OSU 31, Colorado 28: Thoughts and observations
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
–I was very upfront about my belief that Zac Robinson shouldn’t play against Colorado. I felt OSU should be able to be Colorado with its running game and defense. Guess I was wrong…
–…or maybe I was right. If OSU had lost that game, it would have, again, been because they beat themselves. I didn’t envision five fumbles (three lost). I figured if OSU was going to turn it over it would be interceptions.
–What more can be said about Brandon Weeden. I wasn’t surprised by Weeden’s play. He just has that “it” factor much like Zac. Some people have it, some don’t it’s just that simple.
–The Cowboys need to do something about their kick coverage. A big part of the problem has been their battles with injuries. They had Donald Booker covering kicks last night, it just shows how depleted their depth really is. So I don’t know what really can be done at this point, unless they start pooch kicks.
–That Perrish Cox punt return was special. Excellent vision, excellent desire to make a big play.
–I wasn’t sure about the black uniforms at first but now I like them. That said, they are probably burning as I write this.
–OSU’s run defense was outstanding again. True enough CU only ran the ball 22 times but they averaged 0.6 yards per carry for 13 rushing yards.
–Once the coaches got the confidence in Weeden, he delivered. And his 16.8 per completion shows he is looking downfield and willing to take chances. Both good attributes.
–The last thing I expected was to see Keith Toston fumble AND Kendall Hunter fumble AND Perrish Cox to muff a punt.
–Give Colorado credit for capitalizing on OSU mistakes. They scored after Toston’s fumble, Cox’s muffed punt and the blocked FG. Then returned a kickoff for a touchdown. There’s their 28 points.
–This week I wrote about Patrick Lavine making big plays when the Cowboys need it… and who forced the fumble with CU driving late? Pat Lavine. He had eight tackles including two for loss and the forced fumble.
–Cornerback Andrew McGee played extremely well. But he’s been doing that all season, so it wasn’t a huge surprise.
–The Pokes were able to get a pass rush without having to blitz, which is a good sign for OSU heading into Bedlam.
–I wrote about Toston in my insider. If he’s not a all-big 12 running back, I’ll be shocked. He has earned it at this point, what more does he have to do?
–The biggest issue I saw with Alex Cate is that he didn’t play with confidence, almost like he didn’t EXPECT to play well. It’s hard to have success if you don’t envision success beforehand.
–When Weeden was asked if he was surprised how well he played, he said “Honestly, no.” His body language throughout the night showed he expected to have success when he was called upon. And he delivered.
–If you don’t think Quinn Sharp has a big effect on games, last night was a good example. He couldn’t kickoff the last few kicks and one was returned for a touchdown. And his punt average (34 yards) was not what the Cowboys have become accustomed to. They need him to be healthy for Bedlam.
–Weeden needs to be ready for Bedlam with Zac ailing. Even if Robinson starts, one hit on that shoulder and “hello Brandon”
–Bottom line: OSU will have to play A LOT better if they want to beat OU in Bedlam. It can be done however. Unless one team runs away with the turnover margin, OSU’s offensive line against OU’s defensive line will decide this game. And both units are among the Big 12’s best.
Behind Enemy Lines: Colorado
In this week’s edition of Behind Enemy Lines, I did a question-and-answer session with Tom Kensler, the Colorado beat writer for the Denver Post.
Brandon Chatmon: It appears Hawkins in on the hot seat. How hot is it?
Tom Kensler: Scalding. At this point, the feeling is that Colorado could win big over Oklahoma State (unlikely) and Nebraska, and that still might not be enough to save Hawkins’ job. The momentum against him seems irreversible.
BC: In your opinion can CU afford to get rid of Hawkins AND pay someone else?
TK: Speaking in generalities, athletic director Mike Bohn said a few weeks ago that money would not stand in the way of his department making a coaching change if deemed necessary. I’ll take Bohn for his word. Like with Gary Barnett, the athletic department may have to borrow from the school because CU doesn’t seem to have a T. Boone Pickens ready to sign a check. That’s not ideal, but, as businessmen like to say, sometimes you have to spend money to make money.
