ISLAND LIVING
There are no weeks off in the Big 12 for defensive backs, but that suits A.J. Green
WACO, Texas — A.J. Green likes life on the island. It’s largely motivational for the Oklahoma State cornerback, knowing he’ll spend play after play isolated in coverage of a wide receiver. It’s what keeps him in the film room, typing thoughts into his phone throughout the week. It’s what keeps him sitting at his locker before a game, like he’ll be doing Saturday morning at McLane Stadium, studying his notes and watching more film right up until the Cowboys take the field for their 11 a.m. kickoff against Baylor. Green has been studying the tendencies of Baylor receivers Jalen Hurd and Denzel Mims, preparing for life on the island with a couple of the Big 12’s best wideouts. “You know you’re living there on that island,” Green said. “I like to live a lot on that island. I just constantly watch film, know what they like to do, know what the receiver likes to do at the point of attack.” Green picked up his note-taking habit early in his OSU career from former Cowboy Ashton Lampkin. “When he was here, he used to take notes on a sheet of paper,” Green said. “He did that all the way up to the game. I don’t want to carry around paper, so I just put it on my phone.
“I like to have it fresh on my mind right before we go out.”
Green will find himself out on that cornerback island against Baylor more often than not.
After one of the more notable performances of his career, mostly covering Texas’ Collin Johnson last week, Green says he still has to have a short memory, even if the memories are good ones.
“You can’t rely on the last play or the last game, too much, because every play presents a different challenge,” Green said.
Green has had his struggles this season, too. That’s just how it goes as a defensive back in the Big 12, with offenses designed to shred secondaries on a weekly basis. Even good performances could include a couple of touchdowns allowed.
“Baylor’s receivers are long and tall, and have done a nice job of catching the ball in the middle of the field,” coach Mike Gundy said.
“When you compete against teams that have receivers who will go catch the ball in the middle of the field, it makes it a little more difficult.”
Together, Hurd and Mims are averaging more than 150 receiving yards per game with 10 total touchdowns.
Green and the rest of the OSU secondary, which focused more players on coverage than in previous weeks, can’t relax, even against a Baylor offense that is struggling recently.
And the challenges for defensive backs never stop coming in the Big 12.
“That is not an easy fight,” defensive coordinator Jim Knowles said.
“Everybody can be a critic of the bullfighter, but the only guy who knows is in the ring with that bull. And those guys are out there all the time by themselves.”