When conference play gets here, I will take the time to more thoroughly breakdown the week's game. In the meantime, here is a first glance look at Saturday's game against UTSA. I will break this down by first looking back to last week for OSU, then looking back over UTSA's first two games, and finally highlight some things to watch for.
OSU enters the game 2-0 with a quality defense, a good young quarterback, and a handful of talented skill players, yet by reading the message boards you would not get a picture reflecting that reality. There is plenty of negative vibes being passed around by fans. Some of them earned (2 blocked PATs), but others not as much.
There is no question that the staff played things a bit conservatively in the opener on the road against CMU. They knew going in that they had more explosive athletes and better depth, and anticipated that the game would tip their way in the second half as the Chippewas wore down. The coaches had no film on their team on either side of the ball, and played conservatively on both sides of the ball in the first half. CMU's defense showed some looks that were not expected, so things were a bit more difficult in the early going. Once they had a good read on what was being done, minor adjustments were made and both sides of the ball dominated in the second half.
Last week, Central Arkansas made a radical commitment to stop the run, sending at least 8 guys into the box to stuff the run. Not only did they outnumber the blockers, but the fact that they ran backers and safeties into the interior gaps at the snap caused confusion for the Cowboy backs on who to block. Their assignments involved getting to guys on the second level, but when they came around the edge, the second level guys were in the backfield. There were several times when they effectively blocked no one. That defensive scheme is not likely one OSU will ever see in conference play due to the exposure over the top in cover 0 unless Rob Ryan returns. The inside zone runs had no cutback lanes, because there were more defenders than blockers.
Pass protection was pretty good. Victor Salako will have to work on keeping his hands inside the frame of the pass rusher, but the line seemed to communicate well and pickup blitzers. In the run game, generally speaking, the offensive line was on their correct assignment, but far too often there was not enough movement of bodies to create room at the line of scrimmage. Thus, the backs were having to make moves behind the line of scrimmage instead of hitting creases and making moves at the second level. Once Rudolph started heating up and improved his accuracy, the UCA defense backed off some and dropped two safeties, like on the big Childs run (after the TD catch by McCleskey was called back) and on the final two drives when JW Walsh was on the field.
The passing game was average overall against UCA. A lot of points were left on the field. Rudolph played much better after halftime and that is more indicative of how he needs to play going forward. With the exception of some great individual efforts by David Glidden, the receiving corps is still struggling with yards after the catch. This is something to watch going forward as the offense schemes to get these guys one on one opportunities on the edge. They need to start making defenders miss and become the 'strength' of the team that everyone believes that they can become.
The good news overall offensively is that there is room for improvement with most of the tools on hand to see those things through. There was not a lot of scheming that went into the first two game plans. It was pretty much base offense. Similar things can be said defensively, and that might be part of the reason that there have not been many turnovers. (It better be, because OSU is going to need the advantages gained from turnovers to contend.)
UTSA went from being one of the most experienced teams in the nation to one of the youngest due to the loss of two entire recruiting classes last year. They have a handful of really good experienced players and probably better overall athleticism than the first two opponents, even if they are not as strong of a team overall.
Quarterback Blake Bogenschutz is the key to everything offensively in this uptempo spread option attack. He was a stud in high school (9569 yards, 126 TDs, & a state title) at Carthage, TX. He is a bit short for a pocket passer, but he has a stocky build that enables him to take the hits that come with playing in this offense. He has a live arm and will do most of his damage over the middle, although his accuracy has not been consistent in either game making him prone for turnovers.
A major reason for the focus in the middle of the field would be the presence of ALL CUSA TE David Morgan. Expect UTSA to feature him in the offense against the Cowboys, attacking the SS and OLBs, particularly off of play action or zone read option pop passes. This game will be a really good test for Flowers and Burton. By the way, check out the video clip from the KSU game where he literally ran for a first down with a KSU defender riding piggy back!
UTSA has some depth at receiver that allows them to spread the wealth in the passing game. Aaron Grubb is their slot receiver/chain mover that pairs with Morgan to give them two priority targets on third downs. Kenny Bias has the prototypical size/speed combination on the outside and will run a bunch of verticals, corners, and digs. The running backs are inexperienced and not quite as talented as a year ago when they had Glasco. The offensive line is still a work in progress. William Cavanaugh is a solid guy at guard, but they lack some size up front that hurt them against K-State. Still, this offense piled up 525 yards at Arizona in a game that the Roadrunners should have won. Their attack is pretty balanced in terms of play calling, but the passing game carries the bulk of the big play making.
