Simplification, Meshing Led to OSU’s Defense’s Big Night Against Texas

STILLWATER — The Texas offense had the ball 13 times against Oklahoma State on Saturday, and five of those drives ended from three-and-outs.

That 38.5 three-and-out percentage is higher than in any other Big 12 game OSU has played this season. The Cowboys didn’t get a single three-and-out against Texas Tech, but there was one drive in which OSU intercepted a pass on the Red Raiders’ first play.

A lot has been said about OSU’s offense making schemes more simple through the bye week, but the defense did some trimming, too. Senior linebacker Justin Phillips said the defense didn’t cut too many plays out, but even the slightly lighter playbook helped clear the defenders’ minds.

“You can tell during practices how the guys are feeling about the gameplan and the schemes,” Phillips said. “We have short weeks around here so when you put in a lot of plays, you feel rushed and things aren’t always as smooth during practice. When the playbook gets cut down a little bit, the guys are flying around and feeling a little bit more secure with what they have to do.”

Phillips leads the Cowboys with 61 total tackles after racking up eight against the longhorns.

“On defense, we have to set our own tone,” Phillips said. “We can’t sit back and let the offense set the tone in any shape or way. We have to go out there and be the hunters. If we sit back and things start slow for us, it’s not going to go too well. We just have to set the tempo and make sure things are going at the start.”

The Cowboys’ young secondary has had struggles this season, but the group played better against Texas. Sam Ehlinger had 283 passing yards and two touchdowns against the Pokes. The Cowboys allowed fewer yards to No. 6 Texas than it did Texas Tech, Iowa State and Boise State.

The secondary is a young group. Safety Kenneth Edison-McGruder is the unit’s only senior. Other veterans include junior corner A.J. Green and redshirt sophomore Rodarius Williams. Other than that there’s sophomore safeties Thabo Mwaniki and Malcolm Rodriguez and freshmen Jarrick Bernard and Kolby Peel. Green said the secondary’s time off the field together has built chemistry on it.

“We get along together,” Green said. “We go out and eat sometimes, going to the (student) union. I feel like we’re creating a bond that we didn’t have at the beginning of the season.”

Duplicating the defensive performance will be difficult in the coming weeks with every Big 12 offense bringing its challenges, but the Cowboys will have an opportunity for another solid performance Saturday in Waco.

“We just have to go down there just like we did against Texas and come out with our heads on fire and just play together,” Rodriguez said.