Oklahoma State Fall Practice with One to Go The Race Fans are Curious About is Dead Heat

So the team doesn't seem to show a preference for one over the other? I have a feeling everyone knows who it will be they just won't let the cat out of the bag and will play two before the Oregon game.

There's little doubt both play in the opener, but I don't think it will have anything to do with keeping anything from Oregon.

How is the Oline coming? That might break or make our offense this season. Any info on starting 5-7 ? Did Kawecki get healthier?

So many questions on offense. QB, Oline rotation, starting RB, Starting WR line up. Hopefully we get answers soon

The dead heat is code for Gundy portal phobia. He won't name a starter until game one to try and keep both at OSU by delaying the announcement. In reality, as long as both were treated equally, each know only one can start and both of them deep inside know which of them has been consistently better.

It's one thing to say and believe you can win with either but it's quite a lot of BS to say there isn't one better than the other. The team can tell you right now because they've been at every practice and see them perform. They won't say because they've probably been told not to, It's purely a Gundy thing that's really tiresome but so predictable. He doesn't have the balls to call it like it is imo but I would be surprised if everyone didn't already know who has consistently performed better. That's the human condition and reality. It's just so hard for this program to simply publicly announce who is the starter.

I wish Gundy had been an offensive guard rather than a quarterback then our treatment and expectation relative to the position wouldn't be so weird and janky every damn year.

PistolD said:

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The dead heat is code for Gundy portal phobia. He won't name a starter until game one to try and keep both at OSU by delaying the announcement. In reality, as long as both were treated equally, each know only one can start and both of them deep inside know which of them has been consistently better.

It's one thing to say and believe you can win with either but it's quite a lot of BS to say there isn't one better than the other. The team can tell you right now because they've been at every practice and see them perform. They won't say because they've probably been told not to, It's purely a Gundy thing that's really tiresome but so predictable. He doesn't have the balls to call it like it is imo but I would be surprised if everyone didn't already know who has consistently performed better. That's the human condition and reality. It's just so hard for this program to simply publicly announce who is the starter.

I wish Gundy had been an offensive guard rather than a quarterback then our treatment and expectation relative to the position wouldn't be so weird and janky every damn year.

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I'm just going to have to call BS on your entire negative nancy post.

Often he hasn't had enough to determine which QB should start - OFTEN. (and he's always right)

Remember just a few short years back when Sanders couldn't beat out anybody (not the transfer, not Corndawg, nobody, but he got the start anyway because of "upside" which is also total BS.

I personally believe, then as now, that it mostly comes down to who the OLine can block for. Whether they are better suited for pass blocking, or run blocking, and/or whether the QB has to run for his life half the time.

Hate to be like this, but I'm not sure how I'm supposed to feel about this.
The fact that we don't have guys that are able to separate themselves into established starters by the end of fall camp concerns me.
What's the likelihood that we have 6-7 elite corners, 6 elite LBs, or 6 elite RBs on this team that would be capable of effectively securing the starting position at any B12 school?
If we don't have players that are capable of elevating their play above the crowd, that would be a red flag for me as that would signal you just have a bunch of average players.
Of which, our recruiting has been very average over the last 3-4 years, and although this transfer class was outstanding by Ok State standards (considering where we've been), it was still just slightly above average overall across the broader CFB landscape. Again, hopefully I'm off base and interpreting this wrong.

spencertmac said:

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Hate to be like this, but I'm not sure how I'm supposed to feel about this.
The fact that we don't have guys that are able to separate themselves into established starters by the end of fall camp concerns me.
What's the likelihood that we have 6-7 elite corners, 6 elite LBs, or 6 elite RBs on this team that would be capable of effectively securing the starting position at any B12 school?
If we don't have players that are capable of elevating their play above the crowd, that would be a red flag for me as that would signal you just have a bunch of average players.
Of which, our recruiting has been very average over the last 3-4 years, and although this transfer class was outstanding by Ok State standards (considering where we've been), it was still just slightly above average overall across the broader CFB landscape. Again, hopefully I'm off base and interpreting this wrong.

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I find it very, very encouraging that we have so many that can/could play each position.

Past seasons if somebody went down, then we were doomed the rest of the season, like last year when out 2 best defenders went down.

I think it is flat out awesome. As always, it will work itself out on the field.

Anybody that has been a part of team football and coached the game knows what I posted is likely right. I've coached at the 6A level and can state without question separation of players and their consistency ALWAYS occurred and was rather easy to see. I'm sure one of the quarterback candidates has separated at OSU too but Gundy won't allow him to be named before the first game. I doubt the delay in announcing who that is has much benefit in terms of strategy that's why most coaches around the country name who starts once it is decided. It's incumbent on the program and coaches to keep players here contractually being compensated even if they aren't named a starter.

The question of who has performed better is usually pretty objective. Strategy decisions on what type of offense you wish to run and how much you plan on running the quarterback can enter in but they've both been running the offense since practice one and though Hejny may be the better runner and Flores the better passer, the best candidate is the one who allows total execution of the offense to occur more consistently. That's usually one guy who has accomplished that OBJECTIVELY throughout spring, summer, and fall practice. I just maintain there is no dead heat in that competition. Everyone on the team knows but Gundy won't name him because it's Gundy being Gundy.

Geez! Just relax, guys. The season is just starting. We obviously have two pretty good athletes at QB, but neither has been game tested. Given all the new players, we're going to be a work in progress for a few games. We don't have much choice but to let it play out.

I like the aspect of both of them playing. I respect Flores sticking around and being loyal and true. I would give him the nod to start game 1. I really love the idea of using Haus for his speed and possible option plays in goal line or short yardage.
Here is a question I keep asking myself- is Haus our Baker Mayfield but we just don't know it yet?
Honestly just give me Corndog and I'll be happy.

Concerned me as well. This defense was not good enough for the returning starters to be promised playing time or seeing time. I was really hoping to see the transfers, especially at CB come in and establish themselves as potential starters as they were probably the most talented position in the portal we recruited