The Football Brainiacs

Image of Joe Mixon via KUSports.com

About the Contributor: Seth McKinzie played quarterback at Missouri Southern State University before transferring and playing at Northeastern State University. McKinzie was a scholarship player at both schools. He completed a BA in Journalism at NSU and later received a MSE from Arkansas State. After college, he was a member of a 4A high school football staff in Arkansas and later coached 5A ball in Texas. McKinzie currently resides in Arkansas with his wife and two children.

– Ohio State’s defensive backs close on the ball FAST. Mayfield’s passes will need to be crisp and the OU receivers must be sure handed and braced for impact.

– Watching Ohio State film makes me wonder a couple of things, none of which are positives for OU…

Wonder #1: Can the Sooner wide receivers create separation against the Buckeyes?

Wonder #2: Can the Sooner offensive line fend off what should be the most athletic front seven they will see in 2016?

Wonder #3: Can the Sooner corners hold their own against top notch receiving talent?

Based on the Houston game, one would have to think the answer to the three “wonders” is a “no”.

– Early in the game against Tulsa, on a 3rd down passing situation, the Buckeyes run a line twist. The inside down lineman attacks his outside gap, causing both the guard and the tackle to engage. Once the guard commits his hips to the outside the end flies to the inside and has a clear path to Dane Evans and sacks him. This type of thing will happen a lot on Saturday if the Sooners find themselves in these situations.

– Mike Weber is a very good zone runner. His vision for the cutback lanes is great. Will be interesting to see how quickly those are taken away, if at all, by the Sooners backside pursuit.

– Sticking with Weber…he is still just a freshman. There was a failed exchange on a zone read in the game versus Tulsa that resulted in a lost fumble and a few other mesh points that did not look comfortable.

– JT Barrett threw a pick six early versus Bowling Green. The Buckeyes lost an early fumble against Tulsa. Will they have an early, costly, miscue on Saturday?

– OU fans have been foaming at the mouth to see what Neville Gallimore can do. What better time than a primetime game against a top five team?

– An exclamation Sooner fans should be repeating after Saturday: “More Mykel Jones, please!”

– If there is a team with the talent, and scheme, to slow down Mark Andrews, it will be Ohio State. Still, OU had better target Andrews at least 10 times. Why wouldn’t they? He’s a yardage eating touchdown machine.

– Tulsa’s running game had some early success on Saturday. IF the Sooner offensive line can answer “yes” to my Wonder #2, look for Joe Mixon to be the featured running back. He has more of the cutback skills than Perine.

– If Mixon truly is the featured back, it will be early and then Perine will be the hammer to grind things out.

– Speaking of grinding things out, if OU gets an early lead, will fans want to see Lincoln Riley continue to call more passes to pad, or will fans want to see that run game milk the game clock?

– Sure tackling is always important, but will be imperative on Saturday for the Sooners…especially in the secondary. One miss will most likely equal six points.

– Will the renovated stadium be as electric as past big games in Norman? It needs to be, but don’t expect a team that plays in front of 100,000+ multiple times a season to be super intimidated.

– Will the young bucks get their time to shine? I’ve already mentioned Jones and Gallimore, but will Stoops and Co., show their faith in their recruiting?

– Greg Ward Jr., had a big day through the air against OU. Barrett is better. Take that for whatever it is worth.

– Tulsa’s play calling got a little suspect late in the second quarter, when the heavy downpour started, or the game might have been a bit closer.

– Look for OU to come out aggressive on defense and the offense to run at a pace not seen thus far in 2016. Will that spell success though?

I picked OU to win back in the summer. After watching two weeks of both teams, it is tough to stick to that prediction.

Should OU win, where will the Sooners be ranked on Monday?

If Ohio State wins, and wins, big…how hot will the fires get? I detest blaming coaches as a first resort, but it will not be pretty if there is an “L” next to Oklahoma about 10p on Saturday.

O/U on OU’s total offense – 375

O/U on tOSU’s total offense – 400