Originally published at: https://pistolsfiringblog.com/despite-local-optimism-the-cowboys-are-flying-into-2024-under-the-radar/
The Cowboys are underrated nationally, once again.
All I know isā¦they better be prepared for that first game of the year. Our non-con schedule is sneaky tough. Iām still shaking my head at that S.Alabama game.
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So be it. Can only worry about the things that you can control which is winning games.
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I realize OSU has a lot of returning production, but listing 21 of 22 starters coming back is a little high.
LB Xavier Benson started and had 65 tackles.
TE Josiah Johnson started. He had 22 receptions
WR Jaden Bray/Leon Johnson, would they not combine to start most of the season. They had 63 receptions combined.
DE Anthony Goodlow/Nathan Latu would combine for one starting end spot.
That tells me we have 18 returning startersā¦
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I think one reason OSU wants more 4 man defensive fronts is not to generate more pass rush, but to use against running teams especially on running downs. SDSU ran for 227 yards a game last year. I would start both Kirkland and Clay at DT and clog up the middle, while Martin runs free.
The Jackrabbits lose
RB, Davis 1578, 6.7, 18 TDS, 23 rec
Their top 3 WRs who combined for 135 rec, 2,174 yards and 22 TDS
3 starting OL, one who was drafted in 4th round
6 starters on Defense.
They do return their Qb, who is really good.
Their center won the Rimmington Award for FCS linemen, but he weighs 290 and will have his hands full vs Kirkland, who outweighs him by 55 pounds.
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From your mouth to Godās earsā¦ā¦ I like the analysis.
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We couldāve controlled that SDSU kick time. Iām glad the season will have started and Iāll be in BPS again but man I am not looking forward to getting fried in the stands.
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That is the #1 reason I gave up my season tickets. It used to be that the first two non conference games were always played at night. I canāt stand being cooked in the stands and hoping I didnāt miss a spot of sunscreen. Now, I just buy the tickets to the games I want to see and they always games under 75 degrees or so.
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Despite what some may feel due to my comments, I am loyal and true to my alma mater. I just see things as they are, not as I hope them to be.
We have returned a lot from a ten win team! The most mediocre ten win team in the history of college football, arguably. We won 4 one score games last year and only thanks to the dismal performances of our opponents. We could have just as easily, in fact more easily have been a 6 win team. It took anti-herculean efforts on the part of other teams to get us to 10 wins.
An optimistic poster feels that our quarterback is much better than mediocre when I referred to him as such. (I personally hope that Flores gets the starting nod, but I know, ala Alex Cate, that he wonāt.) I appreciate the efforts of Bowman and thank him for his service. But, he is mediocre. At his age he is NOT leaving for the NFL, he has zero prospects there. He is NOT going back into the portal for better prospects elsewhere, he has none. We return the #1 rated offensive line. We return the Doak Walker award winning running back. We have two preseason All-Americans on defense. We have some very talented receivers. Yet, we are picked to finish in the bottom half of an OU/Texas-less Big 12!! The pundits KNOW that we ARE mediocre overall and a lot of that is at quarterback.
I wish our POKES all the best in the newly forming semi-pro league that is college football. I hope we have a good season. I invite any and all to remind me of my pragmatic (some will say pessimistic) view should we make the college football playoff! Yep, that is all I require to accept that my view is WRONG. Be in the 12 team playoff. Heck, I will take the āwrongā label if we finish in the top 3 of the league. But, donāt tell me I am wrong now and spoil the surprise. lol
GO POKES!! (we are a softball schoolā¦ GO POKETTES!!) 
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21 of 22, the problem is the ā22ā. Over the course of the season, maybe 35 or 40 different players were āstartersā for some reason or another. That number might be high since they probably arenāt accounting for starters on special teams, but still.
I wouldnāt call this mediocre
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I agree with that, obviously. We will soon see if the results are mediocre.
For us to be picked in the bottom half of the conference, it would seem that our QB play is considered less thanā¦ desirable. Is that a fair statement??
For me, the sky has been falling since 2012. I have just yet to see any strong evidence since that we can get back to that kind of team.
If we finish 4th or 5th, would you call it mediocre?
Not sure I would go that far but based on past history one could assume that our QB1 is certainly pedestrian. It would certainly be better if we had an NFL level QB to use but Iām assuming that we donāt because Bowman wouldnāt be the apparent QB1 heir that he appears to be atm if that were the case. The younger QBās at OSU likely have a leg up talent wise but experience and maturity has to count for something. Iām certainly not equipped to determine what talent/experience/maturity mix is best among our QBās and I doubt anyone outside the OSU coaching staff is either. Again an NFL level QB would be optimal but a QB that is serviceable that does a good job coordinating and managing our āstarsā and the team overall may be all that we need. I guess we will find out on the field in a couple of months.
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Nor am I equipped as such, admittedly. However, I have my doubts about āinsideā the coaching staff as well. Alex Cate/Brandon Weedenā¦ Bobby Reid/Zac Robinsonā¦ even JW Walsh/Mason Rudolph to a point. I love JW, but how much better might Mason of been had he started his entire freshman year?? ā¦or worse, it could have gone badly. But, the evidence supports that our coaching staff under Gundy is often dismal in QB assessment. jmho
I do appreciate and respect your well made points. I am in no hurry for the next couple of months to pass. Age has a bit to do with that, but I hope to be pleasantly surprised in my dread of the upcoming season.
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Bowman isnāt great but he is serviceable. Heās been around what 15 years ? He is smart enough to know when to throw it in the stands. He doesnāt have a strong arm, itās adequate though. He does need to get better. Hopefully one of the youngsters shows up !! Game experience is valuable. Our OLine is good enough with different schemes. Ollie will be Ollie if he keeps his mouth shut and doesnāt fall for the jawing bait
Owenās will be a star along with Presley. Presley is the move the chains guy. Iāve rewatched last yearās games that Leon had to start, he would have been a stud this year. I think he makes a lineup in the league somewhere
Dline should be better against the run with four down. Martin is a heat seeking missile. Secondary should be better.
Staying healthy is vital
Gundys teams always play better as underdogs
Iām ready for the season
Yea I get it there is a consistent history of questionable decisions regarding QB. My only comment would be regarding the Mason decision. Itās always a big risk throwing a freshman on to the playing field no matter what they show on the practice field. Iām guessing any coach is going want to mitigate that risk, Of course in the case of Mason and hindsight there wasnāt much need for that. In any case one can only hope that our coaches have learned something through prior experience and are making better decisions today. Although again I see your point clearly and understand your take on things. Go Pokes!
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Agree and also believe that the health aspect is our kryptonite. People, especially the trolls on this forum, donāt acknowledge how devastating OSUās past injury situations have been and their affect on the ability to win games. Even last year OSU was hobbled due to injuries in the WR room. If we can have a season this year with a good handle on the injury situation then I think we have a very good chance for success. Injuries aside I am most worried that we have our defense figured out this year. Last year was not good overall and we will not do that well if this years D performs similar to last year.
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It would seem that stupidity or low IQ is NOT the biggest barrier to learning. Most often, myself included, it is any form of arrogance. jmho. GO POKES!! 
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Well our coaches and most coaches general teach and preach the value of learning from ones mistakes. Itās hard to image the coaches not applying that advice to themselves. However if HCMG sees no issues with what has happened in the past regarding QB selection then you are on to something and you should be worried as should we all.
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