Week 2: University of Miami Hurricanes Preview

It seems like each year the Ohio State schedule comes down to few marquee games that define the season. Sure, upsets can happen along the way, but these three or four matchups are what every Buckeye fan lives for. This Saturday's tilt against the University of Miami is one of those games. The winner will cement its place in the national title picture. The loser will be all but eliminated from the conversation. So while the stakes might not be as high as they were the last time these two met (you remember that game don't you), there is still a great deal on the line.

Both teams come off performances where they put up 42 points with the defense pitching a shutout (Ohio State gave up a special teams touchdown). However the week one blowouts against inferior teams, Marshall for Ohio State and Florida Atlantic of the FCS for Miami, did little to answer each team's lingering questions.

What Miami Brings To The Table

Over the last two seasons, Head Coach Randy Shannon has made a habit of inserting young players into the starting lineup. Now, this youth movement is poised to yield a significant return. The Hurricanes are a veteran squad that is loaded with 5-star talent, especially at the skill positions.

The Miami offense is lead by Junior Jacory Harris. In 2009 Harris completed nearly 60 percent of his passes for 3,352 yards. He was electric at times and after early season wins against Oklahoma and Florida State, Harris began to receive Heisman buzz. However, as the season progressed, he proved inconsistent, especially against tough defenses. Poor performances against Virginia Tech, North Carolina and Wisconsin marred what started out as a promising season. Harris ended the season with an impressive 24 touchdown passes. However, he also threw 17 interceptions - the second most of any major college quarterback.

This week the pressure will be on a young offensive line to give Harris the time to find his targets. The line, which was much maligned in 2009, returns only two starters. This leaves the Hurricanes with a depth chart featuring 8 freshmen or sophomore linemen. They will have to come together early and improve on last year's 2.69 sack-per-game average-not an easy task with Cam Heyward and company on the other side.

Miami returns seven starters from a defense that ranked 29th in total defense for 2009. The unit gave up 329.6 yards per game and a respectable 22.2 points. Perhaps its most outstanding player is cornerback Brandon Harris, an All-ACC performer who recorded 58 tackles, 15 pass breakups and two interceptions in 2009. If he can slow down DeVeir Posey, it will be a huge boost for the Canes. The defensive line boasts Senior defensive end Allen Bailey who led the team with 7 sacks in 2009. Backing him up is linebacker Colin McCarthy, who recorded 95 tackles, including 9.5 tackles for loss in 2009.

The Keys For Ohio State

The Buckeyes are just as good, if not better than Miami all up and down the depth chart. With the talent levels so closely matched, the game will come down to winning the games within the game. Here are a few keys for a Buckeye victory.

Mike Adams and J.B. Shugarts Must Step Up - These highly touted junior offensive tackles came to Ohio State with 5-star grades and great expectations. Both have been solid, but not spectacular thus far. However, both looked great against Marshall-especially Adams. They will need to step up this week and protect Terrelle Pryor from Miami's athletic defensive ends. If they can give him time to throw, the offense will be explosive.

Exploit Miami's Young Offensive Line - The Miami offensive line has only two returning starters. The Buckeye defense must exploit this inexperience. Jacory Harris has shown a penchant for making mistakes when under pressure. If the defensive line can put a few early hits on him, expect the turnovers to follow.

Don't Be Afraid To Make Mistakes-Terrelle Pryor is one of the top quarterbacks in the nation. That being said, he will make a mistake or two on Saturday. The key for Pryor, the coaching staff and the rest of the team is to not lose faith and go away from the game plan when they occur. This team will live and die with Pryor this season and it is critical for him to know that when he makes a mistake, his team will still believe in him.

The Result

Recent history has shown that the Hurricanes struggle against fast, physical defenses. The Ohio State Buckeyes have a fast, physical defense. They will come after Harris early, forcing a mistake or two and stacking the deck in Ohio State's favor. The Buckeye offense certainly faces a stiff test, but it will continue to build on its last two performances. The result will be a good, but not great showing. In the end Terrelle Pryor will be the best player on the field-and the difference in the game-as Ohio State records an impressive 30-20 victory.

Next up: Ohio Univeristy Bobcats