On Thursday, the Ohio State coach, who famously made up bulletin board material for his team ahead of the 2006 national championship game, said his coaches will make sure his defense hears about the Oklahoma player’s boast.
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The No. 14 Sooners’ offense seemed much improved in week two, after struggling against Houston in their season opener.
Among that talent corps is starting quarterback Baker Mayfield, who can serve as a model for Murray.
Mayfield was the leader of their playoff team last season and his game breaking ability nearly took the Sooners to the National Championship. With up-and-coming wide receivers beginning to make an impact, things should be easier on Mayfield.
The Buckeyes ranked seventh in total defense last season and second in points allowed per game at just 14.
The Buckeyes are a deeper, faster, and more athletic team than they were a year ago, and that’s saying something.
While Mayfield should be able to keep his team in this one for the most part, it simply won’t be enough.
The duties of leading the offense for OSU fall on the shoulders of redshirt junior quarterback J.T. Barrett. Mayfield is one of the best distributors of the ball in the country and that ability mixed with his athleticism make him a very unsafe dual-threat passer.
Few teams are capable of defeating the Sooners in the confines of Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. The spot is still open, with senior Dakota Austin, freshman Parrish Cobb and junior Michiah Quick battling for the position. Both Cougars’ quarterback Greg Ward Jr. and Barrett are dynamic runners that learned from Houston head coach and former Ohio State offensive coordinator Tom Herman. Oklahoma has some pretty decent trends to look at for this game. The Sooners need a boost to get back near the top of this season’s poll and earn a chance to possibly return to the Playoff.
You all put out Austin Kendall’s comments about the Ohio State defense on twitter.
Defensively, the Buckeyes’ secondary has been lights out through the first two weeks. While Barrett is instrumental to the success of the team, the game changer for the Buckeyes is junior H-back Curtis Samuel.
Stopping Samuel will be a challenge for the Sooners, especially considering the recent injuries and suspensions plaguing OU’s defensive line.
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The change and the resulting touchdown became the play that changed the game. He faces Missouri this week, which has been a sieve for opposing running games, giving up over 200 yards per game on the ground.
