Spring Preview: Offensive Line

April 9, 2015

STILLWATER - Perhaps the most reliable constant of the Mike Gundy era at Oklahoma State has been solid play from the offensive line. However, for the first time since 2006, that wasn't the case last season as the group struggled for the majority of the year before eventually finding its footing in the last three games. A closer look at that improvement:

Yards Per Play (Weeks 5-10):	4.4
Yards Per Play (Weeks 11-13):	6.1

Points Per Play (Weeks 5-10):	0.25
Points Per Play (Weeks 11-13):	0.47

Points Per Game (Weeks 5-10):	17.3
Points Per Game (Weeks 11-13):	32

Yards Per Pass Attempt (Weeks 5-10):	5.9
Yards Per Pass Attempt (Weeks 11-13):	10.1

Rushing Touchdowns (Weeks 5-10):	4
Rushing Touchdowns (Weeks 11-13):	5

First Downs Per Game (Weeks 5-10):	16.5
First Downs Per Game (Weeks 11-13):	19

Total Offense Per Game (Weeks 5-10):	303.5
Total Offense Per Game (Weeks 11-13):	418.3

So what does that mean for the spring of 2015, when well-respected first-year offensive line coach Greg Adkins inherits a group that includes four of the five starters from the final two games of last year? That remains to be seen, but there is reason for optimism that the group that turned things around for the Cowboy front essentially remains intact and has been bolstered by some notable additions.

Defining one clear standout among the group may be a challenge, but tackle Zachary Crabtree is a good place to start. Only a sophomore filling out a 6-foot-7, 305-pound frame that is ideal for his position, Crabtree was an opening day starter at right tackle a year ago and went on to start the next four games as well before sustaining an injury against Iowa State that kept him out of the starting lineup for the next five games. He returned to the starting lineup for the final three contests. In the eight games that Crabtree started, Oklahoma State averaged 36.5 points and 438.0 yards of total offense per game. In the five games that he did not, the Cowboys averaged 13.4 points per game and 284.2 yards of total offense per game.

The injury sustained by Crabtree last season opened the door for Michael Wilson to step into the starting lineup at right tackle and by the time the season ended, Wilson had started at four of the five positions on the offensive line, with the lone exception being center. Wilson settled in as the starter at left tackle for the final two games of last season, but is now a logical candidate to be utilized at left guard with the arrival of junior Victor Salako.

Salako transferred to Oklahoma State from UAB last December after the school elected to disband its football program, and at 6-foot-6 and 330 pounds with two years of experience as a full-time starter at the FBS level, he is a strong candidate to earn a spot in the starting rotation for the Cowboys.

Now a junior, Paul Lewis started 12 games at center last year, but as the season progressed, he found himself sharing first-team reps, both in practice and in the games, with freshman walk-on Brad Lundblade. In fact, Lundblade actually earned a starting nod at Baylor in week 11. Both are back and both are candidates for heavy playing time again this year.

One of the most intriguing prospects on the Cowboy offensive line is sophomore Jesse Robinson. At 6-foot-6 and 310 pounds, he is remarkably athletic and agile on his feet. Robinson redshirted in 2013 and was a second-teamer for the first 10 games of last season until an injury to Daniel Koenig thrust him into the first-team group at Baylor. He started from that point on and as was noted above, the Cowboy offense took off in those final three games with Robinson part of the group's resurgence. If he continues in his development, he could become a viable option for some time.

While nobody from the group of Brandon Pertile (6-foot-5, 310 pounds), Lemaefe Galea'i (6-foot-5, 325 pounds) or Matthew Mucha (6-foot-6, 285 pounds) saw the field for Oklahoma State last year, all three are candidates for playing time this year. Pertile transferred to OSU from Mesa CC, where he was regarded as one of the better guards in the junior college ranks last season, while Galea'i and Mucha both redshirted with the Cowboys. Both Galea'i and Mucha logged a good number of second-team reps on the practice field all season and were realistic candidates to see live game action if the situation dictated it necessary to pull their redshirts.

The Bottom Line
The offensive line lost a pair of starters from last year in Daniel Koenig and Chris Grisbhy, but has what it needs to be better up front. Given that the central figures involved in the late-season resurgence by last year's group are back, there is tangible, statistical reason for optimism. Don't underestimate the potential impact that first-year coach Greg Adkins may have on this group as well. Adkins has more than enough high-level experience to make a significant difference.