Oklahoma State vs. Texas

[HB Pony Dad]

Oklahoma State vs. Texas

By Scouts, Inc
Insider

Friday, October 24, 2008

Oklahoma State at Texas Matchups
QB RB WR OL DL LB DB ST Coach Overall



Oklahoma State offense vs. Texas defense
Oklahoma State runs the ball more than twice as much as it throws, but that lack of balance hasn't made it any easier for opposing defenses to slow the Cowboys down. QB Zac Robinson is making accurate reads when running the option and he's quick enough to do some damage when the defense dictates that he tuck the ball and run. While RB Kendall Hunter is undersized, he's quick and his balance allows him to bounce off arm tackles. Keith Toston has emerged as a capable backup and will spell Hunter at times, and all three run behind an experienced offensive line that plays as a cohesive unit and excels at opening seams. However, a Texas run defense that's giving up an average of just 1.9 yards per carry is versatile and talented enough to slow down this vaunted running game. Defensive coordinator Will Muschamp has run a 3-4 defensive front at times with Brian Orakpo from defensive end to outside linebacker and don't be surprised to see him do it in this game. Playing Orakpo off the line makes it easier for him to read the option and the 260-pounder has done an excellent job of setting the edge when he's lined up at that spot. Though 295-pound DT Roy Miller lacks prototypical bulk for a 3-4 nose tackle he has above-average lower-body strength and can hold his ground when he stays low coming out of his stance.

Robinson has made the most of his limited opportunities to throw downfield, completing 70.1 percent of his passes, and he faces an inexperienced tandem of safeties this week. RS Earl Thomas is a redshirt freshman and LS Blake Gideon is a true freshman and they will likely have trouble with Cowboys TE Brandon Pettigrew, who returned to the lineup last week after missing three games with an ankle injury. At 6-foot-6 and 255 pounds Pettigrew is a reliable target over the middle and is big enough to shield the ball from the smaller Thomas (5-10, 195) and Gideon (6-1, 197). On the outside, WR Dez Bryant is fast and shows great body control when tracking the ball downfield. He'll frequently work against CB Ryan Palmer, who injured his hamstring against Oklahoma two weeks ago. It won't matter how open the receivers are, though, if Robinson doesn't get enough time to locate the open man and space to step into his throws. While LOT Russell Okung is arguably Oklahoma State's best offensive lineman he will have a tough time keeping Orakpo out of the backfield. Orakpo doesn't have many weaknesses as a pass-rusher with his explosiveness off the ball, the speed to turn the corner, the ability to redirect inside after starting outside and much more strength than his size would suggest. The Cowboys can't afford to lose track of SLB Sergio Kindle, either, because Kindle can also line up at either outside linebacker or end and he has good athleticism and above-average closing speed coming off the edge.

No. 6 Oklahoma State
vs. No. 1 Texas
Oklahoma State vs. Texas

When: Sat., Oct. 25, 3:30 p.m. (ABC, ESPN360.com)
Where: Austin, Texas
Preview: Big 12 shootout
Texas offense vs. Oklahoma State defense
Much like his Oklahoma State counterpart, Texas QB Colt McCoy makes sound decisions when running the option and gets upfield quickly when he holds on to the ball. However, his ability to pick up yards after contact and deceiving top-end speed make him a more dangerous open-field runner than Robinson. RB Chris Ogbonnaya checks in at 225 pounds and is a power back with good straight-line speed, while Vondrell McGee is an effective backup who broke off a pair of 20-yard runs last week against Missouri. They run behind a front five that, along with 295-pound TE Greg Smith, does a good job of creating seams. None of this bodes well for a Cowboys run defense that's giving up an average of 4.0 yards per carry. Look for the interior of the Texas offensive line to regularly neutralize Cowboys DTs Tonga Tea and Jeray Chatham as well as MLB Orie Lemon when the Longhorns run between the tackles. Making matters worse for Oklahoma State, the Cowboys aren't in position to load up against the run because S's Quinton Moore and Ricky Price aren't big enough to consistently line up close to the line of scrimmage. Even if they were big enough, creeping them up to linebacker level would be dangerous because it would force CBs Perrish Cox and/or Jacob Lacey to match up in man coverage on the outside.

McCoy completed 29 of 32 passes against Missouri last week and he's connected on an astounding 81.2 percent of his passes this season. With that in mind, Oklahoma State has to disrupt McCoy's rhythm but will try to do so without a dominant pass-rusher up front. Look for defensive coordinator Tim Beckman to throw a number of different looks at McCoy, much like he did against Missouri QB Chase Daniel two weeks ago. Daniel threw two picks in that game and this week McCoy must stay patient, read the defense quickly and take what the coverage gives him because seven different Cowboys have intercepted at least one pass this year. The good news for McCoy is that senior WRs Jordan Shipley and Quan Cosby do a nice job of adjusting their routes when they read blitz. Their ability to get open quickly against Cox and Lacey coupled with McCoy's quick release should make Oklahoma State's blitz packages a little less effective this week. On the flip side, Texas likes to roll McCoy out of the pocket with a run-pass option and if Beckman attacks the middle of the line when McCoy rolls out it will create a void in the coverage over the middle. If he blitzes off the edge McCoy is smart enough to step up when he sees pressure closing in on him.

