Oklahoma State Players Adapting to New Offense

The Cowboys are adjusting to the new offense while at the same time the coaches are finding ways to adjust the offense to the players.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 11:54 am

By: News On 6

Oklahoma State Players Adapting to New Offense

Originally Published: Aug 9, 2010 10:19 PM CDT

Gerald Goodridge
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

STILLWATER, Oklahoma -- Oklahoma State lost seven players on offense from their 2009 team, but that’s not the only turnover the Cowboys are experiencing this offseason.

With the hire of new offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen, OSU is implementing a new offense. Despite the complete overhaul, head coach Mike Gundy is pleased with the progress they’ve made in such a short time.

“I feel good about where we’re at,” said Gundy. “We’ve still got a long way to go in the system, but I’m pleased with the way the players have picked [the new offense] up.”

The question going into camp was getting the receivers acclimated to a new offense, but the players are having fewer problems picking up the system than expected.

“I feel like the whole offense is really basic to tell you the truth. It’s all real simple,” said receiver Isaiah Anderson. “Anybody can come in here, learn it fast and run it.”

Junior quarterback Brandon Weeden steps into the starting role after the Cowboys lost three-year starter Zac Robinson to the NFL. Taking over an offense that passed nearly 65 percent of its offensive plays, Weeden’s task becomes to orchestrate the wide-open offense.

“We’re moving so fast, our offense is full throttle the entire time and it’s my job to slow everything down and get everybody on the same page,” said Weeden. “If one guy is out of whack, in this offense it’s not going to work.”

Part of the adjustment is not only making the new players fit the system, but finding ways to adjust the system to the athletes that are already in the system.

“When coach [Holgorsen] left [Texas] Tech and went to Houston, [the offense] was different,” said Gundy. “I think he has made some adjustments to fit the system that we have and the personnel we have here.”

One player that Holgorsen is trying to find a way to fit into the offense is All-American running back Kendall Hunter. At the two schools that previously ran Holgorsen’s offense the emphasis was on athletes at the receiver position, but from what Holgorsen has seen from Hunter, he plans on featuring him in any way he can.

“From what I’ve seen in practice I’m going to have to fight the temptation to give it to [Hunter] every single down,” said Holgorsen. “The rest of the guys might get neglected.”

The high-powered offense has the ability to put up gaudy numbers, but if the Cowboys do end up being an offensive juggernaut, the coaches hope it's not for the same reason the Houston Cougars posted big numbers.

“Leading the nation in yards is not anything that we talk about, and it’s not anything that’s one of our goals,” said Holgorsen. “One of the reasons [Houston] led the nation in yards last year is because we were last in the nation in defense.”