Big Twelve Review; Pokes can’t cover deep but sure can fumble; Fredsportsextra Top 25

Baylor Beats O-State with big plays;  Alabama stays number one;  Wisconsin proves it has potential; LSU fires Miles (No Les no more)

If someone on the coaching staff at Oklahoma State  (Glenn Spencer, hello) could teach their defensive backs the art of how to defend pass receivers that run the “stop and go” the Cowboys might have a chance to play some decent pass defense.  The players in the secondary for the Pokes must stay with the better ones in the country (like what Baylor displayed Saturday night in Waco) goes without saying.  That did not happen Saturday night as they had no clue what to do and got beat on the bite every time, making a joke out their pass defense skills.  Blame the coaches and/or the players.  Take your pick.  But if OSU does not get this problem under control this 2016 team in Stillwater is not going to be a bowl team in 2016.  This is no joke sports fans.  For the record:

Stop-and-Go: This route is purposefully designed to throw defenders off with misdirection. The receiver runs up field 10 to 15 yards, stops and turns around like he is going to catch a pass, hesitates for a moment or two, then quickly starts running up field again. This is done in hopes that the defender will bite on the ‘stop,’ making it easier for the receiver to get open when he resumes running

Fact is, Baylor’s players did not have to do anything but give a slight hesitation ten yards down the field and then blow past the Poke defender getting free as a bird (Bear).  Sorry, but OSU’s defensive coordinator (Glenn, that is you) put his corner backs, as stated he stated, “on an island”.  This is never good against superior wide outs.  Baylor has superior wide outs. Never good sports fans.  So in fact, teaching the players and putting the players in positions of having a chance to do a job (breakup passes) goes hand in hand.  Someone needs to coach these players up both in technique and schemes they are to run.  It did not take a well versed secondary coach to see the problem.  The players need to play better and the coaches need to coach better and Head coach Mike Gundy said Saturday after the 35-24 loss.  A few long bombs and a few fumbles was enough to ruin OSU in a game which they could have, should have, won.

Other Big Twelve games:

TCU 33-3 over SMU  (as expected)

Iowa State 44 and San Jose State 10 (first win for new coach at ISU)

West Virginia 35 and BYU 32 (Holgorsen keeps his team unbeaten)

Kansas State 35-0 over Missouri State (expected-game shortened to one half as of weather)

Big Twelve Rankings (Sept 27)

1. Baylor
2. West Virginia
3. Oklahoma
4. TCU
5. Oklahoma State
6. Kansas Stte
7. Texas
8. Texas Tech
9. Iowa State
10. Kansas

Fredsportsexra Top 25

Key for my Top 25:  SC means a team that is an actual threat to win the title; FF means a team that could possibly make the four playoff.

1. Alabama   sc
2. Ohio State  sc
3. Louisville  sc
4. Wisconsin  sc
5. Clemson  sc
6. Stanford  ff
7. Houston  ff
8. Washington  ff
9. Michigan  ff
10. Baylor  ff
11. Tennessee  ff
12. Texas A&M  ff
13. West Virginia  ff
14. Utah  ff
15. Florida State
16. Miami (Fla)  ff
17. Nebraska
18. Ole Miss
19. Boise State
20. TCU
21. Oklahoma
22. Florida
23. Michigan State
24. Arkansas
25. North Dakota State

National Semi-finals:  Alabama, Stanford, Louisville, Ohio State

National Champion:  Ohio State

Les Miles was fired by LSU this weekend.  It was a good firing as Miles just couldn’t get his offense going and the program had hit a rut.  Miles will be back in coaching when he wants to.  He is a rich man with his buyout and he will return in time to a major program.

As for Wisconsin, their dismantling of Michigan State in East Lansing was impressive.  They have become a serious player in the Big Ten and nationally.  I will not doubt them.

Tennessee’s win was expected over Florida but the comeback was never the less stunning.  Butch Jones gets a signature win.  I expect them to destroy Georgia in Athens this Saturday. My predictions for this week will be out Friday.

Feature photo: Rod Aydelotte  Waco Trib.com  –  Baylor defensive end K.J. Smith (56) forces a Oklahoma State quarterback Mason Rudolph fumble in the first half.