Mike Gundy Discusses Depth Chart for Texas
STILLWATER – After the way the first five weeks of the season went for Oklahoma State, the open week this past week couldn’t have come at a better time. While the health issues were all at one position like it was the offensive line in 2020, the LEO/edge position’s been banged up, as has the running back and receiver rooms.
Both Brock Martin and Tyren Irby missed the Baylor game last week, with Irby being out a few weeks in total. Dezmon Jackson’s been banged up since the Boise State game, as has LD Brown and receivers like Blaine Green has missed a considerable amount of time, resulting in the coaching staff moving quite a few guys around.
“I thought we would have Dez [Jackson] last week and he didn’t even practice,” said coach Gundy. “So, it’s hard for me to predict, but all of those guys, [Brock Martin, Tyren Irby and Dezmon Jackson], none of those guys are out for the year and we’re trying to get them back into practice this week. How much they can handle from the contact from Tuesday and Wednesday will determine where we’re at with them.”
A receiver who’s played a considerable amount more than anticipated has been redshirt freshman Rashod Owens. However, he’s done quite well as he hauled in his first career catch against Boise State and his first career touchdown, a rather impressive one at that against Baylor last weekend.
“We have enough players healthy wide receiver-wise to where [Rashod Owens] can stay where he’s supposed to be,” said coach Gundy. “This week we’re only planning on practicing him at that spot because we have the other guys back, you’ve got [Blaine] Green back, [Brennan Presley’s] back, [John Paul Richardson’s] healthy again, so we’ve got guys to where we don’t have to rotate him around.”
Mike Gundy said last week the team practiced Tuesday and Wednesday, but they were going to have Thursday, Friday and Saturday off, much needed time to relax and recuperate, both physically and mentally.
“I thought last night they looked fresh and once we got into practice, they were fine,” said head coach Mike Gundy. “We gave them quite a bit of time off; last night’s practice was not much at all, then they get another day off today, so I’m expecting crisp practices Tuesday and Wednesday.”
Guys like running back Jaylen Warren desperately needed some extra time as off as he’s physically and statistically carried this team on his back. He had 36 carries for 125 yards against Baylor last week, and a total of 95 carries for 466 yards and four touchdowns the past three games.
The coaching staff expected both Jackson and Martin back for the Baylor game, with Gundy joking last week Brock even tried to forge his medical release form in order to play. With an extra week and a few days off, the Cowboys should be as close to full strength as they’ve been in multiple weeks.