Five and Five: Talking Oklahoma State With Pokes Post

We’re now just a couple of days from Florida State’s opener in Dallas against Oklahoma State. I took some time this week to talk with the editor at Pokes Post (FanSided’s Oklahoma State site), Zach Collums, to see what he thinks about this weekend’s game, the Oklahoma State Cowboys and how he thinks things will play out on Saturday. You can check out my answers to Zach’s questions here.

Here’s Zach’s take on this weekend:

1.) There are more than a few questions marks facing Oklahoma State right now, but none more important than who starts at QB and what can you expect out of him in the opener?

ZC: Quarterback carousels are not that bad for a college football team, contrary to popular belief. It institutes a challenge between quarterbacks that makes those involved increase the effort and drive they give to fight for the starting spot.

However, these carousels have no place in fall camp and even less in the week heading into the game.
If you ask anyone around the city of Stillwater and anyone who covers Oklahoma State for a living, J.W. Walsh is the consensus favorite for the Cowboys starting position at QB. But all we have gotten from head coach Mike Gundy is mind games. There are promised snaps for the backup, uncertainty on the redshirt of freshman Mason Rudolph, and a lack of commitment to J.W. Walsh. If its truly a mind game to make Jimbo Fisher prepare for multiple quarterbacks, then it is quite a ridiculous try at trickery.

With that in mind, J.W. Walsh will take most if not all the snaps against the Seminoles on Saturday. What Walsh does the best at quarterback is scramble and run the ball. You would think someone who ran so much would be a running back, but that’s just his style of play. He is not the best of passers, but he has a respectable arm and OK technique.

As far as what to expect from Walsh in this game, it is as much in the air as the starting QB “supposedly” is. Walsh has had many games where he has excelled, but the main reason he was not the starter was because of his lack of an arm. Clint Chelf took over starting job last season because Walsh could not get it done through the air and Chelf had the better arm. That being said, Walsh is very dynamic player and when the offensive coordinator, Mike Yurchich, utilizes him correctly, he can be dangerous in both passing and running situations. I think Walsh will play considerably better than last year, but I think the offensive line and part of receiving corp being so young will hamper his ability to live up to his potential.

2.) Who are the offensive playmakers to watch on Saturday?

ZC: There are a few offensive play makers that should be watched on Saturday, including those who may or may not make the field during the game (depending on the circumstances).

As far the the receiving group for Oklahoma State, it is definitely the deepest and most experienced group on the football team outside of the defensive line. Dynamic receivers such as David Glidden, Marcel Ateman and Brandon Sheperd are back and healthy this year and have the potential to break out at any time. Redshirt freshman Ra’Shaad Samples has the potential to crack the depth chart and is nearly as speedy as Tyreek Hill, but will most likely not make it into the game.

The running back position, although with less experience, is also very stout. Desmond Roland carried the burden for the last half of last season and is a running back that can get into space and make guys miss. Rennie Childs, a backup, has the potential to make it into some of the three running back sets that Oklahoma State has. He is a shiftier player than Desmond Roland, and is less likely to be running through the middle and over players like Roland has the tendency to do.

The players that you should really watch are Tyreek Hill and Jhajuan Seales. Hill is a 5-star running back from the JUCO ranks and is probably one of the fastest players that will play the game of football this year. While not running track at national championships, Hill is burning through the bottom of his shoes on the field. Unquestionably the fastest person on the Oklahoma State team, Hill has the ability to leave college level players in the dust like an over-matched little league game. He also has the versatility to play in the slot position as well as the running back position which makes him infinitely more dangerous.

Seales is the most prolific receiver that the Cowboys have. Even though Seales, at 6-2 and 198 pounds, is not the most physically imposing player, he is the most talented and will be a constant target for Walsh or Garman this year. His field vision and quickness will be valuable to the Cowboys early in the season and he could definitely burn a tough Florida State defense this weekend.

3.) Mike Gundy has really pumped a lot of talent into the system. Who are some of the newcomers, or even new starters, to keep an eye on come Saturday?

ZC: Including Tyreek Hill, there are several freshman that will take many of the starting spots or get plenty of playing time this semester after 19 players left or graduated last year.

Oklahoma State has a total of 48 freshman on the squad this year, although not all will grace the field this year. Gyasi Akem, a LB from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, will definitely get some playing time at linebacker. He is a 4-star recruit coming into this year and will most likely show early why he has been rated so highly. Another 4-star recruit, Trey Carter, is a defensive end that could break into the rotation of a deep defensive line for the Cowboys. Both Akem and Carter will be needed on the defense to add some depth and hopefully some purpose to a depleted defensive squad.

Also on the defense, redshirt freshman safety Tre Flowers has the good chance of starting his first game this week with the two starting safeties for Oklahoma State gone to the NFL.

On the offensive side of the ball, Oklahoma State has a few good players who might make it onto the field but its uncertain when or if. Quarterback Mason Rudolph came as a highly touted prospect that knew the air-raid offense, OSU’s particular type of offense. With much to learn and still becoming accustomed to the playbook, Rudolph has an outside chance at best showing up. Same also goes for Ra’Shaad Samples, mentioned early. Samples is a very fast player and has the potential to be a playmaker, but he most likely will not break onto the field for the game.

4.) What about Florida State gives Oklahoma State fans the most cause for concern?

ZC: Well, this is quite a question.

Mostly the fact that we are facing the defending national champions and also the reigning Heisman winner from the previous season. With little to no turnover from last year, the Cowboys will be playing this against a team that was very dominant last season on its way to a championship.

The one factor that probably gives the most concern for fans about Florida State is Jameis Winston. It is never a piece of cake when facing a reigning Heisman winner, even when he is coming into his “sophomore slump” year. Winston was and still is one of the most dominant players in the NCAA and with a defense that is depleted and overly inexperienced, the Oklahoma State Cowboys have more than their hands full this weekend in Arlington.

5.) What is your prediction for Saturday’s game?

ZC: I’d like to say I have the confidence in the Cowboys to pull this game out and shock the world, but I don’t think that I am crazy enough to do that. Had you scheduled this game with last year’s team, I think you would have had a harder time figuring out how this game would go, but not this year. Florida State is just too talented and there are just too many questions for Oklahoma State on both sides of the field for this team to pull off that kind of miracle.

I do, however, think that Oklahoma State will stay with the Seminoles for at least a half. I might even go as far as to say that Oklahoma state might be leading going into halftime on the account of big game/first game jitters and an Oklahoma State team with nothing to lose. Unfortunately, it won’t be sustainable with so much inexperience and Florida State will eventually win the game, although closer than most have predicted. Florida State will win 38-28 and will pull away late in the game.