11W Mailbag: On Oklahoma's Explosive Offense, Ohio State's Inexperience Handling its First Road Game and More

Oklahoma has a big front and has a pretty respectable run defense. What do you think the staff will do to get the running game going since that will be a must to walk out of Norman a winner? — WhiteyYD

Though the differences in the two are there, Houston runs a similar offense as Ohio State and had some success early in that game two weeks ago running the ball. The Cougars finished with just 89 yards on 40 attempts and didn't score a rushing touchdown but got some big chunks of yardage on plays outside of the box to the wide side of the field, as Jones outlined in Thursday's Film Study.

I bet Ohio State will run some sweeps like that in addition to counters where guards pull through the hole to hopefully expose cutback lanes. Why? Because I read Jones' post and he knows the Xs and Os of football way better than I do. You should read it too.

Any ideas what this secret game plan is that supposedly should scare all Buckeyes? — BuckeyeAirGuard78

I don't look at message boards much but a brief bit of intel allowed me to see that some folks down in Oklahoma think Bob Stoops has a schematic advantage of some sort. He might but I can't really see him installing an entire new defensive front in a week. Urban Meyer mentioned that Oklahoma brought out something new in the 2008 BCS National Championship Game, but Florida made adjustments at half to win that game anyway. Remember: the Sooners had more than 40 days to prepare for that game.

So I don't know what "secret game plan" Oklahoma could enact on Saturday, though as some others already mentioned in the mailbag thread, the Sooners will focus on stopping the run. Michigan State did it last year and beat Ohio State. Virginia Tech did the same in 2014. That's not really a secret, however.

Which unit on the defense do you feel the OU offense poses the biggest challenge? Which matchup this weekend between opposing position groups do you think will be the most important to watch/play the biggest role in determining the outcome of the game? — NeilWoodGables and BuckeyeCWRU

The front seven. Oklahoma's line is a little suspect because it's so young but played well near the end of last season but Ohio State's defensive line skill and depth is not where it needs to be to stop Joe Mixon and Samaje Perine consistently. Additionally, Ohio State's linebacker corps will be tested especially if Dante Booker does not play.

Perine and Mixon are excellent and Mayfield is a threat with his legs too. Containing them is essential for Ohio State if it wants to win.

Baker Mayfield. The real deal or a product of playing against sub-par defenses in the Big 12? — BuckeyeIn NY

I think it's a little of both. Mayfield was outstanding last season (3,700 yards passing, 36 touchdowns, seven interceptions) but turned it over against the best teams he played — two interceptions each at Tennessee and against Clemson in the College Football Playoff.

That being said, I think his streetball style is difficult to prepare for so I am going to go on record and say he is pretty legit. Now, his game does not remind me of Brett Favre as it does Greg Schiano. As a lifelong Packers and Favre fan, it took everything inside of me not to do this when Schiano said that:

OK, it didn't really take that much not to do that and embarrass myself but you get the point. I get where Schiano is coming from because Mayfield is cool with taking chances and scrambling around to make plays down the field. But there is only one Brett Favre.

We struggled against the inside run game against Tulsa, does this game simply come down to who runs the ball better? I don't see a situation in which Stoops out coaches Urban. — TheNorthernBuckeye

I think so and agree with you. Meyer is a better coach than Stoops and his track record — plus lone head-to-head matchup — supports that. As I mentioned above, who runs the ball best will win.

With so many young players starting in their first road game in a hostile environment what kind of start can we realistically expect from the Buckeyes? — BuckeyeCWRU

That's kind of the question, isn't it? How will those young guys react to the glitz and glam and bright lights that aren't in Ohio Stadium? My #bold prediction is a relatively short series from Ohio State's offense to start things off while the defense struggles to stop Mayfield and Co. until the red zone and forces a field goal on their first drive.

I'm sure you all will Crying Jordan me appropriately when none of this turns out to be true, which is cool.

Didn't get a chance to watch the Houston game, what did the Cougs do defensively that was so effective in limiting total scoring? I've seen that Baker was able to pass for his usual numbers, why weren't the RBs more effective? Did Houston have that much success in the trenches with a bunch of 2- and 3-star guys? — GVerrilli92

As fellow 11W member Squirrel Master pointed out in the mailbag thread, former five-star defensive tackle and mammoth human Ed Oliver lived in the backfield against Houston to stop Oklahoma's running game. Plus, I think the Sooners forgot about that part of their offense a little bit. Don't think Stoops will do the same on Saturday.

For more details on how Oliver helped the Cougars limit the Oklahoma offense, read Jones' Thursday piece.

