The day after Missouri State
Published: 9/14/2008 4:06 PM
Last Modified: 9/14/2008 4:06 PM
That was easy, wasn't it?
Oklahoma State's starters got just enough work in Saturday's 57-13 win over Missouri State to stay sharp. The reserves got enough snaps to give the coaches some evidence of what they can do.
We're one quarter of the way through the regular season. OSU is 3-0, like many thought they would be after three games. There are reasons for optimism entering the last nonconference game in two weeks against Troy and the Big 12 Conference schedule to follow after that.
But to borrow to phrase that OSU coach Mike Gundy repeatedly uses, the Cowboys are not "the finished product yet."
Days like Saturday likely will not be seen again this season. The competition is about to get a little more difficult. If it happens, accept it. It means the Cowboys are progressing to becoming that finished product.
Game balls
***Kendall Hunter, Keith Toston, Beau Johnson: The three-headed monster at running back each surpassed the 100-yard mark, and showed why the Cowboys are the best running team in the Big 12.
***Offensive line: Somebody had to open the holes for Hunter, Toston and Johnson to run through. Both the starting unit and second-team group were effective run blocking.
***Matt Fodge: The senior punter has not been used much in the first three games. But his effectiveness is not minimal. He had three punts, all in the fourth quarter. Fodge's average was 47 yards and all three kicks pinned Missouri State inside its 10-yard line.
Cowboy checklist
***Defense: It's still tough to evaluate this group. Yes, they have held two opponents to 196 yards. But two areas of concern exist. Constant pass rush (only two sacks recorded thus far) and turnovers forced (three in three games).
***Discipline: Having 13 penalties in a game is bad. Many of violations were by first-year players in the program. You can get away with that against Missouri State. But you can't get with that against the likes of Missouri, OU, Texas, etc.
---Matt Doyle
Written by
Bill Haisten
Sports Writer
