Oklahoma State has offense to match Missouri’s output
Posted on Friday, October 10, 2008
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Nearly every coach and player at Missouri had played along, more or less agreeing that their offense and Oklahoma State’s are more or less mirror images.
Both run the Spread as few others in college football can.
The Tigers are third nationally in total offense at 568. 8 yards a game, the Cowboys sixth at 530. 2.
Missouri is second nationally in scoring average at 53. 4 points a game, Oklahoma State third at 52. 6.
Missouri’s big three — quarterback Chase Daniel, receiver / return man Jeremy Maclin and running back Derrick Washington — are all highly ranked nationally in their specialties. The same goes for Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson, receiver / returner Dez Bryant and running back Kendall Hunter.
But Maclin wouldn’t play nice in the comparison game as No. 3 Missouri (5-0 ) prepared to play host to No. 17 Oklahoma State (5-0 ) Saturday night.
“I’m a Missouri Tiger,” Maclin said. “I’m not really worried about what they bring on offense. It’s not really my job to worry about that.
“ Me and Dez Bryant are two different types of receivers. He’s more of a taller guy. I can do different things with the ball in my hands.” Then there was the quarterback comparison.
“Chase Daniel is the best quarterback in the nation,” Maclin said. “If you ask me, nobody is a counterpart to him.
“ I’m going to say that now, I’m going to say that at the end of the game, I’m going to say that at the end of the season.” The thing is, while Missouri and Oklahoma State have proven to be offensive juggernauts, they do launch from differing platforms.
“Our passing yards are higher,” Missouri Coach Gary Pinkel said. “Their rushing yards are phenomenal.” Missouri ranks No. 3 nationally with 375. 6 yards passing a game. Oklahoma State stands No. 2 nationally with 315. 2 yards rushing a game.
“Their time of possession is No. 1 in the Big 12,” Pinkel noted. “Ours is last in the Big 12.” That, in large measure, is a reflection of the run-first versus pass-first philosophies. But either team is capable of changing things up.
“They run, run, run, run,” Pinkel said. “You load up, load up, load up, and all of a sudden [Robinson ] pulls the ball out.” When Robinson does, he often finds Bryant with a touchdown pass (Bryant has nine scoring receptions ).
Daniel spreads his touchdown tosses around a lot more. Maclin has five scoring catches, tight end Chase Coffman three and Tommy Saunders, Jared Perry, Danario Alexander and Washington two each.
Washington also has scored 10 rushing touchdowns and is a threat that keeps defensive coordinators from selling out to stop the pass and taking their chances against the rush.
Missouri has a decided edge, as far as offensive production, at tight end in Chase Coffman over Oklahoma State’s Brandon Pettigrew. Coffman leads Missouri in receptions (33 ) for 450 yards. Pettigrew hasn’t played the last two games and has caught only 10 passes for 109 yards.
Stil, looking in that offensive mirror, it creates visions of a 1997 Tigers-Cowboys game in Stillwater. Missouri won 51-50 in two overtimes.
“We don’t want it to be a shootout by any means,” Daniel said. “But we feel that every time we touch the ball that we’re going to score.” Missouri feels no pressure to actually do that, although in the past four games the Tigers have threatened to do it.
Missouri’s No. 1 offense scored on 15 consecutive possessions during nonconference games against Southeast Missouri State, Nevada and Buffalo. The Tigers scored on their first four possessions against Nebraska before a 59-yard field-goal attempt fell short as time expired on the first half.
“There’s no pressure at all,” Washington said. “It’s not something we need to do. That’s what we want to do. We’re going to score.” Missouri has scored 52 points in three of its five games, 69 against Nevada and 42 against Buffalo.
Oklahoma State has 55 or more points in each of its past four victories (Houston, Missouri State, Troy and Texas A&M ) and opened the season with 39 against Washington State.
These offenses are sharks given to feeding frenzies, so the prime difference may come down to partial perspective.
“You know I’m kind of biased,” Washington said. “I think we have the best offense in the nation.”
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