OSU football talking points
BY BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
11/30/11 at 4:20 AM
Can Weeden effectively pass a wet football?
The forecast for Saturday is not positive - a game-time temperature in the upper 30s, with a probability of rain. During the great majority of his two seasons as OSU's starting quarterback, Brandon Weeden has played in favorable conditions. The Boone Pickens Stadium turf drains well, so footing wouldn't be a major issue in a rainy game. But rain would have an effect on the condition of the football and whether Weeden can effectively grip it and pass it. Weeden reports that he recently has experimented with wearing a glove on his right hand - his passing hand. "I actually throw the ball better with gloves on," he said. "Way better with a glove on. I can spin the crap out of it."
Can OSU score 42 points against the Sooners?
Since the start of the 2006 season, Mike Gundy-coached Oklahoma State teams are 27-0 when scoring at least 42 points. In games in which OSU's point total was less than 42, the Cowboys are 26-22. In each of their last two Bedlam home losses, the Cowboys were beaten 61-41 (2008) and 47-41 (2010). In 95 meetings with the Sooners, OSU reached the 42-point mark only once (a 47-0 victory in 1945 at Norman). If mostly methodical Kansas State can score 45 points against the Cowboy defense, then you have to expect that even an injury-depleted OU offense can score 40. And if that does happen, can OSU reach its magic-number total of 42 and end an eight-game losing streak against the Sooners?
What is the state of the Cowboy run game?
During a midseason stretch of three games, the Oklahoma State ground game functioned at a high level. The Cowboys ran for 202 yards at Texas, 195 at Missouri and 327 against Baylor. In those games, OSU averaged 8.5 yards per rush attempt. Joseph Randle scored three rushing touchdowns against Missouri and four against Baylor. The OSU run game was a perfect complement to the Cowboys' prolific passing game. Against Kansas State and Iowa State, however, OSU's run-game wheels were wobbly. Against K-State, the Cowboys netted only 73 yards on 17 attempts. At Iowa State, only 60 yards on 18 attempts. The usually reliable Randle lost two fumbles at Texas Tech and two more at Iowa State.
UP NEXT
Oklahoma State (10-1, 7-1) vs. Oklahoma (9-2, 6-2)
7 p.m. Saturday
TV: KTUL-8
OSU Radio: KFAQ am1170
2011 SCHEDULE
Tickets: tulsaworld.com/osusports
S. 3 La.-Lafayette W, 61-34
S. 8 Arizona W, 37-14
S. 17 at Tulsa W, 59-33
S. 24 at Texas A&M W, 30-29
O. 8 Kansas W, 70-28
O. 15 at Texas W, 38-26
O. 22 at Missouri W, 45-24
O. 29 Baylor W, 59-24
N. 5 Kansas State W, 52-45
N. 12 at Texas Tech W, 66-6
N. 18 at Iowa State L, 37-31 (OT)
D. 3 Oklahoma 7 p.m. KTUL-8
STATISTICS
|
OSU | OPP |
|
Scoring | 548 | 300 |
|
Per game | 49.8 | 27.3 |
|
First downs | 300 | 278 |
|
by rushing | 88 | 117 |
|
by passing | 198 | 146 |
|
by penalty | 14 | 15 |
|
Rushing yards | 1771 | 2053 |
|
Avg. per game | 161.0 | 186.6 |
|
Passing yards | 4418 | 2937 |
|
Avg. per game | 401.6 | 267.0 |
|
Offensive plays | 861 | 925 |
|
Total yards | 6189 | 4990 |
|
Avg. per play | 7.2 | 5.4 |
|
Avg. per game | 562.6 | 453.6 |
|
Kick returns-Yds | 45-984 | 48-1173 |
|
Punt returns-Yds | 20-65 | 13-141 |
|
Interceptions-Yds | 21-280 | 12-257 |
|
Fumbles-Lost | 14-9 | 22-16 |
|
Penalties-Yds | 66-611 | 61-457 |
|
Punts-Avg. | 39-46.6 | 55-42.2 |
|
3rd downs | 82-159 | 77-184 |
|
4th downs | 6-13 | 14-26 |
|
Sacks by-Yds | 25-154 | 11-93 |
Individual leaders
Y/A=Yards/attempt; Y/G=Yards/game stats
|
RUSHING | No. | Yds | Y/A | Y/G | TD |
|
J. Randle | 179 | 1042 | 5.8 | 94.7 | 21 |
|
J. Smith | 80 | 526 | 6.6 | 52.6 | 7 |
|
PASSING | C-A-Int | Yds | Y/G | TD |
|
B. Weeden | 355-486-12 | 4111 | 373.7 | 34 |
|
RECEIVING | No. | Yds | Y/A | Y/G | TD |
|
J. Blackmon | 103 | 1241 | 12.0 | 112.8 | 15 |
|
J. Cooper | 60 | 654 | 10.9 | 65.4 | 3 |
|
T. Moore | 44 | 619 | 14.1 | 56.3 | 4 |
|
J. Randle | 34 | 207 | 6.1 | 18.8 | 2 |
|
H. Anyiam | 27 | 370 | 13.7 | 52.9 | 3 |
|
PUNT RETURNS | No. | Yds | Avg. | TD |
|
J. Cooper | 16 | 60 | 3.8 | 0 |
|
Kick returns | No. | Yds | Avg. | TD |
|
J. Gilbert | 21 | 565 | 26.9 | 2 |
|
Kicking | FG-A | Long | PAT |
|
Q. Sharp | 17-20 | 46 | 69-70 |
|
Defense | Tackles | TFL | Sacks | INT | FR |
|
D. Lowe | 79 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1 | 1 |
|
A. Elkins | 69 | 4.0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
|
C. Lavey | 65 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 |
|
M. Martin | 62 | 4.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
B. Brown | 51 | 4.0 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
|
S. Lewis | 51 | 7.5 | 1.5 | 2 | 2 |
|
J. Gilbert | 46 | 1.0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
|
J. Blatnick | 44 | 10.5 | 7.0 | 1 | 1 |
|
R. Jones | 32 | 5.5 | 3.0 | 1 | 2 |
|
N. Nicholas | 31 | 9.0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
|
J. Mitchell | 30 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
D. Imade | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
J. Thomas | 26 | 4.5 | 3.0 | 4 | 1 |
|
T. Johnson | 24 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
Associated Images:
OSU quarterback Brandon Weeden passes the ball against Kansas earlier this season at Boone Pickens Stadium. Rain is forecast for Saturday night's Bedlam showdown, and it could affect Weeden's ability to throw effectively. JAMES GIBBARD/Tulsa World
OSU's Joseph Randle runs for a touchdown against Texas Tech in Lubbock earlier this month. STEPHEN PINGRY/Tulsa World
|
