As the Buffaloes head down to Stillwater, Okla., their defense must be ready for Cowboys’ gunslinger Drew Mestemaker.
Oklahoma State’s quarterback has been on a heater this season and has shown why he's considered one of the best in the country. Leading the Pokes’ (4-2, 2-1 Big 12) offense, he's thrown for 1,940 yards (sixth in all of CFB) and 16 touchdowns against six interceptions.
What makes him unique is his willingness to use his legs and hurt defenses when the play breaks down. He’s third on his team in rushing with 142 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
The Buffs’ (2-4, 0-3 Big 12) defense will certainly have their hands full on Saturday. But confidence hasn’t wavered. Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders has the full respect of Mestemaker and has made sure his team will be aware of his ability.
“The kid can spin it. He could flat-out spin it,” Sanders said. “We got to get him off his spot, and make him uncomfortable, because if he sits back there, even on the boots, where he gets his feet set, he's extremely accurate…He’s one of the best in the conference as well as in college football, to me.”
For the Buffs, Sanders highlighted the clear focus of the defense this week. Get Mestemaker off his spot, make him uncomfortable and allow the defense leading the Big 12 in tackles per loss (53) to cause havoc in the backfield.
Colorado Defensive coordinator Chris Marve wants to remain aggressive this week in containing the veteran QB. Building on this season’s experience with playing mobile QB’s like Alberto Menzoda, Aidan Chiles, DJ Lagway and Devon Dampier, he is confident.
“We just want to go attack the dude who has the ball, whoever it is,” Marve said. “A lot of the offenses that we've seen so far this year have been 11-man football. They're not just playing with 10 and one guy throwing the ball….Schematically, you want to make sure that you're good.”
On paper, the Buffs can gameplan, scheme and prepare, but it will ultimately be up to players to execute and produce. When it comes to moving the quarterback to make off-platform throws, the interior defensive line has to be disruptive.
Defensive tackle Dylan Manuel, who is coming off a season-high performance (six tackles, half a sack and an interception), believes the D-line can cause problems for Mestemaker.
“Pressure the quarterback, make him uncomfortable because when he has pressure in his face, he's not really good,” Manuel said. “He gets out of character. So just putting pressure on him and making him uncomfortable and not letting him just sit back there and just dial us up.”
The Buffs' secondary equally has an important role in shutting down the quarterback. The back end has been challenged at times, but has come into their own recently. Against then No. 11 Utah, the Buffs forced two interceptions and had a forced fumble by safety Randon Fontenette.
After leading the team in tackles (11) last weekend, he believes his unit is willing and ready to make plays against a tough offense.
“He's a great quarterback. Watching them, the arm talent is off the charts. Just all around. He can run it, he can do a lot of different things,” Fontenette said. “Stopping him is going to be hard, but I think we’re ready for the challenge.”
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