Cowboys Ready to Tackle High Powered Texas Tech

Originally Published: Nov 9, 2009 6:24 PM CDT

Gerald Goodridge
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

STILLWATER, Oklahoma -- The Oklahoma State Cowboys are coming off a defensive domination of the top ranked rushing team in the Big 12.

This week, it’s the top ranked passing team in the conference, the Texas Tech Red Raiders, but the Cowboys are up to the challenge.

“They want to throw it around and spread you out and rush the football,” said head coach Mike Gundy “It will be a different attack for our defense. We’ll have to have good gap control and put pressure on the quarterback. We have to tackle well in space.”

The battle this week will be won in the trenches, and specifically which offensive line can keep their quarterback upright.

The Red Raiders rank third in the nation in sacks, bringing down the quarterback an average of 3.3 times per game, while Oklahoma State is first nationally in sacks allowed. Alternately, the Cowboys are averaging two sacks per game while Texas Tech allows nearly three.

Getting pressure on the quarterback will be key, if the Cowboys want to continue their new win streak.

“The defense line, that’s what we pride ourselves; on is getting to the quarterback. We pride ourselves on that and that’s what we’re going to try to do,” said defensive end Jermiah Price. “If we get that, great; if we don’t, we get our hands up and keep them from getting the ball.”

But, as is often the case with high powered offenses, the best defense is ball control, a task that will fall on the running backs of Cowboys, not just specifically emerging star Keith Toston.

The whole group will need to continue to carry the load for Oklahoma State.

“We’re just grinding as a running back group and trying to help this team,” said Toston. “We still have a lot of guys that haven’t been able to showcase their skills yet.”

But the game plan for OSU will stay the same.

“We’re going to run our offense,” said Gundy “We’re not going to change each week.”