When a team has championship aspirations in a competitive league, it must adopt and truly believe in the ‘one game at a time’ mantra. With the bye week behind them, the Cowboys are now in the second week of a ten week grind towards a potential Big 12 Championship. There is no doubt that the win at Baylor was a very strong first step towards that goal, but there are pitfalls each week along the way. This current era of super seniors and an open transfer portal with immediate eligibility has dramatically increased parity in the Big 12 as teams were able to substitute experience and maturity for freshmen talent disparities and shore up positions that were initially busts in both recruiting and development. There is strong quarterback play and veteran lines throughout the conference, making almost every week dangerous for favorites.
Oklahoma State is temporarily in the driver’s seat having won on the road at Baylor. The Bears are good on both sides of the ball, and will definitely be one of the teams involved at the end in determining who plays for the championship. Last week was a solid win for the program. Special teams play rightfully got a lot of attention, but it was the play of the offensive line, Spencer Sanders, and the run game defense that were really encouraging things to watch as you project forward to the next set of games in conference play.
Texas Tech is an intriguing team, positioned squarely in the middle of the Big 12 with enough experienced players and firepower to be dangerous weekly. Offensively, the Red Raiders are averaging 35 points and 476 yards per game. Their new offensive coordinator Zach Kittley is a Sonny Cumbie disciple from Western Kentucky. He looks to spread teams out, create 1 on 1 match-ups all over the field and continually go after the worst defender or the least favorable match-up for the defense. At times this will involve isolating quick guys in space on short slants and crossing routes, but more often, they will use formation and route structure to attack lesser defenders vertically (particularly with no deep safety to that side).
This, along with TCU, will be the biggest test for the OSU safeties all season. Texas Tech will put them in vertical route conflict all game long. One example of many options would be to utilize a 2 by 2 stack formation, putting the deep defender in a conflict between a sideline and seam vertical when the corner is up on the receiver, (Of course if you play off, then they go to the quick throw) throwing to the one he steps away from initially.
Texas Tech has moved the ball up and down the field against everyone, but they struggle some on third downs when defenses drop extra guys in coverage and play with multiple deep safeties. The secondary will be tested all afternoon. They must limit big plays; be solid on third downs; and continue to play through fourth down. By year’s end, Texas Tech may well lead the nation in fourth down attempts.
Donovan Smith, since taking over the position has passed for almost 1500 yards and 11 touchdowns. Former Cowboy commit Myles Price is a key chain mover and dynamic playmaker for them out of the slot. He will get the ball in a variety of ways. (31 receptions for 309 yards and 2 TDs) Beyond him, they will spread the ball out among the other receivers in typical air raid fashion. Keys for the secondary include: defending the crossing routes in man coverage, limiting yards after catch underneath (particularly with Xavier White), and winning individual match-ups down the sideline.
This is a game where the defensive front has to get pressure on the quarterback early and often. The Red raider tackles have had issues with edge pressure, and the Cowboys will be ready to take advantage of that. Cue the pressure. Look for OSU to have season high QB hurries and sacks tomorrow. The Cowboys will look to hurry Donovan Smith and harass him into poor throws.
The Red Raider running backs are playing well, and honestly have been held back by the lack of commitment to the ground game. Tahj Brooks and SaRodrick Thompson are very physical downhill backs that are hard to bring down. They do a very good job of making one cut and running through arm tackles. Given the matchup, it would be surprising to see Texas Tech suddenly force the run game, but using it only to keep the Cowboy defense honest and not allow the front to just tee off on the pass rush every down.
Texas Tech’s defense will ultimately determine their season’s ceiling and whether they can stay in the game with OSU into the 4th quarter. Their super senior laden secondary has done a good job this year of limiting explosive plays in the passing game in obvious passing situations, but they have struggled with play action or when teams (like KSU) establish the run and force them to defend that first. If the Cowboys establish the run game well, they will be able to exploit weaknesses in downfield coverage.
Coach DeRuyter (formerly of Oregon, Cal, Texas A&M, and Air Force) employs a hybrid 3-4/3-3-5 scheme that gives an offense about as many looks as any defense in the Big 12. His defense shows multiple fronts, brings pressure from everywhere, and constantly changes and disguises coverages. Their pressure packages are based on bringing numbers more than exotic stunts and games. When looking at film, you see many different blitz combinations in Coach DeRuyter’s playbook there are very few predictable patterns. Texas Tech will bring extra rushers and trust the veterans in coverage will hold up long enough for pressure to affect the play. This sell out to applying pressure begins with the explosive upfield rush by their ends and overhang defenders.
