What is OSU's Mike Gundy expecting from Texas Tech DC Tim Deruyter? 'Blitz and pressure'

STILLWATER — After a week in which much was made about the challenge facing Oklahoma State’s offensive line against a stout defensive front from Baylor, the seventh-ranked Cowboys are anticipating another challenge against Texas Tech — just in a very different way.

While Baylor is more predictable in using its base formations with heavy defensive linemen, Texas Tech defensive coordinator Tim Deruyter is widely varied in his attack.

“He’s been around a long time, and he’s a smart football coach,” OSU head coach Mike Gundy said in his weekly news conference on Monday. “You get a variety of stuff from him. He wants to blitz and pressure, and that’s what he’s gonna do in this game. He’s gonna come after you from a lot of different ways.”

OSU hosts Texas Tech at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Boone Pickens Stadium.

The Red Raiders are led up front by defensive end Tyree Wilson, a 6-foot-6, 275-pound edge rusher.

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“They’re doing a good job rushing the passer,” Gundy said. “I don’t know if I was ready to see that. But they pressured Kansas State and Texas both.

“They’re gonna do a lot of different things to try and pressure us. We have to get ready for lots of pressure and lots of blitzing.”

Likewise, the Texas Tech offense runs at a much faster pace than Baylor’s slow-it-down method.

“You get two completely different concepts on both sides of the ball with these guys,” Gundy said.

Coming off the Baylor win, in which OSU rushed for 166 yards — the most Baylor had allowed since OSU had 219 in last year’s regular-season matchup — Gundy was “pleased” with his offensive line’s performance, particularly after how it had struggled to open running lanes in the loss to Baylor in the Big 12 Championship Game last December.

“We were good, not great, but we were certainly better than in the championship game,” Gundy said. “In my opinion, they’re difficult to handle between the tackles. I was pleased with our group in that area.”

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Tyler Lacy healthy after ‘feet were on fire’

OSU defensive end Tyler Lacy missed several plays at the start of the third quarter in OSU’s 36-25 win at Baylor on Saturday with an unexplained foot issue.

“He said it was like the bottom of his feet were on fire,” Gundy said. “Something to do with the turf. They took him to X-ray, because I think it had them stunned a little bit on what this was. I barely made a C in biology… I’m sure it had something to do with nerves, the nerves on the bottom of his feet.”

For the season, Lacy has 12 tackles with 5.5 for loss and two sacks.

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Rashod Owens’ latest position change

Redshirt sophomore Rashod Owens was a running back and receiver in high school. And at OSU, he has regularly switched between inside receiver and both outside receiver positions.

Now, the San Antonio native has moved into a tight end role, Gundy said.

Owens is listed at 6-foot-2, 215 pounds, but Gundy says he’s up to 222 now, and has the physicality to play the position, while also being a more significant receiving threat than tight ends Jake Schultz and Braden Cassity.

“We have a use for a physical cowboy back and we have a use for a skilled cowboy back, just based on what we’re doing,” Gundy said. “As he develops there, he should be able to give us a little bit at that position.

“He gives us a little different dimension at that spot.”

Last year, Blaine Green was the receiver who adapted to a tight end role, and he was set to be in that position again this season before a preseason wrist injury. He has yet to play this season and is not believed to be close to returning to action.

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Extra points

➤ Scaffolding was in place on Monday in the interior of the west end zone of Boone Pickens Stadium for the installation of the signage recognizing former OSU star Bob Fenimore as the next inductee into the Ring of Honor, which will take place during Saturday’s game against Texas Tech. He is the third honoree, following Thurman Thomas and Barry Sanders.

➤ Gundy labeled receiver Jaden Bray as “day-to-day,” saying the sophomore practiced last week and could play this week if he gets caught up in his conditioning. Bray hasn’t played in a game this season after suffering a thumb injury in late August.

➤ Redshirt senior safety Jason Taylor II was named the Big 12’s co-defensive player of the week, finishing with seven tackles and an interception. And redshirt freshman running back Jaden Nixon was named special teams player of the week and co-newcomer of the week for his 98-yard kickoff return touchdown.

➤ OSU’s Oct. 15 game at TCU was announced as a 2:30 p.m. kickoff at Amon Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OSU Cowboys football: Mike Gundy expects varied attack from Texas Tech