TULSA WORLD HOMEPAGE | Wednesday, February 10, 2010 | WIRELESS
CONTACT US | SUBSCRIBER SERVICES | SIGN IN SIGN OUT | MY PROFILE PAGE | MY ACCOUNT

Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on RSS
Sports Extra!
Follow us on ...
OU | OSU | TU | ORU | HIGH SCHOOLS | COLLEGE FOOTBALL | COLLEGE BASKETBALL | NFL | FANTASY | OUTDOORS | GOLF | PROS | ALL




SPORTS EXTRA BLOGS
    Sports Editor
Mike Strain
Sports Columnist
Dave Sittler
The Picker
Entertaining & Infuriating

LOCAL PROS

ALL SPORTS

PHOTOS & VIDEOS

OUTDOORS

FIND A STORY

EMAIL ALERTS

SOCIAL MEDIA

RSS FEEDS

CONTACT US
BUY PHOTOS & PAGES

TULSA WORLD

ADVERTISE ON SPORTS EXTRA



Newspaper View Newspaper View      Print this story Print      Email this story Email     
Share      Bookmark Bookmark

Familiar challenge for OSU
Can OSU once again run effectively against Texas' top-ranked rushing defense?

Keith Toston and OSU's running game will face a big test against Texas. STEPHEN HOLMAN/Tulsa World

 
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Published: 10/28/2009  2:27 AM
Last Modified: 11/1/2009  6:09 PM
OSU blog: No Big 12 coach has been better this year than Mike Gundy.

STILLWATER — Entering last season's Oklahoma State-Texas contest in Austin, the Longhorns were No. 2 nationally in rushing defense. Texas had allowed only 48.1 rushing yards per game.

The Cowboys were beaten 28-24 but ran the football effectively 217 yards (5.9 per attempt). Kendall Hunter had a sensational afternoon, rushing for 161 yards and averaging nearly 9 yards per carry.

Entering Saturday's game No. 3-ranked Texas facing No. 13 OSU at Boone Pickens Stadium the Longhorns are No. 2 nationally in total defense and No. 1 in rushing defense.

"Last year, there was a lot of talk about whether we could run the football on them," Cowboy quarterback Zac Robinson said. "It's a similar situation this year. If we can run the football, then we can spread it around in the passing game. Staying balanced will definitely be a key."

Anchored by NFL-caliber performers like tackle Lamarr Houston, middle linebacker Roddrick Muckelroy and ends Sergio Kindle and Sam Acho, the Texas defense has allowed only 41.3 rush yards per game and one rushing touchdown all season.

"Our run defense will have its biggest challenge this weekend," Texas coach Mack Brown said. "We were able to handle it against Oklahoma (stuffing the Sooners for minus-16 rushing yards).

"Oklahoma State will really challenge us. People keep saying, 'Are you really this good against the run?' I think they have a chance to prove it on Saturday night."

Even without Hunter, an All-American running back who has missed five games with an ankle-foot injury and whose status for the Texas game is uncertain, the Cowboys have remained committed to their run game. In three conference victories, OSU has averaged 162.7 ground yards. In Big 12 play, Keith Toston has been the league's most productive back at 108.7 rushing yards per game.

Whether OSU's ground game thrives depends on the play of its offensive line veteran starters Russell Okung (left tackle), Brady Bond (right tackle) and Andrew Lewis (center), along with first-year starters Noah Franklin (a fifth-year senior at left guard and Lane Taylor (a redshirt freshman at right guard).

"Ultimately, it comes down to this what must we do to score one more point than they do?" OSU offensive line coach Joe Wickline said. "I'm not looking at statistics or last year's game. We will never bail on our run game. It's our bread and butter."

Cowboy coach Mike Gundy and co-offensive coordinator Gunter Brewer said OSU must sustain its typical run-pass balance. Even if yards are tough to come by against Texas, OSU will not abandon its attempt to run the football.

"There may be a point where you have to get 1 yard, and that 1 yard may turn out to be the most important carry of the whole game," Brewer said. "You have to prove to your kids that you will run it and you have confidence that you can run it. A lot of people give up on the run because it only gets 2 yards. We've led the Big 12 in rushing for (three) years because we've stayed patient and were willing to stay with what we bring to the table."

Said Gundy: "We have to be balanced. We're not good enough to just throw it every snap or run it every snap. The flexibility gives us a chance to move the ball and score points."

Toston, a physical back who takes a beating each was week, was asked whether he could handle a heavy workload against the hard-hitting Texas defense.

"If I have to carry the football 30 times for us to beat Texas," Toston said, "then I'll prepare to carry it 35 times."

"There are some concerns about the amount of carries and the hits (Toston) has taken," Gundy said. "This is a very physical game. We hope he can continue to stay healthy. He's certainly helping our offense."

Hunter has been cleared by OSU medical personnel, but, Gundy said, won't be pressured to play. Hunter was in uniform for last week's 34-7 win at Baylor, but did not play.

"Kendall Hunter has been very loyal to this program," Gundy said. "There's a chance he could play (in the NFL). We would never endanger his future. When he's ready, we feel he has a strong enough commitment to this team that he'll step out there and play. We're all chomping at the bit. We all want Kendall Hunter on the field. But we can't push him out there until he's ready to go."

Said Robinson: "There's no question that (Hunter) wants to play. It's just a matter of whether he can hold up."

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

Newspaper View Newspaper View      Print this story Print      Email this story Email     
Share      Bookmark Bookmark


COMMENTS 
      Add your comment Show: Most Recent Comment First

4 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!
Report Comment Reporting Comments

If you see a comment that violates our terms and conditions, please help us by clicking the "Report this Comment" link next to a comment. That will alert the web staff to review the comment. Thank you.  -- Web Editor Jason Collington
 

 
Report Comment
TK1, (10/28/2009 8:48:05 AM)
Let's win one for Dez.
Report Comment
C SQUARED , MANNFORD (10/28/2009 11:25:39 AM)
Let's Win'em all! GO POKES!
Report Comment
voodoo1, Skiatook (10/28/2009 12:03:52 PM)
In order to run against Texas you first need to get the passing game going. Missouri was able to get it going in the 3rd after the game was already out of reach by throwing short passes out to the sidelines. Horns backers are waiting for the run and the DT are so fast I don't think Keith and Bo will be able to outrun them. If Zac can throw short passes quickly and accurate to the recievers and tight ends..and get the horns out of the box, then they can get some running room. Need to try and go deep on them some to keep the secondary honest. Muschamp will have them blitzing and moving around alot to confuse Zac so it will really be up to him to audible and keep himself healthy and out of trouble. I was at the 97 game and it was sweet butI would love nothing more than watching Mack Brown tell the media that playing in Stillwater turned out to be exactly like playing in Lubbock last year!! GO POKES!!
Report Comment
TulsaTulsa, Tulsa (10/28/2009 12:36:29 PM)
Let's go Pokes, be LOUDDDDD on Saturday night
 

 
Add Your Comment 
In order to post a comment on this article, you must sign in to Tulsaworld.com. If you do not have a site account, you can create an account for free.

 
Post Your Comment
 



Home | About Tulsa World | Advertise With Us | Privacy | Usage Agreement | FAQ and Help | Contact Us | Today's Headlines
Copyright © 2010, World Publishing Co. All rights reserved.