DO: Junior college stars leaning toward signing with OSU

[Pokevette]

Mike Baldwin
Staff Writer

STILLWATER — Three players who all led Butler (Kan.) Community College to the junior college national title all are leaning toward signing with Oklahoma State.

If all three Butler players sign today, the first day junior college players can sign national letters of intent, the Cowboys will have a legitimate shot at their third consecutive top 25 recruiting class.

All three are four-star prospects, led by defensive tackle Swanson Miller, who could become an immediate starter. Running back Beau Johnson ran for 222 yards in the national title game. Safety Maurice Gray can also play cornerback.

Miller, 6-foot-4, 330 pounds, has been one of OSU's top targets. Defensive tackle is the one position the Cowboys could use immediate help. Jeray Chatham is a returning starter but OSU has little depth behind Chatham, who will be a senior in 2008.

Johnson committed to the Cowboys a week ago but was wavering after offensive coordinator Larry Fedora was named head coach at Southern Mississippi. Gray also will compete for a starting job.

OSU could sign as many as seven junior college players today, by far the most they've signed under coach Mike Gundy or Les Miles.

•Enthusiastic approach: Bowl games sometimes boil down to which team is most excited. Since the Cowboys finished 6-6 again, short of pre-season goals, some have speculated Indiana, playing in its first bowl game in 14 years will be much more enthused to play in the Insight Bowl.

"Our enthusiasm in practice has been good,” said OSU coach Mike Gundy. "We had a good practice (Saturday) when it was 10 degrees and it was really cold. They're excited... This team wants to keep playing. That's important.”

•Hoosier defense: Indiana has a dynamic quarterback and wide receiver but the defense is ranked 68th in total defense, 62nd in rush defense and 76th in pass defense.

"They're very sound,” Gundy said. "They have a guy who has 16 sacks (Greg Middleton) and another guy who has five (Ryan Marando). That's pretty impressive. And they don't give up a lot of big plays.

"They're only giving up 26.8 points a game which is not a lot nowadays. There's a reason they're in a bowl and won seven games. They're a good team. They're sound. They don't give up a lot of big plays.”

•Speed edge?: One area where some believe the Cowboys have an edge is team speed, although Indiana's big-play threats, sophomore quarterback Kellen Lewis and All Big Ten wide receiver James Hardy have good speed.

"You see all the teams up there (in the polls) and they all have great team speed,” said Indiana coach Bill Lynch. "That's an area we're working on. That's one area we're focusing on in recruiting. You need big guys. But having guys who can run is a priority.”

[osupsycho]

If things go as expected and we land these big 3 today then I must say that the coaching staff has done some astonishing work. They went out and some of the best players out there for the exact places we needed them most. These guys can recruit and I have no doubt that things will only continue to get better!

[CaliforniaCowboy]

the front page on Scout says that they will all sign.

Reportedly, RA said on his radio show that 7 Juco kids will sign and be in for Spring, along with 3 HS kids coming early...!!!

[bumpas34]

We're getting the talent, now we have to see the coaching part get done.

[DCPokeFan]

Bumpas, that's a sweet looking young lady in your picture, but does she like being called a "Cowgilr"????:p:D

[bumpas34]

There you go, that's BBB's fault, he's the one who put that in there.








Lies! All Lies! - BBB

[CaliforniaCowboy]

We're getting the talent, now we have to see the coaching part get done.

By my account our coaching has been excellent.

Tackling was a problems early, as was ball handling and penalties; but by seasons end, most of that was pretty much fixed.

Lacey has been "coached" up to 2nd only to Darrent Williams... Price was "coached" up to winning team awards after only one season at the postion... Cummings was "coached" up to being a decent DT, even with being undersized... nobody has complained about Collins, Nethon, Woods, Levine, et al, with their limited time playing LB (from nothing to contributors is no easy task)....

The Oline only had limited starting experience (especially with Washington going down), Dez Bryant was "coached" into a good contributor....

I thinkt he "coaching" comments are off target and in accurate... WE HAD ROOKIES trying to play A NEW DEFENSE... give the "coaching" excuse a rest.

