Game Thread 2010 Rose Bowl: Ohio State 26 Oregon 17 (Final, 1/01/2010)

[muffler dragon]

Canzano: After Civil War victory, it's time for Ducks to finish what they started | John Canzano - ? OregonLive.com

Salient Points.

Understand. Oregon?s LaMichael James scored three touchdowns and Oregon State?s Sean Canfield threw for 306 yards. And both coaches trusted their offenses so much that they left them on the field in critical fourth-down situations. But it became obvious on the field at Autzen that because of the jobs Kelly and Riley have done Ohio State wouldn?t have beat either one of them.

I?m sure the Big 10 Conference is proud to send the Buckeyes to Pasadena, but they haven?t seen offenses like either of the ones on display in Eugene. And what we?re really talking about now is Oregon finishing the job that started in this rivalry game on Jan. 1 in front of the country.

The first meeting of what will certainly be called ?Mike Riley vs. Chip Kelly I? went to Kelly. And when I saw the men match wits, shuffle personnel and shake afterward, I thought, ?Ohio State is toast.?

The Pac-10 is 9-2 in bowl games over the last two years. Conference commissioner Larry Scott said that not having USC as the conference champion helps validate the rest of the conference. But what happens if the Ducks go to the Rose Bowl and don?t win?

It becomes just another cute little story. The 90-day odyssey that was Boise State-to-the-Civil-War for Oregon ends up hollow without that big payday at the end. Not because of the stakes, but because it?s clear as the cold night that Ohio State couldn?t have handled what happened at Autzen Stadium.

Hello, Terrelle Pryor?

You there?

Because the blue-chip recruit from Pennsylvania turned Ohio State quarterback spurned Michigan and Oregon to be a Buckeye. The Pryor Sweepstakes didn't even include a visit to Oregon, and so instead, the state's best football team comes to him on the first day of 2010. And there?s going to be a lot of talk about the Ducks having the opportunity to give Pryor a seminar in the Heisman Trophy he could have won, but this isn?t what it?s about anymore.

I'm not sure the Buckeyes understand where this is going.

From the comments...

Is Canzano still wondering where Oregon is going to get six wins to go to a bowl game? Now he's acting like he knows all when he says either team could beat the Buckeyes? Please, spare us.

If Pryor had signed with Oregon, Bellotti doesn't recruit Masoli, and Masoli's probably playing somewhere in the WAC, instead of in the Rose Bowl.

In fairness to Canzano, I was not that confident in the Ducks at the beginning of the season. They looked terrible against BSU, and then barely beat a mediocre Purdue team at home. I really did not expect the defense or offensive line to improve as much as they did, and although I expected LMJ to be pretty good, I never thought he would turn out to be one of the best freshman running backs of all time. However, unlike Canzano (c'mon, we all know how he really feels about the UofO), I am thrilled that I was wrong. I think Ohio State will have a tough time containing an offense as creative as the Ducks (they would have had the same problem against the Beavers). They simply don't see offenses like this while playing in the country's most boring and conservative conference.

Does any team in the Pac10 play defense? You won't run up 30 on OSU D. Chipper better practice that.

Kelly's players win one game at a time, but the success of the Oregon program is based on long-term thinking. This season will have an effect on Oregon football for the next decade (and the Bevos will reap the benefits of their great season as well). A loss to a very good Ohio St. team in the Rose Bowl would not diminish that.

GO OSU (Buckeyes that is!)

 

[grnvllbuck]

I'm a big Homan fan (up here in MAC country). I just think he sheds blockers better, and is the most reliable tackler on the team.

 

[muffler dragon]

Scout.com: Instant Analysis - Oregon Going To Pasadena

CFN talks about the Beaver-Duck game and has tidbits about the Rose Bowl.

 

[buckeyesin07]

Canzano: After Civil War victory, it's time for Ducks to finish what they started | John Canzano - ? OregonLive.com

Looks like PSU and scUM fans aren't the only ones who are jealous amd bitter that we got Pryor.

 

[Jake]

I like our chances in this game! However, I felt the same way when we were going up against Florida/LSU.

I liked our chances against Florida until I saw us trying to spread them out on offense and drop back in zone on defense. I knew we were dead by the end of the first quarter. I didn't like our chances against LSU. I tried to be optimistic, but I didn't think we matched up well with them at all.