BC: What has been the biggest contributor to Colorado’s poor season?
TK: It’s been a group effort, so to speak. The defense played poorly in upset losses to Colorado State and Toledo. Since then, the defense has vastly improved, but for the second consecutive year, Colorado has the worst offense in the Big 12 – by a relatively large margin.
BC: What has Hansen brought to the table that Cody Hawkins did not? Should he have been the starter to start the year?
TK: Hansen has wheels, a great feel for scrambling. Plus, he has a much stronger arm than Cody Hawkins. It’s easy to say now that Hansen should have been starting all along, but beat writers who attend practices agree that Cody was always more consistent during the week’s preparations. I can’t fault Dan Hawkins for playing the QB who was best in practice. Cody had some good moments, including engineering a second-half comeback victory over Oklahoma in 2007, but he seemed to have peaked, if not regressed. Hansen has promising upside.
BC: What is the most underrated part of the team?
TK: The pass defense stats aren’t particularly good, but CU’s secondary has some size and athleticism. New starters were inserted at safety during midseason, and that has solidified the unit.
BC: What is the Buffs biggest strength?
TK: There’s experience and savvy at linebacker, especially senior Marcus Burton and junior B.J. Beatty. They love to hit.
BC: Biggest weakness?
TK: Pass protection. Iowa State had only two sacks, but before that, Missouri and Texas A&M each dropped Hansen 10 times. It’s a wonder the sophomore can get out of bed on Sunday mornings.
BC: Freshman or sophomores you think will make a big impact on Thursday?
TK: Many of the best players are sophomores, including QB Tyler Hansen, TB Rodney “Speedy” Stewart and WR Markques Simas. The defensive line has several sophomores and freshmen, and they have been a pleasant surprise – even holding up pretty well against Texas.
BC: Will playing so many games on unusual days (Thurs,Fri,Sun) give CU an edge since they’re used to it in some ways?
TK: You might say that, but all three victories came on Saturdays.
BC: Name one player OSU fans should fear on Thursday.
TK: Burton. At 6-feet and 250 pounds, is built like a tank and is capable of punishing running backs. He has enough athleticism and drive to get a look from the NFL.
OSU scouting report: Colorado
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
In the Denver Post, Tom Kensler writes about Colorado safety Ray Polk, who’s father played cornerback for OSU in the early 80s.
On cubuffs.com, B.G. Brooks writes about CU receivers Marques Simas and Toney Clemons. Simas is emerging as the top receiver for the Buffaloes.
Highlights of Colorado’s win over Kansas:
And its loss to Missouri:
OSU scouting report: Colorado
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
First some highlights of Colorado’s loss to Iowa State last weekend:
And the Buffaloes win over Texas A&M a couple of weeks ago:
OSU 24, Texas Tech 17: Thoughts and Observations
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
— A great win… but what will be remembered is this…
— Get down, Zac… Get down!
— Anymore questions about Bill Young’s defense? They shut down Texas Tech’s offense. Great gameplan, great execution.
— After being the focus of my pre-game story, Markelle Martin made me look good. The sophomore had six tackles and two passes broken up.
— One of the most impressive things about the game was the Cowboys remaining committed to the run. That’s why I wrote about it in my insider. They had a plan for the full 60 minutes and didn’t waver from it, even when they weren’t having success.
— Early on, it looked like the Cowboys were having another bad tackling game but they improved greatly in the final two-and-a half quarters.
— Zac ran for 99 yards and looked like the Zac Robinson of his sophomore year. He is simply a great player.
— While he should have gotten down and shown better awareness on the play he got knocked out of the game, he didn’t. And the reason why is the same reason he’s special. He’s extremely competitive and confident.
— The three-pronged attack of Robinson, Kendall Hunter and Keith Toston will create problems for any defense. Robinson keeps you honest, Hunter adds that little big of explosiveness and Toston is so physical and versatile. Tough to prepare and handle all of those options.
