Daily Bullets (May 10)

Higher than Ten?

USA Today ranked the Pokes No. 10 nationally in their early top 25 and their biggest question mark was interesting.

1. Line play. This may not be as big a concern as it looks today. To be fair, however, an offensive line with three returning starters must take a meaningful step forward under new position coach Josh Henson. Here’s guessing it will, though Henson’s group will likely be far better in 2018 and 2019 than this fall.

The biggest question mark surrounding the defensive front is the interior, which lost a really good one in all-conference pick Vincent Taylor. But the Cowboys have two reliable returning lettermen ready for increased snaps in DeQuinton Osborne and Darrion Daniels, not to mention as many as five ends capable of producing at a high level during Big 12 play. [USA Today]

No. 2 on the list was defensive play overall but their biggest question mark is the trench play? In the pass-happy Big 12 the question clearly has to be a relatively unproven secondary. But we’ve become so accustomed to guys like Calvin Barnett, Emmanuel Ogbah and Vincent Taylor that we just assume somebody (namely the touted Darrion Daniels) will fill the gap as a dominant lineman.

I do like the point that Henson’s lines will continue to get better but Atkins left his holes primarily at the bottom of the depth chart, not the top.

Carry the Weight

In the midst of the Big 12’s anemic NFL output, the league is leaning on new sources for NFL-talent.

Brandt describes Kansas and Iowa State’s recent NFL record as “abysmal.” Makes sense. KU hasn’t had a player taken before the fourth round since Aqib Talib went in the first in ’08. ISU hasn’t had anyone drafted since ’14.

“This is an extremely top-heavy conference,” Farrell said. “If Texas and Oklahoma, and to a lesser extent, Oklahoma State and Baylor, aren’t producing first-rounders, then you’re done.” [TulsaWorld]

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