Oklahoma State looks to Chelf to replace Weeden

All eyes will be on Clint Chelf as Oklahoma State's spring practice opens this week

Chelf was entrenched as the backup to record-setting starter Brandon Weeden the past two years and headed into Monday's first practice as the heir apparent. But he still has more to prove to take the snaps once the season rolls around.

''Obviously, Clint should be ahead of the others. If he's not significantly better the first week, then we have an issue with him because I don't know where you go from there, because the other guys have not been in the system long enough and played enough like he has,'' offensive coordinator Todd Monken said Monday. ''Otherwise, you're going to move on.

''Is that pressure? Sure it is, but we're in a pressure business.''

Oklahoma State listed Chelf, redshirt freshman J.W. Walsh and freshman Wes Lunt tied for the starter's job on the depth chart entering the spring. All three will start out getting equal practice time, until separation starts to show up among the candidates.

All the expectations are on Chelf to claim the job.

''After the first week or two weeks, I would expect to know with Clint,'' Monken said. ''That I'll know for sure. ... The other ones are going to improve greater. If the gap's not that much, you're going to move on because he hasn't separated himself when he should be.

''If the other ones are close, they're going to eventually just keep going.''

Monken said he had no reason to believe Chelf wouldn't be up to the challenge. He's the only QB with playing time at Oklahoma State - albeit sparingly in blowouts.

''I'm just ready for the opportunity that I have. ... I've just got to go out and win the job,'' Chelf said. ''I don't try and look at pressure or anything like that. I just try and go out and lead the team and hopefully get some victories.''

Ideally, coach Mike Gundy would prefer to name a starter by the end of spring practice. But he doesn't know ''if we'll have that luxury or not.''

''I'm not really excited about the team not knowing who their quarterback is all summer,'' Gundy said.

Weeden broke just about every significant passing record at the school and led the Cowboys to their first Big 12 championship and first BCS bowl victory. He's now headed for the NFL, along with potential top 5 draft pick Justin Blackmon, a two-time All-American at wide receiver.

The Cowboys have moved inside receiver Tracy Moore to the outside, where Blackmon used to play, and switched linebacker Tyler Johnson and defensive tackle Nigel Nicholas to defensive end to try to fill the gaps left by seniors Jamie Blatnick and Richetti Jones.

No question looms larger for the program, though, than who will fill Weeden's shoes.

''They can't live up to where Brandon Weeden was. They can't do that,'' Gundy said. ''So they just need to worry about themselves and get better and develop good leadership skills and try to get the respect of the team.''

Monken said the ability to lead the team may prove the most crucial part of Chelf's development. So far, he hasn't displayed the type of NFL-ready arm that Weeden brought or proven himself to be a dynamic running threat. But avoiding game-breaking mistakes could win him the job.

''Brandon had a measurable skill set, a dominant trait, and that's something that as of right now Clint doesn't have. Clint doesn't have a dominant trait,'' Monken said. ''He throws it good. He runs it good. He's a good leader. ... If you don't have any of those three, then you're going to be hard pressed to ever really be a starter anywhere.''

Chelf believes he has the physical tools to be the Cowboys' quarterback. His task is to keep improving in those areas while also showing the intangible qualities of a starting QB.

''I just want to go out and show the team that I can lead them and get the guys to trust me and know that they can follow me,'' Chelf said.

Because of the players that left the program, Gundy understands there may not be the same preseason expectations for his team from outside.

''You're looked at differently across the country when you don't have a returner at quarterback, but I expect our guys to play well and I expect to win a lot of football games,'' Gundy said. ''How many? I don't know. That's all based on the chemistry and the leadership that the players that are on our team right now have to take over.''