When you look at Oklahoma on film, it is clear that quarterback Baker Mayfield is what makes the Sooner offense roll.
After Mayfield though, the Sooners' second best player on the offensive side of the ball appears to be tight end Mark Andrews, who is coming off of a career performance in Oklahoma's season-opening win against UTEP.
The junior tight end caught seven passes for 134 yards and a score in just one half of football against the Miners on Saturday.
The tape speaks for itself, and Ohio State defensive coordinator Greg Schiano acknowledged Andrews' skill, adding that the tight end presents the Buckeyes with a unique challenge.
"They have an unusually gifted tight end. He is as much a receiver as any receiver on the field and they use him as such," Schiano said Monday. "He creates matchup issues. It’s a challenge.”
Against Indiana on Thursday, the Buckeyes allowed two touchdowns to Hoosier tight end Ian Thomas. Ohio State linebacker Jerome Baker was in coverage on both plays.
While both coaches and players have since acknowledged that the first touchdown to Thomas came on a blown coverage, it doesn't erase the fact that Thomas finished the game with five catches for 53 yards and two scores.
With an even more intense challenge facing the Ohio State defense, in particular the Buckeye linebackers, Baker said he is looking forward to the opportunity to go up against a premier talent.
“We have to go out there every play and bring it. That’s it," Baker said Wednesday. "He is a great tight end. He can definitely get open so we have to bring it every play. It’s just a test to really see how good you are when you go up against guys that play at that elite level. It should be a good one.”
With last season's leading Oklahoma receiver Dede Westbrook gone to the NFL, Ohio State safety Damon Webb tabbed Andrews as Mayfield's top target, adding that it will be a focus to limit his touches.
"He’s a great tight end. We consider him a receiver. And that’s definitely his favorite target, so we’ve got to take him away," Webb said Wednesday. "We're just going to play our defense. Try to eliminate the big plays by him, and (if) everybody does their job and reads their keys, it will be a non-factor."
Urban Meyer said Wednesday that Ohio State has not been focusing as much on Oklahoma's game against UTEP, assuming the Sooners didn't show of their playbook against the Miners.
Regardless of what film the Buckeyes watch in order to prepare for the Sooners, it is clear that Andrews is on their radar, and they will plan for him accordingly.
"(He has) size," Meyer said of Andrews on Wednesday. "That’s the thing when you see guys like that, when he bodies you, how he’s got very good athleticism for as big as he is. That’s matchup issues that big guys have, that’s the biggest issue with him. Hell of a player."
