Bedlam Preview: Oklahoma State Offense vs. Oklahoma Defense
STILLWATER – Bedlam match-ups? If you look at the total season stats the combination of a light non conference schedule for Oklahoma and Oklahoma State experimenting with the three-quarterback rotation and learning a new defense combined makes this edition of Bedlam look like a tremdnous uphill battle for the Cowboys. That being the case even with both teams tied with three others at 4-1 in the Big 12 play for the conference lead.
Now, look at the conference numbers alone and with the two schools having three common opponents in their five games so far in the Big 12 with Iowa State, Kansas, and Cincinnati then those numbers make more sense. You can even rate Texas, who played OU and Kansas State, who played OSU as similar and the same with UCF (played OU) and West Virginia (OSU opponent).
Here, we’ll look at the Oklahoma State offense vs. the Oklahoma defense. Both are units that are getting plenty of credit for success. The Sooners have one of the best players in the nation in linebacker Danny Stutsman, although he is nursing an ankle injury after the loss at Kansas.
“We have some guys nicked up, and certainly hope we can get them back,” Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables said.
Also, out on the OU defense is safety Reggie Pearson because of a targeting penalty in the second half of the Kansas game. he will be back in the second half of Bedlam. Corner Gentry Williams is also fighting an injury.
Oklahoma State is missing receivers De’Zhaun Stribling and Talyn Shettron, neither will be back. They could get back receivers Blaine Green and/or Jaden Bray as well as offensive guard Jason Brooks Jr.
Venables mentioned Oklahoma State’s search for an identity that they have now obviosuly found. In Big 12 play Oklahoma State is averaging 493.4-yards in total offense, first in the Big 12. They are averaging a league leading 37.6 points per game. Oklahoma is seventh in the Big 12 in total defense at 419-yards allowed per game and they are giving up an average of 24.6 points a game.
“You have to play well up front,” Venables said. “You can’t get whuped upfront and last week we got whuped up front too much. You have to have your gaps covered and that is a prerequisit to get in Ollie’s way. Then you have to play well in the secondary because they can attack the perimeter.”
The biggest concern for Venables and Oklahoma is the aforementioned Ollie Gordon II. He leads the nation in rushing and in Big 12 play is averaging a whopping 195-yards a game and 8.02-yards per carry.
“It's gone up a lot compared to where we were those first four weeks,” offensive tackle Dalton Cooper said of the offensive confidence. “We kind of found our identity and we're kind of getting rolling. We understand we're able to communicate more with people, with each other and be able to just bounce ideas off of each other on the sideline. We're not showing as much frustration as we did in those first four games because we didn't score over 30. These last two we kind of hit it rolling, so we're getting good.”
Gordon’s success makes it easier for Bowman and the receivers, easier for the offensive line to pass protect and do things of the threat of Gordon to attack the defense.
“His patience for a big guy is something that is a little different,” Venables said of Gordon. “He’s not just power, he’s got speed. In the hole he can make you miss. He makes a lot of people miss. He breaks a lot of tackles, but he makes a lot of people miss.”
Oklahoma is averaging allowing 164.2-yards rushing and over 250-yards passing. Oklahoma State might take the average numbers right now, although their average is about 80-yards more. Bowman may have to produce the key to unlock the Sooners defense on Saturday. His offensive line has been protecting him well, only one sack in the past four games. Oklahoma averages 2.4 sacks a game in Big 12 play.
"He's making plays. I would like to see him set and not flush the pocket as much,” Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy said of his quarterback. “I would like to see him not drift as much, but he's manufacturing and we're productive. I like his ability to distribute the ball where it needs to be. My thoughts with him are going to be similar to what they were a month ago. Early in the year, he flushed, and he sacked himself a lot of times. He's better in this game than he was, but we need him to sit in there and play to his strengths."
Yes, strengths and that’s where Oklahoma State has come so far, both physically and mentally. This team thinks, expresses, and carries themselves different since the bye week after starting 2-2 on the season.
“I think the team just finally realized what we are capable of when we just come out there and just play loose, play with energy,” said veteran slot receiver Brennan Presley. “I think early on in the year you kind of stress or just play uptight or stuff like that because there's expectations. I don't know if I've said it before, but losing against Iowa State was kind of like a blessing in disguise, because you got to soak on it for the bye week a little bit. So, that fire and hunger for a couple of weeks, sitting there thinking ‘you have nothing to lose.’ I think the last four games we've came out hungry. I expected to win, but we also came out playing so loose and free. Just knowing we're going to make mistakes, but just playing hard. I think if you go back and look at all four games, we've been playing hard. We've been playing for each other and like Coach Gundy tells us every single day - stay humble and hungry.”
Offense for Oklahoma State vs. defense of Oklahoma on paper favors the Pokes.