Hear What Mike Gundy Had to Say After OSU’s 48-42 Loss to Iowa State

STILLWATER — Mike Gundy broached OSU’s deficiencies head-on Saturday night after his team fell 48-42 to Iowa State, pointing out a number of areas as to the reason the team fell to 0-2 in home conference games this season.

“It was a bit of an unusual game for us,” said Gundy. “We made some big plays. Going into the game we knew with this style of defense that there would be times they would get us and put us into some negative yardage plays, and there would be times that we would get them. But the negative yardage plays were too many and we didn’t protect very well.”

Gundy wasn’t ready to hand out a grade for his quarterback Taylor Cornelius — neither was Mike Yurcich, both waiting to do so after watching the tape — but both cited issues protecting up front with the offensive line as reason for erratic offensive production.

“Our protections weren’t very good,” said Gundy. “We got into too many situations where we put pressure on Taylor and forced him to run out of the pocket. Without watching the tape, that was a big factor offensively, was just not being able to protect and get the ball thrown down the field.

“I have a hard time giving you an answer [on how he performed],” Gundy continued. “I thought he was running for his life. It’s not easy to play quarterback and throw the ball when you’re running for your life.”

Cornelius himself passed on giving out a self-grade, saying only that he felt OSU needed to play better to win.

Whether you gave him an A-plus or F-minus, that wasn’t the outcome on Saturday. And until OSU improves in its areas of deficiency — offensive line, defensive secondary and special teams — it may not matter if the 1995 version of Brett Favre or the 2018 incarnation of Taylor Cornelius is slinging the ball for the Pokes.