OSU Talking Points
BY JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
Wednesday, November 07, 2012
11/07/12 at 6:12 AM
Heisman sequel
In consecutive weeks, OSU will play the previous and current frontrunners for the Heisman Trophy.
The Cowboys are coming off a game against Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein, who is the clubhouse leader for the trophy.
Next is a game against West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith, who was a Heisman darling before his team went into a three-game tailspin.
"I tell you what, that Heisman thing, it kind of goes week to week," OSU defensive coordinator Bill Young said. "We have got so many games left and so much can happen that (Smith) can come out of nowhere and be right back in it. He is playing awfully well. He had a couple of bad games, but you go back and look at films of other games and he's pretty doggone good."
Smith ranks sixth nationally in total offense and 12th in passing efficiency. He has 29 touchdown passes and only three interceptions.
Vulnerable defense?
Can OSU, which ranks second nationally in total offense, have its way against an allegedly tender West Virginia defense?
The Mountaineers rank 111th nationally in total defense and 116th in scoring defense, surrendering 482.5 yards and 39.75 points per game.
But West Virginia forced nine punts and allowed "only" 405 yards in a double-overtime loss to TCU last week. The Frogs were limited to 273 yards until getting a 94-yard touchdown pass with 1:28 remaining in regulation.
"They played their butts off last week," OSU offensive coordinator Todd Monken said.
The Mountaineers had an open date before the TCU game and apparently made good use of it.
"In their bye week, I think they simplified things," Monken said before adding this: "I think they took the way they had been playing personally. And I think they have got them playing well."
Mixed signals
West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen is a former OSU offensive coordinator. He installed the offense that the Cowboys are still using, although tweaks have occurred.
Both teams reportedly use similar signals to send in play calls. Holgorsen was asked at his weekly press conference if he will change signals this week.
Said the coach, "We do it every week anyway. I've watched a couple of (OSU's) TV (film) copies here, and I can call out about 90 percent of their plays, so I'd assume that's something that is on their mind as well as it is on our mind. We have to be careful what we do from both an offensive standpoint and a defensive standpoint."
OSU coach Mike Gundy said Tuesday that hand signals are certainly something his team is taking into consideration this week, given the familiarity of the coaching staffs.
West Virginia co-defensive coordinator Joe DeForest was a longtime OSU assistant.
Cowboys by the numbers
520: Number of passing yards Clint Chelf accumulated during two seasons as Brandon Weeden's backup.
233: Number of passing yards Chelf accumulated in less than one half against Kansas State.
50: Number of tackles this season by linebacker Alex Elkins, who leads OSU in that category.
21: Tackles by Elkins in OSU's two road losses.
OSU STATISTICS
| OSU | OPP |
| Scoring | 340 | 206 |
| Per game | 42.5 | 25.8 |
| First downs | 219 | 165 |
| by rushing | 95 | 64 |
| by passing | 112 | 85 |
| by penalty | 12 | 16 |
| Rushing yards | 1760 | 1085 |
| Avg. per game | 220.0 | 135.6 |
| Passing yards | 2847 | 1935 |
| Avg. per game | 355.9 | 241.9 |
| Offensive plays | 640 | 598 |
| Total yards | 4607 | 3020 |
| Avg. per play | 7.2 | 5.1 |
| Avg. per game | 575.9 | 377.5 |
| Kick returns-Yds | 26-696 | 13-435 |
| Punt returns-Yds | 27-259 | 8-71 |
| Interceptions-Yds | 6-68 | 12-141 |
| Fumbles-Lost | 11-6 | 8-3 |
| Penalties-Yds | 49-482 | 49-358 |
| Punts-Avg. | 25-46.0 | 54-42.4 |
| 3rd downs | 57-119 | 43-129 |
