Guerin Emig: I agree that Gundy should pick a starting quarterback. I just don’t think it’s going to make OSU’s offense more than what it’s destined to be — pretty good. That’s it. Same as the trigger men.

I wasn’t in Stillwater for Mike Gundy’s press conference Monday, but I did tune in. No breaking news, at least publicly. No change in Oklahoma State’s quarterback rotation, no change in schemes.

The Cowboys have gotta play better, to hear Gundy tell it, beginning Saturday at Iowa State. 

But just because the head coach didn’t break any news doesn’t mean he didn’t say anything worth noting. Here’s what I noted…

“They were all pretty good.” – Gundy on the tape-grading of Alan Bowman, Gunnar Gundy and Garret Rangel

That’s the big problem here. OSU’s three quarterbacks are all pretty good. Nothing changes that fact regardless of whether Gundy picks a permanent starter. 

I agree with Sellout Crowd colleague Jenni Carlson that Gundy should pick a starter. It gives QB1 a sense of command in practice and in games and gives his offense a shot at some stability since that QB1 will take more meaningful snaps during the week. 

I just don’t think it’s going to make OSU’s offense more than what it’s destined to be – pretty good. That’s it. Same as the trigger men. 

“They really weren’t as much as I thought.” — Gundy asked by SC colleague Berry Tramel if it alarms him that South Alabama was so much more physical Saturday night 

A revision from Gundy’s central theme in the postgame press room — that OSU got pushed around more than anything else.

I watched the game from beginning to end Saturday night. I noticed that South Alabama was more physical, but I put that well below my main takeaway — that the Jaguars were so much better coached.

And that wasn’t because of any genius game plans on behalf of Kane Wommack, but rather how poorly prepared the Cowboys looked. 

“Their concepts and schemes, they got their players to execute them better than we did… Players are only doing and executing what we’re coaching them to do. I’m not just saying the staff, me… That didn’t look good to me Saturday.” – Gundy asked by Tulsa World beat writer Dean Ruhl to specify OSU being outcoached

More of this, please, because Saturday night nobody on Gundy’s staff, the HC included, earned his full paycheck. 

“We need to get better. We have to stay the course because we’re not changing what we do. We cannot change mid-stream. That’s my choice.” — Gundy asked by Oklahoman beat writer Scott Wright about a different-looking rushing attack

It feels like coaches should consider changing all sorts of things to give OSU’s offense a shot in the Big 12 Conference, the Cowboys’ offensive weaknesses glaring for all to see in the noncon. 

There are two ways to view this… 

Does it matter what Gundy and OC Kasey Dunn change if the “pretty good” reality of their offensive personnel is beating down? 

Or do Gundy and Dunn land on the “better than pretty good” elements in their offense (Brennan Presley, De’Zhaun Stribling and Ollie Gordon come to mind) and get them the ball however that looks, whatever that changes? 

“I don’t think we have majors. I’ll be able to give you a really good thought three weeks from now.” — Gundy asked by Berry about OSU’s “major” issues

I sense three major issues after three games — average quarterbacking, a below-average offensive line and a good defense that needs to be great, but not be able to grow into great in Bryan Nardo’s first year as DC, to overcome the first two issues.

Incredible, excellent, fantastic; good to see Mike is on top of things because the rest of us are PANICKING! This, kids, is why we don’t do drugs. #Okstate #SelloutCrowd https://t.co/YCR7pzMa34 pic.twitter.com/Qo1TKrOSWa

— Sam Mayes (@AllmericanMayes) September 18, 2023