Baylor Debriefing: Taking Stock in a 4-3 Oklahoma State Squad

The Cowboys, fresh off of consecutive disappointing losses, now find themselves 4-3 on the season and 1-3 in Big 12 play. That’s not exactly the start that OSU’s fan base wanted or expected.

There’s plenty to unpack and digest from the Cowboys’ latest loss — and we will try to hit all the pertinent angles on OSU’s program from a macro view over the next few days — but for now, let’s debrief the Baylor game mostly on its own accord.

The Short Story

What appeared destined to go down as a classic Big 12 barnburner three exhilarating quarters in, waned into an ugly pile of ash in the final frame. After three big (and several smaller) self-inflicted errors, OSU watched a fourth-quarter 3-point lead turn into an 18-point loss in the span of about 10 minutes.

There was plenty to admonish the Cowboys for, and there will be plenty of time for that, but we have to hand out some helmet stickers — if for no other reason than tradition.

Brand Sticker (Offense): LD Brown

For all of the guff he’s probably taken — or at least the RBs not named Chuba as a group have taken — Brown came up big for OSU on Saturday. It seems like at least once or twice per game, he comes one step, or one slipped tackle away from busting loose on a big play.

That play finally came when the Pokes needed it most.

Baylor had taken a 24-20 lead late in the third, before each team traded a punt. The previous two drives had stalled for Oklahoma State before LD took this one 68 yards to pay dirt giving the Cowboys a fourth-quarter lead.

The Cowboys still need more from Brown and the rest of the other backs — Chuba Hubbard is averaging a ridiculous, nation-leading 28 carries per game after his 32 against Baylor — and Brown took just four handoffs. But we’ll give LD his due for the big TD. Hopefully, this adds confidence that will pay off in the coming weeks.

Brand Sticker (Defense): Malcolm Rodriguez

For consecutive games, the Cowboys’ tackle leader earns a helmet sticker, this time for leading the team in six total tackles (five solo) and being generally disruptive in the middle of the field.

The cherry on top was this theft of JaMychal Hasty in the first quarter. Whether or not he was down was this close. Ultimately the play couldn’t be overturned by replay, but marks to MRod for the effort that created that turnover.

Hasty, it would turn it out, got the last laugh.

Questions for Iowa State

There are so many, but the two big ones relate directly to whether or not OSU has a chance in Ames this weekend, or in any game the rest of the way.

1. Can OSU limit the unforced turnovers? We’ve discussed this already several times this week, specifically the main culprit, Spencer Sanders. Two of his three on Saturday equaled a 14-point swing in favor of the Bears.

On Monday, Mike Gundy guaranteed that Sanders has improved and will continue to and said that ball security has been a priority. Interceptions are one thing, lost fumbles due to bad technique are another. Clean those up and this offense looks a lot better, as does Spencer Sanders’ inaugural campaign through seven games.

2. Can the defense limit the huge plays? OSU is T75th nationally, having given up 100 (!) plays of 10 yards or more so far this year. The Cowboys have given up 35 plays of at least 20 yards, 16 of at least 30 and 11 plays of at least 40 yards.

On Saturday against Baylor, OSU’s defense allowed 15 plays of at least 15 yards and three plays of over 60 yards. ?

The most frightening part is that OSU’s next opponent, Iowa State, averages even more chunk plays than its last. If the Cowboys can’t figure it out before Saturday, it might be another rough weekend for Jim Knowles.

Oh yeah, and Baylor scored on TDs of 64 and 73 yards. With the above-mentioned turnovers, and the huge chunk plays, you can find four singular plays that put OSU down 28 points in an 18-point loss.

Play of the Game

At the time this happened, I saw someone call it the best zero-yardage play ever, but Chuba Hubbard actually picks up 2 yards.

JT Woods darts, unimpeded to into the pocket on a safety blitz, and No. 3 and No. 30 combine to turn what should have been a sack of a dozen or so yards, and third-and-a mile, into 2-yard gain. That drive was kept alive and ended in Sanders’ lone touchdown pass of the game.

Ultimately, it doesn’t look as impressive given the end result, but in its own world, this shows the type of athleticism that both Sanders and Chuba boast, and gives a little bit of hope (if you’re interested in that type of thing) that things could still get better.