Cox’s Notebook: So This is What OSU’s Offense Looks Like

I already laid out my 10 thoughts on the Cowboys blowout win over Baylor, but here are the rest of my notes on the game.

• Only three offensive coaches on-site for Baylor.

• Seems significant.

Baylor will be without 47 players, coaches, staff members and other personnel today against OSU. Baylor shut down its football facility due to COVID-19 on Thursday. But the game will be on at 2:30 p.m.

— John Werner (@JohnWernerTrib) December 12, 2020

• On the second play of the game, Spencer shows us the Spencer that fans want to see, keeping a play alive with his feet and throwing off the run. Stoner finds paydirt and the Pokes strike first.

• OSU gives up a huge 48-yard return on the kickoff. 

• But Trace Ford erases the positive yardage with a huge sack on the first play of the drive.

• Three-and-out for Baylor and a nice start for OSU.

• Sanders showing off his legs again, breaks a tackle and picks up a first down. 

• Spencer hit Tay Martin on the sideline for a nice 18-yard pickup.

• And just like that, Spencer floats one to Stoner and it’s picked off. That’s interception No. 7 for No. 2 on the year.

• That will be another short drive for the Bears. Big plays by Jim Knowles’ crew have put the Bears behind the chains. 

At least they got a first down. OSU bringing all kinds of pressure. Trace Ford appeared gassed a bit on the final play. He’s been ALL OVER the Baylor backfield so far but OSU’s offense needs to sustain drives and give its D a chance. (See TCU game last week.)

• Did the ref just stop the game to tell Baylor’s band to shut up?

• So Dillon Stoner has three catches for 118 yards and a TD so far. Channeling Tyron Johnson. 

• Rough hit by Jalen Pitre on Tay Martin. Looks to be a targeting. 

• Upon review, no targeting. Moving on.

• Dillon Stoner has, like Chuba, also chosen to play in the NFL. 

• OSU’s defense is absolutely smothering Baylor’s drives.

• And don’t look now, but Stoner is back in the end zone.

That’s five catches for a career-high 173 yards and a career-high three scores less than a minute into the second quarter.

• Baylor is punting faster than I can make notes about it.

• This is a 2-6 Baylor team that is playing shorthanded. That being said, OSU defense is really good. It’s given up some big plays over the last month. This is what it looks like when its offense can sustain drives.

• Dez Jackson had a nice run for 13 and the first down but he gets up gingerly and is off to the sideline. Looks like Dominic Richardson is up.

• And just like that the true frosh gets his first career score.

• The rout appears to be on. It’s 28-zip, Cowboys.

• Trace Ford down and visibly upset. Has to be helped off the field. Not good.

Halftime Numbers

Baylor drives:

The Bears have 52 passing yards and ZERO! rushing yards entering intermission.

On the other end, OSU didn’t punt for the first time until midway through the second.

OSU drives:

Let’s just hope we see a clean second half, with no more injuries and a comfortable win.

• Cowboys hold the Bears to a quick three-and-out to start the second half and then punts it 20 yards out of bounds. OSU drive to start at the Baylor 40-yard line.

• The Bears hold OSU to fourth-and-3 and Sanders slipped on a designed run. Turnover on downs. Cowboys had a chance to blow this thing wide open with a score there.

• And that’s consecutive three-and-outs for the Bears to start the third quarter.

• OSU’s gets a shot in the arm with Dominic Richardson’s big 53-yard run.

• Sanders dials up Tay Martin on a would-be TD in the end zone, but it’s underthrown and it’s picked off by Zeke Brown. A bit underthrown but the second INT is a tough break for Spencer who’s had a hell of a game.

• Baylor finally gets in the black in rushing yards with seven and a half minutes left in the third, but nothing doing. It’s rough watching the Bears with the ball today.

• Stoner isn’t done yet.

• And where have the Jelani Woods direct snaps been all my life?

• That sets up another score for Dominic Richardson. That’s 13 carries for 113 yards and 14 points for the rookie. 35-nothing OSU with nearly 18 minutes left.

• A backup QB that I don’t know is in for Baylor. I don’t care what the score is, this makes me nervy.

• That’s three quarters in the books. OSU has outgained Baylor 490-73, outrushing the Bears 173-5 and has tripled them in first downs (21-7)

• With eight minutes left, the Bears finally put together a drive of any substance. John Mayers caps it with a 40-yard field goal. There will be no shutout. Yards per play: 7.9 to 1.6.

• I know this against a 2-6 Baylor team that’s undermanned, but Dominic Richardson might be a dude.

• After another quick punt from Baylor, we have a Shane Illingworth/Micah Cooper sighting. That will do it. Cowboys end the regular season 7-3 and will await their bowl designation this coming week.