Pokes Preview: Oklahoma State vs. Arizona

No. 18 Oklahoma State (1-0) and Arizona (1-0) are meet for the third time in less than two seasons. Game kicks off at 9:30 p.m. Oklahoma time.

Three questions

How much will the playbook open for Wes Lunt?

Coach Mike Gundy said a couple weeks ago that OSU has not had to “dumb down” the offensive playbook for true freshman quarterback Wes Lunt. Against Savannah State, Lunt threw one pass down field, a 42-yard connection with Isaiah Anderson. The heavy dose of lateral and short passes largely had to do with the level of competition, but I’m sure coaches also wanted to make things easy on Lunt initially. That will have to change tonight.

Can the defense “contain” Matt Scott?

Scott is a threat as a runner and a thrower in Rich Rodriguez’s spread offense. Ryan Robinson and either Cooper Bassett or Nigel Nicholas are new starters at defensive end, but the Cowboys believe they have greatly improved their depth at defensive tackle. And OSU has lots of speed and athleticism at the outside linebacker spots. As I wrote in my pregame story, trying to slow down Scott and Co. will be a good first test for a defense that is supposedly the best OSU has had during Gundy’s tenure as head coach. Keep in mind that defensive coordinator Bill Young is not on this trip, and Glenn Spencer will again be the acting DC tonight.

How much will Tracy Moore contribute?

It’s hard to believe that Moore, the Cowboys’ top returning receiver, has not caught a pass in OSU’s last two games — because he hasn’t played receiver. Moore was demoted to only special teams duties in the Fiesta Bowl after mouthing off during practice, then suspended against Savannah State after his third minor brush with the law in six months. Does Moore respond with a monster game? Do coaches slowly work him back into the offense? How’s his chemistry with Lunt?