Tyree Wilson has early round NFL ability, and this defense is allowing him to play to his strengths on the edge. He will be a guy that the OSU offense must account for on every pass play. Look for the Cowboys to scheme around his upfield rush with screens, draws, and counter action. He will be an issue for the offensive tackles. Bear in mind that Tyree Wilson is essentially being used like DeRuyter used Von Miller at Texas A&M. Tony Bradford is a solid defensive tackle that has a great first step, able to penetrate into the backfield regularly and be disruptive, but also can get washed out of his run gap.
Overall, this defense plays high risk-high reward football: selling out for pressure and looking for turnovers. They expect a lot out of their star position player (Marquis “Muddy” Waters): setting the edge, getting pressure, and covering slot receivers man to man. He and Wilson are the two guys defensively that make things happen. Meanwhile, the Cowboys will look to challenge the inside backers and the corners, who even though experienced have some limitations. The Cowboy run game will be a big factor as they run to take advantage of pass rushers who lose their gaps, and extra numbers that do not get home on the blitz.
Everything in their run fits direct action to their inside backers. They are the hub of the run defense and do the heavy lifting. The fronts will change throughout the game and they will be paired with multiple coverages behind, mostly zone with some man. The most common zone looks are cover 3, but cover 6 and 7 are mixed in. The blitzes cause turnovers more off of confusion than the direct pressure they bring. They disguise the coverages for all short/hot routes, and are particularly good at forcing pass options in RPO’s, but taking away the first pass option by dropping an overhang player or safety into those routes. By showing pressure and dropping extra defenders into zones, it causes quarterbacks to hesitate long enough for the rush to get home or to bait throws against suddenly developing double coverage.
Bottom line is that the Cowboys need to get the inside backers moving side to side (last week it was the defensive line) and catch them out of their run gaps to hit big plays, while getting the ball on the perimeter of the defense. It is important for the Cowboy guards to not get pushed back into the backfield when the defensive line works to get push. As K-State showed last week, this Texas Tech defense has a lot of difficulty with a running quarterback. Enter Spencer Sanders. He is a problem for both their scheme and personnel.
In almost every game this year the Cowboys will enter with an advantage in special teams, and this game is no different. Between hidden yardage and kicking efficiency, it's almost like spotting the Cowboys 4 points per game (and we have not really seen them go after blocks yet). Due to the way Texas Tech plays, don’t be surprised to see them pile up a lot of offensive numbers and be in this game through three quarters, but if the Cowboys take care of the football, execute on offense, and play solid defensively, they should pull away in the fourth quarter. If the Texas Tech offensive line struggles to protect Smith and he forces errant passes early, the Cowboys could push the spread out.
Oklahoma State is temporarily in the driver’s seat having won on the road at Baylor. The Bears are good on both sides of the ball, and will definitely be one of the teams involved at the end in determining who plays for the championship. Last week was a solid win for the program. Special teams play rightfully got a lot of attention, but it was the play of the offensive line, Spencer Sanders, and the run game defense that were really encouraging things to watch as you project forward to the next set of games in conference play.
Texas Tech is an intriguing team, positioned squarely in the middle of the Big 12 with enough experienced players and firepower to be dangerous weekly. Offensively, the Red Raiders are averaging 35 points and 476 yards per game. Their new offensive coordinator Zach Kittley is a Sonny Cumbie disciple from Western Kentucky. He looks to spread teams out, create 1 on 1 match-ups all over the field and continually go after the worst defender or the least favorable match-up for the defense. At times this will involve isolating quick guys in space on short slants and crossing routes, but more often, they will use formation and route structure to attack lesser defenders vertically (particularly with no deep safety to that side).
This, along with TCU, will be the biggest test for the OSU safeties all season. Texas Tech will put them in vertical route conflict all game long. One example of many options would be to utilize a 2 by 2 stack formation, putting the deep defender in a conflict between a sideline and seam vertical when the corner is up on the receiver, (Of course if you play off, then they go to the quick throw) throwing to the one he steps away from initially.
Texas Tech has moved the ball up and down the field against everyone, but they struggle some on third downs when defenses drop extra guys in coverage and play with multiple deep safeties. The secondary will be tested all afternoon. They must limit big plays; be solid on third downs; and continue to play through fourth down. By year’s end, Texas Tech may well lead the nation in fourth down attempts.
Donovan Smith, since taking over the position has passed for almost 1500 yards and 11 touchdowns. Former Cowboy commit Myles Price is a key chain mover and dynamic playmaker for them out of the slot. He will get the ball in a variety of ways. (31 receptions for 309 yards and 2 TDs) Beyond him, they will spread the ball out among the other receivers in typical air raid fashion. Keys for the secondary include: defending the crossing routes in man coverage, limiting yards after catch underneath (particularly with Xavier White), and winning individual match-ups down the sideline.
