Crabtree On OSU Offensive Line: ‘It’s a Better Unit Right Now Than It Was Last Year’

I think we’re all aware of the fact that OSU’s season hinges on how good its big dogs up front are. Victor Salako, Marcus Keyes, Brad Lundblade, Jesse Robinson, Zach Crabtree and probably eventually Larry Williams (and other backups) have to do their part to improve the running game and give Mason Rudolph some breathing room this year.

They know it too. We all know it. Thomas Fleming wrote smartly about it earlier this fall. Crabtree recently talked about how important it is.

“I think it’s a better unit right now than it was last year,” said Crabtree. “I have a lot of confidence in it. I believe in every one of those guys wholeheartedly. Do we have areas we can improve? Yeah. No offensive line is going to be perfect. Perfection is always the goal. If it’s not perfect, you have to fault yourself and try to fix it. I think we’ve made progress and we’re running the football better. We’re going to continue to make progress.”

He also talked, in a very Evan Epstein-like way, about QB1. No. 2. The Golden Child. Mason Rudolph.

“He’s fun to be around,” added Crabtree. “You have to have that bond. You have to want to work for the guy behind you. You have to want to make him good. When you care for someone, when you love someone behind you, you want them to have a lot of success. You know you have to do your role. We want those guys to be successful.”

Kyle B. discussed the offensive line depth chart here. That was last week. It could look different next week. Or at the end of September. It’s going to be more interesting, I think, to see what the OL chart looks like going into the Baylor game than the SE Louisiana game. I’ve heard all manner of combinations. Michael Wilson at center (?), Williams taking over for Robinson at RG, Taylor Cornelius at right tackle. Who knows?

No, I’m kidding about that last one. But offensive line coach Greg Adkins has some chess pieces to play with (finally).

“It’s better than it has been,” Adkins said of the depth last week. “We’ve got some younger guys coming along. Marcus Keyes continues to play there. Larry (Williams) has been back in there after being out for a few days. We’ve moved Mike Wilson, and we’re playing him at center. We’re creating some depth and some competition.”

Even head coach Mike Gundy noted that the OL was coming along in a recent scrimmage.

“I thought the offensive line played well,”. “I don’t think they were great, but I’ve got to watch the tape. They knocked a few holes and we were able to turn the corner at times, so it was good.”

There is certainly a lot to improve on, but if you believe the characters involved (and I do), Oklahoma State is going to be a lot better running the ball this year than they were last year.