[bumpas34]

I'm not saying that the coaching was and is horrible, I'm just saying that we are getting some of the top talent, so now all we have to do is coach the players and games right. Don't be so quick to jump down somebody's throat when they make a comment.

[BigBadBen]

One thing I dont like being "coached", and it has to be "coached" because the defense has done it for several years, is giving WR's a 8-13 yard cushion on every play.

I hear we do that because they are afraid we will get burned Man to Man.
Well, we get burned anyway, at least put a body there in a position to break up a pass or limit YAC.

I hate the multiyard cushion. And, when they give 10+ yards on a 3rd & 5 or less, I want to pull what hair I have out.

Ugh!!!

[CaliforniaCowboy]

is giving WR's a 8-13 yard cushion on every play.
!

you may not like it, and I don't either, but they are doing what they have been coached to do. Maybe they actually tried playing closer in practice and it wasn't all that pretty...

[Pokevette]

By my account our coaching has been excellent.




I think that is a stretch... I think our coaching being "decent" is about as good as one could say.

A few examples of "Coaching" issues I saw this year are:

* If Zac at QB was so definite by game three to make the switch and never look back, then the right "Coaching" decision would probably have been to go with Zac from game one. Indecision at QB has been a fatal Coaching flaw from season one with Gundy.

* The running into the kicker late in the game vs A&M. Clearly the "Coaching" call at that point in the game was to put pressure on the kicker. That was wrong. We should have been setting up the return. It cost us the game.

* Anytime you give up a 3TD lead at home to a team like Texas, that rest solely on the Coaches. A big part of our losing that game was poor play calling and poor clock managment. Gundy prides himself on being "unconventional" and that costs us games at times. Running sweeps which stop the clock when all you need is a run up the middle to line your kicker up for a field goal is poor Coaching. Sure, it is "conventional" but that is often the formula for victory.

* And I could go on, but I don't want to get into a bash fest.

Bottom line, our team has underperformed relative to our "talent" on our team as well as the "competition" we are matched up against. Losing to Baylor in '05 simply should NOT happen given the talent gap. Losing to Troy this year simply should not happen. Until we start winning ALL the games we should and some that we shouldn't, I can't credit our staff with doing "excellent" job of Coaching.

That said, they sure appear to be "excellent" recruiters. No doubt they have steadily upgraded our team talent. But then, Leonard Hamilton could recruit. However it took Eddie Sutton to win games with the talent.

[CaliforniaCowboy]

Perhaps our difference of views has more to do with symantics....

when I use the term "coaching", which is what I believe to be consistent with most of the posts are talking about, has to do with player instruction, rather than game management.

Both are obviously the responsibility of the coaches, but I think there is more than a fine line of difference between coaching a player's development and game management. Most of your examples have to do with personnel decisions and game management, which is NOT what I was referring to with regard to "coaching".

I've already stated previously that we have some more work to do with decisions and game management.

With regard to the issues that you listed, I don't think that your characterization of the events is accurate either.

Your "fatal coaching flaw" regarding the QB change might have been forced on them due to personnel issues... are you 100% positive of the events that occured between the prior QB after the "injury" in the FAU game, and what transpired from that point up to ZRs start at Troy? Was the decision "forced" on them for reasons that they might not have considered to be optimal?

The roughing the kicker penalty was a mistake by the player, not a "coaching blunder"... there is never anything wrong with trying to force an opponent into making a mistake. What if the "pressure" had forced the punter to shank the kick? What if he didn't acutally make the mistake and we fielded the ball and made a nice return. A PLAYER mistake happened, I don't agree that it was a coaching blunder. I prefer to see agressive play.

A big part of losing the Texas game was also the 1st half fumble by our best player at the Texas 20; and the missed chip-shot FG in the waning moments.... It would have been nice to "run the clock", but we hadn't been successful in "running" anything. Our strength is to spread the field an do what we do, not play to the other team's strength. I understand what you are saying, but I do not believe that your assessment is correct. I don't think that it was even possible for our team to do what you are suggesting.

The Baylor game in 05 WE TURNED IT OVER EIGHT TIMES; with backup players running a brand new offense... clearly a "coaching" problem. The Troy game we turned it over FIVE times, with a new center and a new QB... those dange coaches should have known better.

