Lacy and Martin Stand Out in Dominant Second Half with Sun Devils
STILLWATER – Walking off the turf of Boone Pickens Stadium after the 34-17 win over Arizona State, there was a lot more satisfaction than last week for the Cowboy defenders. No doubt it was that way for defensive ends Brock Martin and Tyler Lacy. They had played well in the Central Michigan game, but massive passing yards and the fourth quarter points that saw them have to go back into the game late and Oklahoma State have to deploy the “hands” team to field an onside kick was disheartening for a pair of veteran defenders that take pride basically in kicking ass on Saturday nights.
Against the Sun Devils from the Pac-12 sporting the nation’s leading career rusher in Division I in X Valladay and an explosive quarterback in Florida transfer Emory Jones, closing, finishing the game was important, so was teaming up on a big play, a big hit fumble where Martin did the dirty work and Lacy made the recovery.
“I think they ran divide inside zone or something like that, I would have to look at the film,” Martin said of the second quarter play that led to a Cowboy touchdown. “I think the tight end was supposed to come over and get me and I hate to say it, but how many times in the past have I done that (jumped the block and wrecked the play). It has almost become natural for me.”
“Guys are taking the challenge of understanding that you have to win situational football to win games,” defensive coordinator Derek Mason said beaming with pride. “It’s how you play in the red zone, how you play on third downs. You have to get yourself off the field. If you don’t get yourself off the field, then it leads to more possessions and that leads to more explosives and then that leads to more points.”
Martin had a sack late in the game, four tackles overall, and two tackles-for-loss along with forcing the fumble. Lacy had five tackles overall, the sack, and 2.5 tackles-for-loss.
“To hear what the number was, it's pretty dang good,” Mason said. “I think the D-Line is the tip of the spear. What those guys do up front, we follow. Rushing and coverage have to work together and tonight, I think I saw more of that. I saw more of rush and coverage working together and now what we've got to do is continue to clean up all these little things that sort of rear their ugly head for us at the wrong times.”
Collin Oliver had several big plays and so did Trace Ford with a pass deflection and a tackle-for-loss that was a crushing him on Valladay that ramped up all of Boone Pickens Stadium, getting that duo on the field along with Martin and Lacy is the pass rush package and it is something that is dependent on Lacy being able to move inside with his 6-5 and close to 300-pound frame.
“We’re challenging him to be an inside-outside guy,” Mason said of Lacy. “He’s learning how to play the three technique and learning how to play a four eye (outside eye of the guard). He’s playing beyond where he was as a sophomore and a junior. His ability to play inside is critical for us because it allows us to get our most explosive players on the field and his doing that will make us better as a team. A guy like Tyler lacy needs to lead the charge. He just needs to remember week to week to practice great because I believe how you practice is how you play.”
“The coaches have told me that you have to go hard every practice, every day,” Lacy confirmed. “That is what I have been doing, going as hard as I can every practice.”
“Tyler has always been a great player,” Martin said. “He is really now starting to embody his talents.”
It was a lot more fun to watch defense last Saturday than the week before. A key will be for the defense to keep being more fun to watch every week. That will be special.