By Michael Doutey
For the second time in two seasons OSU has opened Big 12 play with home losses. Last week we thought OSU had a legit chance to compete with the upper class of the Big 12 and make it to Arlington to play in the Big 12 Championship. Last week OSU outplayed Boise State in every facet of the game. This week it was the opposite. OSU was outplayed. They were out coached. They were ran out of their own building.
The OSU offense never got going fully. The offensive line had issues running the football and protecting the quarterback. The defense had their troubles as well. They couldn’t slow down the Tech quick passing game. Then OSU couldn’t stop their run game.
The Pokes were exposed on defense, though their offense didn’t help much. The Pokes offensive line has been an issue all season and against one of the worst defenses in the Big 12, OSU’s offense couldn’t garner any momentum whatsoever. Texas Tech came in a dominated OSU. No question about it. With their win over OSU, Tech snapped a nine game losing streak to the Pokes. Here are tonight’s five observations.
OSU’s offensive line stunk
OSU never could get anything going. They were never in any sort of rhythm. They couldn’t really pass protect. They gave up two sacks, five QB hurries, and lots of the time Corn was flushed out of the pocket. Texas Tech had seven tackles for loss and held OSU to just 128 yards rushing. It was an issue in the first three games but OSU found a way around it. Today they couldn’t, which is really concerning. Tech is wretched on defense and OSU looked outmatched. OSU had 29 yards passing in the second half and just 91 total yards in the second half. Not a good start to conference play. Not good at all. And this was supposed to be a better offensive line. They are the same offensive line as they’ve been, there just isn’t an NFL caliber quarterback to mask the issue.
Welcome to the Big 12 Jim Knowles
Last week Jim Knowles was crowned king of Stillwater. Just a week later he has been dethroned. That is the life of a Big 12 defensive coordinator. We knew Tech was going to put up numbers. Tech threw for 397 yards and averaged 8.6 yards per completion. That was expected. But if OSU was going to win this game the defense was going to have to stop the run. Tech ended up running for 224 yards on 4.9 yards per carry. They ran for 151 yards in the second half alone. The Pokes were gashed up the middle and Tech just wore out the OSU defense. They did come up with two big turnovers in huge moments. Jarrick Bernard had one in the second quarter that set up OSU’s final score of the game. Then AJ Green came up with a Sportscenter Top 10 worthy interception in the endzone keeping the Cowboys within a touchdown to begin the second half. But OSU’s offense didn’t do anything with it. OSU’s defense found another way to force a punt in the second half, but Tylan Wallace muffed a punt and gave it right back to Tech. It was that kind of night for OSU. They were out there for 92 plays. Even when they did things to get off the field, they found themselves right back out there due to poor offensive play or turnovers.
Corndog Questions Arise Again
The start wasn’t awful. He started the first half 14-24 for 229 yards and a TD. It wasn’t great but it wasn’t bad either. Then the second half started and things quickly went down hill. In the third quarter Corn was 4-9 for 29 yards. Yikes. In the second half he was 4-14 for 29 yards and that’s against Texas Tech. Gundy and Yurcich didn’t think it was much of Cornelius’ fault. Gundy said “he’s fine,” in the post game. But this level of play isn’t going to cut it. He might if the offensive line was better. But he can’t skip balls to open receivers. He hasn’t shown the ability to throw the ball down the field accurately. Gundy put more of the blame on the offensive line. Sure, that has a lot to do with the offensive issues. But there are moments in the game where OSU needs a playmaker at quarterback to win games, especially with this offensive line. That isn’t Corn. I don’t know if that is Dru Brown or Spencer Sanders. All I know is that OSU didn’t score a single point after the 10:40 mark of the second quarter. So, Tech held OSU scoreless for 40 straight minutes. All I know is that Corn threw for 29 yards in the second half along with an interception. All I know is that OSU had 91 total yards in the second half. AGAINST TEXAS TECH. That isn’t going to cut it.
OSU Lost the Battle of the Little Things
As one does when they get dominated, OSU lost to Tech in the little things. OSU was just 3-13 on third down conversions while Texas Tech was 9-14. Tech, who notoriously has been one of the most penalized teams in the Big 12, had just three penalties for 20 yards. OSU had eight penalties for 73 yards. Tech ran 92 offensive plays and controlled the time of possession with 41 minutes of offense. OSU ran 62 plays and had the ball for just over 18 minutes. Both teams had two turnovers. But Tech made the least amount of mistakes. They controlled this game completely.
Home Woes
OSU is now 2-4 in their last six home Big 12 games. OSU lost to TCU, OU and Kansas State last season at home. Now they start this season off with another conference loss at home. OSU’s only two wins last season came to a bad Baylor team and an even worse Kansas team. The last good Big 12 team OSU beat at home would have to be West Virginia back on October 29th of 2016 against when the 10th ranked Mountaineers rolled into Stillwater. OSU seems to play better on the road now than they do at home.
It was a bad night for OSU. Now they have to look past it and they do that by going on the road for the first time in 2018. But, at least it is to Lawrence, Kansas to face the Jayhawks, who lost to Baylor in Waco 26-7 today. Kick is set for 11 AM inside David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.
