Where The Cowboys Have Been: Mike Gundy and Oklahoma State wanted us to believe they were ready to hang with the Big 12 South's Big Three, and we all bit. Admit it, you did.The Cowboys got off to a 7-0 start, which included a road win over then-No. 3 Missouri. But then OSU put its high-wattage offense/low-wattage defense up against Texas, Texas Tech and Oklahoma and then there was the Holiday Bowl loss to Oregon. This was a team on the cusp, but it clearly wasn't ready to take the leap yet.
As much offense as Gundy had at his disposal with the star-studded trio of Zac Robinson, Dez Bryant and Kendall Hunter, not to mention Brandon Pettigrew, it often couldn't make up for a defense that was more porous than SpongeBob Squarepants. OSU was 109th nationally in passing defense, which proved costly in a league that boasted three of the nation's top-seven passing attacks.
Where The Cowboys Are Going: The good news for Oklahoma State is that high-powered offense will look pretty much the same. The Triplets are all back in Robinson (3,064 passing yards, 25 TDs/562 rushing yards, 8 scores), Hunter (1,555 rushing yards, 16 scores) and Bryant (1,480 receiving yards, 19 TDs), along with second-leading rusher Keith Toston (686 yards, 9 scores) and first-team Big 12 left tackle Russell Okung.
The bad news is the defense only returns six starters, though considering how bad that 2008 unit was, that may not be a bad thing, but it's the places where the Cowboys will be breaking in new bodies that's alarming. The secondary will have three new starters, including both safeties. Gundy did go out and hire Bill Young, the coordinator at Miami (Fla.) last season, which could breath new life into this unit but there's a chance 2009 will look an awful lot 2008: a ton of offense and losses to at least two of its South rivals (Texas and Oklahoma).
We won't have to wait long to see what this Cowboys defense has with Georgia coming to Stillwater in Week 1. The Bulldogs won't have a passing attack to rival the Big 12's elite but A.J. Green should test the secondary and let Gundy know what he's working with before conference play begins. The Cowboys do get Texas at home this season, though being 2-21 against the Longhorns all-time, that may not matter much. OSU will likely be trying to prove its the second-best team in the division with a regular-season finale trip to Oklahoma.
There's a ton to love with this offense but too many questions on defense will hold the Pokes back once again.
The Señior Says: 9-3, third in Big 12 South.
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