The defensive coordinator also has used fiery, impassioned speeches to get his unit to play better. Beckman has tried several motivational ploys to try to attain some form of consistent play.

To reinforce his objective for Saturday's game at Nebraska, Beckman used a marker and athletic tape.

"We need to find ways to get off the field," Beckman has harped repeatedly.

The Cowboys found those ways regularly in Saturday's 45-14 shellacking of the Cornhuskers.

OSU held Nebraska without a first down on the Huskers' opening three offensive possessions, and four times for the whole game. The Cowboys forced three Nebraska turnovers. They also stopped Nebraska twice on fourth-down plays to prevent potential scores.

"That what's you have to do as a defense," Beckman said. "We have an out standing offense and those guys do a great job. But you need to have a pretty good defense to beat people like that today."

For forcing those three-and-outs, turnovers and fourth-down stops, Beckman put a mark on the athletic tape the defensive players put around their wrists.

Beckman's goal for each game is to have at least eight possessions where opponents are held without a first down, turn it over or fail on a fourth-down play. Reaching that objective nine out of 11 possessions is even better.

"We're always trying to get that three-and-out. The defense wants to get off the field and give the ball back to our offense," linebacker Jeremy Nethon said. "That's our goal, and that's the key to our success. The quicker we're off the field and the offense has the ball, the better we are.

"Being able to look down (at the wrist band) and tally up those stops on a day like this is a good feeling."

Nebraska finished with 335 yards, the second-lowest total OSU has surrendered this season. The Huskers entered the contest with the nation's 20th-best passing at 293 yards per game. But OSU, which ranked 116th of 119 Division I teams in pass defense, limited Nebraska to 129 aerial yards.

"They've been getting better each week. They're working hard . . . and they believe in themselves," OSU coach Mike Gundy said. "If you believe in yourself, you've always got a chance."

Matt Doyle 581-8316
matt.doyle@tulsaworld.com

O-STATE’S KEY DEFENSIVE SEQUENCES

OSU holds Nebraska without a first down on its opening three possessions.

Result: OSU’s offense scores 17 points following those possessions.

OSU stops Nebraska’s Quentin Castille for no gain on fourth and 2 at the OSU 10 early in the second quarter.

Result: The Cowboys march 90 yards for a touchdown to make it 24-0.

OSU forces three Nebraska turnovers.

Result: OSU capitalizes with a touchdown after each Husker miscue.