Cowboys need defense to herd Longhorns

By John Hillman  |   Tuesday, October 21, 2008  |  Comments( 1 )

Oklahoma State Cowboys
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Scoring points hasn’t been a problem for Oklahoma State. Keeping opponents off the scoreboard is another issue.

Commentary: In preseason, analysts wondered if the Cowboys’ defense could stop the high-octane offenses prevalent in the Big XII. In their past two games, however, OSU’s defenders have risen to the occasion.

Against Missouri, the Oklahoma State secondary intercepted Chase Daniel three times, leading to a 28-23 upset over the then-undefeated Tigers. Last week, the Cowboys kept scrambling quarterback Robert Griffin in check and held Baylor to a season-low 204 yards in a 34-6 rout.

Those two stellar performances have raised OSU’s national defensive ranking to 47th. Last season, the Cowboys finished 101st in total defense and led Texas 35-14 entering the fourth quarter. But the Longhorns rallied and escaped with a 38-35 win.

Defensive coordinator Tim Beckman has retooled the line for increased pass rush pressure. He switched to a three-man front and inserted defensive end Derek Burton at nose guard flanked by DEs Ugo Chinasa and Jeremiah Price. Beckman also started playing reserve middle linebacker Donald Booker as a stand-up defensive end or blitzing linebacker in passing situations.

Oklahoma State will need a fierce pass rush to stop Colt McCoy. The Longhorn quarterback has performed with Heisman Trophy precision the past two weeks. Another stellar show against the Cowboys makes him the favorite for the prestigious award.

However, OSU knows opportunity knocks. Beating Texas in Austin ensures the pollsters will take notice of the Cowboys and their national ranking will rise toward the top.

Fan Pulse: Check out this link to view thoughts of the Oklahoma State faithful: http://www.orangepower.com/showthread.php?t=59479.

Injury Report: The Cowboys report no significant injuries as they prepare for the Longhorns.
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About John Hillman

John Hillman graduated from Baylor University in 1974 with a BBA in accounting and earned an MBA from Baylor in 1987. He worked for accounting firms until 1982 when he became the chief financial officer for an independent insurance claims adjusting service, a position he still holds today. ...
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