Brailford breakout?
Jordan Brailford is poised to have a breakout year, OSU’s defensive coordinator says.
STILLWATER — Jim Knowles didn’t bother dancing around the topic.
“I think Jordan Brailford has a chance to have a breakout year,” the Oklahoma State defensive coordinator said about his junior defensive end.
Big words from Knowles, who has coached the 6-foot-3, 250-pound Brailford for two games now. But if there’s a player with the ability to take Knowles’ defense beyond the line of “just another Big 12 defense,” Brailford might be the guy.
He certainly will have the attention of Boise State’s offensive line and quarterback Brett Rypien when the 17th-ranked Broncos visit Boone Pickens Stadium to face No. 24 Oklahoma State at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
“Obviously, he’s strong. He’s got some weight behind him,” Knowles said of Brailford. “When you can pressure the quarterback with a four-man rush and sometimes a threeman rush, you’ve got a chance to be decent.”
Brailford has a rare combination of strength and speed, which he has used to produce 57 tackles, with 10 for lost yardage, plus five sacks and three quarterback hurries last season. He already has two sacks through two games this year.
“He’s one of those guys that has an unusual body type to where they have enough strength to push but enough speed to get around the corner,” OSU coach Mike Gundy said. “He understands leverage and sinking his hips, dipping his shoulder. He understands bull rush. He’s more experienced, older now, and that makes a difference.”
Beyond that, Brailford has settled in well to Knowles’ aggressive defensive style.
“I think this defense puts me in a lot more advantageous situations, especially on third downs,” Brailford said. “The play schemes we have give me a lot more freedom to make moves and get to the guy with the ball, rather than just playing one assignment.”
He feels the Cowboys have high potential as a pass-rushing defense, based on a combination of size, speed, strength and experience.
“Calvin Bundage has a natural knack for getting off the ball,” Brailford said. “Me, Jarrell Owens, Cole Walterscheid, we all have experience in getting to the quarterback, so I have no doubt that we can continue to do that.”
As Gundy watched Khalil Mack of the Chicago Bears — whose body type is similar to Brailford at 6-foot-3 and 252 pounds — causing problems for Green Bay on Sunday night, he was reminded how valuable players with Brailford’s strength/speed combo can be.
“I’m not saying he’s (Mack),” Gundy said. “But that unusual ability to have speed and strength gives him a chance to be a decent pass rusher.
“That’s why they pay those guys a lot of money in the NFL.”