With a week of game tape available, the Oregon Ducks have a sense of what to expect from an Oklahoma State team that couldn't be more different from last year. The Ducks pummelled the Cowboys in Eugene last season, 69-3, but since then, Oklahoma State has brought in a new coach in Eric Morris and 91 new players.
Still, the new-look Cowboys couldn't pull off a season-opening victory, falling 24-10 on the road against Tulsa. The Cowboys will play their home opener against the Ducks this Saturday, and both programs are looking to make a statement.
Oregon is a big favorite again, but the Oklahoma State defense played better than the statistics might suggest in a loss to Tulsa. The defense is largely made up of transfers, but is anchored by a pair
of strong tacklers in the middle of the defense and a secondary with a nose for the football. Dante Moore might have plenty of time to throw against a weak pass rush, but fighting through tackles and making smart decisions will be paramount.
The Ducks had plenty of explosive plays on offense last week. Can the Cowboys slow them down in their home opener? Let's take a closer look at Oklahoma State's defense and find out.
What does Oklahoma State do well on defense?
Oklahoma State is still trying to find its strengths defensively, with most of the lineup being transfers that are still learning to play together. That said, there were some positives from their Week 1 game. The Cowboys gave up 24 points to Tulsa in part because the offense issued four turnovers and offered Tulsa short fields and an easier path to score. The Cowboys were decent against the run, however, and were often able to get off the field on third down.
The Cowboys allowed 4.1 yards per carry, most of which came late in the game. Early on, the Cowboys forced the Tulsa offense to win through the air. As the Oklahoma State front seven wore down, it became easier to run the ball. While the numbers weren't ideal, it was a decent enough start for a unit that is still feeling each other out.
On third down, the Cowboys thrived. Oklahoma State held Tulsa to a 1-for-11 mark on third downs, although Tulsa did convert its only attempt on fourth down. The Cowboys have veteran linebackers who are good at reading their keys, can create negative plays and are secure tacklers. North Texas transfer Ethan Wesloski and Arizona State transfer Tate Romney led the defense with seven tackles each.
Oklahoma State also forced one turnover in the game but failed to sack the quarterback or get any pressure, allowing nearly 71% of passes to be completed. While the pass rush isn't anything to write home about, there are intriguing pieces in the secondary. Liberty transfer Christian Bodnar is a strong tackler from his nickel spot, while safeties Evan Jackson and Quinton Hammond are productive at creating turnovers and followed Morris from North Texas. LaDainian Fields is one of the few returning players on the defense, and although he has limited experience, he recorded an interception last week.
Players to Know
LB Ethan Wesloski
Wesloski is the most coveted transfer on Oklahoma State's defense, and for good reason. One of many North Texas transfers that made their way to Stillwater, Wesloski was productive in the middle of the North Texas defense for the last three seasons and racked up 113 tackles last season. He forced a pair of fumbles and an interception last year, while also tallying 1.5 sacks. Wesloski is well-rounded against the run and pass, so the Ducks will have to account for wherever he is on the field at all times.
LB Tate Romney
Romney is a strong figure against the run. Like Wesloski, he's a strong tackler and has some experience, but he has battled injuries over three years at Arizona State. Some were surprised that he played over Isaiah Chisolm last week, but Romney creates a strong pair in the middle of Oklahoma State's defense. The Ducks didn't run the ball super well last week, so getting the offensive line to the second level and navigating around Romney will be important.
CB LaDainian Fields
The secondary is a work in progress and struggled to put up much resistance last week against Tulsa. Fields came away with the biggest play of the day: an interception in the fourth quarter. The Cowboys don't generate much pressure, which means Fields will be an important part of stopping the Ducks' wideouts if the Cowboys have to play coverage for a long time. Fields had two interceptions as a freshman last season and is one of the lone returners on the defense. Despite his youth and limited experience, he is growing into a role and off to a strong start this season.
Are the Ducks built to score on Oklahoma State?
If Tulsa can do it, Oregon should too. The Ducks did a solid job of handling Boise State's pressure last week, and Oklahoma State doesn't pose nearly as much of a threat in that department this week. Moore will have plenty of time to operate and push the ball down the field to his receivers, as he did at times last week.
The Ducks didn't run the ball with much efficiency last week, and while Oklahoma State does have players that can help stuff the run, it will come down to Oregon's game plan and how much of an emphasis the ground game is. The Cowboys have experienced linebackers running the defense, so it won't be a cakewalk for Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill Jr., but I expect the Ducks to still have success.
Dan Lanning wants the Ducks to perform better on early downs, and that could help the offense overcome some of its struggles on third down as well. The Ducks went 4-for-12 on third down in Week 1, and the Cowboys held Tulsa in check on the critical down as well. Running the ball could be the key to winning on third down, but the Ducks' biggest pathway to success this week is through the air.
What should we expect?
Don't expect the Ducks to win by 63 again, but still expect the Ducks to win comfortably. There is a heat factor to consider, but Oregon has enough depth offensively to overcome some of the wear and tear that the game may present. So much has changed for Oklahoma State since last year's matchup, and while the team is better on paper, they still aren't close to Oregon in terms of talent, and there isn't enough cohesion yet to pull off an upset.
Oklahoma State's defense is another decent test for Oregon's run game, which is operating behind an offensive line that didn't get a ton of push in Week 1. That is the most interesting part of the matchup for Oregon's offense and Oklahoma State's defense, but the Ducks have a clear edge in the air, and it would be shocking if Moore can't find success.
Unlike last week, this is a game where the Ducks could get some backups in the game offensively and test them against a Power 4 defense that features some experienced players. I expect Oregon to surpass 500 total yards of offense, primarily through the air, but I think the Ducks are capable of exploding on the ground as well with Davison and Hill. Oklahoma State's defensive line hasn't shown anything to inspire confidence yet, so I think another big day for the Oregon offense is in store.
This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: What the Oregon Ducks should expect from Oklahoma State's defense
