INSIDE SLANT

The need to make plays defensively is a constant refrain for coaches, and the situation is no different at Oklahoma State.

Despite a plus-five turnover margin that ranked 35th nationally last season, the Cowboys recognized the importance of maintaining, or improving, that ratio.

Linebacker Patrick Lavine accepted the challenge as well as anyone. With five interceptions, Lavine leads the nation’s linebackers and ranks second overall in the Big 12 behind Texas safety Earl Thomas.

Several of Lavine’s picks proved critical in OSU victories, though none were bigger than the 21-yard return for a touchdown he provided against Texas Tech. The score accounted for the winning points in a 24-17 victory, which boosted the Cowboys to 8-2 overall and 5-1 in the Big 12 going into a Nov. 19 game against Colorado.

“He’s a great playmaker for us,” said teammate Andre Sexton, another senior linebacker. “He steps up and makes game-changing plays when we need it.”

Oklahoma State indeed needed it during a season in which All-America receiver Dez Bryant was lost because of a NCAA suspension and running back Kendall Hunter was slowed by a nagging ankle/foot injury.

Lavine proved playmakers can emerge at any spot on the field for any unit. In addition to his five interceptions, Lavine also ranks second among the Cowboys with 59 tackles.

Under the direction of first-year coordinator Bill Young, the Cowboys rank 32nd nationally in total defense, allowing 333.9 yards per game, and seventh against the rush (89.6). As for turnovers, Oklahoma State still owns the plus-five mark it attained last season.

NOTES, QUOTES

• Oklahoma State is seeking a sixth conference victory, which would be the most ever for the Cowboys. Eight teams at Oklahoma State went unbeaten in league play, but all played in smaller conferences with five or fewer opponents. The five-win total in the Big 12 was also achieved by OSU in 1997, 2002, 2003 and 2008.

• Increasingly bigger defenders, coupled with the constant barrage of highlights showing big hits, contribute to more violent collisions like the one QB Zac Robinson absorbed late in the win against Texas Tech on Nov. 14. That, at least, is the contention of OSU coach Mike Gundy, a former quarterback for the Cowboys whose records are being erased by Robinson. Robinson fumbled on a clean hit leveled by Texas Tech’s Jamar Wall. Both players were slow to get up.

Series History:   Colorado leads Oklahoma State 26-18-1 (last meeting, 2008, 30-17 OSU).

Scouting The Offense:   If Oklahoma State continues to get the kind of production from its ground game that it did in the second half against Texas Tech, the Cowboys could be unstoppable. They generated 207 yards rushing after the break while holding the football for long segments to effectively wear down the Tech defense. OSU can rely on a three-back combination of Keith Toston, Kendall Hunter and Beau Johnson, while QB Zac Robinson is also deadly on scrambles.

Scouting The Defense:   Improvement has been steady for the Cowboys. The defense makes correct reads and is often in the right place, while capable of big plays. CB Perrish Cox was the star of the Texas Tech win, intercepting two passes and also breaking up three passes. Oklahoma State allowed a respectable 307 yards through the air, holding Texas Tech far below its 400-yard average, which ranked second nationally.

Quote To Note:   “Since that Houston loss we’ve bounced back and people haven’t really heard of us. We kind of fell off the map. (The Colorado game) is just an opportunity for us to get some exposure to show that we’ve bounced back from that loss.”—Oklahoma State LB Andre Sexton.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

This Week  ‘S GAME: Colorado at Oklahoma State, Nov. 19—Oklahoma State jumped at the rare chance to play a game on Thursday, though a short week at this point in the season raises concerns about fatigue. OSU coach Mike Gundy said he would be careful about any excessive work for the Cowboys in practice. Colorado cannot finish with a winning record or qualify for a bowl and has also lost 10 straight on the road.

Keys To The Game:   Colorado attempted to infuse another dimension into its attack when it shredded the sophomore redshirt of QB Tyler Hansen five games into the season. Hansen gives the Buffs an extra dimension with his legs, but has not provided the winning punch as Colorado still fails to click consistently on offense. Still, RB Rodney Stewart is a threat. He’s coming off an 85-yard rushing output in a loss at Iowa State, though he lost two fumbles. That contributed to Colorado’s minus-7 turnover margin, which ranks last in the Big 12. The Buffs also average 9.3 penalties.

Players To Watch:  

CB Perrish Cox—The senior was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week after grabbing two interceptions against Texas Tech and also breaking up three passes.

QB Zac Robinson—He set an Oklahoma State record last season by completing 65 percent of his passes and still has a shot at achieving that mark again, completing 158 of 249 passes for a .635 completion percentage in 2009.

RB Keith Toston—He has averaged 103.6 yards since taking over as Oklahoma State’s featured rusher after RB Kendall Hunter was injured in game two.

Roster Report:  

• QB Zac Robinson went to the locker room before the end of Oklahoma State’s victory against Texas Tech after getting up slowly from a wicked collision. Robinson was deemed fit by the Oklahoma State medical staff, which will continue to monitor the quarterback, though he is expected to start against Colorado after a short week of preparation.

•  OT Brady Bond has missed two consecutive games with an ankle injury. He remains questionable.

• RB Kendall Hunter will continue to gain additional work as he progresses from a nagging foot/ankle injury, although RB Keith Toston has been too effective to remove as the starter.