STILLWATER — Eric Morris’ inbox is open to suggestions.
Oklahoma State’s offense has a confounding problem: It keeps stumbling out of the starting gate.
The Cowboys rank No. 5 nationally in total offense with 517.7 yards per game. They rank No. 21 in scoring offense, averaging 37.2 points.
But in the first half of all three Big 12 games, the OSU offense has lagged behind. Correcting the slow starts in Saturday’s game against Colorado (6 p.m., FS1) is at the top of coach Eric Morris’ mind.
OSU scored 14 points in the first half against West Virginia and 28 in the second. The split was even, 21 to 21 against UCF. Last week against Houston, the scoring gap was the widest it’s been. OSU managed three points in the first half against 29 in the second half.
“The slow start stuff has to stop,” Morris said after the Houston game. “We're two different teams first half, second half right now, and it blows my mind to be honest with you.”
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In all three Big 12 games, the Cowboys have been tied or trailing at the half. OSU has averaged 12.6 points in the first half and 26 points in the second half in that span.
Why is OSU's offense starting slowly?
"We’re figuring that out," center Tyler Mercer said. "If we knew that, we’d be doing better but it’s something we got to improve."
Morris is crowdsourcing ideas for improvement.
“I’m taking suggestions,” Morris said Tuesday. “If y'all have my email, I'd love to hear them. I’m open to anything right now.”
That’s eric.morris10@okstate.edu for anyone with a bright idea.
Before typing out an email suggesting the Cowboys open practice with tempo, just know that’s been an emphasis.
Mercer said every practice starts with a period called “fast start.” It’s the first thing the team does in the morning. The starting offense faces the starting defense and runs five plays with a fast tempo.
“It's like hey let's get this going, pop some pads, and get practice started early,” Mercer said. “So it’s definitely a point of emphasis and being acted out in practice.”
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Receiver Miles Coleman said that drill is the first competitive element of practice.
“It kind of gets our juices flowing, gets the body warmed up, so I love to start with fast start,” Coleman said.
It seems the most common solution to the slow starts OSU coaches and players offer is executing better
Running back Caleb Hawkins fumbled on the first drive against UCF.
Saturday at Houston, the Cowboys moved the ball on their first two offensive drives. The first drive went 43 yards in seven plays before stalling at the Houston 5. The second drive went 75 yards before a failed fourth down pass at the Houston 2-yard line left the Cowboys without points.
“I have to continue to find the best ways to put our guys in the best position,” Morris said. “We got to execute and do it. We had quarterback run play. We had numbers and everybody hatted it up and they beat us at the point of attack. That's an execution problem.”
Quarterback Drew Mestemaker threw for 124 yards in the first half and 241 in the second against Houston.
He didn’t credit a halftime adjustment or scheme change for the improved results.
“I don't know what it is that we are coming out and not getting it done,” Mestemaker said. “We are trying to feel the game out and Coach Morris didn't change anything. There were no elaborate play calls that he came up with at halftime. We just have to play our game from the start and pull the trigger from the start. From my perspective, I just have to go out there and play the game that I can play and not try to feel it out so much.”
OSU vs. Colorado
KICKOFF: 6 p.m. Saturday at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma (FS1)
Ben Hutchens covers OSU athletics for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Ben? He can be reached at bhutchens@oklahoman.com or on Twitter at @ben_hutchens_. Sign up for OSU Sports Minute newsletter to access more coverage of the Cowboys and Cowgirls. Support Ben's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: How can Oklahoma State football offense start faster? Email Eric Morris with your ideas