Three-Man Weave: What Worries Us About OSU’s 2018 Season

Oklahoma State kicks off its season on the opening night of college football in just eight days (!). So the Kyles got together to discuss what pitfalls may arise for the retooling Cowboys from a revamped defense to breaking in a new starter at QB.

Kyle Porter: OK, first Q from me — I think we’re all feeling optimistic at this point in August (who isn’t?!), but what has you guys nervous that 2018 could look more like 2014 than, say, the last three years?

Kyle Cox: If anything, it’s how well or how quickly Jim Knowles’ new defense can be effective in the Big 12. We probably won’t know much about it until Week 3 and I’m not sure how tested it will actually be until Weeks 6 or 7 against Iowa State and K-State.

*Checks the three weeks of the schedule.* Don’t look.

Kyle Boone: Depth on defense, and specifically at the linebacker position. OSU is down to five healthy scholarship players, and that’s an important position in the 4-2-5. They are one injury away from potentially having to pluck safeties to fill holes out of necessity.

KP: Make it a 4-1-6.

KB: If we’re turning Bundage into a DE, I’m in.

KC: The biggest issue with 2014 was that they had one of the worst OL units in football. That will not be the case in 2018.

KP: I have to confess something: I think OSU is going to be pretty good this season. Their infrastructure in 2018 is so much different than it was in 2014. Their lines are better. Their QB depth is not even in the same planet. And their continuity is good.

KC: 11-1, you say?

KP: I guess what worries me is that they’ve played a lot of one-score games in the last few years and they’ve been on the right side of most of them. To me, that’s because they’ve had good leaders and experience. They’ve also done the little things well (until last season). Special teams kind of nags at me. Could easily see that part of the team turning 10-2 into 8-4.

KB: I’m there with you that OSU is going to be good. But unlike 2017, I think they might have 1/3 (?) as many elite players on the roster in 2018. Star power matters in CFB, and no Rudolph/Washington/Ateman is a stinger.

All that said, I still think they win 10 games. Chuba might be fourth string. They have so many dudes at RB, and I’m cautiously optimistic the defense is going to rock.

KP: I’m with you on the defense. I’m more cautiously optimistic about Chuba.

KC: That 10-win mark is a good measuring stick. It would be a great year in 2018, was a disappointing one in 2017.

KP: CHECK BACK WITH ME AFTER HE GOES 88 YARDS ON S. ALABAMA AND I’M DOUBLED OVER UNDER MY DESK GOOGLING JAMAICA 4X100 RECORD ON MY IPHONE.

KB: Yeah I definitely might sing O Canada mid-Missouri State game when Chuba breaks one loose around the edge.

KC: What if LD Brown has more TDs than Chuba?

KP: It’s a good “what if.”

Hahaha

Can you guys believe real American football starts in one week?

KB: No. But my body is ready.

KC: I cannot. I’m still trying to get ready for summer.

KP: Haha, I am too. Then all of a sudden Gus is going to be blowing out my computer speakers with talk of Justice and his gavel, and I’m going to be 100 percent back in.

KC: What does a bad year for Mike Yurcich look like?

KB: A bad year for Yurcich would be playing QB carousel all season. He’ll prove his worth if OSU finds its guy early (Cornelius), rides him all season, and runs a competent offense. If we see three QB’s in the Boise game and it’s a bloodbath, it could be a bad sign.

KP: That’s a good question on Yurcich. I literally could not look at the comments on my Yurcich post earlier this week. I just refuse to do so. I think he has a lot to gain and nothing to lose this year. If they’re down (Gundy full-hand air quotes) then he has a lot of padding to fall back on (most notably the most efficient season in OSU offensive history in 2017). If they keep rolling and finish, say, 18th in offensive efficiency, he’s the dude who kept the thing together and sustained success after creating a bunch of NFL picks. All upside, even if part of the reason for it is that OSU secretly has a ton of weapons nobody is talking about.

I didn’t really answer the question, I suppose. I took a more macro view, but I agree with Boone in the micro.

KC: To Boone’s point, here are OSU’s points per drive rankings for each of his years: 2013 – No. 45, 2014 – No. 87, 2015 – No. 23, 2016 – No. 17, 2018 – No. 2.

Stability behind center makes a difference. Or maybe Rudolph just made the difference. We’ll see.

KP: Lawdy that 2013 defense was good.

KC: I think he might have his guy in the Oil Baron. So managing a top 30 PPD would be fantastic in my opinion.

KP: Ok, last one — Which game do we get the first, “Yanno, Spencer was actually a pretty good teacher” comment backlash?

KC: Boise State

KB: Immediately. Probably Game 1. OSU is going to hang 70 on Missouri State and give up three TD’s in garbage time, and people will be howling.

KP: 

KC: I was going to qualify mine with “the underrated passing game Boise has…,” but that’s probably correct.