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Michael Crabtree in practice, Kansas’ Dezmon Briscoe or even a hypothetical match up with Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Johnson — it’s all fair game for Texas Tech cornerback Jamar Wall.
“I have to play each person like they’re Crab or anyone else, Ochocinco, whoever,” he said. “Because everyone’s going to go out to win and you have to do what you have to do.”
So Dez Bryant’s absence when the Red Raiders visit Oklahoma State at 7 p.m. Saturday in Stillwater, Okla., doesn’t change anything for Wall in his opinion. Tech players and coaches believe no Bryant doesn’t necessarily mean the OSU offense is easier to handle.
While the Tech-OSU match ups usually provide an entertaining contest between high-profile offenses and emerging defenses, the latest episode of the rivalry will be without the 6-foot-2, 220-pound Bryant.
Oklahoma State’s 2009 season was filled with high expectations, which were warranted considering quarterback Zac Robinson had Bryant to throw to.
But in October, Bryant was ruled ineligible by the NCAA for violating its bylaws. He reportedly lied to the NCAA about his connections with former NFL cornerback Deion Sanders. Just a junior, it was reported the NCAA decided to suspend Bryant until September 2010.
Instead of waiting on that date though, Bryant announced he would enter the 2010 NFL Draft, ending his career as a Cowboy.
Bryant was regarded as one of the top receivers in the country entering the 2009 season, with 87 receptions for 1,480 yards and 19 touchdowns in 2008. And the Cowboys’ receiving corps has been busy trying to stay relevant in the Big 12 Conference without their big target.
But it seems like that has not been much of a problem for OSU.
Although four of their previous five opponents are under .500 in Big 12 play, the Cowboys are 4-1 since news of Bryant’s ineligibility broke. That one loss was to No. 2 Texas at home.
Wall admitted during Tech’s weekly press conference Monday, not being able to face Bryant during his senior season is a little disappointing and it does limit Robinson’s options if the Tech defense can shut down the passing game.
But he also said the Cowboys have wasted no time in finding another key receiver to throw to, so the secondary can’t really relax.
With Bryant’s absence, Hubert Anyiam has emerged as the Cowboys’ go-to guy. He leads the team with 35 catches for 416 yards and two touchdowns. Bryant still leads the team in touchdown catches with four.
There’s also the Cowboys’ solid ground attack — made up of Keith Toston, Kendall Hunter and Beau Johnson — that takes pressure off the passing game.
Hunter has been hurt with an ankle injury this season, but returned to form against Iowa State. It gives the Cowboys another weapon in the backfield with Toston — whose back-up-to-star story this season has defensive coordinators taking note.
“When we have a running attack, especially someone like Keith Toston who puts up 200-something yards, it’s just big for our play-action game,” Anyiam said. “A lot of receivers get open, slots get open. It’s big for the passing game.”
Tech defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill said Bryant’s shadow is no longer engulfing Toston or any of the Cowboys’ other weapons, and as a result, names such as Toston and Anyiam are being heard all around the Big 12.
“He was one of the best receivers in the country,” McNeill said. “So obviously missing him is going to be a loss for any team. But what it does for Oklahoma State now is Zac distributes the ball to more people now. They have some talented receivers, and I think with Dez not being there those guys show up more now on film.”
While Bryant’s career was filled with accolades and accomplishments, Tech coach Mike Leach believes the Red Raiders really never saw Bryant at his fullest potential.
Against Tech last season, Bryant had four catches for 86 yards, but no touchdowns. In the wild 2007 match up in Stillwater, Okla., he had five catches for 51 yards and one touchdown.
Leach also said Bryant made his mark in special teams as a returner, where he earned honors as well. Bryant was named Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year in 2008.
“I haven’t gotten a great picture of him, just because I don’t know that he put his best foot forward against us,” he said. “Of course our defensive guys batted him around pretty good too. He’s getting ready to catch one and I remember (former safety Anthony) Hines came all the way across the field and hit him and took it away from him.”
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