What do Sun Devil fans need to know about the Oklahoma State team ASU will face tomorrow night?
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!This is part two of our scouting report on Oklahoma State. Click here for part one where we look back at their Week One victory over Central Arkansas.
#OklahomaState Week Two depth chart vs. ASU pic.twitter.com/RtAiiEsJMS
— Burn City Sports (@BurnCitySports) September 7, 2023
See Oklahoma State’s Week Two game notes here: https://okstate.com/documents/2023/9/4/2-Arizona_State.pdf
Here is an evaluation of Cowboys strengths and weaknesses.
Quarterbacks’ Strengths and Weaknesses
Last year’s starting QB at OSU, Spencer Sanders transferred to Ole Miss for his last season of college eligibility.
Going into the season, the Cowboys could not decide on a starter and played three quarterbacks last week. They once again have all three listed on their depth chart as “or.” Before we look at the team, let’s go through each quarterback’s strengths and weaknesses. All three played four drives each last week, and we might see the same rotation this week.
#7 Alan Bowan (R-Sr., Michigan Transfer)
Week One Stats:
- 13/24 for 80 yards (0 TDs, INTs) | 2 rushes for -2 yards
Strengths:
- 24-year old veteran who had a lot of game experience at Texas Tech before transferring to Michigan
- Assumed starter going into year, developed chemistry with wide receivers
- Now listed as the Week Two starter after coming in second last week
Weaknesses:
- Rushing ability
- Inaccuracy (only completed 54% of passes)
#12 Gunnar Gundy (R-So.)
Week One Stats:
- 7/9 for 106 yards (0 TDs, INTs) | 2 rushes for 20 yards
Strengths:
- Mike Gundy’s son
- Accuracy (78%)
- Got more comfortable as he got settled in
Weaknesses:
- Inexperience
- Played sparingly in four games last year going 19/39 for 274 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions
#13 Garret Rangel (R-Fr.)
Week One Stats:
- 10/15 for 118 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT | 3 rushes for 18 yards
Strengths:
- Started Week One
- Played in four games last season, started three when Sanders was injured
- Ability to scramble
- More confidence than last season
Weaknesses:
- Had five interception to four touchdowns last year and threw a bad interception on the first drive last week
Team Strengths
Mike Gundy
- Gundy is now in his 19th season as the head coach at OSU. Even with all of the turnover around him, his system has stayed consistent. He has gone 157-75 overall and been to 17 straight bowl games with the Cowboys (only missed appearance in his debut season in 2005). The Cowboys feature over 30 newcomers this year and a new defensive coordinator. But, they still have Gundy and the rest of his staff, as all but one of the nine remaining position coaches have been at the school for at least seven years.
Wide receivers
- The Cowboys have two solid options as their top two receivers. They also have a good third option that didn’t get much playing time last season. Let’s look at all three:
- #80 Brennan Presley (Sr.): Honorable mention All-Big-12. OSU’s leading receiver last season (67 catches for 813 yards and two TDs). Team-high six catches last week for 54 yards and a TD
- #88 De’Zhaun Stribling (Jr., WSU transfer): The Cowboys’ second top option comes from Washington State. Stribling had 95 catches for 1,073 receiving yards and 10 TDs in the last two seasons with the Cougars. Had a team-high 73 receiving yards in Week One on four receptions
- #5 Jaden Bray (R-So.): Had five catches for 66 yards in Week One after only having five catches for 54 yards in three games last season
3-3-5 defense
- In Bryan Nardo’s first game as defensive coordinator of the Cowboys, his 3-3-5 defense did not disappoint. The defensive line, headlined by Nathan Latu, generated pressure all game on Southern Arkansas and might prove to be a problem for ASU after the Sun Devils’ o-line did not have a good Week One. Their linebacker core and secondary group all looked strong as well.
- It will be a different look than ASU faced with Southern Utah, so it’ll be a good test for Rashada.
Blocking FGs
- Central Arkansas attempted two field goals that were both blocked. Cornerback Korie Black was awarded with the block on both kicks.
Team Weaknesses
Defensive departures
- The Cowboys lost eight of the team’s top-10 tacklers. However, their defense has always been strong and they returned two good players in LB Xavier Benson and DB Kendal Daniels, as well as getting some strong transfers.
No clear quarterback
- As mentioned before, the Cowboys still have no clear quarterback and if they choose to keep switching out QBs even if one is in a rhythm, it could cause major problems for the offense.
Offensive line (specifically left tackle)
- The Cowboys allowed four tackles-for-loss, four QB hurries and one sack in Week One. Plenty of fans were disappointed with the offensive line after Week One. Left tackle Cole Birmingham allowed a lot of QB hurries in Week One, highlighted by one a fourth down on the very first drive, which led to a batted-ball interception.
- Can the Sun Devils generate more pressure after getting 0 sacks in Week One and with getting Clayton Smith back?
The Sun Devils and Cowboys kick off their Week Two matchup at 7:30 p.m. MST at Mountain America Stadium. The game will be televised on FS1.
Stay tuned for part three of the scouting report where we go over the key players to watch.
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Brendan Mau is a Phoenix Suns insider and college sports reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau
