AJ Green’s Bounceback Key to OSU Completing West Virginia Comeback

Being a cornerback in the Big 12 guarantees only one thing: you’re going to take your lumps.

The pass-happiest league in all the land ensures no matter where you line up or who you line up against, you’ll be targeted often on your island between you and the receiver you draw. No one can attest to the pains of that life more than AJ Green, OSU’s corner who, dependent upon the officiating crew, is either the best pass-defender in the league or the most penalized.

His physical style has allowed him to lock down the likes of David Sills, Lil’Jordan Humphrey and other standouts for stretches this season, and Saturday he lived out both sides of the take-the-lumps spectrum. In the first half, West Virginia targeted his side often leading to struggles that included an easy David Sills score on his watch. The second half, however, Green bounced back resiliently by limiting Sills and getting redemption in the game-clinching bat down. He limited Sills to just one score and kept him to just four catches for 68 total yards on the day.

“I knew that we were sending an all-out blitz, so I thought it was going to be a sack or it was going to come out quick,” said Green of the play. “The pressure made him roll out of the pocket, but I felt like it was a designed roll out to bring (David Sills V) all the way across the field. I saw (Sills) stem out for a slant and when he pushed up, I ran with him. I saw the ball in the air and didn’t want to take any chances with trying to get a pick or anything, so I just said, ‘Get out of here!’ And I knocked it down.”

Mike Gundy said Oklahoma State made some minor tweaks at halftime that allowed them to squeeze the run game of West Virginia in the second half, forcing the Mountaineers into throws. Dana Holgorsen was none-too-pleased about it, because they got out of running the ball despite doing so successfully, but it made Gundy happy because he felt the coverage was strong in the final 30 minutes of game action.

“Defensively, made some adjustments a little bit in the running game at halftime, we were able to squeeze the run better, force them into some throws,” said Gundy. “They made some throws but we were in coverage, they made good throws, made good catches. Our guys were right there. I’m ok with that.”

OSU’s offensive adjustments undeniably played as big, or maybe bigger, factor in the second biggest comeback in program history. But make no mistake that AJ Green, the man who was lumped often against West Virginia, got the final word. Then ran wild. Turns out life on the island isn’t so bad after all.