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Last year featured just the second winning season in 14 years, benchmark victories over Texas A&M, Nebraska and Oklahoma, and a trip to the Houston Bowl. Now Miles is talking about taking the Big 12 South -- and more. Why not? The Cowboys return 14 starters off a team that won six of its last seven games and finished as Houston Bowl champions. "That experience will lead them to the inevitable conclusion: There are greater goals, unreached aspirations that this team really left on the table," Miles said. "So why not set your sights very realistically higher? Not just talk about them. Not just point at them. But actually work like heck to get them." OFFENSIVE KEYS: Josh Fields just kept getting better as his sophomore season progressed. He eventually shattered school records for completions, attempts, yards and touchdowns in a season. The junior quarterback is just one of three returning offensive stars who give Oklahoma State reason to believe it can contend for a Big 12 title.Fields isn't even the Cowboys' headliner. That tag belongs to wide receiver Rashaun Woods, an All-American coming off his own record-breaking season in which he led the nation with 17 touchdown catches. Balancing the air attack with tailback Tatum Bell, who averaged 132.6 yards over the final seven games -- six of those OSU wins -- could allow the Cowboys to improve on the 411 yards per game they averaged a year ago. "Tatum has really matured," said offensive coordinator Mike Gundy. "He's always had great speed and talent, but now he's running tough. That's what we've got to have." Still, questions remain to be addressed. An offensive line needing replacements at both tackles must come along. Other receiving threats must emerge to complement Woods. DEFENSIVE KEYS: Coaches didn't know how Paul Duren would hold up as a redshirt freshman filling a linebacker void. All he did was lead the team in tackles. He'll be counted on for similar production in '03, as the Cowboys try to cover up major losses at defensive tackle with upgrades almost everywhere else. Still, Kevin Williams and LaWaylon Brown, forces inside a year ago, will be missed.Three rotating ends -- Greg Richmond, Antonio Smith and Khreem Smith -- are talented enough to pick up some of the slack across the front. Duren leads a young but exciting group of linebackers. And the secondary is expected to be the best of the Miles era, after coaches turned to freshmen for an infusion of speed and toughness a year ago in a move that paid off down the stretch. The spring offered no revelations at defensive tackle as expected replacements Clay Coe and Kyle Hix were out with injuries. Three touted incoming freshmen are being counted on to contribute, but that's asking a lot with an opening date at Nebraska. SPECIAL TEAMS: Placekicker Luke Phillips and punter Cole Farden are proven commodities, and both are capable of All-Big 12 seasons.Coaches are excited about the return game, where Robert Jones, Darrent Williams, Errick McCown, Daniel McLemore and Gabe Lindsay combine speed and vision in the open field. FINAL ANALYSIS: The Cowboys finished one conference victory shy of playing in the 2002 Big 12 championship game. Wins over Texas A&M, Nebraska and Oklahoma were enlightening for a previously underachieving team. Now confident, OSU players and coaches are convinced they can compete for a Big 12 title. Enough key components are in place, beginning with the triplets on offense -- Woods, Fields and Bell.Preseason developments, especially at defensive tackle, will be critical with the Cowboys opening the season Aug. 30 at Nebraska. That game might hold the key to OSU's ultimate goals. Win, and OSU rolls into games against Kansas State and Texas Tech unbeaten and uninhibited. • Click here for complete index of 2003 team previews
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