Coaches Thoughts on A&M Game

[CoachOSU]

I recorded the game to watch last night since I was going to miss the whole first half due to watching/breaking down film of my game from Friday night. Here are some thoughts I have of some of the things I saw:

1. We should have taken the 3 points on the first red zone trip that we failed on the 4th and goal attempt. I know what Gundy was trying to do... set the tempo, gain confidence in opponent stadium... but on thing head coaches have always told me.. EARLY in a away game, get all the points you can..never leave points on the field. Even if we HAD made the 4th and short I still argue taking the almost for sure chip shot field goal.

2. First touchdown from Johnson (A&M QB) was luck... he was getting pressure up the middle and just threw it up while turning his head... I don't think it was amazing athletic ability.... I think he just got lucky and had a guy there... HE DIDN'T EVEN SEE WHERE HIS PASS WAS GOING...

3. The extra point that turned into 2 point conversion was not planned... however, it pays to have an athletic FG holder

4. The Leg Whip penalty on our Center Lewis ruined a first down run and took the ball from th 36 yard line to the 15... then we got 3 straight flags on three straight plays...
a. leg whip
b.holding
c. late hit
WE CANNOT DO THESE THINGS AND EXPECT TO WIN IN THE BIG 12..we cost ourself 40 yards in penalties in about 2:00 minutes

5. Our punt return/ kick return was really good.. our PUNT COVERAGE was really bad... we lost contain and we allowed several long returns.. In reality, we should of had about 2 returned on us for TD's... need to fix that!!

6.The pass interference call on the 3rd and short against Victor Johnson was the right call... NOT SURE WHY THEY SHOWED OSU FANS BOOING... you have to look back for the ball... he didn't at all... it lead to a touchdown for A&M but it was the right call

7.The 2nd Touchdown throw by Johnson (over the shoulder and into a tight area) was an amazing throw.. NFL type quality...

8. We forced a fumble then turned it right back over on an interception... that plus the red zone 4th down failure gave up possible 10 points..

9. If the A&M DB picks off the Touchdown throw from Robinson.. not sure OSU ever recovers..the two previous drives were horrible for OSU and A&M already was ahead 15-7... if we get picked off then momentum would for sure have been gone... BUT IT GOT TIPPED AND CAUGHT SO SOMETIMES IT IS BETTER TO BE LUCKY

10. Defense played lights out in the red zone for the most part stopping 2 A&M red zone possessions with a missed field goal and driving them back out of the red zone.

11.WE HAD 105 YARDS WORTH OF PENALITIES BY TH END OF THE 3RD QUARTER...GOT TO TAKE CARE OF THIS

12.When Cox took the punt off the bounce.. I thought he was gone.. but he slipped and fell... I am telling you, it was there to take it to the house... A&M has no one covering the side Cox was headed too.

13.Sexton is a senior, he should have known better than to get that big late hit out of bounds penality.. Seniors need to not make those mistakes

14. BEST RUN OF THE NIGHT-- BEAU JOHNSON HARD RUN TO SET UP THE 4TH TD... HE RAN OVER ABOUT 3 OR 4 AGGIES TO GET DOWN TO THE 2 OR 3 YARD LINE..DANG HE WAS JUST PUMPING THOSE LEGS AND RUNNING OVER PEOPLE...GOT ME FIRED UP.

Overall, any win on the road and in the Big 12is a good win... We should have won by more (10 more points) but Kyle Field is one of the hardest places to win and we did it without two All-Americans.. so I will take it!!!

Cut the mistakes, turnovers and we will compete with anyone.

[OSU_Fan_In_KS]

Coach, can I a pose a couple of questions?

In your opinion, do you see this team starting to gel?

And, do you think Zac is 100%. Reason I ask is, to me he seems a step or two slower this year and his passing accuracy seems a bit off. Or is the accuracy issue more related to receivers not running the routes the way Zac is expecting them to be run.

Thanks

[CoachOSU]

Thanks for your questions OSU_Fan_in_KS...

As far as this team starting to gel, I would mostly say yes... The O-Line seems to, at least for the most part, finally be set. For a couple of weeks, all we saw was different O-Lineman being inserted into different spots. It was just a mess trying to keep up with who would be starting at the Guards this week.

However, it seems that the O-Line started to gel and was key in the long drive at the end of the game. I am a little more gun shy to say that Robinson is totally comfortable with his WR's... At times he seemed really hesitant and indecisive with his WR options. I think without DEZ he feels like he doesn't have a go to guy.. I think if DEZ is gone long term.. I think he will eventually find that safety net or go to guy... I would like him to use his TE's more...Without Pettigrew, I think his trust in the TE's making plays is somewhat down...

I am more nervous about the OSU defensive backfield.. they seem to play well at times and at other times seem to be lost (see last Touchdown throw by Johnson). I would like to see them gel a little more... I think Anderson is a good DB..just a young one that needs more game time.


As far as your second question...OSU_Fan.. I agree 100& with you on Zac seeming a little slower than normal. It is a good observation by your part and I was thinking the same thing watching the A&M film...

I do think his shoulder problem is still an issue... I think sitting out all those practices during spring/first part of summer camp did effect him a little...HOWEVER I am guessing NOT HAVING DEZ and Kendall playing beside him might make ANYONE seem slower and less sharp.

If I had one of the best WR's and RB's in the country taken away from me, then I sure as heck would be more on edge and less decisive on who to throw up the ball too. Remember Kendal is a huge part of the passing game out of the backfield.

Plus, I think he is getting more pressure on him than last year to be a playmaker.. so I also believe he is harder on himself to make plays and not screw up the supposed "best year in OSU history for football"... That is a lot of pressure even on a senior to live up too.

One last thing to roll around in for your consideration.. Gundy has really emphasized Robinson staying in the pocket and running less... So those plays where two years ago he would have tucked it and ran for a first... he isn't doing that as much now... I think him not running for 75 or 90 yeards a game like we are use too makes a difference.

Hope that helps. Let me know what you think.

[OSU_Fan_In_KS]

Plus, I think he is getting more pressure on him than last year to be a playmaker.. so I also believe he is harder on himself to make plays and not screw up the supposed "best year in OSU history for football"... That is a lot of pressure even on a senior to live up too.

Coach:

Thanks for your insight.

I agree with your statement above. I was going to include this as another question but decided to keep it short with only two. I was getting the feeling in watching Zac that he was almost "Trying To Hard" to make plays. I don't know if that makes any sense or not.

Thanks for the reply, looking forward to your views on Missouri.

[CaliforniaCowboy]

I thought CB Anderson has played well, most of the time we had trouble it was McGee that was getting beat (but to his credit he was in the play, just a little to agressive).

[CoachOSU]

Anderson has played well... hence why I said he is a good young DB... He does have a habit of breaking some coverages and is not as aggressive in run support as I would like him to be...

BUT.. I think it will come with more game time experience.... He is going to be a stud as a DB..

[FloridaPoke]

When are we going to teach our DB's when in tight coverage downfield to turn their heads and look for the ball. At least they won't get intereference called near as much (at a minimum) and might actuall get a pick. It seems they are in good position but then don't finish.

[CaliforniaCowboy]

Anderson has played well... hence why I said he is a good young DB... He does have a habit of breaking some coverages and is not as aggressive in run support as I would like him to be...

BUT.. I think it will come with more game time experience.... He is going to be a stud as a DB..


He's a Senior, when is this supposed to happen?

[Kurt_Glasscock]

I thought our gap maintenance on defense was pretty good on Saturday. We seem to have improved significantly in this area over what I've observed in the last several years.

[CoachOSU]

He's a Senior, when is this supposed to happen?

How many games does he have of starting FULL TIME experience?? Was he a starter the last couple of years like Cox has? He has gotten some game time, now he is comfortable in the role and should improve every game..

Till we meet again Cali

[wood911]

Coach, Leg whips can be really painful and dangerous for both parties. Legs can be broken doing it. Do they coach that or is it just a reaction?

[CaliforniaCowboy]

How many games does he have of starting FULL TIME experience?? Was he a starter the last couple of years like Cox has? He has gotten some game time, now he is comfortable in the role and should improve every game..

Till we meet again Cali


I guess..... he's a senior, and he has played considerably, including being the #1 reserve last year and starter in the prior bowl game.

maybe it was just the choice of words... we all knew that Booker was a stud even though he wasn't the starter, and last year we all kept waiting for Cox to be a stud even though he was starting...

Anderson's time is expiring quickly... good player and deserves to start... let's just hope he "turns into a stud" this Saturday night or by Halloween.

[OSUFan]

The biggest problem I had with the game was not that OSU didn't kick a field goal when it was 4th and one but that they ran the Zac keeper after the fake. I called that one at home. We always run that play. I wish they would fake it and pass it to the tight end or done something different.

[CoachOSU]

Coach, Leg whips can be really painful and dangerous for both parties. Legs can be broken doing it. Do they coach that or is it just a reaction?

I would hope no coaches would actually practice this... It not only is a 15 yard penalty that really hurts the team.. it is (like you said) just as dangerous for the kicker as the kicked...

Surely no "normal thinking" coach will teach this... I think it is more reaction to not wanting to get beat so, last ditch effort to stop an aggressive Defender..


Cali... a #1 reserve guy is not the same as a full time starter... He just now, technically, is on his..what... 5th game as a starter... as opposed to how many games started by Cox... at least 25 plus... The more game time the more productive he will be... doesn't matter if he is a Senior or Freshmen... GAME TIME is what makes you better... not being a back up who mainly gets practice reps.

[bleedorange]

The biggest problem I had with the game was not that OSU didn't kick a field goal when it was 4th and one but that they ran the Zac keeper after the fake. I called that one at home. We always run that play. I wish they would fake it and pass it to the tight end or done something different.

I wish Zac would try and "sell" the handoff or pass a little before he takes off running. Watching Tebow the other night, seems like every single play they ran had some sort of deceptive move before he took off with it or passed it. At least make the defense guess just a little. When Zac is taking off with it now, there's not much question what he's going to do with it.

[CaliforniaCowboy]

Cali... a #1 reserve guy is not the same as a full time starter... He just now, technically, is on his..what... 5th game as a starter... as opposed to how many games started by Cox... at least 25 plus... The more game time the more productive he will be... doesn't matter if he is a Senior or Freshmen... GAME TIME is what makes you better... not being a back up who mainly gets practice reps.


I agree with you coach, gametime makes you better... we seem to be having a semantics debate on whether 3 years of "game time" as a reserve is somehow less, or not the same as 5 games starting.

Starting doesn't make you better, it makes you the starter. Sure it gets you some more PT, but he's not playing every down even as the starter. I've seen plenty of McGee and Gray, and a little Brown.

I'm talking about game time. Three years worth. Including starting a bowl game, as I mentioned.

According to these stats, McGee is outplaying him (or about equal).
http://www.okstate.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2009-2010/teamcume.html#TEAM.DEF


anyway Coach, here's his bio... he's played in over 30 games.


Enters 2009 with a chance to earn starting duties at corner ... He finished ninth on the team last season with 27 tackles ... That total ranks sixth among returning players ... It also doubled his career tackle total ... An important special teams player as well.

2008 (Junior): Saw action in 12 games (did not play in the Holiday Bowl) ... Got his second career start when OSU went with an extra defensive back against Houston ... Picked up his first career interception against Iowa State and had a pass break-up against the Cyclones ... Credited with 1.5 tackles for eight yards in losses against Baylor ... Had four tackles, all solos, in the win over Texas A&M ... Also had four tackles against Baylor, including two for eight yards in losses) ... Credited with three stops against Texas and Washington State ... Broke up a pass against Houston ... Had two stops against Oklahoma and Colorado.

2007 (Sophomore): Played in all 13 games for the Cowboys and saw his playing time increase as the season progressed ... Became an important member of the special teams units ... Ended the season with a career-best 26 tackles, including 21 solo stops ... Set a career high and led Oklahoma State with eight tackles in the win over Kansas State ... Had four tackles against Baylor and three stops against Texas Tech ... Picked up a pair of stops in the bowl win over Indiana ... Was a starter at one corner spot against the Hoosiers.

2006 (Freshman): Saw spot duty at cornerback and on special teams as a true freshman.




I'm not trying to knock the guy, but he's played a bunch and he only has 8 games left to play... just wondering when he's going to become a stud, I think McGee passes him up before the "studness" happens.

I guess we'll see.

[CoachOSU]

Aww come on now CC.. his last name is Anderson.. you know I have to support him... :D

[CaliforniaCowboy]

Oh I support him too... I think he's the best we have at that position... hope he becomes "a stud" this week.