Despite allowing more than 200 rushing yards in each of their past two games, the Bobcat defense seems ready for the challenge they face tomorrow in the nation's 11th-best running back, Missouri's Tony Temple.
It's always a challenge to stop a great running back
linebacker Michael Graham said, but as a defense it's more fun trying to try to stop a running back than a wide receiver.
We get excited to see running backs like that that are up there in rushing yards and well-known across the country linebacker Matt Muncy said. We get up to play for that and we've seen some good backs
and it's not like we haven't seen backs like him before.
Temple averages 119 yards on the ground per game for the Tigers, who come into tomorrow's showdown as the nation's fifth-best offense, averaging 485.3 yards per contest.
Ohio coach Frank Solich said that he knows Temple will get his yards, but the Bobcats cannot let the Tigers succeed through the air as well.
What you don't want to do is get hurt at both ends
Solich said. You're probably going to find it difficult to shut people down entirely. If you do
you ought to be winning the Mid-American Conference and ought to be somewhere in the Top 25.
Shutting down Missouri through the air will be no easy task either, as Ohio will face its first true test against a dangerous quarterback in Chase Daniel.
Daniel, who took over the starting quarterback duties from former Tigers' signal-caller and current New York Jet Brad Smith, has thrown for 762 yards and seven touchdowns already this season. Five of those touchdowns came in Missouri's 47-7 season-opening blowout against Division I-AA Murray State.
Daniel can not only be a threat through the air but on the ground as well. In his last two games, Daniel has run for 112 yards and two touchdowns.
You've got to be aware when you drop back into pass coverage that he can scramble at any time
Muncy said. We're going to have someone watching the quarterback and have to make sure we keep out responsibilities in the running phase of the game.
As strong as the Tigers are offensively, their defense has been even stronger. Missouri is currently second in the nation defensively, allowing their opponents just 171 yards per game.
Defensive end Brian Smith leads all Tiger defenders with six sacks. Four of those six came last week against New Mexico, meriting the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week award. Linebacker Marcus Bacon received the award the previous week after he picked up 12 tackles, a fumble recovery and an interception in Missouri's 34-7 over Ole Miss.
He's got excellent pass rush skills but he's also physical against the run
Solich said in regards to Smith. I look at him as a complete defensive end. He's not a guy that specializes in one thing.
Although his team comes into Saturday's contest as the overwhelming favorite, Missouri coach Gary Pinkel is not looking past Ohio
towards their Big 12 schedule that starts next week.Our focus is on Ohio University right now
Pinkel said. (Ohio looks) at the opportunity as a moment to prove themselves
that 'We're pretty darn good too.' We saw it happen last Friday night
and we saw it happen to us in 2001 and 2002. We will get their best performance.
