Carlson: Oklahoma State's defense went from good to great because of this secret sauce
Jenni CarlsonOklahoman
STILLWATER — Devin Harper dove and missed Caleb Williams, but instead of laying on the Boone Pickens Stadium turf, Harper sprung to his feet, sprinted after the OU quarterback, dove again and eventually made the tackle.
Christian Holmes ended up on the far side of the field when Williams took off on a long run, but instead of hoping another Oklahoma State defender would get him, Holmes gave chase and ultimately knocked Williams out of bounds.
Collin Oliver got pushed outside by an OU offensive lineman and slipped to the ground, but instead of giving up his pursuit, Oliver bear crawled on his elbows and knees, grabbed at Williams’ feet and finally brought him down.
Those were not just three of the biggest plays in Bedlam.
Not just three of the biggest plays in Cowboy football history either.
Those plays define this OSU defense.
With a Big 12 title and a playoff berth in their sights, the Cowboys have the college football world’s attention. Everyone can see the skill on this defense, how these Cowboys tackle and run, cover and pressure, adjust and disguise.
All of those things make for a stout defense.
But OSU goes from good to great because of the personality of this defense — the Cowboys are relentless.
Tenacious.
Dogged.
“Those are some of the tenets that we preach all the time,” OSU defensive coordinator Jim Knowles said after the Bedlam win. “There was never any flinching by our guys.”
How do you get a defense to take on that persona?
This isn’t one or two players, after all, who are that way. This is an entire unit. Starters. Reserves. Standouts. Role players. Those plays by Harper, a linebacker; Holmes, a safety; and Oliver, a lineman, late in the Bedlam game are proof that the mentality is ingrained in everyone everywhere.
It starts with the leaders of the defense, guys like Malcolm Rodriguez, Devin Harper, Tyler Lacy, Brock Martin, Jarrick Bernard-Converse and Kolby Harvell-Peel. All of them are high-energy players. Look back at games this season, and you’d be hard pressed to find any of them loafing.
That rubs off on others.
So, too, does the mentality of Knowles.
“He has the ability to coach old school and keep them motivated and involved and not create friction,” Cowboy coach Mike Gundy said. “He treats them all the same; he’ll chew on Harper or Rodriguez the same he would a true freshman.”
That makes everyone feel equal, but that means if everyone’s equal, they have to play to the same standard. That creates peer pressure.
So does success.
“We all know this: once they start playing well and have success, then they almost don’t want to be the guy that doesn’t play hard,” Gundy said.
Gundy referenced Sunday film sessions when the entire defense gathers to watch the game from the day before. If there’s a defender on the screen who isn’t giving maximum effort, those sitting next to him will start giving him the side eye.
The skunk eye may be next.
“They know you’re not playing hard,” Gundy said. “Got 10 guys playing hard, and you’re not playing hard.”
Cowboy safety Tanner McCalister has sensed that accountability this season.
“You don’t want to be that guy,” he said. “I don’t want to be that guy that everybody’s looking at like, ‘What’s he doing out there? Why is he not going 100%? Why is he not flying to the ball?’”
Since that approach has paid serious dividends — an 11-1 record and a shot at a conference crown — those inside the walls of Boone Pickens Stadium see the momentum only building. They say it’s no surprise the three biggest defensive plays of Bedlam were about tenacity and grit. About how much those defenders wanted it.
“Now, the snowball is going downhill, and you can’t stop it,” Gundy said. “It’s working in our favor.”
It has taken the Cowboys to another level.
Schemes are vital. Skills are necessary. But this defense has become one of the best in the country because it just won’t quit.