Who will play a bigger role in OSU's victory, Mike Weber or the receivers on the outside? — Bucks2TheNatty

Great question but since you didn't give Ohio State's offensive line as an option I'll say the wide receivers by a nose. Greg Ward Jr. threw for more than 350 yards on the Sooners in Week 1. J.T. Barrett needs to put forth the same type of effort for Ohio State to win and he can't do it alone. Someone other than Curtis Samuel and Dontre Wilson needs to step up and make plays on the outside. Getting balance on offense will be key, just like Urban Meyer said all week, so Weber will need to run the ball well. But if that is all Ohio State can do, it will be tough to win.

I get the feeling a lot of us are very confident that OSU is going to go into Norman and get the win. Should we be more cautious with our optimism? — KangarooMan

Sure. I believe Ohio State fans are confident because Oklahoma is not undefeated but need to realize a couple pertinent items: Houston is very good and the Sooners went to the College Football Playoff last year.

Say what you want about the Big 12 but getting in position to compete for a national title counts for something. This won't be an easy game for Ohio State to win.

Acceptable uses of the word y'all? (Please give an example) — Hovenaut

I asked my southern correspondent about this, Ryan Ginn of LandOf10.com, a native Louisianian that showed me the way two years ago when Ohio State played Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. His insight follows:

"I use it anytime I address multiple humans or refer to multiple humans where the person I'm talking to is one of them," he said. "Like 'y'all ran the ball well today' or 'what's y'all's game plan?' All y'all is a good one. That freaks people out."

Having heard all y'all before I support Ginn's statement. He also volunteered this YouTube video as another example. Follow Ryan for more southern notes and tidbits. He's a good dude.

The first half struggles on the offensive line of scrimmage against Tulsa, were they a scheme issue, or something that we need to worry about going forward, particularly trying to run the ball against Oklahoma? — Baroclinicity

As Meyer mentioned after the game last Saturday and on Monday at his press conference, Tulsa used some twists and blitzes up front that the Buckeyes had not seen on film. I know that is a tired story because it is how Virginia Tech beat Ohio State in 2014 but I'm here to report what people say.

So I think it's always something to worry about if you're an Ohio State fan moving forward but not too much. It takes a very long time to install a brand new defensive scheme and have your players feel comfortable with every small detail of it in order to execute at a high level.

Oklahoma has been very good against the run. Two-part question: (1) How many yards does Ohio State end up with on Saturday? (2) Is OSU in major trouble if they are kept under 150 yards running or can J.T. throw enough to win the game? — D1145fresh

1) I hate predicting things like this but I'll say 125 yards. Don't @ me.

2) I think Barrett can throw enough to win the game but at this point in the season do not believe Ohio State can live that way because of its inconsistencies at wide receiver. There is no doubt that group is talented and deep — the team wouldn't rotate 10 guys there if not — but it needs to make some plays and move the chains.

I'll be honest: I don't know much about how Oklahoma schemes up on D — aside from the fact that they're likely gonna line up in a 3-4, they're pretty good at stopping the run, and their secondary is a bit of a liability. So if I'm Big Game Bob, I'd throw a bear at our inexperienced offense and do whatever I can to take away the zone read — and make J.T. win the game with his arm. Bearing in mind our struggles in the passing game in the first half against Tulsa (either because we couldn't get the run going or our receivers couldn't get open, I don't know), I'd say that strategy wouldn't suck for the Sooners. 

How likely do you think we see this kind of defense — and what must our offense do to effectively counter it? — Hodge

I don't think a Bear is in the cards just because it would be tough to install that in a week's time and Oklahoma didn't show the look against Houston two weeks ago. But I've been wrong before and could be wrong again. A bunch of teams tried to use the Bear after Virginia Tech found success with it in 2014.

If it is shown, look for Ohio State to pull its backside tackle on read plays, leaving Barrett to keep the unblocked defensive end honest. That allows for the tackle to pull through the hole and get a hat on the middle linebacker/safety playing up in the box.

Additionally, more quick hits in the passing game in the form of swings and slants must be successful because a Bear front uses man coverage. The best way to neutralize it is with outside receivers beating the 1-on-1 coverage.

Again, if you want more info on this read Jones' Film Study from last September on the topic.

Do the Buckeyes have a linebacker who can cover Joe Mixon downfield in the receiving game? He had five catches for 77 against Houston. — TheNorthernBuckeye

He did have five catches for 77 yards against Houston, proving just how tough a cover he is on the field. I think Jerome Baker's sideline to sideline speed is going to play a huge factor in this game, especially if Dante Booker sits out. If Booker is in, he has the athleticism and speed to keep up with Mixon in the passing game. If he can't go, it's on Baker. Joe Burger is going to play too.

