Coaching Consistency Ramping Up Sanders’ Development

ARLINGTON, Texas — There haven’t been a ton of constants in Spencer Sanders’ time as a Cowboy, but some things finally staying the same might be paying off for the third-year quarterback.

At Thursday’s Big 12 Media Day, Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said Sanders improved more in the two months of spring ball this year than he did in all of his first two seasons as the Cowboys’ starter.

Reasons for that? Consistency around him.

Mike Yurcich was Sanders’ quarterback coach and offensive coordinator his redshirt season in 2018. In 2019, Sanders had Sean Gleeson as his double coach. Then a pandemic shut his first spring down with the Tim Rattay/Kasey Dunn combo short. But finally, Sanders had an offseason with the same coaches he had the season before.

Sanders pointed out that he learned three sets of footwork in his time in Stillwater, something he said goes hand-in-hand with timing.

“I’ve came a long way with Coach Rattay over this offseason,” Sanders said. “I’m a firm believer in that, too. He’s helped me progress phenomenally. I’m excited for the season.”

The inconsistency off the field has led to inconsistency on it. Sanders has thrown for 4,072 yards and 30 touchdowns the past two seasons. But he has also thrown 19 interceptions and had more than a handful of head-scratching fumbles while trying to make something happen after a play had broken down.

A lot of the talk outside of OSU’s team is that the Cowboys will go as Sanders goes in 2021. While doing a hit on ESPNU, Gundy echoed that sentiment when asked how the Pokes get a return trip to AT&T Stadium for the Big 12 Championship in December.

“You somewhat come and go as your quarterback plays,” Gundy said. “It’s extremely difficult to play at a high level if your quarterback’s not effective. Hate to put that pressure on him, but it is what it is.”