Behind Enemy Lines: Baylor
Here’s another edition of Behind Enemy Lines. This week’s Q&A is with Waco Tribune Herald beat writer John Werner.
CHATMON: The season began with so many high expectations and has been full of disappointments. What is the atmosphere around Waco and the program?
WERNER: It’s been pretty subdued since Robert Griffin went down with a season-ending knee injury.
BC: How has the team responded to the loss to Iowa State?
JW: They’ve been surprisingly upbeat this week. I think they’re happy to be home after opening the Big 12 with two road games.
BC: Clearly replacing Robert Griffin is a tough task, which quarterback to you think will ultimately lead the team the rest of the way?
JW: Coach Briles hasn’t made his decision yet, but I think it will be Nick Florence because he makes fewer turnovers.
BC: What is running back Jay Finley’s status for Oklahoma State?
JW: He’s questionable.
BC: Who are the playmakers looking to step up with Griffin out?
JW: Kendall Wright, Jarred Salubi, Ernest Smith
BC: What is the biggest strength of the team?
JW: The receivers
BC: What is the biggest weakness of the team?
JW: Offensive line
BC: Who are a couple freshman or sophomores you think could have a impact on Saturday?
JW: Freshman cornerback Chance Casey, sophomore receiver Kendall Wright
BC: What makes linebacker Joe Pawelek so special?
JW: Great intelligence and instincts
Scouting report: Baylor Bears
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
In the Waco Tribune Herald, Brice Cherry writes that Baylor needs to stop shooting themselves in the foot with penalties, mental mistakes and turnovers.
Here are highlights of Baylor’s win over Wake Forest:
OSU Scouting report: Baylor Bears
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
Highlights of Baylor’s loss over UCONN earlier this season:
OSU scouting report: Baylor Bears
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
Check out the highlights of Baylor’s loss to Iowa State last Saturday:
OSU Scouting report: Baylor Bears
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
–In the Waco Tribune Herald, John Werner writer about Baylor’s struggles with injuries this season.
When the Bears lost superstar quarterback Robert Griffin for the season, this game became a lot less worrisome for Cowboys fans.
Here are some highlights of Baylor’s win over Kent State earlier this season:
OSU 33, Missouri 17: Thoughts and Observations
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
–Tonight’s game was definitely a tale of two halves. In the first half it didn’t look like OSU could stop anyone but in the second half they completely shut down the Tigers. In talking with the players afterwards, they seemed to think their first half struggles were largely self inflicted (missed tackles, missed assignments, etc…)
–Bill Young can coach. When his defense struggles against an offense in the first half, they seem to come out and play better in the second half and give the Pokes a chance to win. They did it against Houston and did it again tonight against Missouri.
–Keith Toston was solid again tonight. He may not be as explosive as Kendall Hunter but he is solid, consistent and versatile.
–It’s clear: Ever since the offensive line has become solidified, the Cowboys offense has been much better at moving the football on a consistent basis.
–It should be obvious at this point why Young is so big on turnovers. OSU had a plus-four turnover margin and again it changed the game.
–Solid rush defense by the Cowboys holding Missouri to 68 rushing yards and only 2.8 yards per carry.
–Hubert Anyiam is really stepping up in Dez Bryant’s absence. Anyiam has all the talent in the world, his teammates talk up the potential of the sophomore but he is starting to turn that potential into production.
–Dan Bailey had missed some FGs you would expect him to make earlier this season but the junior was very good tonight against Missouri including a career long 51-yarder.
–Is it me or does Donald Booker get better and better each week? The guy is just a playmaker, plain and simple.
–I thought Andre Sexton quietly had a very solid game. He was often matched up in coverage with a receiver and the senior from Houston held is own more often than not.
–The Cowboys defensive interior is better than I expected it to be. Derek Burton, Swanson Miller, Shane Jarka, Nigel Nicholas, Chris Donaldson. Those guys hold their own week after week yet largely go unnoticed.
–Key stat: Missouri was 0 of 7 on third down in the second half.
–Zac Robinson is playing like the best quarterback in the Big 12 right now. If he continues to play this way, why shouldn’t he earn All-Big 12 postseason honors?
–Perrish Cox is special. He’s another guy that is just a playmaker. Does anyone know why teams continue to kick the ball deep to Cox? And he had 7 tackles and one interception in the game.
–Bottom line: This team can win the Big 12 south. Texas beat Oklahoma and didn’t look overly impressive while doing it. I think the Longhorns can be had in Stillwater. And I don’t think that’s contingent on Kendall Hunter and/or Dez Bryant being on the field, as long as Zac Robinson is healthy and playing the way he has the past few games, OSU can win with or without that all-american duo.
No Coulda Been, Garth IS A Cowboy.. 4ever?
By John Helsley
So Cowboys 4ever carried a shelf life far shorter than, well, ever.
Mike Holder, once firmly committed to John Martin’s 4ever tune, has pulled a 180, making a change tonight for the homecoming game against Mizzou.
Holder says he listened to our students in making the switch.
Is it time for a former student to be heard?
Garth Brooks is returning tonight for homecoming and to be inducted into the Alumni Association Hall of Fame. We’ve heard that he’s been back in recent weeks, too, chatting with marketing folks at OSU.
He’s back in the business of making music as well, at 47 ending his too-soon retirement for a comeback.
Might it begin tonight inside Boone Pickens Stadium? Call it a hunch, but here’s guessing that Brooks has penned the next Cowboys theme.
All the stars are aligning here. Homecoming. Hall of Fame. His comeback.
