Game day thoughts – Week 11
Published: 11/17/2007 10:57 AM
Last Modified: 11/17/2007 10:57 AM
Tim Beckman was talking about the past earlier this week. I brought up to the Oklahoma State defensive coordinator what a big week it was for his former employer – Ohio State.
The Buckeyes play at Michigan today. Beckman was involved in the previous two Ohio State-Michigan games as the Buckeyes' defensive backs coach. Beckman reminisced about how the Ohio State band marched to head coach Jim Tressel's house in 2005, where the coaching staff had a gathering, the Sunday night before the game. The band got into its traditional Script Ohio formation. The tradition on this night was that the newest member of the coaching staff got to dot the "i" in Ohio. That was Beckman.
"That was so cool," Beckman said.
On the Thursday before the Michigan game every year, another Ohio State tradition takes place. The team forms a big circle for Senior Tackle, where the team's seniors take one last hit on the blocking sled. Beckman told the story of how former Ohio State and Oakland Raiders standout strong safety Jack Tatum spoke to the team before Senior Tackle last year. Tatum's body was beat up and his voice was not always audible, Beckman recalled. But Beckman said Tatum gave a tremendous motivational speech to the Ohio State team.
Ohio State is a place of pleasant memories for Beckman. But Beckman now works for another OSU school and he states that he is proud to be an OSU – Oklahoma State University – Cowboy. Beckman does have a casual interest in today's Ohio State-Michigan game. But he has a more vested interest in tonight's OSU-Baylor game in Waco, Texas.
The performance and results of Beckman's Oklahoma State defense this season are not what he is accustomed to. I'm sure Beckman wishes he had some of Ohio State's defensive star players – Malcolm Jenkins, James Laurinaitis, or Vernon Gholston – on his Oklahoma State defense. He does not. Defense has been a sore spot and subject in Stillwater for a few years now.
Beckman's pedigree and past results suggest he will lead a defensive resurgence for the Cowboys. The bottom of the barrel numbers are not pleasing to his eye or the eyes of OSU followers. But there is only one way to go and that's up. Offenses have more of an advantage on defenses these days. Days of domination on defense are not as likely.
But getting a defensive unit that can slow down offenses regularly is Beckman's objective.
In addition to looking at the Cowboys defense, here are three things I'll be watching closely tonight:
*** Turnover totals: Until last week's four-turnover evening against Kansas, OSU had done a good job of protecting the football in conference play. Baylor has turned the ball over 35 times overall this year.
*** Early emotion: The anticipation in Waco is that Baylor coach Guy Morriss will be fired shortly after tonight's game. Morriss has done an admirable job in coaching the Big 12's worst program. Don't be surprised if the Bears try to win one for Morriss. From the OSU perspective, the Cowboys cannot come out still languishing over their back-to-back losses to Texas and Kansas.
*** No AD, no problems: OSU will miss receiver Adarius Bowman for this game. But the Cowboys still have Zac Robinson and Dantrell Savage. Robinson and Savage are the keys to OSU's offensive success.
--- Matt Doyle
Written by
Bill Haisten
Sports Writer
