Cowboys’ defense is outstanding again
OSU beat Baylor 24-14 Saturday night, and the Cowboy report card shows outstanding defense, some offensive struggles and a key kickinggame success.
First-down defense: A
Baylor’s offense came into the game having excelled on first-down snaps. But OSU’s defense consistently put the Bears into second-and-long. Baylor ran the ball nine times on first down but made just 29 yards on those plays and five times made less than four yards. Baylor quarterback Gerry Bohanon completed just four of 11 first-down passes, for 55 yards, plus a defensive interference penalty. Most of the damage came on a 40-yard deep ball to Drew Estrada, who beat OSU cornerback Korie Black.
Running game: B
In the first quarter, OSU gained 114 yards on its 20 running plays, including 60 yards on 12 carries from Jaylen Warren. But the rest of the game, Warren gained just 65 yards on 24 carries, and OSU gained just 105 yards on its 32 called running plays over those final three quarters. The 219 yards on 52 called running plays is 4.2 yards per carry; not great but in the neighborhood of what Mike Gundy wants.
Containing Bohanon: B
Bohanon came into the game having completed 73% of his passes, with no interceptions. But the Cowboys feared his scrambling ability more than his passing. OSU did a decent job limiting both. Bohanon completed 13 of 27 passes for 173 yards, but two of those completions accounted for 44 and 40 yards. Otherwise, the Baylor passing game was minimal. Bohanon was sacked thrice (twice by freshman defensive end Collin Oliver) and rarely was allowed to scramble to find a receiver. Bohanon did scramble for gains of six and seven yards, and he made nine yards on a quarterback draw.
Kick return prevention: A
Baylor’s Trestan Ebner is a premier kickoff and punt returner. His two big returns helped the Bears upset Iowa State a week ago. But OSU kept Ebner contained. Ebner returned four kickoffs for 71 yards, the longest being 24 yards. His lone punt returned netted zero yards. And Ebner’s repeated attempts to bust a kickoff return helped the Cowboys consistently pin Baylor deep in its territory.
Spencer Sanders: C
Sanders did not throw well. Baylor produced three interceptions, and though one wasn’t Sanders’ fault – a medium-range pass sailed through Rashod Owens’ hands, off his helmet and into the hands of Baylor linebacker Dillon Doyle – his passing was off all night. But Sanders produced some key runs, none bigger than his 11-yard gain off a rollout late in the game, when OSU faced third-and-12 from the Baylor 15yard line. That run allowed Gundy to keep the offense on the field on fourth down, and Warren scored the gamesealing touchdown on a four-yard run.
First-half defense: A
Baylor caught OSU with a couple of big plays in the second half. But in the first half, the Bears were futile. They ran 20 plays, made two first downs, totaled 99 yards and ended all six possessions with a punt. The game got a little dicey in the second half, but OSU’s dominant first half put the Cowboys in control.
Tay Martin: A
With two-time Biletnikoff Award Justin Blackmon in the house, as part of the celebration of OSU’s 2011 team, Martin did a solid Blackmon impression. The senior wide receiver had seven catches for 108 yards, and Sanders failed to connect only twice when throwing Martin’s way. Sanders also hit Martin on a 35-yard flea flicker that was wiped out by an ineligible-receiverdownfield penalty.