Oklahoma State football stock report: Who is rising, falling after Cowboys’ Week 1 win?

STILLWATER — After Oklahoma State’s 44-20 win over South Dakota State on Saturday, coach Mike Gundy regularly pointed to two bothersome factors of his team’s performance.

Mediocre rushing production and big plays allowed by the defense.

The first concern makes sense — the Cowboys averaged 3.8 yards per carry — but it seems likely that reigning Doak Walker Award winner Ollie Gordon II and the veteran offensive line will get back to their expected level of production.

The big plays against the defense, particularly the four pass plays that equaled 164 of South Dakota State’s 388 total yards, were a bit more of a worry. But Gundy says the fix shouldn’t be complicated.

“Our players need to have their eyes in the correct spots,” he said. “(SDSU) did a couple things scheme-wise that were really good, so four of the six (plays) we need to be more disciplined with our eyes. We need to adjust to what they did to us.”

More: What is Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy concerned about? Run game vs. Arkansas

Iman Oates (99) stretches out during an Oklahoma State football practice in Stillwater, Okla., on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024.

With Arkansas on tap next, set for an 11 a.m. kickoff Saturday at Boone Pickens Stadium, the Pokes will face an athletic offense that showed good balance in destroying Arkansas-Pine Bluff 70-0.

New Razorbacks quarterback Taylen Green threw for over 1,700 yards and rushed for 436 last year at Boise State, and he showed playmaking ability in his Arkansas debut.

So he will put some pressure on the Cowboy secondary because of his mobility and arm talent.

“When you are competing against a guy that has the ability to run, you have to take that into account in your structure of defense and the style of play,” Gundy said. “We have plenty of ways to do that because we see them quite a bit…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/oklahoma-state-football-stock-report-101528754.html

Author : The Oklahoman

Publish date : 2024-09-03 10:15:28

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