OSU report card: Cowboys get high marks for turnover production, uniforms

BALL-HAWKING DEFENSE: A

The Cowboys create turnovers. Period. They had four against Missouri, three interceptions and one fumble recovery, and with the Cowboy offense only turning it over once, OSU easily won the turnover margin. This isn't some sort of one-game fluke or short-term thing. This is what the Cowboys do. They win the turnover battle.

OFFENSIVE ADJUSTMENTS: A

In the first half, the Tigers gave the Cowboys the chance to throw it. OSU had 270 yards and three touchdowns passing. In the second half, injuries to Justin Blackmon and Hubert Anyiam forced the Cowboys to run it. They had 150 yards and three touchdowns rushing. That, my friends, is an offense that can get what it wants when it wants it.

SPECIAL TEAMS: B

Long an A-plus strength of the Cowboys, the special teams unit continued to have some struggles. Quinn Sharp missed a short field goal. The punt return unit had two returns for minus-2 yards. OSU has set the bar so high that these recent troubles, which started a week ago at Texas, are completely out of character.

UNIFORMS: A

No white after Labor Day? Maybe not according to the style gurus, but the head-to-toe white that the Cowboys sported Saturday was outstanding. Sharp. Crisp. Solid. Paired against Missouri's all-black ensemble made for a good-vs.-evil vibe.