Mike Gundy Explains the Key to Stopping Texas QB Sam Ehlinger

Stopping Baylor QB Zach Smith is one thing, but doing the same with dual-threat Texas QB Sam Ehlinger is an entirely new challenge the OSU coaching staff faces this weekend in Austin.

Mike Gundy spoke highly of Ehlinger, whose team is coming off a 5-point loss to OU Saturday, and noted the youngster has a combination of skills that’s worked well leading into Saturday’s tilt.

“Quarterback’s playing good,” said Gundy. “He throws it, he runs it. Does a little bit of everything.”

As is the key with any dual-threat QB, OSU must limit opportunities for Ehlinger to break open the game with his legs. The true freshman has 271 rushing yards on the season — 217 of which have come in the last two games — which puts pressure on the linebackers and pass rushers of OSU to bring him down before he gets a full head of steam. That means tackling in space and crowding the line, essentially daring him to toss downfield.

“They’re going to try and spread you out and use him as a running back,” said Gundy. “It gives them a man advantage [in the run game]. Backers have to tackle well in space … you’ve got to get guys and down and try to keep ’em under 4 yards per carry. They’re using him as a running back, so our guys will have to compete to bring him down.”

Ehlinger amassed 110 rushing yards and 278 yards passing on Saturday against Oklahoma, but exited — albeit briefly — with what appeared to be a concussion.

Ehlinger knocked out for 30 seconds & 100% concussed.

5 plays later @CoachTomHerman puts him back in

Wins > Players mental health/safety? pic.twitter.com/e4iFV2sAi6

— TAMUHighlights ᴴᴰ (@TamuHighlights) October 15, 2017

Because Ehlinger returned to the game, I’d be stunned if he wasn’t the guy who trots out on the field against the Pokes on Saturday. Shane Buechele, who entered the season as the starter, came in Saturday and went 2-for-2. But he doesn’t give the Horns a dimension in the run game which is what makes Ehlinger so difficult to defend.

The key to stopping the Ehlinger-led Texas offense is easy: Dare him to throw, bring him down in space, and limit his running lanes. But as we’ve seen with dual-threat QBs facing OSU in the past, the solution and executing the solution are sometimes miles apart. If both solution and execution are aligned on Saturday, it’ll be in large part because of the Cowboy linebackers and their ability to limit the true freshman in the run game.