Michael Peters
Tulsa World TU Sports Reporter
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Tulsa coach Tre Lamb repeated Monday his post-game praise of the thoroughness of his team’s win over Oklahoma State.
“The thing I was proud of is it wasn’t a fluke,” Lamb said. “They had 0 turnovers. They really didn’t make many mistakes.
“We just beat them straight up. Beat ‘em. That’s what I’m most proud of.”
Pro Football Focus’ review of the game provided some empirical data to back Lamb up. According to PFF, TU’s defensive performance against the Cowboys — 12 points allowed and three fourth-down stops in the second half — was just its third best of the season.
PFF ranked the Hurricane’s defense at 83.2, behind its games against Abilene Christian (86.5) and New Mexico State (84.1). It was the second-best offensive performance of the season as rated by PFF (62.8 vs. 72.8 vs. ACU).
Ray Coney, who transferred from East Tennessee State, grades out as the sixth best linebacker in the country among those who have played more than two games.
No linebacker in PFF’s top 250 has played more snaps this season than Coney — 289; Buffalo’s Red Murdock is closest at 282. Coney has 49 tackles this season, which leads the nation. Chris Hones of Southern Miss is second at 46 and Murdock is third at 44.
“I want to play every play, but I’m not going to lie, I was getting tired last game,” Coney said. “I’ve just got to go hard and keep my conditioning up.”
Francis not 100% in time for OSU
Lamb said Monday quarterback Kirk Francis didn’t dress for the game against OSU because he still wasn’t 100% after suffering a concussion in the first half of the game against New Mexico State.
Francis was on the sidelines in street clothes in Stillwater and came out to midfield as a team captain for the pre-game coin toss.
“He did not look great in practice last week, and pulled him off Thursday and said are you 100%? He said no,” Lamb said. “He really wanted to play. He was in tears because Oklahoma State is important to him. They didn’t recruit him.”
Lamb said Francis looked good during Sunday’s practice, but said it would be hard to not play Baylor Hayes, who quarterbacked TU to the win over OSU.
Hayes has thrown for 542 yards and three touchdowns in two-plus games, while Francis has 318 yards and two touchdowns in his one-and-a-half games this season.
Changes to O-line yield results
Texas A&M transfer Hunter Erb made his first start of the season at right guard, as the Hurricane went with a different starting combination in its offensive line for the first time this season.
The result was no sacks allowed after giving up three against Navy and two against New Mexico State.
Erb played 43 snaps in the game, while Codie Hornsby spelled Erb for 37 plays. Brody Duffel, a 6-foot-5, 290-pound sophomore from Bixby, played 25 plays at right tackle to help give a break to starter Cam East.
“We’re trying to find our best five and trying to get to where we can play seven so we’re fresh in the fourth quarter,” Lamb said.
Morgan honored by American Conference
Tulsa kicker Seth Morgan was honored by the American Conference on Monday as its special teams player of the week.
Morgan made 4-of-5 field goals against Oklahoma State and forced touchbacks on all six of his kickoffs.
Morgan, a 5-11, 185-pound graduate senior from Houston, entered the transfer portal during the coaching change but opted to return to the Hurricane.
“I had conversations with Coach Lamb and (special teams) Coach (Carter) Barfield both,” Morgan said. “Just the energy they bring and the culture and everything that comes along with everything they believe in, it’s exactly what I look for.
“I loved everything about them and wanted to stay and play for those guys.”
Tulsa Schedule
Aug. 30: TU 35, Abilene Christian 7
Sept. 6: New Mexico State 21, TU 14
Sept. 13: Navy 42, TU 23
Sept. 19: TU 19, Oklahoma State 12
Sept. 27: Tulane, 3 p.m., ESPNU
Oct. 4: at Memphis, 7 p.m., ESPNU
Oct. 16: at ECU, 6:30 p.m., ESPN
Oct. 25: Temple, TBA
Nov. 8: at Florida Atlantic, TBA
Nov. 15: Oregon State, TBA
Nov. 22: at Army, 11 a.m., CBSSN
Nov. 29: UAB, TBA
sports@tulsaworld.com
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Michael Peters
Tulsa World TU Sports Reporter
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