Sanders Will Bounce Back from Loss Against Tech
STILLWATER -- Saturday's game against Texas Tech was not a fun one for anyone that follows and cares about Oklahoma State football. I was born here in Stillwater and grew up a Cowboy fan. Even though I've learned to separate my fandom from my profession, yesterday was still a frustrating day.
These games happen and even though Spencer Sanders is no doubt a great athlete and quarterback, we all knew to expect growing pains in the first year.
He went 22-37 for 290 yards and two touchdowns, but he threw three interceptions and had two fumbles. He also had 19 carries for 82 yards, but with seven sacks and various other tackles for loss, he finished the day with just 46 yards.
I'm not sure that Spencer has ever had a game as bad as the one yesterday, even going back to his middle school days.
While Sanders took all the blame after yesterday's loss, "It's nobody's fault but mine," Sanders said. "I had five turnovers. Not the offensive line, not the receivers, not the defense. I did. Spencer Sanders had five turnovers. You can't do that. I just gotta do better," there's other factors that led into the five turnovers.
"We didn't really protect very well, particularly in the first quarter," Gundy said. "I'd have to watch the tape, but I think [Sanders] had pressure that he shouldn't have had."
"I think run blocking was okay, but from the outside looking in, I just don't think we protected very well," said Gundy. "He had pressure from the beginning of the game and I think that had something to due with our interceptions."
Teven Jenkins was back on the field after having missed last week's game against Kansas State due to injury. Dylan Galloway was still absent, meaning there was another shift of positions yesterday. Redshirt freshman Hunter Anthony got the start again and Ry Schneider and Matt Kegel rotated in throughout the game as well.
I agree with Gundy, the run blocking wasn't terrible overall. Chuba Hubbard continued his great season as he put up 156 yards and three touchdowns. But the Pokes definitely struggled to get it going early as Tech was prepared for anything and everything.
As a team, the Pokes finished with 219 yards, but on 56 carries and averaged only 3.9 yards per carry.
The Pokes have an open week this week and it couldn't have come at a better time as they'll face Baylor the following week. This gives OSU a chance to recoup, take a breath and sit back and try to figure out exactly why they had the breakdown and they'll have two weeks to fix it.
So, is it time to panic? I mean, I wouldn't blame you if you did, but there were some great quarterbacks in Oklahoma State history to throw at least three interceptions in one game earlier in their careers.
Brandon Weeden threw three against Oklahoma in 2010, but he destroyed them the next season 44-10 to clinch the Big 12 title. Mason Rudolph threw three against West Virginia in 2015 and went on to break just about every Oklahoma State quarterback record.
Will Spencer Sanders go on to have a career like Weeden or Rudolph? He certainly has the talent and the athleticism. Oh, and he's already developing into a great leader. "I'm not losing again," Sanders said. "We're going to come back better."