OSU-Baylor report card

BY JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
Sunday, December 02, 2012
12/02/12 at 5:53 AM

OFFENSE

C-:Baylor-OSU was supposed to be a game that matched two top-five offenses. OSU ranks third in scoring and fifth in total offense. Baylor ranks fifth in scoring and second in total offense. The Cowboy offense did not have a field day against a Bears squad that ranks 119th nationally in total defense. OSU scored only 20 points until driving 88 yards and 84 yards for touchdowns in the last 5:30. If the Cowboys had been as good as advertised throughout the game, they perhaps would have staged a legitimate comeback instead of flirting with one. Joseph Randle ran 23 times for 139 yards Josh Stewart reeled in 12 catches for 147 yards. Clint Chelf hit 30-of-51 passes for 333 yards, but the junior quarterback tossed two interceptions (one was returned for a touchdown) and didn't have a completion longer than 15 yards in the first half. Blake Jackson dropped two passes - one in each half - that could have been touchdowns. One of the drops came on a gimmick pass by Stewart.

DEFENSE

C: Baylor gained 615 yards and averaged 6.5 yards per play. So, how can the defense deserve a passing grade? Red-zone defense kept OSU in position for a comeback attempt. Four consecutive Bears penetrations inside the 25 netted only three points, keeping the Cowboys within 14 points entering the fourth quarter. Baylor averages 44.4 points per game and finished with 41, but seven of the points came via interception return rather than offense. The Bears got one-play touchdown drives at the Cowboys' expense. Nick Florence, the nation's leader in total offense, threw a 75-yard pass to Tevin Reese in the second quarter. And Lache Seastrunk essentially clinched victory with a 76-yard touchdown run with 5:11 remaining

SPECIAL TEAMS

C: Coach Mike Gundy said his team was "average" in a lot of areas against Baylor. The special teams performance probably falls under that umbrella - nothing spectacularly good or bad in that phase of the game. Good? Nigel Nicholas blocked a field-goal attempt. OSU considered a 56-yard field goal attempt before opting to punt instead and it was downed at the 2 (normally a good thing, but Baylor drove 98 yards for a score). The Bears attempted a short kickoff in the second quarter and that - plus a 15-yard penalty - set the Cowboys up for their first touchdown drive. Bad? OSU permitted Darius Jones to return a kickoff 77 yards in the third quarter. An onside kick attempt in the final two minutes was unsuccessful, and two Cowboy safeties limped off after the scramble for possession. Otherwise, special teams results were business as usual. Quinn Sharp punted four times for a 42.0 average and kicked field goals of 36 and 43 yards. Justin Gilbert returned five kickoffs for 77 yards.

Associated Images:

Oklahoma State quarterback Clint Chelf looks on as Josh Stewart tries to escape the tackle of Baylor's Chance Casey on Saturday afternoon in Waco, Texas. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World

Oklahoma State's Joseph Randle runs the ball through Baylor defenders Mike Hicks (left) and Sam Hall. Randle finished with 139 yards rushing. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World

Oklahoma State's Calvin Barnett tackles Baylor quarterback Nick Florence. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World