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[September 27, 2016] The Sports Xchange

NCAAF Team Report - Oklahoma State -

Red zone failures hurt Cowboys

Oklahoma State had a chance to make a statement to begin Big 12 play, but instead failed to convert a couple of late scoring opportunities against Baylor.

By stalling out in the fourth quarter, the Cowboys were unable to pull off a road win and slipped to 2-2 overall entering an Oct. 1 home game against No. 22 Texas (2-1, 0-0 Big 12).

Facing a fourth-and-2 from the Baylor 4-yard line, Cowboys running back Rennie Childs was stuffed early in the fourth quarter with Oklahoma State trailing 28-24.

Another chance was blown when another running back, Justice Hill, lost a fumble deep in Baylor territory after showing he might be the productive back OSU has been missing. Despite five fourth-quarter snaps inside the Baylor 15, the Cowboys suffered a 35-24 defeat.

"I hate because if you take six or eight crucial mistakes out, we probably played well enough to win the game," OSU coach Mike Gundy said. "If you can't take care of the ball, it doesn't do any good to have (a running back) in there. I know (Hill is) a freshman and I understand that, but he has to take care of the football."

There was plenty of blame to spread around, though.

The Oklahoma State defense was unable to control Baylor's vertical passing attack. The Bears' Seth Russell averaged 21.5 yards per completion while firing touchdown strikes of 38, 38, 89 and 15 yards. The onslaught dropped the Cowboys to 107th nationally in pass defense with a 274.5-yard average.

"They didn't bring anything spectacular, they didn't bring anything out of their sleeves," cornerback Ramon Richards told the Tulsa World. "Everything we saw, we saw on film. They just executed it."

Execution is obviously a dimension Gundy and his staff must address on both sides of the football. Perhaps among the coaches too.

The missed opportunity early in the fourth quarter at the Baylor 4 did not incorporate the arm or legs of quarterback Mason Rudolph, whose sound performance led to an 11-for-15 ratio on third down conversions. In addition, a field goal could have trimmed the deficit to one point and at least provided the Cowboys some points.

"I didn't feel like a field goal would win the game," Gundy said. "I thought we had to score touchdowns."

He may have been right, though the last score Baylor managed came after the fumble by Hill, when Oklahoma State had 99 yards to work with on defense but could not keep the Bears out of the end zone.

Whatever corrections Oklahoma State makes will done during a shorter prep than Texas has had coming off a 50-43 loss at California on Sept. 17. The Longhorns generated 568 yards and 34 first downs, but surrendered the decisive touchdown inside the final four minutes.

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NCAAF Team Report - Oklahoma State - NOTES, QUOTES

PLAYERS TO WATCH

--Sophomore WR Jalen McCleskey caught five passes for 77 yards in the Sept. 24 loss at Baylor and continues to assert himself as a speedy threat dangerous on quick slants and receiver screens. McCleskey also returns punts for the Cowboys but had no opportunities against the Bears.

--Junior QB Mason Rudolph had another solid performance in the Baylor defeat, completing 27 of 45 passes for 279 yards, with one interception. The Cowboys converted 11 of 15 third down opportunities, but were unable to convert in the red zone in the fourth quarter. Rudolph had no touchdown passes. He remains 14-5 as Oklahoma State's starting QB.

--Senior LB Devante Averette led the Cowboys with 11 tackles, including 1.5 for loss in the Baylor defeat. Averette played mostly on special teams a year ago, but showed off his potential by getting in on 30 tackles. His previous career-best for tackles in a game entering the 2016 season was five.

SERIES HISTORY: Oklahoma State trails in the series against Texas, 24-6. In his time as the Cowboys' coach, Mike Gundy did something no coach in the history of the game has ever done, beat Texas four straight games in Austin. However, the Oct. 1 meeting is in Stillwater, where Gundy stands 0-5 against the Longhorns.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I can pat you on the butt and tell you good job and you guys played good against a (Baylor) team that's ranked and so-and-so, (but) that's not the way I feel. I feel like we should have done a better job of coaching and we have to do a better job of playing, so we can win these games, period." -- Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy.

