Oklahoma State vs. Texas: 5 Keys To Cowboys Extending Longhorns' Misery

Misery loves company and likes to stay as long as possible. Oklahoma State hopes it can stay awhile longer in Austin.

The Texas Longhorns looked pitiful last week, losing 55-17 to archrival Oklahoma. Meanwhile, the Oklahoma State Cowboys were pummeling an overmatched Kansas team by 42 points.

The Longhorns and their fans are not looking forward to this weekend, especially since they must face a passing attack that has been even more efficient than that of the Sooners.

Here are five things Oklahoma State must do in order to continue the Longhorns’ string of misery.

Play Fast

This past week against Oklahoma, Texas’ young defenders looked confused and out of place often against the Sooners’ fast-paced offense.

In its past two games, Oklahoma State has been fiercely fast, forcing its opponents to play without rest or substitutions. It must continue doing that.

This Texas defense has athletes but lacks experience. Getting it tired and on its heels will affect them, especially since it lacks maturity at most positions.

Apply Defensive Pressure Up Front

Young quarterbacks are prone to mistakes when rattled and pressured. Texas plays two very young quarterbacks.

Oklahoma pressured and rattled them, which led to the two young quarterbacks committing four of the Longhorns’ five turnovers. Three of those turnovers were defensive touchdowns.

The Cowboys have the one of the best turnover-forcing defenses in the nation and have forced 10 more turnovers than their offense has committed.

If that Cowboy defensive front can get up in the faces of Case McCoy and David Ash, the Cowboys will have a very good shot at having similar success to that which Oklahoma had this past week.

Get Up Early

The Cowboys need to get up early on the Longhorns in order to secure this victory. The Cowboys showed they can come back from large deficits, being down 17 to Texas A&M earlier in the year before coming back to win by a point.

However, getting up early on a young team like Texas that lacks the maturity to not get discouraged is big. Once the Sooners got up last week, Texas nearly gave up.

It will do the same this week if the Cowboys get up on it quickly.

Beat the Blitz

Texas defensive coordinator Manny Diaz coaches a crazy defense. He blitzes all the time, trying to use the Longhorns’ superior athleticism to overmatch opposing offenses.

The Cowboys must beat the blitz against Texas, which shouldn’t be hard considering their offense is predicated on getting the ball out of quarterback Brandon Weeden’s hands quickly.

The offensive line must give Weeden time to make the right throws, and Weeden must get it out quickly, especially to wide receiver screens. Beating the blitz will ensure a Cowboy win.

Continue the Solid Road Play

The Cowboys are 11-1 in their last 12 road games. This team has been too mature to allow opposing crowds to psyche them out, securing wins at College Station, Manhattan and Austin.

The Cowboys must continue to play maturely on the road in this matchup. They show no sign of stopping.

The Cowboys will continue their strong road play this week and beat the Longhorns.