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Oklahoma State Football

How is Oklahoma State Set at Quarterback Behind Spencer Sanders?

July 20, 2022
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STILLWATER – I ran into Gunnar Gundy the other day as we both got in the elevator in the West End Zone and rode down. The middle son of Cowboys head coach Mike Gundy, Gunnar was an All-State quarterback at Stillwater. He is a workaholic that truly loves football. Right now, he is in a day-to-day battle with talented freshman Garrett Rangel from Frisco, Texas. Gundy is a red-shirt freshman after playing just a few snaps last season in the blowout win over TCU.

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How is Oklahoma State Set at Quarterback Behind Spencer Sanders?

7,309 Views | 20 Replies | Last: 2 yr ago by Robert Allen
CaliforniaCowboy
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8:24a, 7/21/22
somehow, I'm just as nervous as ever about the QB position, reading that didn't help with my anxiety

Sanders still learning from HS kids? I'm not digesting that real well.

we'd better be up by 30 at the half in game 1, and get Gunnar into the game playing with the 1st team. He needs some live reps running the team, not running the backups.
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Guitar54
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In reply to CaliforniaCowboy • 11:43a, 7/21/22
CaliforniaCowboy said:
somehow, I'm just as nervous as ever about the QB position, reading that didn't help with my anxiety

Sanders still learning from HS kids? I'm not digesting that real well.

we'd better be up by 30 at the half in game 1, and get Gunnar into the game playing with the 1st team. He needs some live reps running the team, not running the backups.
It makes total sense why he's learning while teaching. It forces you to think through things from a different perspective and gives you additional insight. Just stands to reason and it's a reason to be more optimistic...not less.
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CaliforniaCowboy
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In reply to Guitar54 • 12:12p, 7/21/22
nice sugar coating, but I'm struggling with the part where he said he's learning more from the kids than from his coach .... mmmm...

I'm just having a lot of trouble processing that...


anyway, we need somebody with some game reps behind him, and soon, but Gundy is not known for putting in the backups to gain experience.
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Zen
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12:25p, 7/21/22
one disadvantage for Gunnar is that his father is probably afraid that people will think he is showing favoritism if he plays his son in spots. So Gundy will play him very little perhaps because of this. It's all ego.
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CaliforniaCowboy
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In reply to Zen • 12:42p, 7/21/22
Zen said:
one disadvantage for Gunnar is that his father is probably afraid that people will think he is showing favoritism if he plays his son in spots. So Gundy will play him very little perhaps because of this. It's all ego.
I don't believe that is true.

Simmons did not have any issue playing his kid, neither did Sutton or Smith. Do you think Holiday would not have played his nephew?

If he's the best available put him in, everybody knows that.

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_888
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4:08p, 7/21/22
Gunnar, Rangel, Flores, are most likely to be potentially the final 3 QBs to face off in bedlam history against uo.
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Orangeheart72
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5:18p, 7/21/22
Sanders remarks are similar to folks who have gone on missions or did technical training. I have experienced some of that. Coaching others makes you think through what you thought you knew, how it hits the student and what methods, views, questions or insights they bring to the table.

As far as having to go to a second year qb named Gundy who hasn't played much.......I think we've been there before. I wouldn't want Spencer to miss any time this season as I'm still a pretty big fan, but IF there's a need, I'd hope someone can step up and be decent.
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Robert Allen
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10:52p, 7/21/22
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I think Spencer is just being a good teammate. I'm not sure he learns a lot from those guys, although Gunnar Gundy is like a coach. He soaks up football X and O's like a sponge. He is always watching video and studying, so probably a lot of players, even older players cGunnar Gundy. I'm sure much more is being taught the other way from Spencer to the younger quarterbacks.
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VACowboy
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In reply to CaliforniaCowboy • 7:48a, 7/22/22
I think you may be reading too much into a politically correct statement Sanders.
Go Pokes! Go Bearcats!
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VACowboy
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In reply to Robert Allen • 7:50a, 7/22/22
I agree with you, Robert. Sanders is just being a supportive teammate. I would have concerns if he approached it any differently.
Go Pokes! Go Bearcats!
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CaliforniaCowboy
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In reply to VACowboy • 8:33a, 7/22/22
VACowboy said:
I think you may be reading too much into a politically correct statement Sanders.
there was no reason for him to make that statement, he could just as easily said the other QBs are learning and coming along nicely, we'll be fine at QB for a long time.

but what he did say was, after 4 years as starter I still didn't understand what the coaches were saying until the new guys explained it to me.

who knows what he meant, it did not give me any comfort in our QB position.
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OstateDL
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In reply to CaliforniaCowboy • 8:53a, 7/22/22
I have to disagree, I would be more worried if he was trying to continue to improve himself. As a former college player, yes I learned from the younger guys at times. Even in the NFL the young guys and the old guys worked together! Presently being in Sales I still learn from the new guys at times. The game of football is evolving at a very fast, maybe faster than ever. So if you aren't will to look around and absorb what's working you will get left behind.
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CaliforniaCowboy
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In reply to OstateDL • 9:02a, 7/22/22
OstateDL said:
I have to disagree, I would be more worried if he was trying to continue to improve himself. As a former college player, yes I learned from the younger guys at times. Even in the NFL the young guys and the old guys worked together! Presently being in Sales I still learn from the new guys at times. The game of football is evolving at a very fast, maybe faster than ever. So if you aren't will to look around and absorb what's working you will get left behind.
yeah, I get all of that, but Sanders said now I know why coach gets mad when I screw up.... like a light bulb just came on ... after 4 years.

anyway.... you can see it in Sanders footwork and decision making, he still struggles with the game time decisions. The 5 turnovers in the Conf Champ game were all the evidence anybody should need. Throwing the ball off his back foot, or jumping (he was great when he set his feet properly), throwing the ball under pressure instead of taking the sack. Botching the QB exchange on the goal line - the ball was not stuffed into the gut of the RB, it was dropped from the hip, like he intended to pull the ball out but didn't execute.

