Daily Bullets (Aug. 23): How OSU Competes for a League Crown

In just one week from today, OSU will be playing in a football game. Also, that game will likely still be going a week from tomorrow as well.

Bullets Rundown

• Cowboys’ Big 12 title chances
• Today’s inexperience is tomorrow’s strength
• Jim Knowles’ preference in experienced position groups

OSU Bullets

• If you look at OSU’s capacity to compete for a title in 2019, there are a couple of factors worth noting.

The quarterback situation is solid, but are Spencer Sanders or Dru Brown difference-makers? In the Big 12, if you don’t have a reliable defense (the Cowboys don’t), the quarterback has to pick up the slack in order to legitimately contend for the Big 12 Championship Game. I trust coach Mike Gundy to keep this team competitive, but that’s about all you should expect in 2019. [CBS Sports]

It’s paramount that OSU – and other middle-of-the-pack Big 12 teams – develops a quarterback to compete at the highest level, to compensate for lesser talent across the board.

OSU spent 2018 not investing game experience in a quarterback that will be able to do that for the Pokes and it’s the reason why they’re very unlikely to be able to do so.

• When you look at the Cowboy defensive line, you can see a lot of unproven talent or what’s likely to be a strength in the near future.

The Cowboys have holes to fill across the board after losing six defensive linemen from last year’s team. (Brock) Martin, (Brandon) Evers, (Cam) Murray and (Mike) Scott played in backup roles last year, while (Israel) Antwine and (Kyle) Junior were starters at their previous schools. Still, this group needs to gel quickly…

Scott and Junior are the only seniors on the line, and coach Mike Gundy has already commented this year about how promising the group looks for the future. There will be plenty of times this year when the entire line consists of freshmen and sophomores. [NewsOK]

A depth chart full of freshman and sophomores quickly turns into one full of veteran sophomores and juniors. It’ll be tough to be patient this year but it’ll be an encouragement after the veteran corners move on.

• This season should settle the score on which is the better football situation for a defense – where it’s best to be experienced.

(Jim) Knowles is ready to try his luck with that formula, the reverse of what he had a year ago. An experienced secondary. An inexperienced front. Even though the development of the defensive line is most pressing question for as the Cowboys as they quickly approach their season opener at Oregon State, maybe it isn’t the make-or-break issue it seems for the 2019 Cowboys. [NewsOK]

• FYI – here’s an update on all rule changes in college football this year

• Fun story here about a couple of Cowboys who made Tramel’s top-150 Cowboys

• Maybe the best rendition I’ve heard (chill-inducing):

4-part #AlmaMater harmony from the #okstate Cowboy Marching Band ?? #GoPokes pic.twitter.com/JfpavDsLbQ

— Clay Billman (@claybillman) August 18, 2019

Non-OSU Bullets

• Making and breaking habits

• I really liked this reflection on faithfulness (faith-based) looking at the writer’s grandparent’s life

• I’m all over the “em dash” in my writing

• Good (and challenging) faith-based article on parenting