This is a game where the defensive front has to get pressure on the quarterback early and often. The Red raider tackles have had issues with edge pressure, and the Cowboys will be ready to take advantage of that. Cue the pressure. Look for OSU to have season high QB hurries and sacks tomorrow. The Cowboys will look to hurry Donovan Smith and harass him into poor throws.
The Red Raider running backs are playing well, and honestly have been held back by the lack of commitment to the ground game. Tahj Brooks and SaRodrick Thompson are very physical downhill backs that are hard to bring down. They do a very good job of making one cut and running through arm tackles. Given the matchup, it would be surprising to see Texas Tech suddenly force the run game, but using it only to keep the Cowboy defense honest and not allow the front to just tee off on the pass rush every down.
Texas Tech’s defense will ultimately determine their season’s ceiling and whether they can stay in the game with OSU into the 4th quarter. Their super senior laden secondary has done a good job this year of limiting explosive plays in the passing game in obvious passing situations, but they have struggled with play action or when teams (like KSU) establish the run and force them to defend that first. If the Cowboys establish the run game well, they will be able to exploit weaknesses in downfield coverage.
Coach DeRuyter (formerly of Oregon, Cal, Texas A&M, and Air Force) employs a hybrid 3-4/3-3-5 scheme that gives an offense about as many looks as any defense in the Big 12. His defense shows multiple fronts, brings pressure from everywhere, and constantly changes and disguises coverages. Their pressure packages are based on bringing numbers more than exotic stunts and games. When looking at film, you see many different blitz combinations in Coach DeRuyter’s playbook there are very few predictable patterns. Texas Tech will bring extra rushers and trust the veterans in coverage will hold up long enough for pressure to affect the play. This sell out to applying pressure begins with the explosive upfield rush by their ends and overhang defenders.
Tyree Wilson has early round NFL ability, and this defense is allowing him to play to his strengths on the edge. He will be a guy that the OSU offense must account for on every pass play. Look for the Cowboys to scheme around his upfield rush with screens, draws, and counter action. He will be an issue for the offensive tackles. Bear in mind that Tyree Wilson is essentially being used like DeRuyter used Von Miller at Texas A&M. Tony Bradford is a solid defensive tackle that has a great first step, able to penetrate into the backfield regularly and be disruptive, but also can get washed out of his run gap.
Overall, this defense plays high risk-high reward football: selling out for pressure and looking for turnovers. They expect a lot out of their star position player (Marquis “Muddy” Waters): setting the edge, getting pressure, and covering slot receivers man to man. He and Wilson are the two guys defensively that make things happen. Meanwhile, the Cowboys will look to challenge the inside backers and the corners, who even though experienced have some limitations. The Cowboy run game will be a big factor as they run to take advantage of pass rushers who lose their gaps, and extra numbers that do not get home on the blitz.
Everything in their run fits direct action to their inside backers. They are the hub of the run defense and do the heavy lifting. The fronts will change throughout the game and they will be paired with multiple coverages behind, mostly zone with some man. The most common zone looks are cover 3, but cover 6 and 7 are mixed in. The blitzes cause turnovers more off of confusion than the direct pressure they bring. They disguise the coverages for all short/hot routes, and are particularly good at forcing pass options in RPO’s, but taking away the first pass option by dropping an overhang player or safety into those routes. By showing pressure and dropping extra defenders into zones, it causes quarterbacks to hesitate long enough for the rush to get home or to bait throws against suddenly developing double coverage.
Bottom line is that the Cowboys need to get the inside backers moving side to side (last week it was the defensive line) and catch them out of their run gaps to hit big plays, while getting the ball on the perimeter of the defense. It is important for the Cowboy guards to not get pushed back into the backfield when the defensive line works to get push. As K-State showed last week, this Texas Tech defense has a lot of difficulty with a running quarterback. Enter Spencer Sanders. He is a problem for both their scheme and personnel.
In almost every game this year the Cowboys will enter with an advantage in special teams, and this game is no different. Between hidden yardage and kicking efficiency, it's almost like spotting the Cowboys 4 points per game (and we have not really seen them go after blocks yet). Due to the way Texas Tech plays, don’t be surprised to see them pile up a lot of offensive numbers and be in this game through three quarters, but if the Cowboys take care of the football, execute on offense, and play solid defensively, they should pull away in the fourth quarter. If the Texas Tech offensive line struggles to protect Smith and he forces errant passes early, the Cowboys could push the spread out.