Again, as I stated, I think they do a fine job of "coaching" the players (player development), but some issues did seem to exist with personnel and game management (especially offensive play calling).

I believed the comments were in regard to player development; and I conceed that some other aspects of coaching responsibilities are still works in progress, at times.

[backPhil]

the front page on Scout says that they will all sign.

Reportedly, RA said on his radio show that 7 Juco kids will sign and be in for Spring, along with 3 HS kids coming early...!!!


It has been reported that one of those 3 HS kinds (Spano) has been told we don't have an "early" scholarship for him now due to the fact that one of our scholarship players who was scheduled to graduate this month, did not in fact graduate. Gundy made an in-home visit to Spano to tell him he will have a scholarship for him this summer.

[CanadianCowboy]

I think that is a stretch... I think our coaching being "decent" is about as good as one could say.

A few examples of "Coaching" issues I saw this year are:

.....blah blah blah blah.....



We all know you can pick apart all our deficiencies and game day mistakes in game management - you've been posting them weekly since August - but I'll give you a real challenge. Tell us one program that runs fault-free the entire season. Just one. :rolleyes:

Talent pool is rising. Offense is established, and is in consistent 'reload' rather than 'rebuild' mode. Exciting offense built first to create interest with the fans and opponent's fans, and help the impetus to put butts in seats. Defense allowed to build from "ground up" to develop talent and depth while the offense was installed; now the development is about to be put on the field with several redshirts ready to compete for starting jobs along with potential immediate impact players from the jucos - competition only improves the talent level. The old adage that "offense wins games, but defense wins championships" is true, and we WILL challenge for championships because our COACHES have a good plan, and they stuck to the plan. We will soon see the results of The Plan, but not soon enough...it will be a long summer!

This set of coaches know how to win the right way. You can say whatever you want, you can't convince me today that Mike Gundy is not the right guy for leading O-State Football to the next level. I love our coordinators and assistants, too...we have a first-rate coaching staff, top to bottom. They CARE about the school, the players, each other, and from what I have seen on gamedays, I really believe they care about the fans. I see Gundy becoming the next Eddie Robinson or Joe Paterno as far as tenure with the program. Mark it down, or blow it off. Either way, we will have a program to be proud of.

[backPhil]

Well said Mark!:D

[osupsycho]

I must say that the above assesment you just did for the football team is exactly the way I feel as well.

[CaliforniaCowboy]

I think it was two kids Phil... two guys didn't graduate early as was expected, so two of the HS kids have to wait until Summer for the scholarship to open up.

[CanadianCowboy]

I think it was two kids Phil... two guys didn't graduate early as was expected, so two of the HS kids have to wait until Summer for the scholarship to open up.
If Reid decides to transfer or enter the draft, does that free up a scholly for a January enrollee? If it does, when does he have to make a decision on either option in order for it to affect a January enrollee?

And before I get gang-tackled and pummelled....in no way do I wish or hope that BR jumps. But given the circumstances and his options, I think it unlikely that he won't make a change.

[MarkOSU]

If Reid decides to transfer or enter the draft, does that free up a scholly for a January enrollee? If it does, when does he have to make a decision on either option in order for it to affect a January enrollee?

And before I get gang-tackled and pummelled....in no way do I wish or hope that BR jumps. But given the circumstances and his options, I think it unlikely that he won't make a change.

Yes, the problem is with the 85 scholly limit

[CaliforniaCowboy]

If Reid decides to transfer or enter the draft, does that free up a scholly for a January enrollee? If it does, when does he have to make a decision on either option in order for it to affect a January enrollee?

And before I get gang-tackled and pummelled....in no way do I wish or hope that BR jumps. But given the circumstances and his options, I think it unlikely that he won't make a change.

We don't even know if BR was one of the two that didn't finish. If he in fact did graduate, then he doesn't factor into the scholarship delima (I wouldn't think; depends on the discussions he's had with the coaches, and whether he intends to play for OSU next year).

For the NFL... if he hires and agent, then he's gone. Otherwise, I think he has until about a week before the NFL draft to declare or pull out.