Daily Bullets (Sept 21) – Defense Facing a New Challenge This Week, Cowboys and the Game After a Big Win

Fast and Furious

How will the Cowboy defense perform tomorrow facing an offense that doesn’t huddle and minimizes the time between plays?

This, to me, is the primary on-field storyline for Saturday. Oklahoma State’s defense proved it has the talent to be successful against a good, experienced offense. But how about against an offense that plays at a breakneck speed? The Red Raiders ran 95, 86 and 100 plays in their first three games.

The Cowboys won’t be able to substitute the way they did against Boise, where they used 18 defensive players on one particular possession Saturday. I’ll have more on this later this week, but something Jim Knowles told me earlier this season comes into play against Tech: I asked him why he coaches from the sideline versus the coaches’ box, and he said it’s necessary for him to be down there because it helps get the calls and adjustments in faster. By cutting out the middle man, he hopes OSU can keep up with the Big 12’s fast offenses.

We’ll see how it works on Saturday. Another note about defense, specifically against Tech: In nine consecutive seasons, OSU has held Texas Tech below its yards-per-play average for the season. Not coincidentally, OSU has won nine in a row. [TulsaWorld]

That will be interesting – seeing what style of offense this defense performs best against. Is it the grinding, plodding K-States with plenty of time to sub and load up or the quick-draws that are the norm of league play? I think Tech will be more relevant film on OSU for the rest of the league than Boise.

Same Story, Different Ending?

With the housing of their toughest non-conference opponent, last year’s first conference game was a let-down. Will 2018 be a different story?

Oklahoma State looked like world-beaters at this time a year ago after smoking Pittsburgh 59-21 on Heinz Field. The difference between last season and this one was the Cowboys were a preseason dark horse to reach the College Football Playoff. This year’s team began the year unranked in the AP poll.

Last year, Oklahoma State dropped the ball at the beginning of conference play with a 33-24 loss to TCU. This year’s team will try to avoid the same fate against a Texas Tech team that dropped 63 points on Houston last week in a 14-point win. [TulsaWorld]

Going back to 2013 against West Virginia, the first conference game has given the Cowboys fits when it shouldn’t have. If the Cowboys can motivate themselves for a tenth-straight time against the Red Raiders, they’ll be well on their way to 5-0.

OSU and NCAA Notes

Completely agree – move Bedlam back to Thanksgiving….Tramel says Army may stand a better chance against OU than Tech against OSU….HCS previews the Tech-OSU game….College football’s next big money grab….Curious how this turned out last night in Cleveland….Ruiz looks at the Cowboy Basketball scholarship situation….

I like this progression.

TC game narratives each week.

Game 1 – Stop checking the ball down and throw it deep!
Response – Game 2 throws the ball down the field for 428 yards.

Game 2 – Stop throwing stupid INTs!
Response – Game 3 w/0 turnovers.

Game 3 – Fix the deep ball!
Response – ?

— Adam Lunt (@AdamLunt817) September 20, 2018

This guy has to resonate with recruits – could you see any other Big 12 basketball coach skydiving?

You don't say "no" when the @GoArmy Golden Knights ask you to jump out of their airplane. #meetyourarmy #c2e pic.twitter.com/E8hJANn3U2

— Cowboy Basketball (@OSUMBB) September 21, 2018

Get your preview of Cowboy Baseball.

To you it’s just an average Thursday in September… but to us, it means our first fall scrimmage of 2018! Come check us out at Allie P. today at 4:00! #GoPokes #okstate pic.twitter.com/nQw6kQqtsa

— Cowboy Baseball (@OSUBaseball) September 20, 2018

Pretty impressive stuff here coming for Texas.

The best football facility in the country will be in ATX!

Texas selects @Populous to design the DKR South End Zone. #HookEm? | #ThisIsTexas

? https://t.co/ulovQrb5IN pic.twitter.com/wLe29fKPk3

— Texas Longhorns (@TexasLonghorns) September 20, 2018

Yesterday on PFB

• Cox looked at a history of Gundy teams after big wins
• Take a peek at recent OSU-Tech history and what OSU can accomplish with a win
• Thomas previews the battle between OSU’s o-line and Tech’s d-line
• Carson and Porter talk Michael Weathers, Daxcision and some positive things in latest pod
• See who Big 12 teams are playing this weekend and more

Stuff I’m Reading

• Finished this entertaining read on Norse mythology – which is over-simplistically like reading a Thor movie
• Is the Rust Belt making a comeback?
• I’m a sucker for funny animal photos
• Enjoyed this about five thoughts on the Captain Marvel preview