Kansas' defense last year was, in a word, awful.
I don't mean just bad. They were actually the worst defense in college football.
The Jayhawks placed 127th out of 127 teams in yards allowed per game with 560.8 — 13 yards over the next nearest team.
I said this yesterday, but the motto still remains the same. Kansas cannot be overlooked because of perceived record or talent.
With Kansas, its offense scares me significantly more than its defense. Ohio should be able to score in chunks; this game will come down to the Kansas offense versus the Ohio defense.
The Jayhawks have three starters on the defensive line not yet in their junior year — two redshirt sophomores and one true sophomore. That should play in the Bobcats favor. They ran the ball 51 times last Saturday against Texas State and only threw it 45 times.
Breakdown
At 1:07:05 of this YouTube video, Oklahoma is backed up at its own three-yard line. The Sooners lined up in a single back set beside quarterback Baker Mayfield the majority of the game, so this, a Pistol formation, is a similar look to the defense Ohio might see against Kansas.
It's a simple stretch play, designed to get Oklahoma out of trouble.
The Bobcats run similar stretch plays out of the pistol, expect to see that this weekend with Dorian Brown and Maleek Irons.
At 1:07:12, the running back has made his decision, and he'll cut through the hole created in the middle of the line.
He stiff arms the middle linebacker and takes off. The play goes for 22 yards.
The linebackers on that play filled the gaps correctly, however, they weren't able to make the play in the hole.
It's plays like that which should give Brown and Irons chances to shine Saturday. Both are powerful runners.
Judgement
This was probably the toughest breakdown to do, as no team in the Big 12 runs a predominantly power running offense like Ohio does.
The talent disparity was also very apparent — Oklahoma was ranked No. 14 at the time, and Kansas was mired in a winless season. The play I looked at should have been a one-to-two yard gain, instead the Jayhawks missed two tackles in the hole.
But the point remains the same. Ohio should be able to run the ball Saturday, even without Ouellette. A strong running attack will open up passing lanes for Greg Windham, which should help him build on his productive week one.
The Jayhawks, as coach Frank Solich mentioned, will have good athletes. They're still a Big 12 team. There will be no lack of talent.
But, to be completely honest, I'd expect Ohio to be able to move the football Saturday afternoon in Lawrence.
