Quick Takes: Oklahoma State

[Mike Roach]

Photo: USA Today Sports

WHO: #24 Oklahoma State Cowboys 3-0 (0-0) vs. Texas Longhorns 1-2 (0-0)
WHEN: Saturday September 26, 2015 at 2:30 Central
WHERE: Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, TX. (ESPN)
ODDS: Oklahoma State -3
 
The Good: After a down season last year, Mike Gundy’s team is 3-0 and ranked in the top 25 to start the season. The Cowboys have made their bones this season against an unimpressive non-conference slate, but their performance has improved throughout each week. Sophomore quarterback Mason Rudolph has been the driving force behind the Cowboy offense accounting for 947 yards and 5 touchdowns on 69% passing. Rudolph’s air assault has been led by receivers Marcell Ateman and David Glidden. While Ateman is a familiar face who has been making plays up in Stillwater for years, Glidden is the player leading the charge currently. The diminutive senior receiver has been a spark plug for the Pokes totaling 283 and 3 touchdowns through three games. The Cowboys have also done a great job taking care of the ball this season while forcing 8 turnovers on the defensive side of the ball. Winning the turnover battle equates to winning football games, and Oklahoma State is doing their part in that area.
 
The Bad: The Cowboys have no real rushing game to speak of. While Gundy has been known in the past for his explosive passing offenses, he’s usually found that success because of a dangerous running back that keeps the defense honest. Leading rusher Chris Childs has fewer yards through three games than Longhorn quarterback Jerrod Heard has amassed through two. State’s defense has also struggled at times giving up over 300 yards to both Central Michigan and UTSA. Early in the season the offense struggled to score points and turned in lackluster performances against Central Michigan and Central Arkansas.
 
The Uncertain: It’s hard to tell if these Cowboys are for real or not. The non-conference schedule was setup to be easy on them, but Gundy and co. needed a comeback to beat Central Michigan at home, and sputtered to a 22 point win against Central Arkansas. While the game against UTSA looked big on paper it was aided by the Roadrunners committing seven turnovers and never really threatening against OSU. While this Texas team is down, they do present the biggest challenge Oklahoma State has seen this season, especially with the emergence of Jerrod Heard.
 
What’s at stake: Both teams look to kick conference play off with a win, while Oklahoma State wants to prove their ranking is not a fluke. Texas is in need of some good mojo after the heartbreaking loss against Cal in which Jerrod Heard energized the fan base for the first time since perhaps the days of Colt McCoy. A win over a top 25 team would be noteworthy, and Texas could use all the momentum they can find as they head into the teeth of their schedule.

 

[Danny Hale]

If Texas defense gets gashed by the run game of osu then Texas has no shot to win. the osu o-line is the worst line Texas has seen this year the defense should be able to get sacks this game should be first game the opposite teams offense is one dimensional. if the upperclassmen on defense do not start leading team then the youth movement needs to start where all the freshmen start getting the playing time. if defense is going to get gashed with seniors & juniors playing then the youngsters need to be on the field getting experience. i believe this should be game where Kris Boyd, Antwan Davis and Holton Hill play the outside corner spots and let Duke Thomas and John Bonney play the nickle 

 

[Mike Roach]

If Texas defense gets gashed by the run game of osu then Texas has no shot to win. the osu o-line is the worst line Texas has seen this year the defense should be able to get sacks this game should be first game the opposite teams offense is one dimensional. if the upperclassmen on defense do not start leading team then the youth movement needs to start where all the freshmen start getting the playing time. if defense is going to get gashed with seniors & juniors playing then the youngsters need to be on the field getting experience. i believe this should be game where Kris Boyd, Antwan Davis and Holton Hill play the outside corner spots and let Duke Thomas and John Bonney play the nickle 

I would agree with just about all of this.  I think this game will be a very good litmus test as to if the Texas defense has any shot at a turnaround this season. 

 

[Topstarr]

Texas will win.......Hook'em........that is all

 

[Bear19]

OK, somebody has to ask it. What is nbsp ?

 

[GBT]

How is this OSU line the worst OL Texas will see ? Aren't these guys Wickline's recruits ??? WTH ????

 

[HornSports Staff]

OK, somebody has to ask it. What is nbsp ?

Brief formatting error. Apologies.

 

[Bear19]

Brief formatting error. Apologies.

I hate formatting errors. Although I have no idea WTF that means. 😆

 

[Godz40acres]

  is the html code used to add a space between characters.

 

[lovemesomecolt]

This game will not be close. OSU athletes are not what they used to be. We are to get on a "roll"

 

[GBT]

Why are Wickline's recruits at OSU the weakest Texas will face ???? WTH ? I thought this guy could recruit ?

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Why are Wickline's recruits at OSU the weakest Texas will face ???? WTH ? I thought this guy could recruit ?

They're two years removed from Wick's recruiting. Between youth and injuries, they're just decimated there.

He wasn't known so much for his recruiting as he was for his coaching. It was typical of him to recruit 3-star OL and turn them into something much better.

And I think he meant this is the weakest OL Texas has faced (thus far). And I would quickly agree with that. Kansas will be the worst OL we see all year. I happen to be going to that game so I hope it's a UT scorefest.

 

[mctmatt]

The questions is do you think you will get the same type of performance from Jerrod that we saw in last weeks game.  I think that will be very difficult for him to reproduce as Okie St has game film to better plan than what California had available to them. They are going to make Jerrod beat them by throwing the ball and try to limit him from tucking the ball and running. This will be a very different game for Jerrod as it will be the first one where he is game planned by the defense as the key to victory.  I fear that Jerrod might try to do to much this week which could lead to turnovers so it will be interesting as to how our Coaches plan to take some of that pressure off of him and yet let Jerrod be Jerrod on the field. 

 

[TeamMayhall]

[Tweet = https://twitter.com/SBN_Wescott/status/647496919854542848]