Defense Will be Key for Oklahoma State in 2011

2010 Season Breakdown

Final record (overall, conference): 11-2, 6-2
Bowl game: Alamo Bowl (W, 36-10 vs. Arizona)
Final ranking (AP, Coaches’): 13, 10
Conference finish: T-1st Big 12 South
Offensive rank: 3rd
Defensive rank: 88th

2010 Individual Statistics Leaders

Rushing: Kendall Hunter, 1,548 yards, 16 TD
Passing: Brandon Weeden, 4,277 yards, 34 TD, 13 INT
Receiving: Justin Blackmon, 1,782 yards, 20 TD
Tackles: Orie Lemon, 133 tackles
Sacks: Jamie Blatnick, 5.5 sacks
Interceptions: Andrew McGee, 5 INT

2011 Schedule (all games Saturday unless noted)
*denotes conference game

September 3 vs. Louisiana
September 8 (Thur) vs. Arizona [8:00 PM ET, ESPN]
September 17 @ Tulsa [10:00 PM ET]
September 24 @ Texas A&M* [7:00 PM ET]
October 8 vs. Kansas*
October 15 @ Texas*
October 22 @ Missouri*
October 29 vs. Baylor*
November 5 vs. Kansas State*
November 12 @ Texas Tech*
November 18 (Fri) @ Iowa State* [9:00 PM ET, ESPN2]
December 3 vs. Oklahoma* [ABC]

Key Matchups

September 17 @ Tulsa: This one will be fun to watch with last year’s third- and fifth-ranked offenses going at it. Oklahoma State should be careful not to get caught napping with Texas A&M next on the docket.

October 15 @ Texas: The A&M matchup is big, and so are matchups against other Big 12 opponents, but coming way with a win over the Longhorns in Austin would be a big uplift for the Cowboys even if Texas doesn’t come storming back this year.

December 3 vs. Oklahoma: The White Whale to the Cowboys, Oklahoma has won the last eight matchups including last year’s 47-41 win that kept the Cowboys out of the Big 12 Championship Game with the Sooners going instead.

Key Departed Players

Kendall Hunter, RB; Ugo Chinasa, DE; Shane Jarka, DT; Justin Gent, LB; Orie Lemon, LB; Andrew McGee, CB

Key Returning Players

Brandon Weeden, QB; Justin Blackmon, WR; Levy Adcock, OT; Grant Garner, C; Richetti Jones, DE; Shaun Lewis, LB; Markelle Martin S

Offensive Overview

Quarterback Brandon Weeden helped teach new offensive coordinator Todd Monken the Cowboys’ system with Dana Holgorsen leaving for West Virginia. Weeden helped Monken learn the system in the offseason, allowing the Cowboys to keep what worked for them so well a year ago and led to the nation’s third-ranked offense. There’s some concern as to whether Monken will call plays with the same success that Holgorsen did, but with nine starters returning to the offense including Weeden and dynamic wide receiver Justin Blackmon, the Cowboys should be in pretty good shape.

The offensive line will see the return of all five of its starters from a year ago, while newcomer Michael Bowie, a JUCO transfer, should be a part of the mix, too. Regardless of who starts, there’s enough depth to expect that OSU will be tough up front once again. Joseph Randle and Jeremy Smith will look to match Kendall Hunter’s production on the ground to complement what should continue to be a very good passing game under Monken. The receivers corps will be strong featuring Blackmon as well as Josh Cooper, Tracy Moore and Hubert Anyiam. Michael Harrison turned some heads on the spring and should earn his reps.

Defensive Overview

The biggest loss for the defense was linebacker Orie Lemon, who recorded 133 tackles last year and was a stalwart middle linebacker. Justin Gent, who tied for the second most tackles a year ago with 77, is also gone. Shaun Lewis returns at outside linebacker, though, following a season that earned him Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year and Freshman All-America honors. Caleb Lavey is expected to take over for Lemon in the middle, but must first overcome Tyler Johnson in the fall. The weakside spot is still up in the air with several players competing for the starting gig. James Thomas should factor in somewhere as well.

Stopping the run is going to be important with Lemon and the starting defensive tackles no longer taking the field for the Cowboys. Christian Littlehead and Nigel Nicholas are expected to take over at the tackle spots, while Jamie Blatnick and Richetti Jones form a good duo at defensive end. Some younger players will provide depth, making experience a bit of a concern. Don’t be too hard on the secondary. Their 115th rank in pass defense was hard to avoid with teams slinging the ball hoping to keep up with the Cowboys offense. Markelle Martin is one of the top safeties in the country, while Johnny Thomas will join him to form a formidable duo at the last level. Daytawion Lowe will provide depth, and cornerback Broderick Brown also returns.

Top Draft Products

Brandon Weeden, QB; Levy Adcock, OT; Grant Garner, C; Markelle Martin, S

Season Prediction

3rd Big 12

The offense will get a new coordinator in Monken, but the majority of the talent is back and the coaching staff decided to keep Holgorsen’s system for continuity’s sake. (It also helps that the system netted the third-ranked offense in the country.) Watching Monken’s play-calling ability is going to be important this year, but the defense has to carry its weight, too. If they constantly allow other prolific Big 12 offenses to answer their own, the Cowboys won’t win the conference. If they can come up with stops at key moments and keep teams from answering, this could be another special season in Stillwater.

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