Against K-State, the UTSA line had trouble blocking their front four and consequently the Wildcats totally shut down their run game. This killed the effectiveness of the play-action game and reduced them to a spread passing attack. KSU began to dial in on their route combinations and basically shut down the offense. Look for OSU to try and follow that blue print by stuffing the Roadrunners on first down, get them behind the chains, and then bring heat on third down. So long as the defense doesn't surrender too many QB scrambles and can contain the TE, then they should be able to get off the field.
On the other side of the ball, UTSA plays a base 4-2-5. Although they suffered lots of graduation losses, they still return 3 ALL CUSA defenders: MLB Drew Douglas; former Sooner CB Bennett Okotcha, and DE Jason Neil. The strength of their defense is their defensive ends where they return Jason Neil and Marcus Davenport (who has better long term potential). Brian Price anchors the run defense inside at NT and is joined by a bunch of newcomers, who frankly look pretty pedestrian. The good news for them is that there is little fall-off when the rotate. The bad news is that they don't have any standouts. The rover back Muricio Sanchez is their play-maker on the back end, but he has been prone to get caught out of position in coverage. Look for OSU to target him against inside receivers. The dawg spot is manned by Michael Egauagu who is very athletic and loves to lay the big hit.
Against KSU, the Roadrunners had to commit their safeties to run support as KSU went back to the QB power run game with Hubener. As they got those guys to play downhill, the Wildcats popped them for multiple big plays down the field. The UTSA defense struggled with the balance of KSU. That same type of thing might be on display this weekend.
OSU will win the game by a comfortable margin, but don't be surprised if UTSA has some early offensive success. The Cowboys should be able to better establish the run this week as there is a lot more familiarity with what the Roadrunners are going to do defensively. Communication should be better, and with 2 deep safeties, there should be more opportunities to find gaps. That said, there will be plenty of opportunities to make plays down the field. One more thing: don't be surprised if OSU doesn't bust a big play in the return game.
OSU enters the game 2-0 with a quality defense, a good young quarterback, and a handful of talented skill players, yet by reading the message boards you would not get a picture reflecting that reality. There is plenty of negative vibes being passed around by fans. Some of them earned (2 blocked PATs), but others not as much.
There is no question that the staff played things a bit conservatively in the opener on the road against CMU. They knew going in that they had more explosive athletes and better depth, and anticipated that the game would tip their way in the second half as the Chippewas wore down. The coaches had no film on their team on either side of the ball, and played conservatively on both sides of the ball in the first half. CMU's defense showed some looks that were not expected, so things were a bit more difficult in the early going. Once they had a good read on what was being done, minor adjustments were made and both sides of the ball dominated in the second half.
Last week, Central Arkansas made a radical commitment to stop the run, sending at least 8 guys into the box to stuff the run. Not only did they outnumber the blockers, but the fact that they ran backers and safeties into the interior gaps at the snap caused confusion for the Cowboy backs on who to block. Their assignments involved getting to guys on the second level, but when they came around the edge, the second level guys were in the backfield. There were several times when they effectively blocked no one. That defensive scheme is not likely one OSU will ever see in conference play due to the exposure over the top in cover 0 unless Rob Ryan returns. The inside zone runs had no cutback lanes, because there were more defenders than blockers.
Pass protection was pretty good. Victor Salako will have to work on keeping his hands inside the frame of the pass rusher, but the line seemed to communicate well and pickup blitzers. In the run game, generally speaking, the offensive line was on their correct assignment, but far too often there was not enough movement of bodies to create room at the line of scrimmage. Thus, the backs were having to make moves behind the line of scrimmage instead of hitting creases and making moves at the second level. Once Rudolph started heating up and improved his accuracy, the UCA defense backed off some and dropped two safeties, like on the big Childs run (after the TD catch by McCleskey was called back) and on the final two drives when JW Walsh was on the field.