Oregon doesn't have the defense of either Florida or LSU. That's a plus already. Physically, I think we matchup better with them than either Florida or LSU. That's another plus.

I think it comes down to how willing we are to try to score points. That sounds funny but I'm serious. There should be opportunities to score, but if we're content to try and win 17-14 we could get in trouble because they will score. They won't get 40 but they'll score some points. We need to be more aggressive offensively, without being careless, and put up 24-28 on them. Do that, and we'll win.

 

[Gatorubet]

I liked our chances against Florida until I saw us trying to spread them out on offense and drop back in zone on defense. I knew we were dead by the end of the first quarter. I didn't like our chances against LSU. I tried to be optimistic, but I didn't think we matched up well with them at all.

I don't know about the first quarter, but when I saw the soft zone on our first possession of the second half, I figured you could put a fork in it. Urban was gonna want to eat clock with a halftime lead that big, and a soft middle was like a gift to the dink and dunk Clock Gods.

Oregon doesn't have the defense of either Florida or LSU. That's a plus already. Physically, I think we matchup better with them than either Florida or LSU. That's another plus.

I think it comes down to how willing we are to try to score points. That sounds funny but I'm serious. There should be opportunities to score, but we're content to try and win 17-14 we could get in trouble because they will score. They won't get 40 but they'll score some points. We need to more more aggressive offensively, without being careless, and put up 24-28 on them. Do that, and we'll win.

Yeah Jake, I think you are spot on with this one too. Only Tress can beat Tress on this one. You need at least 24 points, IMO.

 

[TDG]

I'm glad Oregon won, we have more to gain by beating them than by beating OSU. I'm very anxious for the game.

I'm not feeling optimistic, however. I feel like Oregon is a mismatch for us, with their tricky, high-tempo against our strength, our defense. And then they have a pretty unimpressive defense, but our offense is not really high-scoring. Plus, looking at how we did against common opponents must make anyone nervous. I'm not confident in our chances... I hope the Bucks can prove me wrong.

 

[808 Buck]

I think it comes down to how willing we are to try to score points. That sounds funny but I'm serious. There should be opportunities to score

Riding along with this train of thought, the Bucks need to score touchdowns when in the red zone. Take a look at last night. Oregon State had to settle for four field goals, and it cost them. Like most big games, it will probably come down to turnovers, and which team can do the most with them.

 

[pokey]

Canzano: After Civil War victory, it's time for Ducks to finish what they started | John Canzano - ? OregonLive.com

But what happens if the Ducks go to the Rose Bowl and don?t win? It becomes just another cute little story. The 90-day odyssey that was Boise State-to-the-Civil-War for Oregon ends up hollow without that big payday at the end. Not because of the stakes, but because it?s clear as the cold night that Ohio State couldn?t have handled what happened at Autzen Stadium.

So his point is that even if Buckeyes win in the Rose Bowl, it doesn't count for anything because Ohio State would have been unable to handle the Ducks in Autzen Stadium. Am I reading that right? Win or lose--the Buckeyes are the losers and the Ducks are the winners?

 

[NUTS4theBUCKS28]

im kind of glad that oregon won. i think it will be one hell of a game on january 1st. go bucks

 

[sepia5]

So his point is that even if Buckeyes win in the Rose Bowl, it doesn't count for anything because Ohio State would have been unable to handle the Ducks in Autzen Stadium. Am I reading that right? Win or lose--the Buckeyes are the losers and the Ducks are the winners?

I think he's saying that the Ducks have to close the deal and complete the season by beating tOSU, and that, given what he saw last night, there's no doubt that they should beat tOSU. I don't know. That paragraph doesn't make much sense, but neither does anything else this hack is writing.

 

[Gatorubet]

I'm glad Oregon won, we have more to gain by beating them than by beating OSU. I'm very anxious for the game.

I'm not feeling optimistic, however. I feel like Oregon is a mismatch for us, with their tricky, high-tempo against our strength, our defense. And then they have a pretty unimpressive defense, but our offense is not really high-scoring. Plus, looking at how we did against common opponents must make anyone nervous. I'm not confident in our chances... I hope the Bucks can prove me wrong.