— Patrick Lavine, Patrick Lavine, Patrick Lavine. I say it every week because the guy quietly makes key plays every game. Very consistent performer and he will be missed next season.
— The Pokes have to do something about their special teams. They keep allowing big returns, largely because Quinn Sharp is so good on kickoffs, guys run don’t like they don’t expect to have to make a play.
— Nice tackle by Sharp BTW, he was a superb shortstop in high school and he showed that athletic ability on that play.
— Toston told me after the game that the Pokes poor field position had a lot to do with their running struggles in the first half. They felt like they couldn’t use their playbook when they kept getting the ball inside their own 5 yard line.
— The Pokes got excellent pressure on the quarterback. That had as much to do with Tech’s lack of success as anything.
— OSU was 9 of 18 on third down conversions. The Pokes just proved they were better up front, it’s really that simple.
— Gundy pointed out Noble native Colby Whitlock as being particularly disruptive for the Red Raiders.
— OSU held Tech to 4 of 13 third-down conversions. Another sign of how good the Pokes’ defense has become.
— Hubert Anyiam’s touchdown catch was special. That guy has a talent to be a star and future NFL receiver. Whether he becomes that or not will depend on his mental approach. This offseason will be critical for him. If he commits to being great, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if he’s an All-Big 12 receiver in 2010.
— Gundy mentioned after the game how proud he was of the team to overcome the loss of Victor Johnson with Tech looming on Saturday. They stepped up and got it done.
— Part of me thinks the Pokes should get their receivers involved more. But at the same time, if you’re running for 250-plus yards, why throw? It’s like in basketball, if you can get a layup, why would you sit around shooting 3s?
— Bottom line: I don’t think Zac should play against Colorado. They can beat the Buffaloes without him, Kendall looks like he’s slowly regaining his explosiveness and Keith will be his normal consistent self. So rest Zac, make sure he’s ready for Bedlam. If you can’t beat Colorado without Zac, you have no business asking for consideration for a BCS berth anyway.
Charitable Robinson
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
Oklahoma State running back Keith Toston galloped for a 69-yard run late in the Iowa State game but was stopped at the two yard line.
I couldn’t help but ask Zac Robinson about it, just to see if he gave Toston a hard time about getting caught so close to the endzone:
“I ran down and said, ‘How are you going to get tackled on the three like that?’” Robinson said on Monday. “He was so tired he wouldn’t even look at me. He didn’t want to hear it at that time… and I haven’t talked to him about it since then.”
Toston did eventually get the touchdown after Beau Johnson gained one yard on first down then Robinson was stopped on second down.
“I intentionally didn’t get in (on second down) so he could get that touchdown because I felt bad for him,” Robinson said with a smile.
OSU scouting report: Texas Tech
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
In this story on Lubbockonline.com, the Red Raiders discuss going against OSU’s offensive line, which they consider one of the best they have faced this season.
Another key player for Tech is Brandon Sharpe. The senior defensive end has 10.5 sacks this season (1.3 per game).
“I think he’s starting to realize the potential of how good he is,” Texas Tech coach Mike Leach said. “I think he’s a little better than you’ve seen so far.”
The one-on-one battle between Sharpe and OSU left tackle Russell Okung will be one of the best battles to watch on Saturday.
Here are some highlights of Texas Tech’s 66-14 win over Kansas State:
OSU 34, Iowa State 8: Thoughts and Observations
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
The Cowboys rebounded like a good team with senior leadership should after a tough loss. Zac Robinson was very efficient and the running game and offensive line dominated throughout the game.
Finally a Kendall Hunter sighting. It was good to see the All-American junior get back out there but it’s clear he doesn’t quite trust his body yet. He can’t cut like he normally can but he still had a successful return.
The Cowboys lost offensive tackle Brady Bond but you could barely even notice. The Pokes rushed for over 300 yards including Keith Toston’s 206 rushing yards.
The reason OSU’s defense was so strong against Iowa State’s running game was their aggressiveness. The Pokes clearly decided that Austin Arnaud could not beat them and went about proving it and that’s exactly what they did. They forced the Iowa State QB into several mistakes including three interceptions.
