Roundtable Wednesday: How Do We Feel About the Baylor Game?

Here at Pistols Firing, we use Slack to communicate back and forth. Sometimes this is constructive. Other times we riff for 20 minutes on Mike Gundy’s golf game. We’re going to try and do an informal roundtable every Wednesday about whatever is going on this week and post it here.

It’s going to be pretty slangy and GIF-y and not meant to be anything serious. We’re just here to talk about OSU the way we all do in real life. If you need to brush up on any of the contributors, you can do so here.

Porter (Publisher): Roundtable Wednesday — first question is on a scale of 1 to Savannah State, how good are you feeling about the Baylor game this weekend?

Southwell (Chief Uniform Officer): Texas A&M 2011. Wow, this is a weird scale. There are a couple of similarities. We’re evenly matched, and it’s the first real test on the road. Oklahoma State had played an above average team (AZ 2011 / Pitt 2016), and the opponent hasn’t played anyone tough.

Porter: I like that. Baylor always scares me (#prayforRamon), but I have a somewhat irrational confidence in this team right now given how it has played so far.

Aldrich (Head of Hoops): Not a bad comparison @southwell. I wish I could forget about what Baylor did to us with a 2nd (and then 3rd!) string quarterback in Stillwater, but I just can’t. I think Baylor runs it better than we do and it’s our first road test- the line feels about right to me (9.5 or so?) #prayforRamon

Caleb Deck (Intern): If I may be so bold, I would rank this even with an imaginary Season 5 of Arrested Development. I like the idea of it in theory and my head believes it would work out well, but my heart is worried about the execution as well as the consistency key factors (in this case I believe Ramon Richards is Will Arnett).

Aldrich: If anyone can get the Gob done though, it’s that defensive line.. seriously, did we trade lines in the offseason with an SEC west team or what?

Porter: It really has been incredible. Carson and I talked about it on the podcast, but Gundy wasn’t joking in August. We roll three deep up front. It might save our season.

Thomas (Xs and Os): I don’t know what to think, honestly. Baylor has struggled early in some of their non-con games but they’re still really good offensively. I don’t know if OSU can stop them or if they can keep up. I don’t like thinking about it myself.

Southwell: Baylor has not played well in the first half for the last two games. Zero points in the first quarter against both SMU and Rice. If OSU can get out to a fast start, I think we will be in great shape.

Boone (Head of Recruiting): I think Baylor will be Baylor and put up a ton of points regardless of our stout d-line. It’ll be a shootout but I’ll give the edge to OSU with Justice Hill and Rennie Childs finally hitting their stride.

Carson (Podcasting): I’m not a believer in Baylor without Art Briles. They still have NFL talent (KD Cannon left “Back To The Future” burn marks at BPS) but they’ve lost their shot caller. Neither team has been impressive so far. So flip a coin.

Porter: 20-inch blades. Is Rennie the dude now? Were you guys impressed or was it just a right place/right time thing?

Boone: I have a hard time believing after four years Rennie is suddenly the answer to our running woes. But he did enough this weekend to warrant more carries for sure.

Aldrich: I kind of want to see it one more time from Rennie before I buy in — I don’t think we’ll miss Carson too bad though (Chris, not Cunningham).

Southwell: I mean he ran for 4 TDs so…

Caleb: I see Rennie Childs as a very well-rounded RB who probably ranks around a 5.5/10 as far as Big 12 RB quality goes. Justice has a higher ceiling but is less developed and lacks a bit of the same strength. I understand why the coaches would go with Childs but I hope they continue to give Hill ~40 percent carries so he can continue to develop well.

Porter: This is a good take, I think. I also have a soft spot for four-year vets who haven’t had the run they thought they might get coming into college (i.e. The Kye).

Carson: Rennie does all the right things. Loves to play the game. Never says a word.

Porter: Goes to class. Last one: If _____________ then OSU could win the Big 12 this year.

Aldrich: The offensive line is shored up. You pointed out the disturbing yards per carry stat earlier this week. If OSU can run the ball consistently, they can absolutely win a very average conference.

Carson: O-line keeps Mason upright and has Porter in a full sweat in the shed dissecting Weeden-Rudolph splits.

Caleb: I definitely agree that the line a huge key. I also would say if Mason can consistently place 65-70 percent of his 5-15 yard passes and he personally only has 3 or less fumbles the rest of this year we win the Big 12. Him being able to consistently convert those short crosses and screens will hopefully cause linebackers to drop off the line a bit allowing the o-line to get a break from blitzes occasionally and opening up a bit more space for the RBs. And whatever is going on with his fumbles needs to be fixed by Yurcich or Gundy or Glass or the equipment crew or anyone.

Porter: Mine is … if Justin Gilbert and Kevin Peterson find some eligibility and come back to school. I just think we are so susceptible on the outside and will get housed by good offensive teams. There are offensive issues, for sure, but it seems to me like the offense will get consistently better as the year goes on. Not so sure on the defense.

Carson: 

Boone: I think if they can “put a hat on a hat” ? as Gundy says and find the extra blocker in the run game it will go along ways to solving the offensive deficiencies. I’m just not convinced it’s a one-week fix.