The passing game was average overall against UCA. A lot of points were left on the field. Rudolph played much better after halftime and that is more indicative of how he needs to play going forward. With the exception of some great individual efforts by David Glidden, the receiving corps is still struggling with yards after the catch. This is something to watch going forward as the offense schemes to get these guys one on one opportunities on the edge. They need to start making defenders miss and become the 'strength' of the team that everyone believes that they can become.
The good news overall offensively is that there is room for improvement with most of the tools on hand to see those things through. There was not a lot of scheming that went into the first two game plans. It was pretty much base offense. Similar things can be said defensively, and that might be part of the reason that there have not been many turnovers. (It better be, because OSU is going to need the advantages gained from turnovers to contend.)
UTSA went from being one of the most experienced teams in the nation to one of the youngest due to the loss of two entire recruiting classes last year. They have a handful of really good experienced players and probably better overall athleticism than the first two opponents, even if they are not as strong of a team overall.
Quarterback Blake Bogenschutz is the key to everything offensively in this uptempo spread option attack. He was a stud in high school (9569 yards, 126 TDs, & a state title) at Carthage, TX. He is a bit short for a pocket passer, but he has a stocky build that enables him to take the hits that come with playing in this offense. He has a live arm and will do most of his damage over the middle, although his accuracy has not been consistent in either game making him prone for turnovers.
A major reason for the focus in the middle of the field would be the presence of ALL CUSA TE David Morgan. Expect UTSA to feature him in the offense against the Cowboys, attacking the SS and OLBs, particularly off of play action or zone read option pop passes. This game will be a really good test for Flowers and Burton. By the way, check out the video clip from the KSU game where he literally ran for a first down with a KSU defender riding piggy back!
UTSA has some depth at receiver that allows them to spread the wealth in the passing game. Aaron Grubb is their slot receiver/chain mover that pairs with Morgan to give them two priority targets on third downs. Kenny Bias has the prototypical size/speed combination on the outside and will run a bunch of verticals, corners, and digs. The running backs are inexperienced and not quite as talented as a year ago when they had Glasco. The offensive line is still a work in progress. William Cavanaugh is a solid guy at guard, but they lack some size up front that hurt them against K-State. Still, this offense piled up 525 yards at Arizona in a game that the Roadrunners should have won. Their attack is pretty balanced in terms of play calling, but the passing game carries the bulk of the big play making.
Against K-State, the UTSA line had trouble blocking their front four and consequently the Wildcats totally shut down their run game. This killed the effectiveness of the play-action game and reduced them to a spread passing attack. KSU began to dial in on their route combinations and basically shut down the offense. Look for OSU to try and follow that blue print by stuffing the Roadrunners on first down, get them behind the chains, and then bring heat on third down. So long as the defense doesn't surrender too many QB scrambles and can contain the TE, then they should be able to get off the field.
On the other side of the ball, UTSA plays a base 4-2-5. Although they suffered lots of graduation losses, they still return 3 ALL CUSA defenders: MLB Drew Douglas; former Sooner CB Bennett Okotcha, and DE Jason Neil. The strength of their defense is their defensive ends where they return Jason Neil and Marcus Davenport (who has better long term potential). Brian Price anchors the run defense inside at NT and is joined by a bunch of newcomers, who frankly look pretty pedestrian. The good news for them is that there is little fall-off when the rotate. The bad news is that they don't have any standouts. The rover back Muricio Sanchez is their play-maker on the back end, but he has been prone to get caught out of position in coverage. Look for OSU to target him against inside receivers. The dawg spot is manned by Michael Egauagu who is very athletic and loves to lay the big hit.
Against KSU, the Roadrunners had to commit their safeties to run support as KSU went back to the QB power run game with Hubener. As they got those guys to play downhill, the Wildcats popped them for multiple big plays down the field. The UTSA defense struggled with the balance of KSU. That same type of thing might be on display this weekend.
OSU will win the game by a comfortable margin, but don't be surprised if UTSA has some early offensive success. The Cowboys should be able to better establish the run this week as there is a lot more familiarity with what the Roadrunners are going to do defensively. Communication should be better, and with 2 deep safeties, there should be more opportunities to find gaps. That said, there will be plenty of opportunities to make plays down the field. One more thing: don't be surprised if OSU doesn't bust a big play in the return game.
