Daily Bullets (August 9)

Steel Curtain

Ok, “Steel Curtain” is strong but I’m excited about the overall depth of this d-line. Specifically a monster defensive end known for his incredible gene pool.

Oklahoma State’s explosive offense is getting all the headlines this offseason, but the Cowboys might actually be deepest on the defensive line. Cole Walterscheid, a 6-foot-5, 260-pound junior defensive end, is expected to lead that group. He started all 13 games for the Cowboys last season, finishing with 28 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks.

Walterscheid has put on some weight since his days playing for Class 2A Muenster (Texas) High School, but he hasn’t lost his explosiveness. With so much depth at the position (Jarrell Owens, Tralund Webber, Jordan Brailford and Vili Leveni all have experience) they should be able to keep bodies fresh. [Austin Statesman]

Cole Walterscheid is the latest small-town Texas discovery for #OKstate (https://t.co/wn6i7TWj94) pic.twitter.com/GeU1C1FvpE

— Kyle Fredrickson (@kylefredrickson) September 22, 2016

Scheduling Snag

When to play Tulsa over Labor Day weekend is tough – especially given historical and partially relevant context.

Before moving the games, OSU-Tulsa would have appeared regionally on one of the Fox affiliates, and OSU-South Alabama would have been relegated to ESPN3, or online. Now both will air on national broadcasts, with the opener on FS1 and the game at South Alabama airing on ESPN2.

As for the second part of the answer — doing what’s best — this is where much strategy came in to play, including managing Labor Day weekend.

A year ago, when the Cowboys routed Southeastern Louisiana 61-7 in their opener, the game played to a lackluster student crowd and an overall season-low home attendance of 50,079 on the Saturday of the holiday weekend. Whether a trend or not, OSU saw Thursday as an opportunity to play while the students were still on campus, before possibly bolting for home for a long weekend. [NewsOK]

So you gotta choose – national TV exposure plus more students or please alumni and Gundy with a reasonable time slot. You’d have to assume Tulsa would draw more of a crowd than Savannah State though, right?

OSU and NCAA Notes

Not-so-optimistic draft grades for Cowboys on this site….A solid-Thomasy piece explaining CFB’s running game….Fans were surveyed about their favorite college football game since 2000-you’ll like the top spot….SportsIllustrated has the Cowboys rated in their preseason top five(!)

Carson looks to be making quite an impression in the PNW.

Two Seahawks depth chart notes from yesterday: Richardson was ahead of Kearse in 2-WR sets. Carson ahead of Collins at RB with second team.

— Sheil Kapadia (@SheilKapadia) August 8, 2017

BYU found a 410-pound dude and put some pads on him.

Attention, world: BYU's 6-foot-7, 410-pound nose tackle is on campus and is already smushing running backs. VIDEO: https://t.co/6yGnXeWgYb pic.twitter.com/GxpexLRQWE

— Dr. Saturday (@YahooDrSaturday) August 8, 2017

Some pretty fly duds.

Turnin' heads. #GoPokes #okstate #CowboyUp18 pic.twitter.com/4TbdMn1BXm

— Cowboy FB Recruiting (@CowboyFB_Elite) August 8, 2017

How bout’ Breaking Bob – Why Stoops retired early?

Which CFB 30 for 30 would you like to see ESPN do next?

–@Jake_Trotter @PeterBurnsESPN & @ESPNRittenberg discusshttps://t.co/nm4lH3NPfR

— Josh Macri (@Josh_Macri) August 8, 2017

What You Missed on PFB

• Boone dives into questions about fall camp
• Carson and Porter talk media day, position battles and Mrs. Pistols makes a cameo
• Five players that need to make a big step in 2017
• Justice Hill talks about how he’s handling his blue-chip brother’s recruitment
• Tyron Johnson will be a key piece in the return game this year

Other Stuff I’m Reading

Disney pulling Marvel/Disney content from Netflix – starting new streaming service….The Great Britain/France union that never was….Transformation of the American dream