Originally published at: https://pistolsfiringblog.com/roundtable-resetting-expectations-after-oklahoma-states-loss-to-tulsa/
The guys convene to discuss where OSU goes from its Week 1 loss in Tulsa.
“I was a bit worried about the “super deep and awesome and strong and fast and did I mention awesome DE” spot not producing much at Tulsa. Feels like if you can’t get to Tulsa’s QB who will you get to?”
“Yeah, I’m perhaps wondering if the depth of the edge rushers might’ve said more about the offensive line in camp than it did about the edge rushers. I’m trying to not be too over reactionary to the O-line considering Sexton’s injury threw a wrench into things, but muting those feelings is difficult.”
Yeah, I think my only hope for the defense was that we could have a good edge rush and that would lift the defense from how mediocre to bad UNT’s defense was. I don’t see how we’re going to put pressure on K-State if we didn’t put pressure on Tulsa. It’s probably also true that the offensive line made them look good in practice. Two bad lines better improve quickly. I’m thinking 4-8 if they aren’t better than that when we get to conference play.
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Right now it feels difficult to find any wins on the schedule outside of Murray State. Trying not to overreact. Maybe we can beat a couple of Big XII teams. I never thought I would see us so bad and irrelevant again after our last 20 years (prior to 2024). The irrelevant part is tough after so many years of a pretty consistent spot in the top 25 (and often much higher).
As stated, I want to see a “flash of playmaking”. I want to see someone who looks like they are special. We played 91 snaps and forced less than a handful of missed tackles and had no chunk plays. We aren’t going to go bowling this year if every scoring drive is a 13 play drive.
Just curious if you agree with me on this, but I thought Caleb looked good. He ran some people over and made some plays as a receiver (although those were less impressive for sure).
It did feel like he sometimes played into the contact, but given the line play and the heat I thought he met my expectations.
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I’m living in limbo until Big 12 play starts. Right now you could convince me Drew had one terrible day and the line will get at least a little better practicing without Sexton instead of being thrown in the deep end when he goes down. And that OSU team still beats 4-6 Big 12 teams.
I also see a cold, cruel world where this team goes 1-11 again…
We have to remember as much gloom and doom as there is… we did produce 27 first downs. We were -7 in turnovers including SOD. That last stat is losing football no matter who you play. We can still be aggressive, but obviously just trying to slam it into the line might not work. Hawkins should have been in there on every 4th and 1.
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I’m not exactly sold on that idea. Bill Snyder made a living off of longer drives and keeping the other team’s offense off the field. The issue is that with the current state of the offense and the personnel we have is that something Eric Morris is willing to adapt to given he comes from the Mike Leach tree?
The difference is that Bill Snyder’s teams played disciplined and fundamental football. Which I didn’t see at all from the coaching staff, the OL, Mestemaker, or the back end or our D. I think you can win games with 13 play drives given you’re not playing stupid football and your defense can make just a few stops.
You are being generous with 4-8. Mestemaker needs to improve. He missed on too many wide open receivers in the first half.
They should have tried to rely on Mestemakers passing even though he was not in any kind of rhythm as the run game was not moving the ball. I would rather see them pass on 4th down with Hawkins in there, they would have been expecting a run. And where were our tightends?
Long scoring drives don’t work if you can’t get a single yard when you need it. I’m afraid we will have to score off big plays to have a chance.
Not necessarily. As a team we were averaging 5.1 yards per rush in the first half and Hawkins himself was averaging 5.8. On OSU’s last drive before the half Hawkins had some really good runs. Then, for whatever reason, we ran the same Kasey Dunn screen pass twice in a row to the same side of the field. Eventually settling for a FG.
It was a case of the OSU coaching staff out-coaching themselves and not taking what the Tulsa defense was willing to give them. The players could’ve definitely been better. However, anytime we got to the red zone the coaching staff would find a way to screw it up for them.
I acknowledged the OL being an issue (inadvertently). I also pointed out our rushing stat in the first half. Also pointed out the coaching staff doesn’t need to make stupid decisions. I agree, based on what I’ve said so far you’re right.
Naw, even if we don’t improve at all, we’ll pull off 4. Bad teams win games they shouldn’t.