Helsley’s Back and Forth: Week 2
By John Helsley
My weekly look back and ahead at five key talking points for OSU sports:
Rewind
1) Quick Fall. OSU’s run with the big boys didn’t last long; about as long as that skinny, wobbling dude dodging horns at the annual Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain. The warnings were out there all week about the dangers of Week 2. Trap game. Houston’s offense. Even the SI jinx. No matter the denials, the Cowboys just didn’t look ready to go from the start against the Cougars. That doesn’t mean they overlooked or disrespected the Cougs. But isn’t it just inevitable that a letdown was to be expected after so much effort and attention went into the Georgia game? Too bad the Cowboys couldn’t have swapped Houston-based foes, playing Rice in Week 2 and the Cougs Week 3.
2) Driving Ford. Travis Ford’s big raise and extension was a shocker, coming after just one season. But know this, OSU athletic director Mike Holder truly believes Ford is the man to drive this program, pardon the pun, to the next level. The new deal gives stability to both coach and school and will make for a strong marriage. And the $3 million buyout ensures that only major fish will test the waters to lure Ford away.
3) Zac Slack. Zac Robinson hasn’t been the same and the proof is in the numbers – yards and points are down for the quarterback and the Cowboys. Rumors about possible hidden injuries are rampant. Anything’s possible, but this reminds me of what I saw with DeMarco Murray last year on the OU beat. Murray, while deemed 100 percent and cleared for action following offsesaon knee surgery, looked slow and indecisive through about half the Sooners season. Then on some run, he stuck his leg in the ground and pushed off hard and nothing bad happened. And his play took off. I think Zac may be similarly hesitant after suffering a second hamstring pull this preseason. And it’s affecting his play. Unlike with Murray, the Cowboys can’t afford to wait half a season for Robinson to regain his mojo.
4) In Defense. Will the real OSU defense please stand up? So good against Georgia, the Cowboys D dipped against Houston. I, however, don’t heap massive blame on the defense, at least not in the second half. The Cowboys played more aggressive, played more press coverage and got themselves off the field. The OSU offense didn’t hold up its end of the bargain.
5) Where’s Kendall? Cowboys running back Kendall Hunter went missing Saturday, hobbling off the field at halftime and then returning with a protective boot on his foot. Now Hunter is all but ruled out of Saturday’s game with an ankle sprain. How long will he be out? How much will he be missed? Only time will tell on the first question. Check out my story in Wednesday’s paper concerning the second.
Fast Forward
1) Zac’s Back? With Rice and Grambling State on the schedule, along with an open week, before the conference opener at Texas A&M, it’s time for Zac Robinson to re-establish himself as one of the league’s best QBs. Remove all doubts. Erase the rumors. Put the Cowboys offense on the fast track.
2) Being Beau. With Kendall Hunter charging through defenses on his way to the Big 12 rushing crown a year ago, Beau Johnson’s opportunities to carry the ball were limited. Thrown into the mix against Houston, he showed the kind of burst and skill that made him a prized Juco recruit a year ago. Now we’ll get an even better look at Johnson.
3) Dee-fense. Rice will bring an offensive approach identical to Houston to Stillwater, if not similarly talented players. Still, it will be interesting to see how the Cowboys defend the Owls for the adjustments they make, not just for this week, but those many weeks ahead when spread offenses line up on the other side.
4) Pack the Pickens. OK, so the official push for a sellout is set for next week, against Grambling State, with a number of promotions and presumably free tickets flowing to fans, I’m intrigued to see what kind of crowd shows up for Rice. Hopefully, we won’t be channeling Vance Bedford and his ship-jumping rant come Saturday night. There’s still much for OSU fans to get excited about. Let’s see if they realize it.
5) QB Watch. Once the Cowboys get Robinson going, they should get the backups — Alex Cate and Brandon Weeden — on the field to not only get them some game experience, but get a glance at what they may have for next season.
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That’s another unfortunate aspect on Zac’s slow start. If he was playing to his normal level, there would be a lot of margin to let Cate/Weeden get some reps in the next two games. Now, though, it looks as though Zac may need as much time as possible the next two games to finally get into a rhythm.