Miami expert reveals what the Ohio State Buckeyes have that can help limit Canes’ biggest star Malachi Toney
We are just a couple of days away from the Cotton Bowl matchup between Ohio State and Miami.
The Ohio State Buckeyes and Miami Hurricanes will square off in just two days in the Cotton Bowl in perhaps the biggest matchup of the quarterfinal of the College Football Playoff.
In a matchup of a huge rematch from over two decades ago in the national championship game, Ohio State and Miami bring two elite rosters into this one. Ohio State will be starting its CFP run, while Miami is coming off the win over Texas A&M. Let’s get a couple of key Miami questions out of the way heading into this one to better know the Hurricanes.
Malachi Toney is the focal point of Miami’s offense and has to be the player Ohio State aims to slow down. When teams have been able to limit Toney, how have they done it?
Toney’s versatility and efficiency have made him a very difficult player to contain because Miami has utilized him in so many different ways. As a quarterback, receiver, and electric ballcarrier, he can play literally any skill position outside of being a tight end. But where Miami has really done a nice job with him is in the screen game as basically an extension of the run game. They like to swing the ball to him and get Francis Mauigoa and that big offensive line down the field in front of him on tunnel screens.
Toney has also been one of the best in the nation this year as a sure-handed player (no drops) and making players miss in space. So, if Ohio State were to play zone, he can sit down, find soft spots, make a guy miss, and create a huge play. The Buckeyes possess the defensive athleticism that few teams have to be able to stay with Toney one-on-one, so I think we’ll see a good bit of man from Ohio State, if they don’t have Caleb Downs following him around as it is.
Mark Fletcher Jr. had a career day in the first round by a long shot. Do you think Miami continues trying to pound the rock with him in a domed environment?
I think they will because that’s who they are and what they do. They’re built to play bully ball with that offensive line, and whether they can have some success against Ohio State will dictate their chances to a large degree. You’ll see plenty of Fletcher, Jr., but don’t sleep on Girard Pringle Jr., as well. He’s their change of pace back who’s shown burst in the last four games leading up to the playoff. If he gets loose outside, he can rip off a big play.
Much of the talk with Miami’s defense is with Rueben Bain, Jr. and Akheem Mesidor, and rightfully so. Who else should Buckeye fans be worried about on that Hurricanes defense?
Auburn transfer Keionte Scott was having a Jim Thorpe Award-worthy season until he suffered an injury last month. He was able to return against Texas A&M, and he was an absolute monster against the Aggies with 10 tackles, two sacks, three tackles for loss, and a forced fumble. He creates all kinds of issues at nickel off the edge in the pass rush and in coverage.
Tennessee transfer safety Jakobe Thomas has also had a breakout season on the back end for the Canes. He’s posted a team-high 88.4 Pro Football Focus coverage grade with four interceptions and an opposing passer rating of 60.4. He’s a hard hitter and has done a terrific job flipping Miami’s secondary from one of college football’s worst to one of its best. Inside, DL Ahmad Moten, Sr. should have put his name on some NFL teams’ radars this year. He has 4.5 sacks, 24 pressures, and is a handful in pass protection. If the Buckeyes’ interior OL isn’t on its game, you could hear Moten’s name a number of times in Arlington.
Ohio State Buckeyes News
Expected transfer portal departure not likely to be with the Ohio State Buckeyes for the College Football Playoff
Ohio State’s wide receiver depth has taken a bit of a hit to the transfer portal ahead of facing Miami.
