STILLWATER — Drew Mestemaker hears all sorts of things from Eric Morris.
Such is the relationship between a quarterback and an offensive coordinator.
But amid the ever-changing details and directives, there is one refrain that the Oklahoma State quarterback hears constantly from Morris — take care of the football. Avoid interceptions. Prevent fumbles.
“Every day,” the Cowboy coach said of how often he talks about ball security with Mestemaker. “Every single day.”
As OSU enters the back half of the season, starting with Colorado on Saturday night, the Cowboys still have lots of goals within their control even after last week’s disappointing loss at Houston. Whatever happens, Mestemaker will be central to it, and for as good as he's been this season, there is one critcal area where Mestemaker must be better.
Ball security.
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Turnovers have been an issue for him. I wouldn’t say Mestemaker has a turnover problem. But it's definitely a turnover concern.
Through six games, Mestemaker has eight turnovers. Six interceptions. Two fumbles lost. That interception total is tied for 11th most in the nation, only two behind the top spot.
But the fumbles, honestly, might be more concerning. Mestemaker had one in each of OSU’s losses this season, Tulsa and Houston. Against the Cougars last Saturday, he had a second fumble that was recovered by the Cowboys.
Interestingly, down the road in Norman, OU has a quarterback who everyone has agreed is a turnover machine. Turnover-prone. Loose with the ball. John Mateer has nine turnovers this season, seven interceptions and two fumbles.
Not that much different from Mestemaker.
The narrative on the Cowboy quarterback is different, though. Likely because OSU has won more and because Mestemaker has thrown for a lot more yards (1,940 vs. 1,308) and a lot more touchdowns (16 vs. 9).
But a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 2.7-to-1 isn’t anywhere close to good.
Now, Morris has said that several of Mestemaker’s interceptions weren’t his fault. A couple of tipped passes against Oregon. A miscommunication at West Virginia. A receiver falling down at Houston.
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All of that is accurate. But don’t you think such things are the case with every quarterback?
Maybe the step up in competition is affecting Mestemaker. A year ago at North Texas, he threw only nine interceptions and lost just one fumble in 14 games. But this season against Big 12 competition, Mestemaker is on pace to throw 14 interceptions and give away 4.6 fumbles in the same number of games.
Mestemaker needs to bust out of the pace he’s on if the Cowboys hope to achieve big, audacious goals. No Power Four quarterback who led his team to a league crown a year ago threw more than six interceptions through that conference title game.
The good news is, it appears Mestemaker’s turnover issues are fixable.
“When he has people around him, he has to have better ball security,” Morris said. “Put two hands on it.”
Add that to the list of things Mestemaker hears from Morris.
“It’s something that he knows,” Morris said. “He’s smart.”
Mestemaker has the information. What he does with it could define how high these Cowboys climb.
OSU vs. Colorado
KICKOFF: 6 p.m. Saturday at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater (FS1)
Jenni Carlson: Jenni can be reached at jcarlson@oklahoman.com. Like her at facebook.com/JenniCarlsonOK, follow her at @jennicarlsonok.bsky.social and twitter.com/jennicarlson_ok, and support her work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Does Drew Mestemaker have a turnover problem? What numbers say about OSU football QB