Postgame thoughts
By Scott Wright
Oklahoma State was better in all three phases of the game in Saturday’s 39-13 win over Washington State. Here’s my breakdown of each:
Offense: Good, but not great. Zac Robinson completed 74 percent of his passes and Kendall Hunter was stellar in the ground game. The only real struggle came inside the 20. That’s a problem that could come back to haunt the Cowboys against better competition, but they survived just fine Saturday.
Defense: It’s official. They’re better. How much better? Hard to say. I’m not convinced Washington State was more than mediocre on offense. We’ll see how the Cowboys do when the competition gets tougher — sometime in October. It was a strong showing from the Cowboys Saturday, though. The Cougars’ two TD drives went for 75 and 69 yards. In the rest of the game, OSU only allowed gave up 52 yards.
Special teams: Kick returns, punt returns, kick and punt coverage, kickoffs and field goals. The Cowboys did it all. Punt return yardage: OSU, 124. WSU, 0. Dan Bailey was solid, hitting all three FG tries and putting several of his kickoffs into the end zone. But all three of his FGs came from 27 yards and in. For his career, he’s 5-of-7, but has yet to make one beyond 30 yards. He looks consistent, but a game-time test is coming.
FINAL: OSU 39, WSU 13
Good showing by the Cowboys in their opener.
Now we’ll get to see if they can go into their Big 12 opener 4-0. No reason, after today’s showing, to think they won’t.
Pick up a copy of Sunday’s edition of The Oklahoman for complete coverage from our team in Seattle.
– Asst. Sports Editor Ryan Sharp
OSU 39, WSU 13
Cowboys offense rolling along now. Kendall Hunter scores on a 10-yard run.
We’re going to try to figure out what the deal is with the GINORMOUS signs the backup QBs are holding.
Stay tuned.
– Asst. Sports Editor Ryan Sharp
OSU 32, WSU 13
Robinson scores on a QB sneak up the middle.
– Asst. Sports Editor Ryan Sharp
Jump balls galore
Look familiar Cowboy fans?
Mike Gundy is calling the same play that worked so well when he was calling for Josh Fields and Rashaun Woods.
Now, it’s just Zac Robinson and Dez Bryant.
– Asst. Sports Editor Ryan Sharp
Orie Lemon cramping
OSU starting linebacker Orie Lemon was on the Qwest Field turf for a minute but it looks like it was just some lower-leg cramps.
– Asst. Sports Editor Ryan Sharp
OSU 25, WSU 6
Washington State’s moved the ball against OSU’s defense and scored, but the Cowboys quickly respond.
Perrish Cox returns the kickoff for a TD.
– Asst. Sports Editor Ryan Sharp
Bailey again
Another Dan Bailey field goal gives the Cowboys an 18-0 lead.
– Asst. Sports Editor Ryan Sharp
Halftime thoughts
By Scott Wright
Apparently I spoke too soon. OSU can throw every pass to Dez Bryant and Brandon Pettigrew. Or at least it can try.
Bryant and Pettigrew have four catches each as OSU holds a 15-0 halftime advantage.
Bo and Beau, as in Bowling and Johnson, have two catches apiece and Keith Toston has one. Not exactly spreading it around to the wide receivers.
Artie Woods has been on the field, as has DeMarcus Connor, Josh Cooper and a few others, but Bowling, the junior-college transfer, is the only WR besides Bryant to catch a pass. He’s been solid, too.
To address my other previous points of interest, Kendall Hunter has been the go-to guy at RB, getting 14 of the Cowboys’ 22 run plays. Zac Robinson has four carries for 16 yards and surpassed 1,000 yards for his career with a fourth-and-one bootleg run in the second quarter.
Gundy’s play-calling has been a bit interesting, because OSU ran the ball on its first 12 plays, and each play of its first two series. Then Gundy called pass plays on five of the next six in the third series.
And defensively, there’s a big goose egg on the board for Washington State, so it’s hard to argue what the Cowboy defense has done. WSU only has 52 yards of offense, 22 passing and 30 rushing. The Cowboys also recorded their first safety since 2001 against Colorado.
OSU 15, WSU 0
Another stall inside the red zone, but points nonetheless. Dan Bailey field goal makes it 15-0.
OSU up two scores going into the half.
– Asst. Sports Editor Ryan Sharp