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NCAAF Team Report - Oklahoma State - STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

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GAME BREAKDOWN

Scouting the running game: Oklahoma State may have found a lead tailback in Justice Hill after the freshman gained 122 yards on 20 carries in the Sept. 24 loss at Baylor. An issue surfaced, however. Hill lost two fumbles, the last coming at the Baylor 1-yard line in the fourth quarter when the Cowboys were threatening to go ahead. RB Rennie Childs got his opportunities, but gained just 35 yards on 18 carries. The ground production helped OSU possess the football for 41-plus minutes.

Scouting the passing game: After connecting for several deep balls against the Pittsburgh defense in a Sept. 17 win, the Cowboys were limited to 10.3 yards per completion against Baylor, which countered with a 21.5-yard average. The OSU receiving corps remains deep, and features a go-to man in WR James Washington. QB Mason Rudolph remains steady and provides experience Oklahoma State can lean on moving forward.

Scouting the run defense: Oklahoma State has been solid against the run, allowing 3.5 yards per carry. That statistic, however, can be misleading, especially if opponents are capable of burning the Cowboys for long gains through the air. Baylor exposed the Oklahoma State secondary as vulnerable. Experience exists at the cornerback positions, though the loss of a shutdown cover man, Kevin Peterson, off last year's squad was a blow.

Scouting the pass defense: On one throw Baylor launched, the Bears simply outran the Oklahoma State secondary for an 89-yard touchdown connection. That strike put Baylor ahead for good midway through the third period. Pressure from the Cowboys was spotty in the defeat. They managed just one sack, largely because coverage was poor too and the Bears knew how to expose the Cowboys.

Scouting the special teams: Apparently the OSU staff has decided that the best place to use Barry Sanders Jr. is on kickoff returns. The Stanford graduate transfer has not worked out at running back, though he did get five carries and gained 20 yards at Baylor in some of his most extensive work. Returns could be a better way to feature Sanders, though PR Jalen McCleskey remains the Cowboys' top threat on punts. PK Ben Grogan went 1-for-2 on field goals at Baylor, missing from 44 yards.

DRAFT PROSPECTS:

--QB Mason Rudolph (No. 4 QB, 40th overall) -- Was not used in all situations last year, but was the most accomplished passer for the Cowboys, throwing for 3,770 yards. Only a junior, Rudolph can connect on deep routes, averaging 14.28 yards per completion last season. Solid prospect who distributes the ball nicely. Only a junior.

--WR James Washington (No. 18 WR, 137th overall) -- The lone Big 12 returnee to log 1,000 yards receiving a year ago after a breakout sophomore season. Washington is skilled at going up and grabbing balls, though he stands just 6-foot. Averaged 20.5 yards per catch last year as a respected deep threat.

--TE Blake Jarwin (No. 8 TE, 141st overall) -- Possesses the size (6-5, 248) NFL scouts want out of a tight end. Grabbed just 17 receptions in Oklahoma State's spread attack, but averaged 11.8 yards. Blocking skills will be another factor in his draft status.

--DT Vincent Taylor (No. 15 DT, 146th overall) -- Stepped in as a junior and became one of the most feared interior linemen in the Big 12. Attention from blockers opened up lanes off the edge for Oklahoma State's pass rushers. Should stay fresh if interior rotation remains healthy.

--FS Jordan Sterns (No. 9 FS, 218th overall) -- Undisputed leader of the secondary, where he makes the calls. Sterns was in on a team-best 108 tackles a year ago. Solid in both coverage and run support, with good instincts.

ROSTER REPORT

--Starting senior RB Chris Carson is out indefinitely with an injured hand. That left Oklahoma State to look at several rushers in the Sept. 24 loss at Baylor. RB Justice Hill started and produced 122 yards on 20 carries, but lost two fumbles.

--Starting sophomore DE Cole Walterscheid was promoted to the lineup for the Baylor game, replacing Tariq Bitson. Walterscheid was in on three tackles, assisting on a tackle for loss.

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