Those option plays that kept getting first downs and big yardage are shut down by fast, disciplined defenders who follow their assignments. That is what I have seen from your D this year. And I think you have the defensive talent to put pressure on the quack qb and not have to sell your soul doing it. He melts under pressure. I expect you will pressure him and have several short field opportunities because of turnovers. My only question is whether you will take the risks in the red zone to put the points on the board that you need to win. A bunch of threes won't win it, but you won't need to win a shootout - just score at least three TDs and get a long FG.

 

[Honor&Glory]

Am I the only Buckeye fan who thinks Ohio State will win this game in dominating fashion??
What I saw last night was a capable offense in the running game that will strugle to convert 3rd and longs. If not for the worst tackling I may have ever seen Oregon does not win last night. LB's for Ore St. looked liked they have never defended the option and they looked slow running to the ball. Their safeties and DB's did not look like they wanted to get physical at all.
These are all strengts for Ohio State's defense.

As for the OSU offense, well, I am putting my faith in the coaching staff here. OSU will find a way on that side of the ball. If Ohio State goes big and wants to push the Ducks around, I think they can. If Ohio State wants to go wide and attack the gaps, Pryor will run for over 100 on them.

Whoever said 'Kansas State' in regards to this Oregon team is spot on.

Go Bucks!

 

[Jagdaddy]

I would say that the defensive keys to the game for OSU are:

1. Get disciplined push from the defensive line. The Ducks use lots of deception and overpursuit or excessive hesitancy would both present huge problems. Moving the LOS into their backfield to stretch their running game sideways until the back seven can come in and clean things up is hugely important IMO.

2. Make the tackle when in position to do so. I only worry about this because of the long layoff . . . but it's a long layoff. This is hugely important because it makes their third downs longer and hopefully gets the Bucks D off the field on third down consistently.

The offensive keys are:

1. Don't just try to run the ball down their throat with "Dave". IMO, while Pac-10 D's tend to be undersized and have bad run D stats, their run D's are only bad when they have to respect the threat of the passing game, which they usually have to do with their conference opponents. If OSU uses Zack Boren as an arrow pointing to Brandon Saine and Boom Herron for the whole game, the Ducks will probably shut it down. 70-30 run-pass is fine, but use misdirection in the running game.

2. Use their aggression against them. The TE seam pass and middle screens will be open all game and Posey will get open on double moves if he makes them. Use these tools from time to time, especially on first down.

3. Run Pryor on the zone read and simple sweeps or option plays early and often. This will wear down their defense and make "Dave" much more effective when it's mixed in.

 

[BrutusBobcat]

Am I the only Buckeye fan who thinks Ohio State will win this game in dominating fashion??
What I saw last night was a capable offense in the running game that will strugle to convert 3rd and longs. If not for the worst tackling I may have ever seen Oregon does not win last night. LB's for Ore St. looked liked they have never defended the option and they looked slow running to the ball. Their safeties and DB's did not look like they wanted to get physical at all.
These are all strengts for Ohio State's defense.

As for the OSU offense, well, I am putting my faith in the coaching staff here. OSU will find a way on that side of the ball. If Ohio State goes big and wants to push the Ducks around, I think they can. If Ohio State wants to go wide and attack the gaps, Pryor will run for over 100 on them.

Whoever said 'Kansas State' in regards to this Oregon team is spot on.

Go Bucks!

No, you're not. :)

Watching last night's game gave me tremendous confidence. Neither team could tackle, both took HORRIBLE angles, failed to play their assignments...it was a clinic in failed defensive fundamentals for both defenses. Oregon showed little ability to stretch the field, and neither team was exactly putting out an array of weapons at WR. Not only will Ohio State's defense perform much better, our fundamentally sound, if unspectacular offense would have been capable of ten minute drives on those defenses. Neither the Oregon State DL or the Oregon DL was anything to write home about. Another poster called the Oregon DL the fourth best we've played this year, and I think even that might be giving the Ducks the benefit of the doubt. Corner coverage was dreadful, even with the lack of WR threats outside of the Rodgers kid for Oregon State.

I am looking forward to the Rose Bowl like no game since Tressel has been here, and I am definitely looking forward to Oregon being favored, being hyped, and all of the talk about how OSU "always loses" BCS bowl games, etc. People have compared it to the Kansas State game, but I am getting more of the Notre Dame "give Charlie Weis a month to prepare" vibe. Either way, I am feeling a 10+ point win.