After starting the season off 3-0, Oklahoma State went into its bye week on a three-game skid and finds itself in unfamiliar territory at 0-3 in Big 12 play.
The Cowboys expected to be one of the primary contenders in the Big 12 race this season, but instead find themselves tied for dead-last in the conference standings heading into Week 8.
Their biggest issue to this point has been the defensive side of the ball, where they’ve allowed an astonishing 312.7 rushing yards per game in conference play, ranking them last in the Big 12 by nearly 100 yards — TCU is 15th with 221.0 ypg.
In addition, the Pokes rank 14th in the Big 12, allowing 34.0 points per game over the last three games, and last in total defense, allowing 524.3 yards per game.
There’s just no way to win games when you’re playing that kind of defense, but it sounds like Mike Gundy and the Cowboys’ staff have adjusted their approach on that side of the ball. The primary change has been adjusting to the loss of their star linebacker, Collin Oliver, who suffered a season-ending injury against Arkansas.
During an interview on the Orange Power Podcast on OSUMax, Gundy said that the defense has “made some strides” in that department during the off-week.
“There was quite a bit in our system that was built for Collin Oliver, to get him freed up to rush. Well, he’s not with us anymore,” Gundy said. ” Obi [Ezeigbo] has been awesome, but he’s not Collin Olvier at this point.
“So, we’ve made adjustments in the open week — and that’s been productive — in that, ‘okay, what is our base at this time? Who are we, and how do we play to our strengths?’ The last few weeks we’ve been kind of tinkering with it over a two-day period to get ready to play in a game. Now, I feel like we’ve made some strides in that area.”
Oklahoma State fans are hopeful that the Pokes’ defense can turn things around and make the trip to Provo this weekend to take on 13th-ranked BYU (6-0, 3-3).
The Cowboys need a win stay above .500, but a Friday night game at LaVell Edwards Stadium isn’t exactly a “get-right” situation for anyone, and OSU will go into the game at around a 10-point underdog.
