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Daily Bullets (Sept 26) – Notes on McCleskey Transfer, The Real Question with the OSU Offense

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A New Normal: Four and Dones

Max Olson with The Athletic had a couple of unique points about the Jalen McCleskey situation. First, Mike Gundy’s handling on Jalen McCleskey’s transfer is being perceived nationally as the gold standard.

We also can go with the players’ rights angle and assert that McCleskey and others leaving whenever they want and going wherever they want is progress. But the truth is, most of these transactions will end up playing out a lot like graduate transfers, just with slightly different timing.

The best response to this unexpected circumstance might be the one Gundy offered Monday. Oklahoma State’s head coach only had a few hours to process the news before sharing it at his weekly news conference, and his reaction was telling: Gundy hated to lose McCleskey but is not upset with him. No hard feelings. Because he understands this is the new normal. [TheAthletic]

Also worth noting were the hard numbers around McCleskey’s targets so far.

As for his usage this season? McCleskey was targeted 11 times in the season opener against Missouri State and a combined 12 times over the next three games as Tylan Wallace stepped up and Taylor Cornelius spread the ball around. So that’s 23 targets through four games, the same number Tyron Johnson and Dillon Stoner received.

In fairness to McCleskey, only 16 of those targets were catchable, according to data compiled by Sports Info Solutions. He made the most of his chances, catching 15 of those balls for 155 yards and two scores. The number of uncatchable throws is not surprising. This is the first year McCleskey isn’t playing with Mason Rudolph. He had to know his senior season would present a different challenge, at least initially. [TheAthletic]

And while uncatchable balls are tough for any receiver, I suspect ( with TV’s Cayden McFarland) that moments like this are more the blame:

Chicken or the Egg

When considering the issues of Oklahoma State’s offense – is it the third and long or losing yards on the early downs that’s the issue?

What has changed in the year between meetings with Texas Tech is more obvious now than ever: Oklahoma State desperately missed the vertical passing game Rudolph, Ateman and James Washington provided.

What hasn’t changed, though, is just as important. Because while last year’s offense could compensate for a major issue, it’s the same problem that perhaps plagues this OSU team most of all.

Too many third-and-longs.

“Not a good down for anybody much less for us right now,” Mike Gundy said. [TulsaWorld]

Army nearly upset Oklahoma over the weekend by being great at long methodical drives full of four to six-yard runs. Oklahoma State has been successful because they could get 15-25 yards when they want to and gash defenses on the ground as a result. This year, we’re seeing what it looks like when the safety doesn’t have to help over the top.

OSU and NCAA Notes

Could Chuba Hubbard help replace Jalen McCleskey?….Austin Peay’s head coach is one of the wilder stories in college football….Britton Abbott in the running for CFB’s scholar-athlete award, the Campbell….Orlando columnist insists Scott Frost’s regrets taking the Nebraska job

I’m anxiously awaiting Lunt’s thoughts on Tech in this week’s pod – can find it here.

Cowgirl Basketball coming to ESPNU this winter.

Pretty impressive here for the Cowboy freshman to drop 50+ pounds since the summer.

No bueno here.

When you get home from school and Mom made cookies:

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