Oklahoma State Football: 3 overreactions to Week 10 win over TCU

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STILLWATER, OK – NOVEMBER 2: Wide receiver John Stephens Jr. #7 of the TCU Horned Frogs drops a hurried pass under the coverage of safety Kolby Harvell-Peel #31 in the fourth quarter on November 2, 2019 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. OSU won 34-27. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

3. OSU defense has a game-changer

It wasn’t clear if OSU was going to be able to compete with its Big 12 counterparts after the first four conference games in 2019. Its defense surrendered close to or more than 500 yards in losses to Texas, Texas Tech, and Baylor, and it was severely losing ground in the turnover margin.

Along with Sanders’ improvement in not committing as many mistakes and turning the ball over, OSU’s defense has flipped the script. Through the Cowboys’ first seven games, the defense had three interceptions overall. In the past two contests, the Cowboys have totaled six interceptions.

OSU’s pass rush deserves credit against TCU. The Cowboys bothered freshman quarterback Max Duggan all afternoon, hurrying his progressions and often making contact. They finished with 5.0 sacks, the most of the 2019 season.

Kolby Harvell-Peel was the OSU defender who took advantage of the havoc wreaked by the defensive line. He collected two interceptions alone in addition to a fumble recovery. The sophomore from College Station, Tex. was in the right spot at the right time for the Cowboys, as his interceptions thwarted any chance of a TCU comeback.

Harvell-Peel finished with six tackles for the game and now has three interceptions this season. If the OSU defense can force turnovers and disrupt the opposing passers, the pressure is taken off the Sanders and the offense.

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