STILLWATER — The problem with spring football is if one unit is having success, it's natural to ask what's wrong with the other unit.
Since the buzz all spring was the defense's noticeable improvement, is there concern part of the defense's progress was due to a hit-and-miss offense?
No.
Coach Mike Gundy and the staff believe the offense will be just fine. It would be a mistake to read too much into the offense's performance because of two extenuating circumstances.
First, quarterback Zac Robinson's unique running skills on the zone read option are rarely used during spring practices. On Saturdays that play sets up the entire offense.
Secondly, tight end Brandon Pettigrew didn't participate all spring due to a splint on his right ring finger. That's a much bigger variable than you might think.
"He's probably our best player on offense, a potential No. 1 (draft pick),” said co-offensive coordinator Gunter Brewer. "Not having him in there is a huge difference in a one-back, tight end oriented offense. You put that piece of the puzzle in there and it changes a lot of things.”
Robinson agrees.
"In my opinion Pettigrew is the glue that sticks the whole offense together,” Robinson said. "He does so many things. On option plays, he blocks things up. On pass plays he either sucks up a couple guys to him or gets open.
"Missing him hurt us. We'll be fine when we get him back. This offense should reload and be just like it was last year.”
Credit the defense. Tim Beckman's crew is much improved. But it was unusual to watch an offense that ranked seventh in the nation struggle much of the spring.
"(Dantrell) Savage and (Adarius) Bowman aren't easy to replace just like that,” Gundy said. "And Pettigrew didn't play. I think the offense will be just fine. I actually prefer it would end this way. The defense played pretty good the last few weeks.
"Some things we were looking for was to get pressure on the quarterback and to slow people down. In the (spring) game I didn't see a lot of guys miss tackles or receivers running wide open. For the most part our defense (played well). It hasn't been that way around here.”
But for fans accustomed to 30 to 40 points a game, a 9-7 final score in the spring game was shocking.
"I thought there would be two or three touchdowns on both sides,” Gundy said. "Part of it was due to a lack of experience at the wideout spot. We have some good young players who haven't played a lot. It limited some of the big-play opportunities…
"I was a little surprised (by the low score) but I'm OK with it. I'm confident when we get going offensively we'll be able to move the football. And I liked the improvement I saw on defense.”