More likely for both squads: Tight game with little margin for error or track meet? Follow up: Who prevails in either case? — GOOMBAY

I could very easily see this being a track meet because that's how Oklahoma rolls and Ohio State showed in its first two games it has the tools on offense to be successful as long as it can run the ball effectively. Edge to Oklahoma in a shootout though because it is playing at home and has more experienced playmakers for Mayfield.

In a close, low-scoring game I give the edge to Ohio State because of Meyer.

Not counting Samuel or Wilson, which receiver steps up in a big way? Also, does Malik Hooker pick another one off? — SlightlyGrain6

Noah Brown has to step up in this game, I think out of necessity because of his size advantage over the Oklahoma cornerbacks. Jordan Thomas is a strong player on one side but the battery of Dakota Austin and Parish Cobb at the other spot are not on his level. If Ohio State sees a matchup pitting Brown against one of those guys they should try and take advantage of it.

I think Hooker picks one off just because he did so in his first and only two starts of his career thus far. A small sample size is a small sample size but it's tough to argue with the results.

Obviously, we have a very young offensive line, and we start freshman Michael Jordan. How do you think he will handle the pressure? Do you believe our running game will struggle, or will Mike Weber have a big day?

If you had to pick a different player from the back 7 to step up big this week (Malik Hooker week 1, Marshon Lattimore week 2), who would it be?

Our ball, 4th and 1. Ball is on their 46-yard line, 57 seconds to go in the game, up 3. Go for it, or punt? — BuckeyeHub

That will figure largely into the outcome of the game because the interior of Ohio State's offensive line needs to play well. Oklahoma's rush defense is solid and experienced up front, so I would not be surprised if Jordan struggles with the pressure initially. It's a tough adjustment for any freshman. Weber could have a big day but I'm not too high on it just because I haven't seen it from this young group with any consistency. After all, it did not really run the ball well in the first half against Tulsa.

My pick for a defensive player to step up is Jerome Baker. He needs to with Dante Booker questionable and how well Oklahoma's running backs play in the passing game.

And if I'm Urban Meyer in that situation I go for it and win the game. You come all that way and have a chance to do it, so why not do it?

Do you believe the prospect of OU starting the season 1-2 and effectively being eliminated from the playoff hunt in September helps us or hurts us? (1) OU comes out with laser focus and intensity to make a big statement on a big stage, or (2) OU crumbles under the pressure of pissing away their season at home in the 3rd week? — OSU_ALUM_05 and BringTheJuice

The only way that hurts Ohio State is if Oklahoma completely folds and finishes the season around .500. I don't really see that happening — the Sooners are too talented.

I think the first scenario you offered is more likely because Oklahoma needs this win desperately after falling to Houston two weeks ago. If the second scenario happens, however, then that will show Oklahoma doesn't necessarily have the same stuff that got it to the College Football Playoff a year ago.

With Dante Booker now downgraded to questionable, how big of a loss would it be if he doesn't play? Is Joe Burger athletic enough to cover space like Booker can? How much of Jerome Baker would we see? — FlyerBuckeye

I don't think Burger is athletic enough to cover in space like Booker so the pressure will be on Baker. That's not a knock on Burger — I think he will play a fair amount if Booker is out. But like we saw last week, Baker will probably start and get the majority of the snaps.

Baker is faster and a more fluid athlete than Burger, which is why I think he'll get more time since Oklahoma's offense can explode at any time. 

In your honest opinion Eric - give us the lowdown of what happens this weekend in Norman and how does the defense perform in a crazy atmosphere under the lights on the road? — Seattle Linga

This game is going to be won or lost in the trenches. That's usually the case in football but this weekend especially. Ohio State's offensive line did not play well in the first half against Tulsa. Oklahoma's defensive line is very good and big. If they hit first-year starters Michael Jordan, Isaiah Prince and Jamarco Jones in the mouth early and those three do not respond, it's going to be a long night for Ohio State's offense.

Ohio State's defense has surprised me so far this season, albeit coming against inferior competition. Baker Mayfield is a different kind of quarterback, though. If he gets going and scores a couple quick touchdowns either with his feet or outside the pocket and down the field I'm not sure if Ohio State can recover.

I picked Oklahoma 38-35. A young Ohio State team in its first road game against a group of Sooners that must have this game leads to an Oklahoma win. I'm sure you'll all be nice to me in the comments, too.

Thanks as always for your questions and I'll see everyone next week.