Joseph, O-Line Ready for Bedlam Game

NORMAN, Okla. -- Seven games into the season, the Oklahoma offense has outscored opponents, 246-88, and averaged 35 points a game. With tough road games against Okahoma State and Texas A&M ahead, the Sooner offense looks to continue its multipronged attack led by a veteran offensive line.

2004 marks the second consecutive year that ESPN's College Gameday has chosen the Bedlam Game to host its nationally televised production. Oklahoma right guard Davin Joseph says he is honored to have Gameday at Saturday's game and can't wait for the action to begin.

Sooner Gameday Central: Oklahoma State | Game Notes | Quotes

What does Bedlam mean to you?
It's going to be a hard-fought, tough game with a lot of guys from Oklahoma. It's an amazing game. It's one of the best games I have ever played in. To be able to play in it again against a lot of great players is going to be just that much more fun.

How has the Bedlam rivalry gotten bigger in recent years?
I think it's getting closer to an OU-Texas game or Michigan-Ohio State, with implications of playing in a BCS bowl game. It's not like in the 80s and early 90s. OSU is a great team. They have a great coach and a lot of great players.

Talk about OSU's defensive schemes and what change they will make for OU's offense...
They're a pretty good defense. They stop the run and defend the pass pretty well, but I think they will try and stack the box against us. They might blitz a little more or play the pass on third downs, but I think they'll follow the lead of the two previous teams and stack the box.

You expect OSU's defense to place more emphasis on defending the run game...
Yes. Most defense's first concern is to stop the run -- which is a smart thing to do because once our run game gets going, the passing game starts to open up also.

Will the Bedlam game Saturday be a little more spirited with all the talking last year?
I like those guys but I think that's just part of the rivalry. I don't take any of that stuff personally and I'm sure that they don't either. I think that a little bit of trash talking is just a part of football and adds a little more to the game.

What similarities do you see between Vince Young-Cedric Benson and Donovan Woods-Vernand Morency?
OSU has a very dominating back. Morency did very good against UCLA. He really impressed me as a runner and with the strides he's made to become a better player. Woods is a mobile quarterback and has the ability to make a lot of big plays. They remind me a lot of Vincent Young and Cedric Benson -- two of the better players in the Big 12 Conference.

How big of a factor is playing OSU on the road?
Stillwater is a tough place to play. Playing on the road is tough, period. When their fans get into it, it's a loud place. They have really good players that are trying to defend their home turf. But playing anybody on the road is tough.

What do you think about OSU's defense and also about your matchup?
They have a lot of young guys up front. They aren't the most experienced group but they play hard. Their linebackers are more experienced so it will be pretty tough to run the ball. I like my matchup but it's going to be a challenge.

Talk about the unity and progression of this offensive line...
I think we have a lot of unity in this group. We've been together for a while, going on our third year now. Everyone on the line is such a competitor -- great people on and off the field. I've grown as a person and as a player from being around these guys, Coach Wilson and Coach Stoops. I think our confidence is really high right now.

As an offensive lineman, do you enjoy pass protection or run blocking more?
As a line, I think we like to run block more. There is less thinking. We can have a little fun and put some guys on their backs. You're not on your heels as much -- you're just firing off the ball and having fun.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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