Oklahoma State Depth Chart for TCU
STILLWATER -- The energy around the fan base has seemingly been restored following the 34-27 upset of No. 23 Iowa State. What's even better about the win, in terms of personnel, was that offensive lineman Dylan Galloway and defensive lineman Tyler Lacy were both back in action.
"He did pretty well," head coach Mike Gundy said of Galloway. "I think he played better than what he thought he would and what we thought he would. He felt good at practice last night, which is a good sign."
"He gives us some experience," Gundy said of Lacy. " He wasn't completely healthy, but he made it through the game. He should be better for this week and that's a big lift for our defense."
I would expect that the defense is going to be riding a rather big high going into Saturday.
The Pokes defense came up with not one, not two but three fourth quarter inceptions, including the pick six by Malcolm Rodriguez to seal the win.
Now it's on to TCU, and the Horned Frogs will probably be the best defense that Oklahoma State will see all season long. TCU enters with the No. 18 overall defense in the FBS. They also have the No. 15 rushing defense allowing just 103.7 yards per game, and it starts with the big guys on the defensive line.
"It'll be a challenge for them; we're going to have to live up to the challenge," said coach Gundy. "They're going to win some battles and we're going to win some battles. We have to be patient, we have to execute and we have to stay in our game plan. If you watch their inside guys, Ross Blacklock and some of the other guys in there, they're really explosive athletes. We'll have to have a really solid game plan and they're going to win some battles. When you compete against guys that are good players, they're going to make a few plays."
There's no doubt about that, but Oklahoma State has the offensive weapons that can strike at anytime. Receiver Tylan Wallace was back to the ways of old this past Saturday with eight receptions for 131 yards and a touchdown. Oh, and he also broke five tackles and sent a kid back to the fourth grade with probably the worst stiff arm anyone's going to receive this season.
Heisman candidate Chuba Hubbard was also electric with 116 yards and one touchdown on the ground, but when Iowa State sold out to stop the run, Spencer Sanders was there to exploit it.
While he did have one interception on Saturday, Sanders seemed more calm and made fewer mistakes in route to a 249-yard and two touchdown performance against Iowa State.
The Pokes will have their work cut out for them this Saturday against a tough TCU team, but if they limit their mistakes and play like we all know they can, then the Cowboys will make it two wins in a row.
Here's how they'll line up against TCU.