We should have freaking killed Baylor in that game, even with the 5 TO's by Sanders we still almost pulled it off.
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OstateDL
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In reply to CaliforniaCowboy • 9:30a, 7/22/22
Wow, pretty focused on the QB play and I hate to tell you there were several positions in that game that could have made the difference! Once again I am glad the QB group is focused on getting better as a group and focusing on what they can do to make our team better. We should always remember it is a team game and when we start pointing fingers we will end up looking like our neighbors to the south did last season!
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CaliforniaCowboy
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In reply to OstateDL • 9:43a, 7/22/22
OstateDL said:
Wow, pretty focused on the QB play and I hate to tell you there were several positions in that game that could have made the difference! Once again I am glad the QB group is focused on getting better as a group and focusing on what they can do to make our team better. We should always remember it is a team game and when we start pointing fingers we will end up looking like our neighbors to the south did last season!
please don't mistake this exchange to represent that I am focused on anything other than a team win.

I have always believed that we were not playing our best QB, so let's just let it go at that, because he's all that we have now.

as a former player, I'm sure you understand that if you continue to screw up, they pull you until you can get your head straight. If a kid fumbles the ball a couple of times, then another guy is put in, that's just how it goes, usually.

and it's not just me pointing fingers, every single prognostication that you will read on our season all start by saying if Sanders can cut down on mistakes, then....

His words did not give me any comfort that he has a grip on the job, let's leave it at that. I'm sure it's just me.
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Robert Allen
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10:04a, 7/23/22
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I'm tired of rehashing it, but the offense was compromised in two very obvious ways in that game. Without Jaylen Warren running the football and with a backup center trying to curtail the power of Siaki Ika, Baylor was able to play pressure and zone coverage simultaneously, That made it much more difficult on Sanders, plus he became front and center in the run game. Baylor has good edge people and chasers, at least they did last season with the like of Bernard and Pitre. Their corners were good as well.

You are right, even with those issues, Oklahoma State should have pulled it off and that was due to Sanders ability to take on adversity and drive the offense in the second half. Tough deal, but I think all benefitted from it, including returning running backs and offensive line taking the lesson to work on strength and be ready to take on a power front led by a very stout inside technique defensive lineman. Remember, Baylor has Ika back and they've added Jaxson Player from Tulsa.
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CaliforniaCowboy
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In reply to Robert Allen • 10:24a, 7/23/22
Robert Allen said:
I'm tired of rehashing it, but the offense was compromised in two very obvious ways in that game. Without Jaylen Warren running the football and with a backup center trying to curtail the power of Siaki Ika, Baylor was able to play pressure and zone coverage simultaneously, That made it much more difficult on Sanders, plus he became front and center in the run game. Baylor has good edge people and chasers, at least they did last season with the like of Bernard and Pitre. Their corners were good as well.

You are right, even with those issues, Oklahoma State should have pulled it off and that was due to Sanders ability to take on adversity and drive the offense in the second half. Tough deal, but I think all benefitted from it, including returning running backs and offensive line taking the lesson to work on strength and be ready to take on a power front led by a very stout inside technique defensive lineman. Remember, Baylor has Ika back and they've added Jaxson Player from Tulsa.
Robert stop with the dang excuses already.... regardless of pressure he did not need to throw 4 picks and fumble the exchange. I get one or two mistakes, but not 5.

and here's a newsflash for you, Warren is not going to be running the ball this year either, and the backup center will be starting..... guess we're doomed if somebody (like Baylor) has another good defensive front.

SMH
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Robert Allen
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2:51p, 7/23/22
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No, Preston Wilson, who was playing tackle last season is moving into center. On Friday he was named to the Remington Award Watch List. Yes, Warren will not be running the football for the Cowboys and that is a concern. My biggest concern going into camp is running back. I certainly think the room is talented. I know that Dominic Richardson is bigger, stronger, and a year more mature. The same with the speedy Jaden Nixon. I'm also, like many of you, curious to see if freshman Ollie Gordon is ready to play a major role at the position. However, we need to see it. I also need to see all the backs know what to do in pass protection and as receivers. It is a major part of the offense at Oklahoma State.

As for excuses, no excuses just reality. Spencer was rowing upstream in that game and you can look at it your way that his mistakes that were forced, not unforced, cost Oklahoma State the game. Or the way I look at it and that is Spencer rose above some difficutl circumstances to give Oklahoma State a chance to win.

Also, credit the defense for playing the way they did, especially in the second half. They too gave their team a chance.
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NJAggie
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In reply to Robert Allen • 12:35p, 7/24/22
Robert, I know there weren't many of them, but Richardson had some key fumbles. Do you think that has been dealt with?

As for Sanders comments. If you can't learn from those you are leading then you're a poor leader. Probably overstated in his comments, but definitely a good thing not a bad thing.

I"m going to lean towards expecting a dream season out of Sanders, and one we'll be talking about 50 years after its over.
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Robert Allen
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9:18p, 7/25/22
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I'm looking forward to seeing what happens. This team has worked very hard this summer. They are in great shape and I believe they have a huge motivation and mental toughness to go with it. I'm anxious for the journey to begin.
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