COLUMBUS -- Dustin Fox's analysis of Alamo Bowl opponent Oklahoma State makes sense only if the Ohio State cornerback is speaking from the perspective of his uncle, Tim Fox, an All-American safety for the Buckeyes in the 1970s.
"What they do is very similar to the type of football played in the Big Ten -- very smashmouth, physical football," Fox said.
That's true, if we're talking about 30 years ago.
Fox's description of the Cowboys is accurate in that they run first and run second. The problem with his perception, however, is that of the Big Ten teams Ohio State faced this season, only Wisconsin -- and to a lesser degree, Michigan -- fit that bill.
In this age of spread offenses and pass-happy attacks, that could present an interesting challenge for a Buckeye defense uncharacteristically generous in giving up yardage on the ground this season.
It's a challenge All-America linebacker A.J. Hawk embraces.
"For me, I'd rather face a running team," Hawk said of the Dec. 29 match between 7-4 teams in San Antonio. "I'm a linebacker, and I don't have much fun when we're sitting in a nickle or dime (defense) the whole game and the other team is throwing the ball around."
Compared to Oklahoma State coach Les Miles, counterpart Jim Tressel looks like a high roller at The Bellagio.
The Cowboys average 14 passes a game. True to his Midwestern roots -- having grown up in Elyria and played and coached for Michigan -- Miles has built his offense around a potent running game.
Junior running back Vernand Morency has rushed for 1,454 yards and 12 touchdowns. He is averaging 5.8 yards per carry.
"He's pretty-good sized back, a very physical back," Hawk said. "He really runs low and has the speed to find the holes. It's going to be tough to stop him because he's got a good fullback and offensive line in front of him."
Quarterback Donovan Woods, a redshirt freshman, has thrown for 1,491 yards, completing 82 of 153 passes for 13 touchdowns. He's thrown just four interceptions.
"You know when they throw it's probably going to be a big play," sophomore cornerback Ashton Youboty, who leads the Buckeyes with four interceptions, said. "So we (in the secondary) just have to be patient and not fall asleep out there."
The Cowboys remind Fox of another Big 12 opponent -- the Kansas State team the Buckeyes beat 35-28 last Jan. 2 in the Fiesta Bowl.
"They're very similar in what we faced last year in (K-State's) El Roberson -- more of a runner playing quarterback, who can also throw the ball," Fox said.
The key in that game was Ohio State jumping out to a 14-0 lead, essentially removing lethal running back Darren Sprowles from the picture. Sprowles finished with 38 yards on 13 carries.
"We didn't know exactly what (Sprowles) was going to do but we had seen so much film on him, and practiced so much for him, we had an idea of what was coming," Hawk said.
"We had a great scheme against them. We really wanted to stop the run and make them beat us with the pass, and that's what we came out and showed."
The Buckeyes gave up an average of 129 yards on the ground this season, more than double their yield (62.3) of a year ago. But they are feeling pretty good about themselves after holding Big Ten rushing leader Mike Hart to 61 yards on 18 carries in the 37-21 upset of Michigan in the regular-season finale.
"I think what's going to help us is the way we played against Michigan," linebacker Anthony Schlegel said. "We were more physical against a predominantly running team, and that's what this game is going to be.
"They've got big tight ends, a great running back and they fire off the ball. It's going to take all of us playing hard and flying around."
Originally published Tuesday, December 21, 2004
