Daily Bullets (Sept 23): Assessing the Tech’ Loss, Taking a Look Around College Football

Bad News First

My thesis is that OSU won’t be consistently as good as they were against Boise (duh) but not as bad as they were against Tech. But two conclusions John Helsley had tonight stuck with me.

Taylor Cornelius looks like a solid quarterback, but not a game-changing quarterback, which might be needed with this line and so many young playmakers. Cornelius went 18 of 38 for 258 yards, a touchdown and an interception against the Red Raiders. And he hasn’t yet revealed the same deep-ball connectivity of OSU’s recent premium QBs, which poses a problem when the offense is predicated on running and throwing over the top. [GoPokes]

To help pinpoint the struggle – what position group would you trade with say… Alabama? Would it be Corn for Tua? Maybe. Maybe not. I love Joe Bob’s group (Brailford is a baller) but it’d be hard to say no to a professional defensive line. But the best return on investment would be offensive line improvement. This makes me think Game Manager Cornelius can be sufficient if enough improvement happens up front from week to week.

But truthfully, the below was more alarming to me than anything.

Most alarming, when punched in the mouth, the Pokes didn’t respond, they wilted. “When things happened that weren’t good, we got frazzled,” Gundy said, “didn’t play like a very confident football team.”
That’s it, right there. This team doesn’t have that look, that feel or swagger that when things get tough, they’ll get tougher. [GoPokes]

It just felt weird to watch the Pokes be out of it. Over the last five, six years there’s always been the sentiment that the cavalry is coming, that help is on the way. The offense would start clicking or the defense would force the turnover. Gundy used words like “frazzled” and “outplayed” but there’s some other intangible out there that describes the completely out-of-character nature of last night’s loss.

Coming Back Down

What does last night’s shellacking tell us about college football?

Parity is real, folks. And there’s no greater reason for it than Tech, or more aptly, Tech’s offense. The spread attack long ago changed the game as the great equalizer. As high school teams adapted it far and wide, growing the pool of spread quarterbacks and receivers and sending them off to college, bigger and faster became less important, unless of course you’re Alabama.

Faster, in space, is now the thing. And that’s no given from week to week, as the Cowboys found out as the calendar officially flipped to fall.

Is Tech really better, 24 points better? Time will tell.

Can the Cowboys regroup and return to Big 12 relevance? Yes, absolutely. Especially in this Big 12, where only Oklahoma sits unblemished, and barely. [GoPokes]

Part of me thinks if OSU and Tech played that back nine more times, I’d bet OSU wins seven or eight. A homer take? Sure. OSU was getting popped in the mouth by a team far more excited about that game than they were. Even the enthusiasm scale and I think you get your different outcomes. But man, the things they were doing in the passing game and the runs they were ripping off were impressive.

OSU and NCAA Notes

This NYT piece on Arkansas’ conference affiliation was spot on….Calling to better days – This dated Grantland piece on OSU’s 2011 RPO usage was fantastic….Marcus Smart made No. 22 in CBS’ top 25 under 25….Ohio State is considering naming Urban Meyer’s successor?….Oregon lost last night in a way few could draw up….Jim Knowles’ was welcomed to the Big 12 last night – via trial by fire

Today in “things never to your child in the car after his soccer game”:

Gundy: “No smoothie tonight. Just water when you get your ass kicked.”

— Hallie Hart (@halliehart) September 23, 2018

This tweet by a buddy got me – should be a standard line for the Cowboy faithful.

Friend: you coming over to watch the pokes game

Me: ya dude

Me: AND HELLS COMIN WITH ME

— permanent hiatus (@kitdenims) September 22, 2018

Bill’s not happy.

“I can’t coach a team that can’t get six inches.” — Bill Snyder, discussing K-State’s inability to pick up a fourth-and-short against West Virginia.

— Kellis Robinett (@KellisRobinett) September 22, 2018

Woof.

"You kids wanna see a dead body?" pic.twitter.com/fUCgJuO7Vt

— Adam Kramer (@KegsnEggs) September 22, 2018

This stat in the OU-Army game blew my mind.

Time of possession: #Army 44:35, #Oklahoma 13:02.

— Cliff Brunt (@CliffBruntAP) September 23, 2018

This pass from Friday night’s edition of Pac-12 after dark was a seed.

no idea how JT Daniels fit this throw in pic.twitter.com/JcUB2Gp4ny

— Sam Cooper (@SamDCooper) September 22, 2018

…and this toss by the Buffalo QB was insane as well.

ARE YOU SERIOUS!?

Tyree Jackson to @litmanjohnson. Unreal. #UBhornsUP #MACtion pic.twitter.com/mU4HGKpe47

— #MACtion (@MACSports) September 22, 2018

Tech Coverage on PFB

• Ten Thoughts from last night’s drubbing by Texas Tech
• Boone breaks down the instant reaction from the loss
• Marshall found some encouraging numbers in the Ten Stats piece
• Social media reaction from last night was solid – loved Boone’s tweet on flags stretching out the game
• Marshall took a look at conference openers under Gundy

Stuff I’m Reading

• All in on these tips for having better conversations
• Liked this piece by Emig on the evolution of Westbrook – not your normal ” he needs to pass more” piece
• How the Thunder will play faster – that Presti had everyone read this book by Ted Williams is fascinating