By Michael Doutey
The day started out perfectly for Oklahoma State. The Cyclones star running back, David Montgomery, was ruled out. The defense forced a three and out from the Iowa State offense. The offense marched right down the field and took a 7-0 lead. Iowa State decided to change quarterbacks, turning to third string true freshman Brock Purdy. The defense forced another stop and the offense got the ball back with an opportunity to take a two score lead. We were all thinking that OSU was about to wax the Cyclones.
Instead, OSU went backwards after the drive was killed by penalties and a sack. Then punter Zac Sinor dropped a perfectly good snap in the end zone and had no choice but to kick the ball out of bounce, surrendering a safety. After that, it all changed.
Iowa State’s offense evolved. They played with tempo, using the short passing game, quarterback run and used the deep passing down the field to maximum success. None of which the Cyclones showed in previous weeks. The Pokes had a chance in the fourth quarter, but a comeback win in four consecutive years was not in the stars. The Pokes had enormous issues in the secondary and even bigger problems on the offensive line. That proved too much to overcome today as the Cowboys fall 48-42, dropping to 4-2 on the season and 1-2 in Big 12 Play. OSU is now 0-2 this season at home in conference play and 2-5 in their last seven conference home games. Here are today’s five observations.
ONE: Cyclones Sack OSU
Coming into today’s game, Iowa State had six sacks as a team in four games. Just six. Today, Iowa State more than doubled their season total, sacking Cornelius seven times. Seven. Corn had no time to throw. Seemingly every play he was flushed out of the pocket and was running for his life. It was 2014 cringeworthy. It was bad. Some came from poor blocks and guys missing blitzing defenders. Some came from Corn rolling out and holding out on the football too long. It was an absolute mess and was the worst thing from the offense all day. It was shocking to see just how poor OSU pass protected today. Performances like today cannot happen again if OSU wants to win again this season.
TWO: Secondary Leaks
The secondary was putrid once again today. OSU allowed touchdowns of 21, 29 (rushing), 26, 23 and 60 yards. Another touchdown was set up on a 55 yard reception. Big plays are a huge problem with this defense. They can’t afford give up plays like that. They couldn’t overcome them a season ago when Mason Rudolph was quarterback and they sure as heck can’t when Cornelius is QB1. This has been an issue for at least three seasons, if not more. But surrendering the big play is once again the Achilles heel of the defense. The only reason they weren’t as bad as the offensive line was because of their lone takeaway, which extends OSU’s forced turnover streak to 33 consecutive games.
THREE: Another Freshman QB Shreds OSU
I swear we’ve seen this movie before. OSU faces a team who is on their backup quarterback, or even their third stringer, and OSU allows them to absolutely shred the Cowboy defense. Think back to Zeb Nolan last year in Ames or Skylar Thompson last year for Kansas State. Playing the part of little known quarterback to rip OSU fans hearts out in their first real playing time was Brock Purdy. Purdy, a true freshman, ripped through the OSU defense as if he had been a four year starter. He threw perfect pass after perfect pass, fitting throws into tight windows. He was dropping dimes all over the OSU secondary. He also duped Calvin bundage multiple times with head fakes and pump fakes. He was savvy. He was lightly recruited until late. Alabama, Texas A&M, Boise State and UCF all offered him. But he chose Iowa State and, based off today’s performance, I would be surprised if he isn’t the starter in Ames for years to come. Purdy, who hadn’t attempted a pass coming into today, threw for 318 yards, four touchdowns and one pick on 18-23 passing. He also lead the Cyclones in rushing with 84 yards on 19 carries and a score. OSU has been torched twice this season and both have come to true freshman quarterbacks.
FOUR: Corn Wasn’t an Issue Today
Corn had one of his better games today. While running for his life, he threw for 289 yards, four touchdowns a pick on 19-33 passing. He threw a perfect dart to Tyron Johnson for a first half score. To set up a score in the third quarter, he fit a pass right on the numbers to Dillon Stoner who was triple covered. OSU was backed up deep in their own territory down just five late in the fourth quarter, Corn thew the best pass of his career to Tylan Wallace but Wallace dropped the ball at midfield. It would have jumped life into the half full Boone Pickens Stadium. OSU might’ve been on their way to their fourth straight season where they successfully completed a come from behind win in the fourth quarter over Iowa State. Instead, OSU falls once again at home to a conference opponent, only this time Taylor Cornelius is far from the reason why.
FIVE: OSU Continues to Beat Themselves
OSU is incredibly undisciplined. Once again penalties were an issue. Last week it was just in the first half. This week it was all game. OSU committed nine penalties for 87 yards. OSU is beating themselves. They are killing their own drives while extending their opponents drives, or at least making it easier for them by giving them free yards. This is an issue as big as any other. It’s just as big as the offensive line and the secondary. It starts with the headman and goes to everyone underneath him to get it fixed.
OSU next goes to Manhattan, Kansas to take on Kansas State at 11 a.m. inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