I’m still a big beleiver in getting Tracy Moore involved in the offense a bit more. The freshman from Tulsa Union just seems to make key plays when the Cowboys need it. He has a knack for getting open and catches the ball when he does.
What can you say about Keith Toston. 206 rushing yards, three touchdowns. And it is nothing new, the senior running back has done that all season, he’s been extremely consistent for the Cowboys. OSU is going to miss him next year, I think people take him for granted and some people won’t realize what OSU had in Toston until he’s gone.
One aspect the Cowboys can improve on is their kick returns. They just could seem to get in sync against the Cyclones and haven’t seemed as explosive in recent weeks.
Stat games:
Iowa State ran just 54 plays and OSU had the ball for 39:38 of the game.
OSU had 29 first downs and ran 78 plays.
Ugo Chinasa was solid with 2 tackles for loss, two quarterback hurries, one sack and one pass break up.
Once again, Pat Lavine was making plays. The senior had eight tackles, one interception, one sack. BY FAR the most overlooked playmaker on the entire team.
Every Cowboy who carried the football on Saturday had a run of at least 12 yards or more. That speaks to the dominance of the OSU offensive line.
Bottom Line: Now that the Cowboys have moved past the loss to Texas, it’s clear OSU is only focusing on what it can control. And if they play well in their final three games, a Cotton Bowl or maybe even Fiesta Bowl berth is within reason. So while they didn’t accomplish their goal of a Big 12 south title, there’s plenty to play for, plenty to look forward to.
Behind Enemy Lines: Iowa State
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
This is another edition of Behind Enemy Lines with Iowa State beat writer Robert La Gesse of the Ames Tribune.
Brandon Chatmon: How will having Arnaud back help the ISU offense, what does he bring to the table that Tiller doesn’t?
Robert La Gesse: He brings experience, which can never be understated. The Cyclones have been a tick off in the passing game the last two weeks with Tiller at quarterback. The last time ISU had Arnaud for a whole game the offense put up 36 on Kansas.
BC: What makes the ISU rushing offense so good?
RLG: The offensive line and the vision of running back Alexander Robinson. The line has been together for a while and started to come around last year. This season it’s opened huge holes on a weekly basis.
Robinson sees holes develop before they do and is very good at setting up his blocks. If he can get a block he has enough speed to turn any play into a big gain.
BC: What is ISU’s biggest strength?
RLG: It’s the rushing game. Anytime Robinson touches the ball he could find the end zone. The rushing attack also allows ISU to run off large chunks of time when it has a lead in the second half.
BC: What is ISU’s biggest weakness?
RLG: It’s lack of athleticism, especially on defense. Spread offenses expose the Cyclones’ lack of speed by forcing ISU to make plays in space.
BC: Who are some freshmen to keep an eye on?
RLG: The coaches love freshmen linebackers A.J. Klein and Jake Knott because of their football instincts. Both will see action on special teams and may see time at linebacker.
BC: What was more surprising the win over Nebraska or the blowout loss to A&M?
RLG: The win over Nebraska. ISU hadn’t won in Lincoln, Neb. since 1977 and was playing without its starting quarterback and running back. Very few teams will win a road game, let alone one in such a hostile environment, without its quarterback and running back.
BC: The Cyclones are good at forcing turnovers, what has been the key for them in that aspect?
RLG: Every chance they get the Cyclones look to force a turnover. On Saturday you’ll see the first defender secure the tackle and then the next few guys will try to strip the ball. ISU has gotten pretty good at that.
BC: Lastly, prediction? Why?
RLG: I would say Oklahoma State wins. I’ll say 38-24. ISU struggles against spread offenses and the Cowboys have one of the best offenses in the country.
OSU Scouting report: Iowa State
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
In this story on gocyclones.com, Bobby La Gesse writes about ISU’s offense finally getting healthy.
In this video, Cyclones Mike O’Connell and Darius Darks talk about facing the Cowboys:
And here are highlights of the Cyclones’ loss to Texas A&M last Saturday:
