OSU not underestimating Bears

Baylor has shown improvement over the last few weeks, and the Cowboys are preparing for a tough game.

STILLWATER — Call it an effort of efficiency.

Even though his team had an extra week to prepare for Saturday’s game against Baylor, Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy didn’t feel the need to go into great detail breaking down tape of all five of the Bears’ previous games.

“We haven’t looked at their first three games since they changed quarterbacks,” Gundy said. “I’m fairly certain that this is who they’re going to be offensively, and with the suspensions and such that they’ve had, you can pretty much throw the first three games away.”

Baylor was miserable in those first three games, losing to Liberty, UTSan Antonio and Duke. It looked like the Baylor of the late 1990s, the doormat of the Big 12, had resurfaced.

Entering Saturday’s 2:30 p.m. kickoff at Boone Pickens Stadium, the Bears remain winless, but their performance in losses to Oklahoma and Kansas State have raised eyebrows.

Sophomore Zach Smith took over at quarterback in the third game, and other players have rejoined the mix, coming back from injuries or lingering suspensions.

“I think the last couple games are a lot more telling

story of where they’re at right now than early in the season for a variety of reasons,” Gundy said. “Throwing the ball much more on offense and playing better defense.”

Smith threw for 463 yards in a 49-41 loss to Oklahoma, and 291 in a 33-20 loss to Kansas State. In both games, Baylor was at least within a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

The Cowboys have been good against the deep ball, but have seen a rise in pass interference penalties the last two weeks, particularly in the red zone.

As usual in Big 12 play, the OSU secondary will be on high alert.

“They’ve kind of evolved to be back to the old Baylor,” OSU defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer said. “They move the ball a lot and spread people out with a guy who can throw the ball and a couple receivers who can catch.

“With the time off, I’m sure they’re trying to find ways to run the football. Like anybody does, they want to be balanced, I’m sure. But they’ve shown they can throw the ball on anybody right now, so that’s concerning.”

The Bears rushed the ball for only 144 yards combined against OU and Kansas State, which has been the No. 1 focus of the offense during their preparation for the Cowboys.

“To get a lot tougher running the ball and stopping the run,” coach Matt Rhule said.

“(We) just lined up and competed against each other, continuing to get better at actually blocking and tackling. I think those are our main two issues. Missed tackles have really hurt us on some long runs.”

Cue Justice Hill. OSU’s sophomore running back has been a workhorse of late, carrying the ball 55 times for 266 yards in the last two games. Against a Baylor defense that allowed 225 rushing yards to Kansas State, and 342 to OU the week before, Hill could be in for another productive day.

A year ago against Baylor, Hill had his first career 100-yard game, going for 122 on 20 carries. Both physically and mentally, he’s a different player now.

“Justice is playing really well,” Gundy said. “He is very mature for his age. He is very intelligent, so he’s able to overcome the outside things and focus on playing the game.

“He’s developed into a pretty good college running back. He has come further than what I would’ve thought in one calendar year.”