Game Thread 2014 B1G Championship Game: tOSU vs. Wisconsin, Dec. 6, 8:17 PM ET, FOX

[Mike80]

If there's any confidence to be had about the run defense, it's that we've faced some very tough backs in Lippett, Cobb and Coleman and have done a good job containing them overall. This defense has a tendency to give up big plays about equal to it's tendency to make them. If Melvin racks up 200+ yards I can almost guarantee it won't be on sustained drives with multiple 5-10yd carries.

Wisconsin is going to score. We know that. Melvin Gordon is probably the best runningback in college football. We know that.

We also know that that's pretty much all they've got.

With Cardale running the ship it makes sense to me that we see a lot more short passes and designed QB runs. This bodes well for an offense that feeds on open space and speed. This also bodes well for a defense that's going to need to have some time to recuperate after chasing a Heisman candidate all over the field for 5-10 minutes at a time.

I said it about MSU when we played them. We'll have to score 40 to win. I think we have to score 40 to win this one too.

It's a much larger hill to climb this time, but it's FAR from impossible.

I could be wrong. I usually am. So we'll see on Saturday. It won't stop me from cheering or anything.

 

[exhawg]

I could be wrong. I usually am. So we'll see on Saturday. It won't stop me from cheering or anything.

I think it's more of a blind hope that the defense will step up after JT went down knowing that they need to come up big. There is a lot of talent in the front 7-8 that they haven't really put together for 4 quarters. This team seems to rally when the chips are down so I think that's what we are all hoping for.

As far as the offense, they have one week to develop a scheme to get the most out of Jones. Since he is the only QB available without burning a shirt I'm guessing he won't be asked to run as much as JT, but the will pick their spots. I wouldn't be surprised to seem him bump out to WR with Marshall taking 10-15 snaps and throwing at least a couple balls Saturday. I feel they will scheme everything they can to make Jones look as good as possible Saturday, knowing that they'll have a month to prepare him for the next game.

 

[Coqui]

I could be wrong. I usually am. So we'll see on Saturday. It won't stop me from cheering or anything.

Just remember, Michigan State is a better rushing defense than Wisconsin, OSU scored 4 rushing TDs on them.
Penn State is the best rushing defense, OSU scored 3 rushing TDs on them.

Wisconsin is the #3 passing defense, but has played against passing offenses #114, #40 (BG), #93, #76, #50, #72, #60, #101, #91, #51, #124

The only passing team better than Ohio State statistically was Bowling Green who was the #49 rushing offense.

They lost to #114 passing offense (#30 rushing offense), and #76 passing offense (#99 rushing offense)

OSU is #49 passing offense and #11 rushing offense.

Cardale is a hurdle (see what I did there?) but I think we'll be able to generate more than 17 points as you thought.

 

[Taosman]

I remember how every time TP was challenged he rose to the occasion.
A whole team with great character will rise to the occasion when challenged.

 

[NJ-Buckeye]

LB play - will win it for us or lose it
Curtis' most important game of his life

 

[BuckTilIDie6]

He needs to be a HUGE part of the defensive gameplan IMO

 

[UpNorth_Buckeye]

Just remember, Michigan State is a better rushing defense than Wisconsin, OSU scored 4 rushing TDs on them.
Penn State is the best rushing defense, OSU scored 3 rushing TDs on them.

Wisconsin is the #3 passing defense, but has played against passing offenses #114, #40 (BG), #93, #76, #50, #72, #60, #101, #91, #51, #124

The only passing team better than Ohio State statistically was Bowling Green who was the #49 rushing offense.

They lost to #114 passing offense (#30 rushing offense), and #76 passing offense (#99 rushing offense)

OSU is #49 passing offense and #11 rushing offense.

Cardale is a hurdle (see what I did there?) but I think we'll be able to generate more than 17 points as you thought.

I'd be stoked for 31. Asking for more than that is probably asking for too much with the combination if Cardale with only 1 week to prepare as the starter and Wisconsin having a very good defense. And if we score 31 and lose then we never deserved to be in the playoff anyways.

