Ford admitted Saturday that it’s likely taken a physical toll on Page. Ford said he’d be taking measures to give Page a break during practices the rest of the way. Some perimeter shooting success could go a long way in loosening up Baylor’s big interior and nobody is better equipped to do the shooting than Page.
Blackmon and the NFL
Justin Blackmon rates high with NFL Draft analysts.
By John Helsley
follow on twitter @jjhelsley
During the lead up to OSU’s Alamo Bowl win over Arizona, I wrote about the pros and cons of Brandon Weeden’s upcoming decision on whether to enter the NFL Draft.
Most analysts thought it wise for Weeden to return for another year of college ball, due to his limited body of work. They said Weeden would greatly benefit from the kind of reps he’ll only get in college, since he’d almost assuredly be wearing his ballcap backward on the sideline as a No. 2 or 3 quarterback.
Justin Blackmon, however, is a different story.
Blackmon’s stock has been a steady rise this season, as he kept producing and compiling ridiculous stats — incredibly consistent stats — throughout the season. Cowboys coach Mike Gundy is on record saying that Blackmon should return, but if the high opinions regarding the draft-eligible sophomore are on target, the lure of big money may be too hard to pass up.
Here’s the early take on Blackmon from Pro Football Weekly:
Blackmon: Top half of first round… beat (Prince) Amukamara and Aaron Williams. Few receivers are as strong, physical or competitive as Anquan Boldin, but Blackmon plays the game with a similar football temperament. After being suspended one game for a DUI arrest, the redshirt sophomore returned to catch 13-173-1 against Baylor, not to mention running 69 yards around the corner for a score. He’s intensely competitive, plays with confidence and has terrific ball skills, taking the ball away from defensive backs in the air as he did repeatedly to Nebraska’s Prince Amukamara. He overcomes his lack of foot speed with deceptively sharp route running, strong hands and great concentration in traffic, running as fast as he needs to. Although he still needs to mature, his style of play would attract some interest in the top half of the first round if he were to declare.
And for more on the wide receiver crop overall, check out PFW’s take at their website.
Alex Cate Has Landed
Alex Cate has a new school and a new opportunity.
By John Helsley
Alex Cate has new life.
Late life, but new life.
Cate, the former Cowboys backup, has enrolled at Central Washington in hopes of seizing the starting quarterback job for his senior season.
Once a touted recruit, pulled away from LSU in what seemed like a recruiting coup, Cate never became a legitimate candidate to lead the Cowboys. In his one shot at starting, subbing for the injured Zac Robinson against Colorado last season, Cate struggled miserably, going 0-for-9 with an interception in the first half, drawing boos from the Boone Pickens Stadium crowd.
That led to a second-half switch to Brandon Weeden, a switch that carried future implications as well.
Cate announced his intention to transfer after the season and now hopes to make the most of a fresh start with the Wildcats, a Division II program, allowing him to be eligible immediately.
In an interview with the Daily Record in Ellensburg, Wash., Cate offered no ill will toward his time at OSU, instead focusing on the opportunity to work with CWU head coach Blaine Bennett, who has tutored NFL quarterbacks in Kyle Orton and Curtis Painter.
“It came down to a chance to play, pretty much,” Cate told the newspaper. “I’ve been a backup for four years. I had a chance to compete for the starting job this year, but realistically I knew it would be kind of iffy. I have nothing against Oklahoma State, this is just a better situation.”
Impressions of Cate at OSU revealed a classy kid. But they also hinted of a guy who seemed more than comfortable in a backup role, lacking a real fire to be “the guy.” Maybe that was just life with Zac Robinson in charge.
Maybe things will be different now.
That’s the chance for the fifth-year senior. A late chance, but a chance.
McNabb Trade A Boost For Okung?
By John Helsley
We’re far from Philly here in the heartland, but the still stunning deal that sent Donovan McNabb from the Eagles to the Redskins sent aftershocks our way, or more precisely, Russell Okung’s way.
With the Redskins seemingly no longer looking to the top of the NFL Draft for an impact quarterback, the early slots of the first round are starting to take shape. And that should be good news for Okung, who likely goes by pick No. 5 (at the latest) and as high as No. 2 if the Lions are convinced that protection for quarterback Matthew Stafford is their priority.
Similarly, it’s good news, too, for OU’s Sam Bradford, but that’s a different blog.
Before the McNabb deal, the Redskins were in play to make a move up to grab a QB, which could have altered the outlook of the draft’s early stages and possibly pushed Okung down a few notches.
With McNabb now in the nation’s capitol, some of the smoke has cleared, although it’s always possible another team could find reason to rush to the front and nab one of the elite defensive tackles or Jimmy Clausen or who knows if the Raiders get involved, spinning picks sideways.
It’s just unlikely, leaving the Lions at No. 2 and the Redskins at No. 4 carrying an interest and a need for bolstering the key position of left tackle. And Okung generally is considered the left tackle most ready to play immediately and play well.
ESPN’s popular draft gurus, Mel Kiper and Todd McShay, follow along in their latest mock drafts.
Kiper and McShay differ in their assessment of former Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant, based strictly on character issues.
Kiper shoots down such thoughts in his latest take, pegging Bryant for the Browns at No. 7, saying:
“I’ve talked to people around the league about Dez Bryant, and I can tell you the notion that there are concerns about Bryant’s character is blown out of proportion. Here the Browns get the best WR in the draft, a threat they really need, and a player that, in a football environment, is a workhorse and a producer. I think K.C. will also be looking hard at Bryant at No. 5, but will ultimately pass and allow the Browns to get him.”
NFL Draft Sleeper: Zac Robinson
Zac Robinson has impressed NFL scouts.
By John Helsley
While Mel Kiper and Todd McShay fire out their ever-evolving dueling mock drafts, Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford and Notre Dame’s Jimmy Clausen dominate the quarterback buzz.
The mocking doesn’t extend far enough to reveal OSU’s Zac Robinson.
But that doesn’t mean there’s not a place for Robinson in the NFL.
After a subpar senior season with the Cowboys, a season influenced heavily by injuries, a healthy Robinson earned a closer look with his practices and play at the Senior Bowl, then again at the NFL Combine.
He’s got the measurables: size, buy-some-time speed, solid fundamentals and the one thing that had been in question: arm strength.
Robinson is also tough and smart and coachable, factors that should put him on the map with more than one organization.
In an ESPN examination of draft sleepers Friday, Aaron Schatz of the Football Outsiders included Robinson as one of his 10 to watch. And Robinson is the lone quarterback on the list.
What Schatz wrote:
“Of all the quarterbacks who actually threw at the combine, Robinson might have been the most surprising. He played in a spread offense with the Cowboys but has a pro-style overhand delivery, solid seven-step drops and the arm strength to make the 35-yard post-corner throw. The spread stigma will limit his draft prospects, but Robinson has the mechanics to transcend the issues common to most who fail in that transition.”
My guess, somebody’s going to take Robinson in the mid to later rounds and someday be thankful. He may never become an NFL starter, but he could develop into a solid backup. And he could be a Seneca Wallace-type situational QB right away.
Again, Robinson is smart. And a classy kid. And he’s better, much better, than he showed as a senior, when hamstring and shoulder woes and a lack of reliable wideouts wrecked his sendoff.
There are a lot worse options walking around in backward ball caps as No. 3 NFL quarterbacks.
The sense here is the football story of Zac Robinson hasn’t neared its final chapter.
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.
