First, it is quite possible that North Texas has a Big 12 caliber offensive line. What I would caution, when placing blame on the defensive line, is to look at the numbers. North Texas surrendered 10 tackles for loss (6 by DL), 3 sacks, and surrendered 3.6 ypc rushing it. Those numbers would suggest the defensive line was NOT terrible. I think the biggest reason North Texas had success in moving and maintaining the ball is that we simply played very soft zone coverage. The philosophy being, if they're going to drive it then they will need to sustain very long drives. We didn't feel they could do it. Their QB had a very good game completing passes underneath but they didn't have a single reception greater than 20 yards. We are more than willing to give teams that sort of stuff underneath all game long.
To provide context to the 3.6ypc, i believe KSU's avg last year was 3.9ypc. I wouldn't have called our offensive rushing and overall offensive philosophy ineffective. Sure, we gave them the underneath stuff, probably by design, however that doesn't mean when taken into the context of the the prior two games, that I should be happy about this secondary. It's worse than last year.
The other reason North Texas had long drives is because we didn't tackle worth a damn. Part of that is simply focus. Look, we were very disinterested in playing that game. I believe Snyder prepared for OU all week and just threw in a gameplan for North Texas with the impression that a team full of veterans could manage a game vs. an opponent that was an explosive threat. The kids knew that as well.
I don't doubt that there wasn't much prep. But I think it only highlights the small talent gap between KSU and most of its opponents, specifically those from now on.
I will reiterate time and again that Oklahoma will attempt to throw the ball downfield more often. They are far less likely to just sit back and take the underneath stuff for 12-13 play drives. They have question marks in their pass protection and, as good of an NFL prospect as he is, Jones is nowhere near as mobile as the QBs we have faced the past three games. Outside of Ikard, both Missouri State and Miami had more experience on their offensive lines.
This Oklahoma team is not the threat offensively that they were a year ago. Not with the line play they had plus the presence of Broyles. Sure, their wide receivers are more skilled and better athletes than our secondary but it still calls for chemistry with their QB and execution by their offensive line. You can't simply throw talent on the field and it works like a machine.
Saying OU isn't the threat they were last year is like saying The Hulk slimmed down a bit. OU was the #5 offense in the country. They are currently slumming it up at #11 (admittedly, it's a small sample size). Also, OU's defense was #55 overall last year, it's #10 now (sorry Venzy).
Where OU has gotten "weaker" from last year, we haven't gotten better (i.e. OU's passing vs. our secondary, OU's line vs. our DL, specifically DT/NT) and where we are stronger, it appears OU has gotten stronger (i.e. our offense vs. OU's defense). I think OU will make more of an effort to run the ball against us, which will force us into coverages that will highlight our weaknesses in our secondary. Also, I think OU will try to match their RB against our LB/Safeties like MIami did, only I don't think their RB's will drop the passes that Duke did. While it might be "closer" than last year, it won't end up close. OU +17.
