2011 Big 12 Preview: Four big dogs, including Landry Jones
In the interest of total honesty right out of the gate, the 2011 Big 12 campaign is basically about four teams -- the Oklahoma Sooners (No. 1 in the preseason), Texas Longhorns, Texas A&M Aggies, and Oklahoma State Cowboys. There's a chance that someone else could emerge from this conference -- maybe a resurgent Texas Tech under Tuberville, or Missouri with James Franklin running the show now -- but in all likelihood, it's going to be one of those four squads mentioned in the first line. As a result, we're probably going to spend more time on them below and less time on the Iowa State programs of the world -- but don't hate. We respect a good ol' fashioned rise from the ashes (or emergence from the cold) as much as anyone. Let's do this thing, lower Midwest style.
Baylor: Art Briles is a good dude and a good coach, but this is what you really need to know: they're 15-90 overall in conference play. They've emerged as a hoops school, but football may be a ways off.
Iowa State: One of the most unfair things about the world? The Cyclones, who basically don't have a QB and haven't been a relevant football program in over a decade, play one of America's hardest schedules -- 11 straight games against BCS schools, including Iowa and UConn.
Kansas: Turner Gill did a lot with a little at Buffalo, and Kansas has resources -- hell, they played in a BCS bowl game with Todd Reesing under center, and that kid may be five-foot-six with stilts -- so eventually, the Jayhawks will be "back" in a football sense. Right now, they're mostly young. There were 15 redshirts last year; this year there's 26 true frosh.
Kansas State: I loved it when they were really legitimate back in the late 1990s, and I love the notion of Bill Snyder returning for another go-round. Problem is: he's old, and getting elite kids to Manhattan, Kansas may be tough (ignore Josh Freeman as an example). They own Texas, though -- 5-2 in the last seven meetings. That's something. This Collin Klein kid -- their presumed QB -- was 25-37 for five TDs in the spring game so, hey, you never know...
Texas Tech: Quarterbacks from here can sometimes put up insane numbers. Is Seth Doege going to be the next one? He's already graduated, apparently, so that might help hone his focus -- and in the duty he's seen, he's looked good. This program still seems 1-2 years away, and this year they're at Oklahoma, at Texas, and at Missouri. Could be a rough run.
Missouri: You had Chase Daniel there, then you had Blaine Gabbert. Both are pros now, albeit second-string (at least for the time being). Now you have James Franklin, who had a lot of hype and then sat behind Gabbert for a while. Is he the real deal? It might determine a lot. You need to trust Gary Pinkel, though -- the dude consistently coaches this team up.
Texas: If you really analyze their schedule, and you believe that Garrett Gilbert can be a good QB (remember, he held his own against a NFL-pro-laden defense in the national title game two years ago), and you believe the RBs -- Malcolm Brown, Fozzy Whittaker -- can be legit, then maybe, just maybe, this is a 10-2, 11-1 type of team -- maybe even makes a run like last year's Auburn run, from the 20s in the preseason all the way to No. 1. There's a ton of ifs, including new coordinators, but Texas won't be as bad as they were last year, and might even win double digits.
Texas A&M: Overall, they kinda seemed overrated. They have good backs -- Cyrus Gray is a stud -- and Ryan Tannenhill did wonders when he came in for 'em last year, but really, is this a top-10 team in America, especially without Von Miller? It doesn't feel that way -- but I mean, that's why they play the games, right?
Oklahoma State: Offense is insane, even without Dana H. up in West Virginia. Brandon Weeden to Justin Blackmon should strike terror in a defensive coordinator's heart. Here's the problem: only five starters return on defense -- and this was a defense that was really bad last year anyway. They're gonna hang 40 on almost anyone -- and give up 60 to almost anyone as well.
Oklahoma: Preseason No. 1, yes, and many parts, yes, but you need to circle Florida State on September 17th, because if you know anything about Bob Stoops, it's that he always loses one game early and re-establishes himself late, so ... just remember this time, OU-FSU is in 'Hassee. Will they make a BCS bowl? Probably, barring injuries. They just have so many really good dudes. Will they win it all? Good Lord, let's wait a second on that one, OK? The mustache of Landry Jones will gain some type of cult following this year, in all likelihood.
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