Grading Tulsa's Loss to OSU

Originally Published: Sep 19, 2010 10:45 PM CDT

Bobby Lewis
Oklahoma Sports Mobile Journalist

TULSA, Oklahoma – There weren’t many highlights in Tulsa’s 65-28 loss to Oklahoma State on Saturday. The Golden Hurricane surrendered 722 yards of total offense and struggled most of the night.

Tulsa got shut out against Oklahoma last season 45-0. Even though the margin of victory wasn’t as wide against Oklahoma State, the loss to the Pokes is worse.

OFFENSE: D+
Players and coaches used the word “embarrassing” to describe Saturday’s slaughter.

Charles Clay had just four touches on the night. The do-everything player wasn’t enough of a factor as Tulsa needed him to be.

G.J. Kinne had his first multi-interception game since last November against East Carolina. His three interceptions against OSU were a career-high. He wasn’t able to work the ball down the field and keyed in on his receivers too often. Both of his picks were tipped and were catchable for TU wide receivers, but it goes down in the stat book as an awful night for Kinne.

Tulsa did show the ability to adapt and switch up the game plan. Trailing 20-0, offensive coordinator Chad Morris sent backup quarterback Shavodrick Beaver in to the game to run option plays. It fooled OSU for a few plays and helped Tulsa move the ball down the field a little bit.

DEFENSE: F
I toyed with bumping Tulsa to a ‘D-minus‘ on defense because of the 81-yard interception return for a touchdown late in the game by Marco Nelson. The freshman has made a few outstanding plays in his short time on a college football roster.

But ultimately, Tulsa’s defense stunk. Todd Graham said it himself in the postgame press conference.

OSU quarterback Brandon Weeden threw for 409 yards and six touchdowns. He was nearly flawless and finished just 21 yards shy of tying Zac Robinson’s mark for passing yards in a single game.

Oklahoma State scored on its first ten offensive possessions.

Tulsa keyed on Kendall Hunter and did a decent job of shutting the running back down. But, the air attack slayed the Golden Hurricane. The backup quarterback threw for 165 yards on just 11 attempts against Tulsa in the final two quarters. When the second-stringer racks up those kind of numbers against you, you don’t deserve a ‘D-minus‘.

SPECIAL TEAMS: B-
Again, special teams was the star for the Golden Hurricane. Head coach Todd Graham praised his punter, Michael Such, for the way he booted the ball. Oklahoma State didn’t have brilliant field position every time down, believe it or not. It just looked that way because they were scoring so quickly.

Such fired off five punts for a total of 256 yards.

Damaris Johnson was a focus of the Oklahoma State coaching staff all week long and it showed early on. Quinn Sharp intentionally tried to kick it away from Johnson in the first quarter, forcing three early touchbacks. The first opportunity Johnson got to return a kick, he bolted 43 yards out near midfield.

OVERALL: D
Todd Graham did not smile once in his postgame interviews. He didn’t have anything to smile about. Tulsa gave up 17 plays of 17 or more yards. Nelson said he’s never been on the field in a game that lopsided since sixth grade.

The road has not been kind to Tulsa this season. The Golden Hurricane is 0-2 away from H.A. Chapman Stadium and has allowed over 50 points in both of those losses. They return home to play Central Arkansas in Week 4.