Special Teams
Key individual matchup
Oklahoma State RB Kendall Hunter vs. Texas WLB Roddrick Muckelroy

The 5-foot-8 Hunter does a good job of following his blockers and hitting seams at full speed, making it tough to locate him when he runs between the tackles. In addition, he can turn the corner quickly and his low center of gravity makes it harder to bring him down in the open field than his size suggests. However, look for Muckelroy to get the better of this matchup for three reasons. First, Muckelroy is instinctive and at 6-2 he's on the taller side for an outside linebacker so he should have some success tracking Hunter. Second, the 235-pounder closes quickly and is a strong open-field tackler capable of stopping Hunter in his tracks. Finally, Muckelroy is relentless and he generally takes sound pursuit angles so Hunter will have a tough time cutting back in his direction.
Oklahoma State K Dan Bailey has connected on 7 of 10 field goal attempts. Though his longest field goal came from just 27 yards out Bailey has shown respectable range on kickoffs, averaging 67.5 yards per kickoff with nine of his 55 kickoffs ending in touchbacks. However, the Cowboys have not covered kickoffs well and that's a concern because Shipley returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown against Oklahoma two weeks ago. Shipley reads his blocks well and reaches his top speed quickly. Oklahoma State P Matt Fodge has been outstanding, averaging 43.6 yards per punt and placing 11 of his 18 punts inside the 20-yard line. Cosby returns punts for the Longhorns and he's averaging 6.3 yards per return, but he has his work cut out for him because the Cowboys have done a much better job of covering punts. In fact, Wake Forest is the only FBS team that's giving up fewer yards per punt return at this point.

Texas K Hunter Lawrence has connected on all seven of his field goal attempts and he has a long of 46 yards. Justin Tucker kicks off for the Longhorns and is averaging 64.4 yards per kickoff with 17 of his 56 kickoffs resulting in touchbacks. But much like the Cowboys, Texas has not covered kickoffs well and it can't afford any breakdowns this week. Oklahoma State's Perrish Cox is a dangerous kickoff return man who is averaging 32.6 yards per return and returned a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown against Washington State in the season opener. Longhorns P < href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=198435">John Gold is averaging 43.6 yards per punt and he's placed seven of his 19 punts inside the 20. His cover team has done an adequate job thus far and it needs to have a strong game this week because Bryant has already returned two punts for touchdowns this year.

Scouts' Edge
Both teams can carve up run defenses up with their ground games and have the ability to put points on the board in bunches. There is a substantial gulf in terms of talent and depth when comparing their defensive fronts, however. The versatility of Orakpo and Kindle gives Texas the freedom to switch from three-man to four-man defensive fronts and gives it two explosive edge rushers. On the inside, Miller is playing at a high level and he will make it difficult for Oklahoma State's interior offensive linemen to get a body on Longhorns LBs Rashad Bobino and Jared Norton. In the end, this front seven will slow down the Cowboys' ground game enough for Texas to get the win.

Prediction: Longhorns 42, Cowboys 27

[jtstang]

I could be wrong but I think the horns handle up on the cowboys. The real test for UT will be at Tech. Hook'em!

[mathman]

I tend to agree. Texas is playing at a level I haven't seen from them in a while.

[mr. pony]

Yeah, the Roughing-the-Colt penalties against OU really started a major snowball...

I think OSU handles the glamour boys from Austin.

[Stallion]

Oklahoma St. will take a 28 point first half lead and lose by 3 TDs.

[HB Pony Dad]

Oklahoma St. will take a 28 point first half lead and lose by 3 TDs.

That tends to be their historical role!

[LA_Mustang]

Horns - 48
Okie St - 27

Dez Bryant, as all OK college stars are - a Texan, has 2 TDs and over a 100 yards, but the Horns are too much.

[jkflamebo]

game will be a lot similar to last week, texas blows em out easily

[J.T.supporta]

Oklahoma St. will take a 28 point first half lead and lose by 3 TDs.

That tends to be their historical role!

and will most likely happen on saturday

[SmooBoy]

Here's hoping UT and Tech roll so we can see the undefeated's go after it next week. Can you imagine the Lubbock alcohol sales?

[J.T.supporta]

Here's hoping UT and Tech roll so we can see the undefeated's go after it next week. Can you imagine the Lubbock alcohol sales?

if only UT would have beaten an undefeated Mizzou team...4 straight games against undefeated teams.

[White Helmet]

Except if mizzou was undefeated then OSU wouldnt be

[J.T.supporta]

Except if mizzou was undefeated then OSU wouldnt be

yea thats right.

[ThadFilms]

Except if mizzou was undefeated then OSU wouldnt be

Too true.

[orguy]

Tech is by far the most overrated team in the country.

KU will take care of business against the dust raiders.

As for OSU Vs UT, well the POKES may just have hit to big a wall there.

However, they are for real this year. I look for that game to be competitive. No MONUMENTAL second half collapses. They have quite a bit more Defensive depth this year than in years past.