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OSU out of step

OSU's Kendall Hunter is grabbed on the face mask by a Georgia defender in the first quarter of their game Sept. 5 at Boone Pickens Stadium. Hunter has missed the last 11/2games, one reason coach Mike Gundy gives for OSU's struggling running attack. STEPHEN HOLMAN / Tulsa World
 
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Published: 9/22/2009  2:22 AM
Last Modified: 9/23/2009  3:34 PM

 STILLWATER — A defining quality of Mike Gundy-coached Oklahoma State teams has been the ability to run the football.

In each of the last three seasons, the Cowboys led the Big 12 in rushing. Last year, at 245.5 rushing yards per game, OSU was 47 yards better than any other conference team.

This season, primarily because of the right-ankle injury of running back Kendall Hunter and offensive-line instability, it's been a different story.

At 163.3 yards per game, the Cowboys are ninth in the Big 12.

"There have been plays where (running backs) made the wrong cuts, or maybe a receiver or the offensive line missed a block," OSU running back Keith Toston said. "We've all made little mistakes here and there. Minor mistakes. We need to focus a little harder and bring those mistakes to a minimum, and the offense will be OK."

Through the first three games of the 2008 season (victories over Washington State, Houston and Missouri State), the Cowboys had rushed for 1,003 yards, averaging 6.7 per attempt. There were eight runs of at least 20 yards.

Through three games this season (victories over Georgia and Rice, along with a loss to Houston), the OSU rushing total amounts to 490 yards (4.0 average). There have been only two runs of more than 14 yards.

Because of a sprained ankle sustained in the Sept. 12 Houston contest, Hunter missed the second half of that game and all of last week's victory over Rice. Last year's Big 12 rushing leader with 1,555 yards, Hunter likely will be sidelined for Saturday's 6 p.m. contest with Grambling State.

OSU does not play on Oct. 3, and Hunter's return to action is expected on Oct. 10, when the Cowboys open conference play at Texas A&M.

In a 56-37 home victory over Houston last season, the Cowboys rushed for 379 yards (7.4 per attempt). Against Houston this season, against an inexperienced Cougar front seven, OSU ran for 194 yards (4.7 average).

During last week's 41-24 win over Rice (picked to finish fourth in Conference USA's West Division), OSU ran 36 times for only 124 yards. The per-carry average was a meager 3.4.

With a healthy Hunter, and when the Cowboys finally achieve consistency at the right-guard position, Gundy predicts that OSU's ground game will thrive.

"Kendall gives you an additional 50 yards a game because he makes a guy miss and goes the distance," Gundy said on Monday. "That's a fact. If he's in there, you rush for 220 and no one says a word."

OSU has had three starters at right guard — Andrew Mitchell against Georgia, Anthony Morgan against Houston and Lane Taylor against Rice. Relative to what he did in 2007 and 2008, quarterback Zac Robinson has not run as often or as effectively. Center Andrew Lewis admitted that he and other offensive linemen feel frustrated.

"They like to be able to hang their hat (on rushing yardage)," Gundy said. "They take a lot of pride in that. Because our average per carry hasn't been what we'd want it to be, they get a little frustrated. They see how close they are to getting it done, but you go through some growing pains when you have some new players."

Soon, Toston predicts, the Cowboy ground game will be as productive as it was in 2006-08.

"There's no doubt in my mind," he said. "We're just missing it barely. Little things are costing us our big plays. Those mistakes we're making — we weren't making them when we were scoring 40 and 50 points a game."



1,003

OSU's rushing total after the first three games of 2008.

490

OSU's rushing total after the first three games of 2009.

Bill Haisten 581-8397
bill.haisten@tulsaworld.com
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer

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COMMENTS 
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7 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!
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B_Tho, Guam (9/22/2009 6:01:01 AM)
Way Overrated! Rice is terrible. I was excited they beat Georgia, but looking back on it I don't know how they did it. I guess a year to prepare. The D better step it up or it will be another long season for the Cowboys.
Report Comment
FIRE GUNDY, TULSA (9/22/2009 8:52:34 AM)
I'm still chuckling about the first 10 words of the article....
Report Comment
guntoter.38, (9/22/2009 10:11:18 AM)
Watching Georgia, I could tell something was off. I kept saying "If this is the #1 offense, then Georgia better have the #1 defense, or we're in trouble." Turns out, I was right. However, I'm an OSU fan through it all. Go Pokes!
Report Comment
pat, Kiefer (9/22/2009 1:48:18 PM)
IF OSU plays like they have been...bedlam is going to be something they will want to get out of in a hurry...
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CW Kingston, (9/22/2009 3:17:14 PM)
Remember who our Offensive Coordinators are. We have same cast of offensive players we had last year. What has happened? Gundy might need to take over the Offense again and send a couple of guys packing! Little FB league coaches could rack up more yards and TDs than the Pokes have. We have too much going to let the offense go sour. We have a car load of top shelf NFL picks that can only score one TD against Rice. The problem is with the chalk board and scheme, not with the players.
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52favoriteteacher, ex--Broken Arrow Tiger (9/22/2009 4:23:46 PM)
Gundy

Your QB is a great runner...
Report Comment
FIRE GUNDY, TULSA (9/22/2009 9:46:57 PM)
Ummm.... CWKingston- Mike Gundy calls and draws up most of our offensive plays. What do you think he's doing over there with his clipboard while the defense is on the field?
 

 
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