| 4th downs | 4-9 | 6-14 |
| Sacks by-Yds | 15-111 | 4-20 |
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Y/A=Yards/attempt; Y/G=Yards/game
| RUSHING | No. | Yds | Y/A | Y/G | TD |
| J. Randle | 175 | 934 | 5.3 | 116.8 | 9 |
| J. Walsh | 36 | 254 | 7.1 | 42.3 | 3 |
| D. Roland | 30 | 198 | 6.6 | 28.3 | 4 |
| J. Smith | 41 | 197 | 4.8 | 24.6 | 5 |
| C. Bennett | 12 | 91 | 7.6 | 45.5 | 1 |
| PASSING | C-A-Int | Yds | Y/G | TD |
| J. Walsh | 102-154-3 | 1467 | 244.5 | 10 |
| W. Lunt | 80-128-7 | 1096 | 219.2 | 6 |
| C. Chelf | 20-35-2 | 284 | 94.7 | 2 |
| RECEIVING | No. | Yds | Y/A | Y/G | TD |
| J. Stewart | 56 | 666 | 11.9 | 83.2 | 3 |
| C. Moore | 28 | 476 | 17.0 | 59.5 | 4 |
| B. Jackson | 24 | 480 | 20.0 | 60.0 | 1 |
| J. Randle | 21 | 163 | 7.8 | 20.4 | 0 |
| T. Moore | 20 | 259 | 12.9 | 64.8 | 4 |
| A. Hays | 15 | 217 | 14.5 | 43.4 | 2 |
| I. Anderson | 10 | 123 | 12.3 | 17.6 | 0 |
| PUNT RETURNS | No. | Yds | Avg. | TD |
| C. Moore | 15 | 125 | 8.3 | 0 |
| D. Glidden | 6 | 27 | 4.5 | 0 |
| KICK RETURNS | No. | Yds | Avg. | TD |
| J. Gilbert | 19 | 502 | 26.4 | 0 |
| KICKING | FG-A | Long | PAT |
| Q. Sharp | 18-23 | 51 | 40-40 |
| DEFENSE | Tackles | TFL | Sacks | INT | FR |
| A. Elkins | 43 | 4.0 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| D. Lowe | 39 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 2 | 0 |
| S. Gary | 37.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| S. Lewis | 32 | 4.5 | 2.5 | 0 | 0 |
| C. Lavey | 29 | 5.0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| J. Gilbert | 28 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| J. Castleman | 19 | 3.5 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| N. Nicholas | 17 | 3.0 | 2.5 | 0 | 1 |
| B. Brown | 15.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| C. Barnett | 15.5 | 4.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| B. Brown | 14.5 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| R. Robinson | 14.5 | 4.0 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| C. Bassett | 12.5 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| J. Mitchell | 12.5 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 1 |
| R. Simmons | 9.5 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| T. Johnson | 9.5 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 1 | 0 |
| N. Ornelas | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| L. Stephens | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| A. Lampkin | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| L. Johnson | 7 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 |
| K. Peterson | 6.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Z. Craig | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| D. Collins | 5.5 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
SCHEDULE
Tickets: tulsaworld.com/osusports
Sept. 1: vs. Savannah State W, 84-0
Sept. 8: at Arizona L, 59-38
Sept. 15: vs. La.-Lafayette W, 65-24
Sept. 29: vs. Texas L, 41-36
Oct. 13: at Kansas W, 20-14
Oct. 20: vs. Iowa State W, 31-10
Oct. 27: vs. TCU W, 36-14
Nov. 3: at Kansas State L, 44-30
Nov. 10: vs. West Virginia (KTUL) 2:30 p.m.
Nov. 17: vs. Texas Tech (FSOK) 2:30 p.m.
Nov. 24: at Oklahoma TBD
Dec. 1: at Baylor TBD
UP NEXT
OSU (5-3, 3-2 Big 12) vs. West Virginia (5-3 overall, 2-3)
2:30 p.m. Saturday
TV: KTUL-8
Radio: KFAQ am1170
Associated Images:
West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith looks for a receiver during the Mountaineers' double-overtime loss to TCU last Saturday in Morgantown, W.Va. After facing Kansas State's Collin Klein last week, Smith is the second straight Heisman candidate the Cowboys must try to contain. CHRISTOPHER JACKSON / Associated Press
OSU quarterback Clint Chelf audibles before taking the snap against Kansas State on Saturday in Manhattan, Kan. CORY YOUNG / Tulsa World
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