Keys to the Game

I see five keys to this game.

1. Beanie has success early-Texas may have a good run defense, but even Coach Mack Brown has been quoted as saying the stat is a bit skewed based upon the passing teams Texas has faced. Coach Brown has also said Texas has not faced a running team like OSU this season. For any success on the offense, OSU must run the ball well and have success early in the game. Beanie should be as close to 100% as we have seen him since the first game. Beanie does not have the constraint of the boot protecting his toe, so he should be able to open it up a little bit. Beanie is also likely leaving after this season, so he will want to show his stuff to the NFL folks (although they are already impressed.) I think the running of Pryor will be limited.

2. Early success in the passing game-OSU has tried the run-run-run strategy in previous big stage games, and the defense has adjusted and loaded up the box. OSU must have some success in the passing, to keep the defense honest. Since passing is so important, I think this opens the door for Boeckman to get some quality minutes early in the game, assuming the line can protect the QB (read below.)

3. O-Line does a decent job-The O-line has really been a problem in previous big stage games, which has not allowed the QB to establish the passing game. The line has been shuffled all season, and unfortunately it was shuffled again this week. Hopefully the unit can come together and give Pryor and Boeckman time. If the line continues to struggle, Pryor will get all of the minutes, and obviously he will be scrambling quite a bit.

4. Defense pressures and frustrates McCoy-McCoy had little pressure for most of the season, which allowed him to have a record season and complete an incredible number and percentage of passes. The 2006 game between OSU and Texas showed that McCoy can be pressured and he will make mistakes due to the frustration. The defense needs to pressure McCoy and keep him under 60%. OSU must get into the backfield early in the game and often.

5. OSU shows up ready to play-OSU needs to be ready to play at kick-off. The high powered offense of Texas will not allow OSU to start out slow and try to catch up in the second half.