Oklahoma State Looking for Edge on Iowa State, Did They Create Their Own?

STILLWATER – Here are the final scores from the past five games against Iowa State, the team Oklahoma State opens Big 12 Conference play with at 3 p.m. on Saturday at Jack Trice Field in Ames, Iowa. 

The past three seasons not a lot of scoring in this series. Oklahoma State has had good defenses and Iowa State has had one of the best in the nation. This season Iowa State is again tops in the Big 12 in Total Defense (253.7-yds. per game) and Pass Defense Efficiency (143.7-yds. per game). 

Iowa State has done so well with the Jon Heacock coordinated odd-man front defense. The 3-3-5 features a robber in the middle of the field, and while the new 3-3-5 defense that Bryan Nardo has brought in and established at Oklahoma State is not identical. The Cowboys offense has gone against that alignment and scheme through all of the spring and much of fall camp. 

Today (Sept. 18) after the Monday practice veteran Cowboys offensive lineman Preston Wilson was asked and confirmed he thinks it will help.

Robert Allen - Pokes Report

Wilson speaks with media after practice on Monday.

"Getting to play the three-down front in practice versus a great defensive line, a great group of linebackers, overall great defense is definitely going to help us playing other teams that do run a three-down,” Wilson said. “It was a little bit different back a few years ago when we had Coach (Jim) Knowles with the three down and the Leo. It was such a different defense that nobody ran, but we were great at it. We were special. So now going to three-down and getting those reps in practice specifically helped the offense translate over because the same blocking techniques and different things we're going to be able to practice will translate to the field."

The other thing that will translate would be better performance across the board on offense, from the offensive line, the backs, the receivers, and the quarterbacks, each one that plays. 

Pat Kinnison - Chief Photographer

Gundy and Campbell in green for military day 2020.

Earlier in the day, head coach Mike Gundy was asked if he thought the familiarity the offense now has with that style of defense would factor.

"We're not identical in what we do, but there are similarities,” said the head coach. “We come in with some of the odd-man front that they've seen, they come in with some odd-man front that we've seen. There'll be more similarities in this game than in the times we've played against Coach Campbell."

Good point, it works both ways for two teams that have been struggling to play good offense against any defense. So, this Saturday, which team will get to 20 first. Oklahoma State is averaging 20.3 points a game and Iowa State is averaging 16.7 points. That is No. 13 and No. 14, respectively, in the Big 12. First team to 20 wins?