Connect with us

Football

Zach Sinor Gives Cowboys a Leg Up, Keeps Frogs at Bay

Published

on

Oklahoma State’s defense played its best game of the season in Ft. Worth on Saturday as they allowed TCU its lowest scoring total in 18 years. But while the defense deserves its fair share of credit, one man gave them a leg up.

And his head coach knows it.

“Our punter? We punted three times and I think his punts, he was excellent. He had one real long one and the other two I think were spot-on.”

“Spot-on” is a great way to put it.

A big key to the Cowboys’ success this year has been field position. If you read our look at the Advanced Stats last week, we talked about how important it is.

Coming into Saturday’s game, Zach Sinor led the nation with 60.5 percent of his punts being downed inside the 20-yard line. As a result, Oklahoma State entered the game leading the nation in opponent field position, with opponents’ drives starting on average at their own 23.8-yard line.

TCU’s average starting field position was their own 26-yard line and that included the muffed punt that gave them a start on OSU’s 6-yard line. If you take that play out the Horned Frogs’ average starting field position was their own 19-yard line and their average starting field position on punts was their own 6-yard line.

The downed spot for his three punts to the Horned Frogs? TCU’s 4-yard line, TCU’s 4-yard line and TCU’s 11-yard line.

All three of those punts came in the first half when the game was still close. All three of the ensuing possessions ended with TCU punting it back to the Cowboys.

Sinor, the marksman, has now dropped 29 punts inside the opponents’ 20-yard line this year with only one touchback.

The Cowboys have one game to win if they want to accomplish their goal of a second Big 12 title and it’s against the Big 12’s most balanced offense. Once again, field position will be key.

Mike Gundy makes the trip with a very effective specialist in Zach Sinor and a memory of how important special teams can be in that stadium.

Most Read

Copyright © 2011- 2023 White Maple Media