JimBob
01-02-2008, 07:55 AM
Back to work
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
1/2/2008
Cowboys will focus on defensive improvement during the offseason.
TEMPE, Ariz. -- When the clock expired on Oklahoma State's 49-33 victory over Indiana on Monday in the Insight Bowl, the Cowboys completed the 13-game 2007 season with exact balance -- 3,161 rushing yards and 3,161 passing yards.
The per-game average of 486.3 yards is the second-best in school history, trailing only the 515.2-yard average of the 1988 Cowboys.
For two seasons, the Oklahoma State offense has produced at a high level. And for two seasons, because the defense hasn't kept pace, the Cowboys have settled for a final record of 7-6.
If the coaches can lift the defense to that same level, the Cowboy program would be completely redefined.
It did play an outstanding first half against Indiana, but the Cowboy defense is a long way from becoming the type of unit that can conquer an Oklahoma or a Texas. Entering the bowl season, OSU was 103rd nationally in total defense.
"We've got to get better," said Tim Beckman, OSU's first-year defensive coordinator. "That's just the bottom line."
Following the Insight Bowl, Beckman stood in a halfway near the Cowboy locker room. As players filed past, heading toward the team buses, Beckman reminded them that offseason conditioning work begins next week with 6 a.m. sessions.
"That's when next season starts," Beckman told the players.
Beating Indiana, safety Andre Sexton said, "motivates you to work even harder. We'll get these young guys in here and show them how we do things."
Recently, OSU has had only modest success with defensive players who were brought in from junior colleges. Last month, OSU signed five junior college defenders. While it might seem almost a move of desperation, coach Mike Gundy says it's not risky.
"I felt good about it because this is an unusual year," he said. "We have 28 scholarships to give. We'll still sign a lot of high school players. Most other years, we don't sign that many junior college guys.
"In the (regular-season finale) against Oklahoma, we got mauled. Otherwise, our defense did get better as the season went along. I think we've signed some guys that can come in and help us."
Every starting job on the defensive side will be wide open when spring practice begins, Beckman said.
Beckman said the junior college recruits, all of whom are enrolled and ready to attend class, will benefit from daily work with strength coach Rob Glass.
"They're going to have to realize this is Big 12 football and it's Top 25 football and we're asking them to help us get better," Beckman said.
Beckman admittedly was horrified by OSU's defensive statistics this season. After allowing 25.6 points and 364.1 yards per game last season, the 2007 Cow boys gave up averages of 29.5 points and 443 yards.
"The numbers weren't where we wanted them or what we want to have," Beckman said. "We've got to get better. We just have to be better on defense."
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OSU’s 2007 milestones
Total yards: A 13-game total of 6,322, the most in school history. The 1988 Cowboys had a 12-game total of 5,667 total yards.
Balance: OSU had 3,161 rushing yards and 3,161 passing yards.
Zac Robinson: The sophomore quarterback, voted the Insight Bowl’s top offensive player, finished with 3,671 yards of total offense, breaking the single-season school record of 3,073 set by Josh Fields in 2002.
Donovan Woods: The senior linebacker, the starting QB as a freshman in 2004, was voted the Insight Bowl’s top defensive player. He was OSU’s leading tackler (82) in 2007.
Dantrell Savage: With 100 yards in the Insight Bowl, the senior tailback capped his career with his 10th consecutive 100-yard rushing game. He finished with 1,272 yards. In two seasons, Savage ran for 2,092 yards, averaged 6.0 per attempt and scored 17 TDs.
Adarius Bowman: With 74 yards in the Insight Bowl, the senior wide receiver finished 2007 with 1,006 receiving yards. Bowman is the second Cowboy to pass 1,000 yards receiving in
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
1/2/2008
Cowboys will focus on defensive improvement during the offseason.
TEMPE, Ariz. -- When the clock expired on Oklahoma State's 49-33 victory over Indiana on Monday in the Insight Bowl, the Cowboys completed the 13-game 2007 season with exact balance -- 3,161 rushing yards and 3,161 passing yards.
The per-game average of 486.3 yards is the second-best in school history, trailing only the 515.2-yard average of the 1988 Cowboys.
For two seasons, the Oklahoma State offense has produced at a high level. And for two seasons, because the defense hasn't kept pace, the Cowboys have settled for a final record of 7-6.
If the coaches can lift the defense to that same level, the Cowboy program would be completely redefined.
It did play an outstanding first half against Indiana, but the Cowboy defense is a long way from becoming the type of unit that can conquer an Oklahoma or a Texas. Entering the bowl season, OSU was 103rd nationally in total defense.
"We've got to get better," said Tim Beckman, OSU's first-year defensive coordinator. "That's just the bottom line."
Following the Insight Bowl, Beckman stood in a halfway near the Cowboy locker room. As players filed past, heading toward the team buses, Beckman reminded them that offseason conditioning work begins next week with 6 a.m. sessions.
"That's when next season starts," Beckman told the players.
Beating Indiana, safety Andre Sexton said, "motivates you to work even harder. We'll get these young guys in here and show them how we do things."
Recently, OSU has had only modest success with defensive players who were brought in from junior colleges. Last month, OSU signed five junior college defenders. While it might seem almost a move of desperation, coach Mike Gundy says it's not risky.
"I felt good about it because this is an unusual year," he said. "We have 28 scholarships to give. We'll still sign a lot of high school players. Most other years, we don't sign that many junior college guys.
"In the (regular-season finale) against Oklahoma, we got mauled. Otherwise, our defense did get better as the season went along. I think we've signed some guys that can come in and help us."
Every starting job on the defensive side will be wide open when spring practice begins, Beckman said.
Beckman said the junior college recruits, all of whom are enrolled and ready to attend class, will benefit from daily work with strength coach Rob Glass.
"They're going to have to realize this is Big 12 football and it's Top 25 football and we're asking them to help us get better," Beckman said.
Beckman admittedly was horrified by OSU's defensive statistics this season. After allowing 25.6 points and 364.1 yards per game last season, the 2007 Cow boys gave up averages of 29.5 points and 443 yards.
"The numbers weren't where we wanted them or what we want to have," Beckman said. "We've got to get better. We just have to be better on defense."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OSU’s 2007 milestones
Total yards: A 13-game total of 6,322, the most in school history. The 1988 Cowboys had a 12-game total of 5,667 total yards.
Balance: OSU had 3,161 rushing yards and 3,161 passing yards.
Zac Robinson: The sophomore quarterback, voted the Insight Bowl’s top offensive player, finished with 3,671 yards of total offense, breaking the single-season school record of 3,073 set by Josh Fields in 2002.
Donovan Woods: The senior linebacker, the starting QB as a freshman in 2004, was voted the Insight Bowl’s top defensive player. He was OSU’s leading tackler (82) in 2007.
Dantrell Savage: With 100 yards in the Insight Bowl, the senior tailback capped his career with his 10th consecutive 100-yard rushing game. He finished with 1,272 yards. In two seasons, Savage ran for 2,092 yards, averaged 6.0 per attempt and scored 17 TDs.
Adarius Bowman: With 74 yards in the Insight Bowl, the senior wide receiver finished 2007 with 1,006 receiving yards. Bowman is the second Cowboy to pass 1,000 yards receiving in