 

[UpNorth_Buckeye]

I'm hoping for something like 31-24, osu. I'm probably actually going in expecting something like 27-24, Wisconsin.

 

[bukIpower]

What is wrong with some of you? Expecting to only score 17 and needing to score 40 to win as another predition.

As was wonderfully pointed out a few posts ago they are a product of who they've played. They avoided every top defense In the league and also avoided all the other great backs other than Cobb. Not to mention missing MSU who is the only team with the balance we have.

If we can shut down their run game again we will win going away. If we don't I think its a shootout and a toss up. The more this week goes the more I feel we wreck wisconsin. I really feel on both offense and defense they are a product of avoiding all the talented big ten teams and playing garbage for the rest.

The best offense they played was Nebraska who has a equal at best QB to Cardale, a hurt Abdallah, and we all know how their defense does against the badgers when they play. We got this. If we stop the run then 38 to 17

 

[BuckeyeNation27]

How are they going to shut down our offense when they have no idea what our offense is going to be. Does everybody have that little faith in Cardale?

 

[bukIpower]

How are they going to shut down our offense when they have no idea what our offense is going to be. Does everybody have that little faith in Cardale?

Exactly... I don't get the lack of confidence. I rewatched the Illinois game to sort of get a read on Cardale and when given the opportunity to throw the ball I really liked how he looked. Granted it was against Illinois but he seemed he knew what he wanted to do with the ball and he threw with authority. The biggest thing I took away from that performance though we he showed surprising touch when he needed to as well.

Cardale doesn't need to be JT or Braxton. In the dome with better weather (obviously) we should resemble more of the beginning offense which IMO was a more dangerous one unlike the last 3 weeks where I feel the weather just really hindered out strength which is our speed and playmakers out wide.

 

[matcar]

How are they going to shut down our offense when they have no idea what our offense is going to be. Does everybody have that little faith in Cardale?

That's a fair question. On the flip side, our offense has been a bit sloppy for a few weeks, and that was with JT. Now we don't have the QB who led us all season... While it's certainly possible that we will perform and execute well, it's also entirely possible that our offense will struggle quite a bit.

 

[BuckeyeNation27]

That's a fair question. On the flip side, our offense has been a bit sloppy for a few weeks, and that was with JT. Now we don't have the QB who led us all season... While it's certainly possible that we will perform and execute well, it's also entirely possible that our offense will struggle quite a bit.

The only issue I see is making sure we don't get behind. They're obviously going to want to run the ball. We're probably going to want to run the ball. If we're playing from behind...a short game doesn't favor us. As long as we can keep on schedule and not be forced to throw early, I think we should be fine.

 

[matcar]

The only issue I see is making sure we don't get behind. They're obviously going to want to run the ball. We're probably going to want to run the ball. If we're playing from behind...a short game doesn't favor us. As long as week can keep on schedule and not be forced to throw early, I think we should be fine.

Obviously I hope you are right. I guess I just see the loss of JT as a pretty huge deal. The guy was freaking awesome. We caught Lightning in a bottle once replacing Brax with JT, can we really do that again, and in only one week? I know CJ doesn't have to do it alone, but in our system , the QB is even more of a focal point than in other systems. It's just asking a lot.

 

[BuckeyeNation27]

Obviously I hope you are right. I guess I just see the loss of JT as a pretty huge deal. The guy was freaking awesome. We caught Lightning in a bottle once replacing Brax with JT, can we really do that again, and in only one week? I know CJ doesn't have to do it alone, but in our system , the QB is even more of a focal point than in other systems. It's just asking a lot.

I don't expect the same playbook. JT was awesome because of his accuracy. I don't think Cardale has that, so I don't think the play calls will try it. I think we'll see a lot more runs....hopefully Cardale makes the right read more often than not. I expect a lot of Jalin in the wildcat....probably to replace our obvious 3rd and short QB draw play. I'm sure Cardale knows how to pitch the ball forward to Jalin or Corey Smith running in front of him. Just gotta hope 1) We are moving the ball and getting first downs and 2) Gordon hasn't broken off a couple 60+ yarders to put us behind early.

I think JT is awesome, but I think our system enhances a QB's abilities....and even moreso with a running QB.