The key to 4-0: conservative game plan, muscle at Houston
Published: 8/26/2006 9:45 AM
Last Modified: 8/26/2006 9:45 AM
When examining the Oklahoma State schedule, college football speculators have designated Sept. 23 as a significant date.
On that Saturday, the Cowboys face Houston at the Cougars' Robertson Stadium, a 32,000-seat bandbox.
Among the four nonconference contests, the Houston game is considered by far OSU's most difficult. The Cougars do have a prolific QB in senior Kevin Kolb, who among current players is the nation's career leader in total offense.
Kolb and his passing game are impressive, but OSU can win – and should win – if it dusts off and implements its game plan from the 2004 opener at UCLA.
In a 31-20 triumph over UCLA at the Rose Bowl, OSU rushed the football 67 times for 426 yards. The Cowboys passed only eight times and finished with a 12-minute advantage in time of possession. Execution was razor-sharp – OSU had zero turnovers and only three penalties.
True, the Cowboys then had Vernand Morency at tailback. He embarrassed the Bruins for 261 yards. No back on the '06 OSU roster is as gifted as Morency, but Mike Hamilton, Julius Crosslin and Keith Toston collectively can batter Houston's 3-4 defense if the Cowboy linemen generate a consistent surge off the snap.
Remember this – OSU's offensive linemen were recruited into the Big 12. Houston's defensive linemen and linebackers apparently weren't considered talented enough to secure Big 12 or SEC scholarships.
And remember this – Houston's defense allowed 27 points and nearly 400 yards per game last season.
If the Cowboys do enter Sept. 23 as a 3-0 team (having beaten Missouri State, Arkansas State and Florida Atlantic), they'll have the opportunity to make it a 4-0 September if they play conservative muscle ball against the Cougars. Run the football, run the clock, shorten the game, avoid turnovers, make Kolb watch from the sidelines, win 33-17.
The key, obviously, is turnovers. OSU committed a staggering 35 last season. But if the Cowboys do not self-destruct against Houston, then it becomes a matter of Big 12 linemen competing against Conference USA linemen. It should be the difference-making advantage.
-- Bill Haisten
Written by
Bill Haisten
Sports Writer
