2010 OSU v. Tulsa Preview

Cowboy Fans Should Expect "Similar" Game

Stillwater - "Defensively, we have to defend the pass down the field better and tackle better in space." These were Head Coach Mike Gundy's opening words to the media this week after the Pokes come-from-behind win against the Troy State Trojans inside T. Boone Pickens' Stadium.

The Cowboy's secondary will undoubtedly be put to the test this Saturday as Todd Graham and his Golden Hurricanes of Tulsa march down the turnpike to Stillwater. Led by Quarterback G.J. Kinne - ranked 2nd in the NCAA's in total offense per game with a 395.5 yard average - the Golden Hurricane look to rack up similar numbers to their team's 4th best total offensive average in yards with 562.5 yards per game. Tulsa's "do-everything" back/receiver Damarius Johnson enter the game ranked 6th in the nation in all purpose yards per game.

When asked about Tulsa's big three (Kinne, Johnson, and FB Charles Clay) and what Tulsa does on the offensive side of the ball, Coach Gundy replied: "They're very explosive...They're very good at playing with speed, a lot of what Troy did and what we try to accomplish on offense."

Second year Defensive Coordinator Bill Young had this to say about Kinne: "Tulsa is going to be very similar to Troy in the way that they have a quarterback that throws the ball extremely well." A clear echo of what the coaching staff sees as what could turn out to be a very similar game to last weeks foe, Troy, in this Tulsa team.

As to be expected with Coach Graham's Tulsa team, the offensive side of the ball always ranks near the top of the NCAA in many various categories. However, in year's past, the achille's heal of the Golden Hurricane has been the defensive side of the ball. This year, Graham's squad comes to "the Boone" with an abysmal 99 ranking in the NCAA's total defense category, allowing an average of 420.5 yards per game.

That statistic bodes well for the new Offensive Coordinator Dana Holgorsen, leading the No. 8 ranked total offense onto the field for the Cowboys this Saturday, averaging a whopping 533 yards per game. Holgorsen, coming from Kevin Sumlin's Houston Cougar staff this year, is very familiar with this Tulsa coaching staff and system. "...I'm pretty familiar with how they run their program [from his time in Houston] and their defense, so we are going to keep watching film and come up with a plan to execute," he said when asked what his preparation for this game would be.

Oklahoma State also ranks 63rd nationally through two games this season, not anything to write home to mom about, but still respectable when considering the Pokes rank 21 spots ahead of their arch rival Sooners, and, more importantly to the coaching staff, 36 spots higher than their Saturday opponent. Clearly, as the saying goes, "...something's gotta give."

History seems to be on the side of the Cowboys in this one.  The last time the Pokes lost to the Golden Hurricane in Stillwater was all the way back in 1951. The last meeting between the two schools took place in 2004, a 38-21 win with memorable performances from the likes of Cowboy legends Donovan Woods, Vernand Morency and Darrent Williams.

The Cowboys will undoubtedly rely on All-American Candidate Kendall Hunter to lead the Cowboys. He and Sophomore WR Justin Blackmon [along with Oregon RB Kenjon Barner] lead the NCAA with six touchdowns each through the first two games. OSU will have to cut down on the penalties and fumbles if they wish to foil Tulsa's bid for an upset victory. The Pokes racked up 139 yards in penalties last week against Troy and committed 5 turnovers lost to the Trojans after having none in the first game of the year.

Coach Young's defense will need to see Senior LB Orie Lemon continue his good play thus far, leading the NCAA in fumble recoveries with two. The secondary will also most likely get a steady workout from Kinne and Co., too. CB's Andrew McGee and Broderick Brown along with Safeties Markelle Martin and  Victor Johnson will need to step up in a big way for the Cowboys to keep the high octane Hurricane offense out of the endzone and off the scoreboard.

Fortunately for Cowboy fans, Dana Holgorsen and his offense will no doubt have answers to the Golden Hurricane as this game, on paper, looks like an offensive, high-scoring game in waiting. What is yet to be seen is how each team will play defense against the other offense. With OSU's success this year in the red zone - 9-9 with seven touchdowns and two field goals - I'll give the edge here to the Cowboys. My prediction: OSU 54, Tulsa 41.

You can follow all my write-ups covering high school and collegiate football at http://footballimp.blogspot.com or reach me via email at: brett_t_hill@hotmail.com