And now Holder’s sudden reversal on the 4ever theme, which would only seem appropriate if he had something much better.
Enter Brooks.
For years, Toby Keith’s “Shoulda Been A Cowboy” has blared from the speakers at BPS/Lewis Field. While the words rang true with OSU fans, there’s been a bit of disdain, too, considering Keith’s strong allegiance to crimson.
So it makes sense that OSU’s own Country Star carry the tune for Cowboys fans.
Another bit to consider. We also hear that Brooks may be even more heavily involved with the program, perhaps financially. Stay tuned for those possibilities.
Tune in tonight.
Behind Enemy Lines: Missouri Tigers
Here is this week’s edition of behind enemy lines with the Columbia Daily Tribune’s Missouri beat writer Dave Matter.
Brandon Chatmon: What is the deal with the Tigers running game? Is it a game plan issue, talent issue or just a matter of finding the right way to use the
talent they have?
Dave Matter: It’s a combination of factors. The coaches tweaked the blocking scheme in the offseason, and there’s been a transition period for the line and backs. Also, the line can afford to be more physical at the point of attack, especially inside. Missouri fans despise the zone running plays that start with the tailback running horizontally toward the sideline until he picks a hole, but the coaches are going to stick with that scheme this season. At least they’re saying they’ll stick with it.
BC: How is Gabbert’s health? Will he be close to 100 percent on Saturday? If he isn’t how might that change the gameplan?
DM: He didn’t appear to be struggling on Monday or during the brief portion of practice we’re allowed to watch on Tuesday. His mobility in the pocket might become an issue, so the game plan might call for more quick-hitting passes and fewer rollouts or zone-reads that require him to run outside the pocket and expose that ankle to defenders. You might see MU use their tight ends to block in the passing game more often than usual.
BC: I’m sure the Tigers coaching staff would like Gabbert to have a higher completion percentage. Is he a gambler/risk taker or is it all just a part of his youth and inexperience?
DM: His completion percentage was excellent headed into the Nebraska game, 66.4, which was three points better than what Chase Daniel posted through his first four career starts in 2006. In fact, Gabbert led the Big 12 in QB rating after four games. That, obviously, changed after the Nebraska game. He didn’t throw his first interception until the fourth quarter of the fifth game of the year, but he had several dangerous passes that could have easily been picked off in the first few games. I wouldn’t say he takes chances with his throws, but his inexperience shows when a play breaks down and he tries to scramble around and make something out of nothing rather than throwing the ball away. Twice this season he’s made that mistake and both led to sacks and fumbles.
BC: What is the Tigers biggest offensive weakness?
DM: An ineffective running game and an offensive line that struggles against physical defensive lines.
BC: What is the Tigers biggest defensive weakness?
DM: The interior of the defensive line hasn’t gotten much penetration against the run or the pass.
BC: Who are some true or redshirt freshman who could make a impact on Saturday?
DM: Redshirt freshman defensive end Aldon Smith has been MU’s best pass-rushing D-lineman. He was quiet against Nebraska, but he’s otherwise been a really active playmaker. Redshirt freshman corner Robert Steeples and linebacker Zaviar Gooden are both backups but their playing time has been steadily increasing. Of the true freshmen who are playing, tailback Kendial Lawrence has shown some flashes of big-play potential, but he didn’t see the field against Nebraska. Pinkel wants to get him more involved this week.
BC: It seems like Perry and Alexander have stepped right in for Maclin. Does that surprise you at all?
DM: Alexander is capable of playing like a legit No. 1 Big 12 receiver and stands as the best playmaker among the receivers. Perry is a deep threat who’s not particularly fast but he’s a capable No. 2 option. I wouldn’t put either in the category of Maclin, who was productive as a No. 1 option against even the most talented defenses Missouri played. To this point in their careers, Alexander and Perry have been third and fourth options in the passing game, so now they have to prove they can get open and make plays as the primary targets.
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Chatmon’s take on Dez
By Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
I’ve had people ask what I think will happen with Dez Bryant. Will he be reinstated or will he be lost for the rest of the year?
As much as I hate to say it, I think we have seen Dez Bryant in a Cowboys uniform for the last time. The junior is so dynamic and exciting to watch but I believe the next time we see him make a big play, he will be playing on Sundays.
Dez made a mistake, he admitted to the mistake. But the reality is that with all the attention this situation has received, I think the NCAA will NOT have empathy, I think they will make an example out of Dez and basically say: “Don’t even think about lying to us under any circumstances. We don’t care if you were nervous, we don’t care if you were scared, we don’t even care if you didn’t break any regulations outside of the lie. We can’t allow you to lie to us, AND HAVE EVERYONE KNOW IT, and let it slide by allowing you to return this season.”
I think the all the attention this case has gotten has had a negative impact in terms of Dez Bryant’s chances to return. If nobody knew about the situation, if it was a third string linebacker, I think that player would return this season. But it is DEZ BRYANT and he had a relationship with DEION SANDERS. Two big-time nationally known names are involved and everyone is watching to see what happens. For that reason, I think the NCAA won’t show much compassion.
Deion is talking about it on NFL network, the NY times is writing about the situation, myself and others with the Oklahoman have been writing about it situation, ESPN is debating Dez’s punishment… there is so much attention on this case and that is why I think the NCAA will try to make an example out of Dez.
It has nothing to do with Dez and what he did or did not do. It has to do with perception and the ramifications of a decision which reinstates Bryant despite him lying to NCAA investigators.
I just don’t think the NCAA will let that slide with the whole nation watching.
