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Oklahoma State Defense Hoping For Bounce Back Against Baylor

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Oklahoma State’s defense was battered and bruised for 527 yards and 38 points at home against Pittsburgh last week, and things will only get tougher against the high flying Baylor Bears this weekend in Waco. Baylor, which enters the game averaging 44.3 points per game (exactly the same number as Oklahoma State!), have a fantastic passing attack with senior QB Seth Russell and star wideout KD Cannon.

But the Bears offense flows through their dynamic running back Shock Linwood and standout freshman JaMycal Hasty- they currently rank 9th in the NCAA in rushing in 2016. Defensive Coordinator Glenn Spencer pointed this out Monday in his press conference.

Spencer also pointed out that Seth Russell is back as a running threat as well, and looks to be back to full strength after his season ending injury in 2015. He’s fully aware of the risks involved with playing the safeties up to help against the high-powered running game of Baylor.

“When you’re spread with four [receivers], your corners are going to be on an island unless you’re playing a three-deep zone, but then you’re soft on the corners,” said Spencer. “You just have to realize if you play it safely, you give up hitches, or you can be more aggressive and stop some things, but then you’re taking the chance of them throwing it over the top.”

The most experienced and best playmaker in the secondary, Senior Safety Jordan Sterns, will have to play a huge game in Waco on Saturday if the Cowboys hope to stop Baylor. Sterns was excited to play Baylor and their dynamic offense, stressing the need to play aggressive and match the intensity level in stopping the running attack the Bears bring.

“I have all the confidence in the world in [our defensive line],” said Sterns. “I think the defensive line and our linebackers have been doing a great job stopping the run. At the end of the day, we are working together. We are coming together more as brothers.”

The win over Pittsburgh was key in getting the Cowboys season back on track, but the Cowboys will face a much more explosive team this year weekend than they’ve seen so far, and will travel away from the friendly confines of Boone Pickens Stadium for the first time in 2016. A win this weekend in Waco would kickstart the Cowboys’ momentum starting conference play, and would go a long way towards a run at the Big 12 title this season. They kick off as 9.5-point underdogs (currently) in Waco at 6:30 PM on Saturday night, which will be televised on Fox.

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