Season Grades: Consistency, Depth Needed for OSU’s O-Line Moving Forward

One of the most underrated questions about Oklahoma State’s 2017 football team (circa July 2017) was whether or not its offensive line could gel quickly enough under its fourth new position coach in five seasons. Could this improved unit help OSU’s potent offense gain ground or would it hamper the Cowboys’ chances at a Big 12 title?

Well, it was a little of both, but not in the way that we probably envisioned.

Production

The best way that I know of to grade an offensive line (that fits into a spreadsheet) is on the production it allows and facilitates. We’ll look at a couple of the most important stats over the last four seasons, with the core of this OL being seniors like Zachary Crabtree, Brad Lundblade and Aaron Cochran.

The Cowboys’ running game continued to improve this season with Justice Hill building off of an historic freshman season in 2016. The sophomore has topped his record-breaking total in 12 games and sits at 1,347 yards and 14 scores heading into his second bowl game, and the Cowboys are currently third in the Big 12 in rushing yards.

But according to Football Study Hall, the rushing attack on a whole ranks just 88th in opportunity rate (the measure of success on the “OL’s” yards — the first five yards from scrimmage), but showed off its big-play potential, ranking 27th in IsoPPP (explosive points per rushing play).

This jargon basically spells out that while Oklahoma State has a successful — and much-improved — running game, a lot of its yards come on chunk plays instead of an ability to methodically overpower opposing defensive fronts.

Ground game: B-

This is the area where the Cowboys have made the most hay during these seniors’ tenure. Look at 2014 — 40 sacks. You had freshman and out-of-place and under-sized players strung throughout OSU’s front and it showed.

It was an issue for Oklahoma State that started in 2014 and is just now getting sorted out. And it’s the result of the departure of long-time OL coach and folk hero Joe Wickline and the bare cupboard he left. In the five years prior to 2014, OSU gave up sack totals of 14, 12, 12, 10 and 11. Imagine if Mason Rudolph didn’t have to learn to play D-I quarterback behind other freshman learning to play D-I lineman.

Pass protection: B+

Consistency is key

The line did show improvement in just about all phases under Josh Henson, but lack of depth showed in OSU’s season opener against TCU. When starting linemen started dropping like flies, a very good TCU defense was able to control the line of scrimmage, ending with three sacks of Mason Rudolph and holding his rushing game to just 3.3 yards per carry.

The result was the Cowboys’ first loss of the season and an undeniably ugly offensive performance a week later against Texas. When four-year starting center Brad Lundblade returned against West Virginia, so did the running game and the difference he and others made when returning to the lineup was evident.

Does an extra right guard or center with game experience make the difference in one or two wins? That’s hard to say.

Overall Grade: B

The future

The Cowboys return starting left guard Marcus Keyes and Johnny Wilson who filled in well at right guard after Larry Williams went down for the second-straight season with injury. Williams should be a candidate for a medical hardship waiver, as well. Teven Jenkins has shown potential at both guard and tackle. But 2018 will be a rebuilding year for OSU’s offensive line.

Hopefully, Josh Henson will remain in his current position for enough time to get the offensive line back to where it’s not only passable, but a massive strength for Oklahoma State.

That type of consistency is one thing that has been missing, as mentioned above. But more importantly, the guy is a proven ace recruiter. He’s already gotten some dudes ready to sign up and I’m excited to see what type of unit Henson can field in the next 2-3 years.