Despite Texas Debacle, 2017 Oklahoma State Offense Still Out-Pacing 2011 Offense

After what we sat through on Saturday, I thought for sure the 2017 offense would finally take a back seat to the 2011 offense after Game 7 for both teams. That ain’t true, though, as the 2017 offense kept a healthy lead in most statistical categories as we enter the stretch run.

This offense has bettered that offense in yards per play, yards per carry, yards per passing attempt and points per drive thus far. The only place it hasn’t bettered 2011? The win column.

Here’s a look at the comparison.

Maybe most shocking to me is the Weeden-Rudolph comparison. It always felt like Weeden was throwing for 475 every game, and it rarely feels like that with Rudolph. And yet, No. 2 has bested No. 3 by about 30 yards per game thus far. He’ll need to keep pace, though, Weeden threw for 1,400 yards in Games Nos. 8-10 that season.

That 2011 team never really had a Texas game on offense. It had a TCU game (against A&M), but the fewest points that 2011 team scored offensively (other than the A&M game) was 31 against Iowa State in a loss. Thirty-one would have gotten Rudolph the 4th quarter off in Austin on Saturday with the way OSU’s defense was playing.

Lastly, for as much as everyone complains about the offensive line this year, this team actually averages a better yards per carry number than it did in 2011 with what everyone remembers as a great OL. I’d be surprised if the 2017 number finished ahead of 2011 at the end of the season, but through seven games it’s been better.