Oklahoma State football: Three priorities for new DC Derek Mason in 2022

1. Continue OSU’s defensive identity

More than the Xs and the Os and perhaps even the buzz around incoming transfers to fill in the gaps, Derek Mason’s first task this spring will be to re-establish his version of defensive identity. When a bad break happens or when the opposing team takes control, who will step up on defense? With a big game (or the entire season) on the line, where will the Cowboys turn in 2022?

These questions and more are partly answered with the team’s defensive identity. In the past several years, that’s been the foundational pieces of the defense in Malcolm Rodriguez and Devin Harper helped by a talented secondary and some mad-dash pass rushers on the D-Line.

When the Cowboys were down early at Boise State, the defense pitched a second-half shutout to help the team emerge with a one-point win. When the team fell behind at Texas, Jason Taylor II returned an interception for a score and ignited the entire team to come back and win. With Bedlam on the line, Collin Oliver got the sack from his knees and brought down Caleb Williams and the Sooners’ hopes of extending their Big 12 title streak.

And of course, with Knowles gone in a New Year’s Day bowl against one of college football’s most storied programs, the defense was gashed early on but made enough stops to help the Cowboys pull off a 21-point comeback to get the Fiesta Bowl win against Notre Dame.

Those kinds of defensive stops and plays made the 2021 season such a special one for OSU.

Derek Mason is a coach with more of a background in the secondary than Knowles, who specialized more as a linebackers coach earlier in his career.

Mason’s ability to develop team captains, dial up the pressure when needed, and instill confidence in a unit that’s lost some talented fifth-year seniors will be paramount to his success as OSU’s new defensive coordinator in 2022.