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:
Cox Gaining Notice
By John Helsley
We’ve witnessed the growth of Perrish Cox.
The outside world is catching on, too.
Cox has elevated himself from great return man to great defender as a senior, putting in the work necessary to be considered one of the best in the college game.
And that’s exactly the view, with Cox making the semifinalist cut for the Thorpe Award, given annually to the nation’s top defensive back and an award generated right here in Oklahoma City.
A first-team midseason All-American by SI.com, Cox leads the nation with 1.86 passes defended per game. And he’s defended some of the best, winning matchups with Georgia’s A.J. Green and Texas’ Jordan Shipley.
It’s what we expected of Cox when the Cowboys landed a much-hyped recruit out of Waco four years ago. There were thrills, for sure, but mostly in the return game, where he’s simply electric every time he touches the ball.
As a defender, however, Cox was always viewed as a great athlete playing corner.
Not anymore.
Credit the kid for a realizing he had to grow up. On the field and off the field. In the video room and in the weight room. Away from the parties and the other distractions of college life.
He’s a lesson that it’s never too late to reach for your potential. And it’s paying off. And will continue to pay off.
According to a report in the Tuesday edition of Sporting News Today, Cox is “winning over doubters who had questions about his character. He is making big plays in ‘09 and making good impressions off the field. He could rocket up draft boards if the background checks continue to come in clean and he makes a good impression in formal interviews with G.M.s, coaches and personnel men this spring. He came into the season as a late-round gamble and ultimately could go in the third round.”
Cox denies A.J. Green
OSU Scouting report: Iowa State
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
In this story by Randy Peterson in the Des Moines Register, Iowa State is excited about the payday that comes with playing on ABC.
And here’s a link to a chat with Peterson, which will give you a bit more insight into the Cyclones heading into Saturday’s game.
Last but not least, some highlights of Iowa State’s 9-7 win over Nebraska:
Texas 41, OSU 14: Thoughts and Observations
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
–What is there to say? Texas is talented, confident and full of playmakers.
–The OSU turnover bug returned against the Longhorns. You can’t turn the ball over five times and expect to win.
–It seemed like Texas speed on defense, especially in the secondary surprised Zac Robinson a little bit. The throwing windows closed quicker than he expected and the Longhorn secondary made play after play against OSU.
–Cowboys probably should have stick with the run a little more, especially early. They were having some success.
–Colt McCoy showed why he is considered among the nation’s best on the Longhorns final drive of the first half. He led his team on a 10-play, 80-yard drive in 2:09 seconds to boost Texas’ lead to 24-7. UT had three plays of 16 or more yards including a key 19-yard run on third down. They capped off the drive with a superb catch by Malcolm Williams for a 11-yard score.
–While I think OSU’s mental toughness is one of its strengths, they allowed the non-fumble call on Andre Sexton’s great play to affect them on that drive. The Longhorns converted two third downs and OSU had an unsportsmanlike penalty on that drive which ended in Williams’ TD.
–OSU’s defense didn’t play that badly. They allowed 275 yards including 99 rushing yards, held Shipley to 6 catches for 64 yards and held McCoy to 171 passing yards. True enough, Texas had two INT returns for scores which helped contribute to those numbers but it was still a decent effort.
–Neither team had much success running. Both squads averaged 3.1 yards per carry.
–Shocking stat: OSU averaged 3.9 yards per play. That’s not the explosive offense Cowboys fans have come to expect.
–Shocking stat Part II: Defensive backs led both teams in all-purpose yardage. Texas’ Curtis Brown had 77 on his INT for TD to lead Texas and OSU’s Perrish Cox had 118 kick and punt return yards.
–Texas had four interceptions for 139 yards and two touchdowns.
–UT was held sackless by OSU and the Pokes had two sacks (Jermiah Price, Lucien Antoine) and six tackles for loss.
–In the first half, the Cowboys had three possessions which lasted three minutes combined. Those possessions ended in a punt, turnover on downs and fumble.
–Missed opportunities was the name of the game in the first half. Hubert Anyiam’s drop, Dameron Fooks’ drop, two defensive penalties that proved to be key.
–It seemed like once OSU lost the momentum, things just got out of hand.
Scouting Report: Texas Longhorns
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
In the Austin American-Statesman:
Suzanne Halliburton writes about Texas cornerback Curtis Brown starting to emerge and become the player the Longhorns expected when they signed him out of high school.
In this notebook, Mack Brown takes the blame for Texas’ poor starts against OSU.
In the Dallas Morning News, Chuck Carlton writes about Colt McCoy’s comebacks during his career.
Here’s Texas’ comeback against Colorado earlier this year:
So long, Dez… enjoy your NFL millions
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
I hate to say I told you so… so I won’t.
But if you’ve been following my coverage during Dez Bryant’s situation, you know how I thought it would turn out. Life experience had taught me not to hold my breath when it came to the NCAA showing Dez empathy in this situation.
So Dez moves on to the NFL and begins earning his millions in 2010, as he should.
One of my favorite sayings is “The play clock is running…” it’s a way to essentially say: “Look, we don’t have time to worry about what just happened, we have to focus on getting better and moving forward” so along that line of thinking lets look at how losing Dez will change OSU.
Not much, to be honest. They have played the last four games without the All-American so it’s not like the don’t know what they are dealing with. Hubert Anyiam has proven to be a playmaker, now he has to realize it is his time. He’s done great thus far but he could take it to another level and leave no doubt who the best receiver on the team is and force teams to start gameplanning to stop him.
That’s the silver lining of all of this… the competition to fill the void will make everyone better. Every OSU receiver from Anyiam to Tracy Moore to Justin Blackmon to whoever. They all know they have an opportunity to prove their worth and show they have the playmaking ability to impact games. I’m all about competition, I think it makes people better and strive to be better than they normally would and these guys will be competing to earn touches.
If I’m Hubert Anyiam, Justin Blackmon or Tracy Moore or any of those guys, my entire focus is to go out, every day in practice then also in games, and prove to the coaches they have to start game planning to get me the football. I would be wanting to force them to create opportunities for me to make plays.
Another potential result: True freshman receiver Michael Harrison may be pulled out of redshirt. The Cowboys depth at receiver is getting slim with Bryant now gone for the season and Josh Cooper out for at least two more weeks due to injury. Teammates talked about Harrison in glowing terms in the preseason and the 6-2, 190-pounder was on OSU’s travel roster at Texas A&M and Baylor.
Tuesday’s Power Lunch chat transcript
Scouting report: Texas Longhorns
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
In the Austin American Statesman, Suzanne Halliburton writes about Texas’ three wide receiver formation, which the Longhorns used quite a bit against Missouri.
The Stateman’s Kirk Bohls writes about Texas playing with fire against OSU but never getting burned.
In Tim Griffin’s blog on ESPN.com, Zac Robinson says he’s not worried about Texas’ tendency to knock opposing QBs out of the game.
Here are highlights of Texas 41-7 win over Missouri on Saturday:
