I recall that pre-Muschamp, the UT defenses always had a bad time with mobile quarterbacks. E.g. K-State and TAMU. Just couldn’t keep ’em off the field. That, I think, is the biggest concern with Pryor, regardless of what offense they run. Of course, Coach Muschamp is now here …

The big advantage the current defense has over tOSU is overall speed. Buckeyes have not seen raw speed like this before. USC smash-mouthed ’em. UT will come from everywhere all the time. There is, I think, the same potential for a speed nightmare for Pryor this year like Rudy Carpenter saw last year.

Overall, containment is the key, against Pryor and running game. They do have a great back in Wells, but when they fall behind after Colt et al. show offensive speed, tOSU will be forced to pass. Then here comes Orakpo and Kindle …

I think whatever Mushamp does he has to do a few things:

1. Pryor is way too good of a weapon to blitz completely. He’ll get flushed out of the pocket and then he’ll take off and run. That being said I think that we might see a lot less of orakpo on a pass rush and more of him playing run contain while Kindle and the other Lb’s blitz. That way if Pryor tries to go outside the pocket Orakpo’s lateral quickness would take care of it(assuming the blitz is coming from the his right side).

2. Hartline and Robiskie are no Crabtree/Bryant but they have good hands and decent speed, kinda like Quan Cosby. I think if you leave them one on one then they have the intelligence to get open.

3. The key to the game for our defence is let Pryor beat you with the pass. Containing Wells would mean that our DE’s would be in run contain for 1st, 2nd and 3rd(if short). Pryor has not completed more than 13 passes in a single game this year so we should let him have the ball whenever he want. Collapse the pocket during passing situations and don’t let him scramble and we should have a good game.

4. If the LBs dont do their job in attacking the right gaps during Beanie runplays, then we are screwed. I like our chances if he moves outside to run. Our DEs(Orakpo and Melton) should do a good job..

I don’t know how many opponents spied Pryor this season but presumably this is an option we will at least discuss. There are pros and cons to it but first look at our personnel: Bobino and Norton still struggle with taking good angles and not over-running plays. Since a spy is often at the second level with only DBs behind him this is not a job for someone who takes bad angles. Screw that up and the QB is waltzing all the way to the end zone or at least a huge gain. Kindle is too valuable as a pass rusher to play on his heels as a spy; given these facts and Muck’s role this year as cleanup man he’s the obvious choice. Though he wouldn’t be completely out of position to play the run, he would be more easily blocked, which may hurt us given their strong emphasis on the run. Bottom line to me is that he obviously can run but hasn’t figured out how and when to run smartly. Our DL is good enough that they should get good pressure, especially moving Kindle around. That and a mix of Palmer/Thomas blitzes should be pretty effective.

You will defintely see gap discipline this game. Muschmap will not give this kid a lane to take off and run. Wells or whoever is in the backfield will try and chip Orakpo on every pass play. You will also see him get double teamed. I would be surprised if Muschamp doesnt blitz and stunt off the other end, trying to make them adjust their protection. When they do he will punish them with pressure from the other end. Now they will try and use that line and power running game to use the play action pass throwing it deep trying to attack the young secondary down field. When its all said and done it wont matter. Pryor hasnt seen what he will get in 3 weeks. Pryor will be a fine college QB, but he will be learning instead of playing. Ohio State fans need to thank Muschamp for the lessons he will learn on this day.