Big 12 Preview: Three Keys To Success In The Big 12

Jan 1, 2013; Dallas, TX, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys head coach Mike Gundy celebrates a victory with defensive end Cooper Bassett (80) against the Purdue Boilermakers at the Cotton Bowl. The Cowboys beat the Boilermakers 58-14. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS

1. Trust Chelf

Mike Gundy played musical chairs at quarterback, starting three but seemingly settling on Clint Chelf by season’s end. Wes Lunt’s transfer cleared some of the bottleneck behind center, but J.W. Walsh remains in Stillwater.

Chelf started the final five games and spent a majority of the spring as the Cowboys’ first string option. He was solid, throwing 15 touchdowns. Walsh was similarly effective, though. Establishing the right rhythm means entrusting the offense to one quarterback. Since Chelf appears to be the guy, Gundy needs to turn him loose, much like he did an unexpected breakout star named Brandon Weeden in 2010.

2. Find consistency on D

Oklahoma State suffered from a Jekyll and Hyde defensive identity. In seven of eight wins, the Cowboys’ opponents were held under 30 points. In all five losses, OSU gave up at least 41 points.

The Cowboy offense dictates tempo, but the onus is on the defense to match the intensity. OSU returns a veteran group of defenders capable of great things.

3. Win away from home

Four of OSU’s losses last season were away from Stillwater, including three in conference. That’s a trend the Cowboys must break if they are to contend for the Big 12 title, because they draw likely league contenders Oklahoma, Baylor, K-State and TCU all at home.

TCU HORNED FROGS

1. Keep Pachall on the field

This is ultimately up to Casey Pachall. The underlying ramifications of Pachall being available are far more important than anything football-related. From a purely football perspective though, Pachall gives TCU its best chance of winning.

He was stellar in 2011, leading the Horned Frogs to yet another 11-win season and top 15 ranking. Pachall started 2012 strong before his dismissal. With a strong receiver corps in place, a talented and deep group of running backs to feed off of and quality offensive line in front of him, Pachall has the potential to be the Big 12’s best quarterback.

2. Bring smash mouth football to the Big 12

Gary Patterson has coached some outstanding offensive players during TCU’s run of excellence, but the Horned Frogs have made their bones on defense. The same is true for TCU in its 2012 season. The Frogs held opponents below 21 points in every win but one, and yielded 36 or more in three of their losses.

TCU is loaded on the defensive side, including a stacked line. Patterson’s best teams were those that brought unrelenting, tenacious pressure to the back field.

3. Protect this house

Four of TCU’s losses in the program’s worst season since 2004 came at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Baylor, Texas and West Virginia are among the visitors to Fort Worth this season, all of which the Frogs defeated on the road last season.

TEXAS LONGHORNS

1. Get aggressive defensively

Manny Diaz was one of the hottest names in the coaching world after the 2011 season, Texas was returning an outstanding roster and…the Longhorns underachieved. Badly. UT took a Texas-sized step backward on defense.

The talent is there for the Longhorns to bounce back. The front seven is arguably the conference’s most talented, but last season proved that talent doesn’t guarantee production.

2. Remain steadfast at quarterback

David Ash took over exclusive quarterbacking duties in his sophomore season after playing hot potato with Case McCoy throughout 2011. Ash was decent too, completing over 67 percent of his pass attempts, rushing for 141 yards and scoring a combined 21 touchdowns. But after years of Vince Young and Colt McCoy, “decent” is not what Texas faithful expect.

Expectations are high for newcomer Tyrone Swoopes, and reviews of his spring practices raved. Swoopes might be the next great Longhorn quarterback, but he can’t be put into a musical chairs position. If Mack Brown is going to stick with third-year veteran Ash, he needs to have full support. If Swoopes is giving the reins, he needs to be given the reins completely.

3. Beat Oklahoma

Stating the obvious, right? Texas has failed to beat Oklahoma in each of the last three seasons, a black eye indicative of the program’s current struggles. Beating their rivals ends a painful run for the Longhorns, but it also has huge implications on their conference championship aspirations.

Texas benefits from drawing Kansas State and Oklahoma State, the last two league champions, at home. The neutral field showdown with OU could be the determiner for UT.

TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS

1. Buckle in

Texas Tech never deviated from the spread offense in Tommy Tuberville’s brief tenure. Seth Doege was one of the busiest passers in the nation last year under offensive coordinator Neal Brown. The return of Kliff Kingsbury to Lubbock, however, likely means a new twist on the spread.

“Spread” is a generic term, as there are countless variations on it. Kingsbury’s take employed at Texas A&M last season was different than what Houston ran with him as OC in 2011. He’s proven he will adapt to his players’ skill sets.

There’s no guarantee how Kingsbury’s spread will look, but it will assuredly be exciting.

2. Avoid the Halloween hangover

Michael Meyers may have wreaked havoc on Oct. 31, but Texas Tech faced its true horrors after that date. Tech’s record in post-Halloween, regular season games the last two seasons: 1-7. The Red Raiders went 1-3 last year. One was in the overtime, the other was also by single digits.

3. Put down the pass
Nov 12, 2011; Lubbock, TX, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders defensive end Kerry Hyder (91) against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Jones AT
Much like the Tech offense relied on the passing game, the defense was best when the ball was in the air. The Red Raiders were ranked No. 15 against the pass a season ago, holding opponents below a 55 percent completion rating. The conference’s various quarterback situations are in flux, with David Ash the only returner who started in over half the games of 2012.

An effective pass rush from a great defensive line and a solid secondary, combined with the inexperience of Big 12 quarterbacks, should result in a stellar year for the Red Raider pass defense.

WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS

1. Slow things down on defense

West Virginia’s defense gave up 38.1 points per game, putting it in company with New Mexico State, Tulane, Idaho and Colorado. While Dana Holgorsen’s offensive philosophy results in more opponent possessions, the Mountaineers were giving up a point ever two plays. Tempo has no bearing on a statistic like that — that’s just the result of bad defense.

A full year of the 3-4 might have WVU better acclimated to its nuances this time around.

2. Identify the new play makers

The Mountaineer offense ran like a well-oiled machine much of last season, because Geno Smith was so comfortable with Tavon Austin/Stedman Bailey and vice versa. Andrew Buie is back at running back, and could be joined by Houston transfer Charles Sims, and Florida State transfer quarterback Clint Trickett might take over for Smith. Whoever the big play guys are to be in Holgorsen’s offense must step up early.

3. Don’t go cold as the temperatures drop

Each of West Virginia’s nine losses over the last two seasons but one was on Oct. 13 or later. Opponents have been able to key in on Holgorsen’s teams’ weaknesses after a few weeks of film to study, suggesting the Mountaineers can either play their hand closer to the chest early in the season, or diversify as conference play begins.