Oklahoma State University Athletics
Depth and Momentum Carrying Cowboy Defense Into 2021 Season
August 11, 2021 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER – As the Oklahoma State football team continues to move toward the opening of its 2021 season on Sept 4, the combination of a veteran defense and a fourth-year defensive coordinator has the Cowboys excited to build upon last season's success.
Since arriving in Stillwater from Duke in 2018, defensive coordinator Jim Knowles has consistently improved the Cowboy defense each year of his tenure. In 2020, his defense allowed 23.45 points per game, which was just over nine points per game better than the 32.46 allowed on average in his first season.
The players on his side of the ball have fed off of that success and are looking to display an even more dominant defense in 2021.
"To most of us we look at it like a chip on our shoulder," senior linebacker Devin Harper said. "Obviously it's over and we have to work for it if we want to get it again this year, so we look at it as motivation if we can do that, then we can do it again and we can do it better. We have all been here before so that's the job we're looking to do and we should fulfill that."
In a sport and league where offenses are continuously evolving and becoming more high-powered, Knowles has slowly inputted his style of defense as the Cowboys learn his system. Ahead of this season, he is making another adjustment to try and stay ahead of the potent offenses in the Big 12.
"It's year four for me, so we're going to be close to having 85% of what I like to do in the playbook," Knowles said. "That started at 20% the first year, went to 40% the second year and last year we had about two-thirds of the system installed. Now we can increase that again and part of that means playing more zone so teams can't dial in on us in man coverage."
Knowles and the defensive staff began installing the zone coverage during spring practice and have continued to work on it through the first few days of fall camp.
Of course, it helps to have a secondary that returns a load of experienced players, only losing one starter from last season in NFL draftee Rodarius Williams. However, the Cowboys have options at that position, with veterans such as Christian Holmes and younger cornerbacks like Jabbar Muhammad and Korie Black battling it out during camp for the starting cornerback slot opposite of Jarrick Bernard-Converse.
"I think everybody being so experienced in coach Knowles' defense system is huge," Bernard-Converse said. "We understand our assignments and what we're supposed to do so now we are just going out there looking to attack the ball and force turnovers."
Much like the secondary, the other position groups in the OSU defense are also stocked with a combination of veterans who have played plenty of meaningful snaps and younger players who are looking to get onto the field for the first time in their careers.
Having a full spring practice in which some of the starters were limited gave those newcomers and backups a chance to get valuable experience in Knowles' defense.
"I feel like we have a lot of depth," Knowles said. "I think there is a starting group that is fairly well-cemented except at cornerback where we are going to have a lot of good competition, but we also have guys who have played a lot of reps especially in the spring where guys got 600 reps who are not starters."
A couple of those non-starters have stood out so far to Knowles in fall camp, especially at the linebacker position. He mentioned Mason Cobb, Lamont Bishop and Kamryn Farrar as players who aren't in starting roles, but will see the field often behind Malcolm Rodriguez and Harper.
"It's great to have good competition that keeps us on our toes all the time," Harper said. "Knowing we have backups that can do as well as us if not better is a good thing because if something happens, then we know we can rely on someone else who is a great player. I can't wait to see them play."
The Pokes will take on Missouri State on Sept. 4 at 6 p.m. CT in Boone Pickens Stadium. Fans can purchase 2021 Cowboy football season tickets by visiting okstate.com/tickets or by calling or texting 877-ALL-4-OSU.
Since arriving in Stillwater from Duke in 2018, defensive coordinator Jim Knowles has consistently improved the Cowboy defense each year of his tenure. In 2020, his defense allowed 23.45 points per game, which was just over nine points per game better than the 32.46 allowed on average in his first season.
The players on his side of the ball have fed off of that success and are looking to display an even more dominant defense in 2021.
"To most of us we look at it like a chip on our shoulder," senior linebacker Devin Harper said. "Obviously it's over and we have to work for it if we want to get it again this year, so we look at it as motivation if we can do that, then we can do it again and we can do it better. We have all been here before so that's the job we're looking to do and we should fulfill that."
In a sport and league where offenses are continuously evolving and becoming more high-powered, Knowles has slowly inputted his style of defense as the Cowboys learn his system. Ahead of this season, he is making another adjustment to try and stay ahead of the potent offenses in the Big 12.
"It's year four for me, so we're going to be close to having 85% of what I like to do in the playbook," Knowles said. "That started at 20% the first year, went to 40% the second year and last year we had about two-thirds of the system installed. Now we can increase that again and part of that means playing more zone so teams can't dial in on us in man coverage."
Knowles and the defensive staff began installing the zone coverage during spring practice and have continued to work on it through the first few days of fall camp.
Of course, it helps to have a secondary that returns a load of experienced players, only losing one starter from last season in NFL draftee Rodarius Williams. However, the Cowboys have options at that position, with veterans such as Christian Holmes and younger cornerbacks like Jabbar Muhammad and Korie Black battling it out during camp for the starting cornerback slot opposite of Jarrick Bernard-Converse.
"I think everybody being so experienced in coach Knowles' defense system is huge," Bernard-Converse said. "We understand our assignments and what we're supposed to do so now we are just going out there looking to attack the ball and force turnovers."
Much like the secondary, the other position groups in the OSU defense are also stocked with a combination of veterans who have played plenty of meaningful snaps and younger players who are looking to get onto the field for the first time in their careers.
Having a full spring practice in which some of the starters were limited gave those newcomers and backups a chance to get valuable experience in Knowles' defense.
"I feel like we have a lot of depth," Knowles said. "I think there is a starting group that is fairly well-cemented except at cornerback where we are going to have a lot of good competition, but we also have guys who have played a lot of reps especially in the spring where guys got 600 reps who are not starters."
A couple of those non-starters have stood out so far to Knowles in fall camp, especially at the linebacker position. He mentioned Mason Cobb, Lamont Bishop and Kamryn Farrar as players who aren't in starting roles, but will see the field often behind Malcolm Rodriguez and Harper.
"It's great to have good competition that keeps us on our toes all the time," Harper said. "Knowing we have backups that can do as well as us if not better is a good thing because if something happens, then we know we can rely on someone else who is a great player. I can't wait to see them play."
The Pokes will take on Missouri State on Sept. 4 at 6 p.m. CT in Boone Pickens Stadium. Fans can purchase 2021 Cowboy football season tickets by visiting okstate.com/tickets or by calling or texting 877-ALL-4-OSU.
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