Connect with us

Football

Storyline Countdown No. 3: How Will OSU Use Its Backup Quarterbacks in 2018?

Mike Gundy still working on plan for backup QBs and new redshirt rule.

Published

on

PFB’s countdown to football season by counting down the 15 most intriguing storylines continues today with a look at the No. 3 storyline we’re tracking going into 2018.

Storyline rank: No. 3
Storyline: How will OSU use its backup quarterbacks in 2018?

Why this matters: With the NCAA’s new rule allowing players to play in four games and still able to get a redshirt, it’s likely OSU fans will see Hawaii transfer Dru Brown and highly touted freshman Spencer Sanders in the Cowboy backfield at some point this season. The real questions are when? Do you use their allotted four games early and risk having to burn the redshirt if Taylor Cornelius gets injured late in the year? Or do you hold on to their games and risk not getting to use all four?

How it could play out: If everything goes as it should, OSU will have a substantial lead against Missouri State on Thursday, and over South Alabama in Week 2. Sanders and Brown will likely have the chance to play in each of those games, but it’ll be interesting when, or if, Gundy wants to use the other two. The other possible blow out of the season is against Kansas in the Cowboys fifth game, but using a game then would front load Sanders’ and Brown’s four.

Gundy proved in 2014 that if needed, he would burn a redshirt, so this season could be interesting.

Mike Gundy’s thoughts: Gundy has been known to keep things like this close to his chest. But throughout the offseason, Gundy has said he isn’t quite sure what the most effective use of the new red shirt rule is. At Friday’s media availability, Gundy said he still wasn’t sure how to involve Brown and Sanders against Missouri State if the opportunity presented itself.

“It’s been talked about a lot, and I’m not sure that we know,” Gundy said. “I guess I should say, ‘We know.’ Coach talk would be that we have a good plan. It’s something that’s debatable every day. I don’t know that there is a good plan for it. Sometimes you have to feel your way through and kind of see where you’re at. I would like to say, ‘Oh yeah, we’re all over it. We know exactly what we’re gonna do.’ We’re not sure right now. I know we have a guy who has a ton of experience and understands our offense that’s starting, and we have two guys behind him and then (Keondre) Wudtee understands our offense. The two guys behind him aren’t as experienced in our system, but we like their talent. I wish I could give you an answer on it, I just can’t right now. Unfortunately, like everything else, about a month from now, I could probably tell you what we have set in stone.

“Now, you’re gonna ask me, ‘Well, you gotta have something figured out by Thursday night and by next Saturday,’ sure we do. I think we’re just gonna kind of wait and see how it goes. We should have a plan going into the game, but that discussion took place yesterday, and we didn’t have a definite answer at that time.”

My thoughts: If the Cowboys are up big in these first two weeks, use them. After that, I’m not sure. Maybe you play one against Missouri State and one against South Alabama, so they both have three games left.

I think saving one for the bowl game would be a good move, as Gundy and offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich could get a better look at who the 2019 starter should be if both were to redshirt. They also have been known to pull out some trickery in those games, so having three options at quarterback could be fun.

It’s a chess game that I’m glad I don’t have to play.

Previous Countdowns

No. 15: How will OSU use all its running backs in 2018?
No. 14: Will Rodarius Williams, A.J. Green get more breathers this season?
No. 13: Is Tyron Johnson the X-Factor for OSU?
No. 12: Which Cowboy Back Will Emerge for OSU?
No. 11: How does a reloading year shape expectations?
No. 10: Why is Mike Yurcich not more beloved in Stillwater?
No. 9: How much better will the offensive line be in 2018?
No. 8: Who will be “the guy” on defense?
No. 7: Which Wide Reciever Will Emerge as the No. 1 Option?
No. 6: Is OSU’s special teams fixed?
No. 5: Can OSU keep its 10-win season streak alive?
No. 4: Will OSU exorcise its OU demons in 2018?

Most Read

Copyright © 2011- 2023 White Maple Media