Game Thread 2015 National Championship Game: (2) Oregon vs. (4) Ohio State, Jan 12th @ 8:30p ET, ESPN

[SloopyHangOn]

FSU's defense was not fundamentally sound. Two drives really stuck out to me - you can see them below from about 5:00 - 5:55

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:12109703&startTime=04:50

EDIT: Can't get them embed to work.

The first one, the corner jumps the wrong route and the safety didn't get over in time. Just piss poor defense. Oregon has a lot of different options off of the same play. The next series, they scored a long TD after running a bubble screen the play before. Next play, FSU jumps the fake screen and they get beat deep for the TD. Both were examples of poor discipline by the FSU DBs. Hopefully our coaches spend more time prepping our players for these multiple reads off the same look.

That first play was a lot like the play Tyvis Powell got burned on late in the Sugar Bowl.

Not to say our D isn't wholly better, but our guys have been susceptible to similar looks.

 

[greyscarlet]

There are but nothing our D hasn't seen, especially in regards to RB's. After seeing what Henry did, UO will probably try to get Tyner on the edge. He's not quite as big as Henry but he's faster

This coupled with sound tackling, not allowing Mariotta to extend plays. The difference is uo doesn't have the same athletes on the line and our coaches know this is an area needing patchwork and have the time to do so.

 

[lvbuckeye]

Wow. I'm glad I'm not wherever you are. LOL

I'm in the Las Vegas 'burbs. It's better than most places, honestly. Idiots are everywhere. Climate and money trump that all day, every day.

 

[OSUK]

ESPN just called. They love your work. You start on Monday.

It doesn't take any deep thinking to parrot a narrative - so I should fit right in.

 

[Joe Stewart]

I'll let @OregonBuckeye add but they've got a couple of solid RB's in Freeman and Tyner - neither are on Zeke's level though. I'm actually surprised they haven't had more success with those guys this year.

Actually, both of our guys are outstanding backs. Both were 5 star recruits. Tyner had a decent season last year backing up Byron Marshall, who rushed for over 1,000 yards last year, but has been moved around at RB, in the slot, etc. When fall camp came around it was clear that Royce Freeman was a special back. They split time initially, but then Tyner went out several times with nagging injuries. Freeman took over the position and rushed for 1,299 yards - mostly right up the middle. Dude is a true freshman beast! He's not a burner like Zeke, but he can pound the defense consistently for 5, 10, 15 yards a pop. Tyner is also a bruiser, but he's also got breakaway speed and is back at 100%, so you guys will see a 1-2 punch at RB with Mariota as a threat and Byron Marshall stepping in once in awhile as a change of pace.

 

[Buckeye86]

You can say this isn't the 2009 Oregon team and they are no longer soft, but what exact proof is there of that?

Is it based entirely on the results of the FSU game? MSU?

I'm genuinely curious.

At the end of the day, it still seems like a defense (and offensive line) designed for a relatively "soft" style of play in the Pac12, and the schedule isn't exactly full of physical tests outside of the two schools I mentioned and Stanford.

At the same time, OSU just went toe to toe with two of the most physically imposing teams in college football.

People will have to excuse me for not buying in to Oregon being a changed team that is able to match up physically with OSU just yet.

 

[Joe Stewart]

The one thing I think I noticed this year is that Oregon hasn't been blowing teams out to start the games. They seem to keep it close for the first quarter, most of the second, and then the scores start to avalanche. I remember the past couple years seeing Oregon put up 28-35 first quarter points.

If this is true, what's the cause? Exhaustion? Adjustments? Capitalizing on opponents mistakes?

Just as an observation, I think it's a combination of adjusting to what the opposition is doing. Our biggest Qtr all season has been the 3rd Qtr, so they make adjustments at halftime then come out and rev up the engine.

 

[Joe Stewart]

You can say that this isn't the 2009 Oregon team and they are no longer soft, but what exact proof is there of that?

Is it based entirely on the results of the FSU game? MSU?

I'm genuinely curious.

We're more talented in almost every area. You have to remember that the 2010 Rose Bowl was the culmination of Chip Kelly's first season as head coach. He brought in a LOT of talent over the following 4 years and Coach Helfrich has continued that trend. We're a little bigger and much stronger on both lines, loaded at the skill positions, Heisman QB, much improved defense (since the middle of the season), different coach, etc.

I really have a great appreciation for Chip Kelly and what he did for us at Oregon, but there were times when he was stubborn with his play calling. Mark Helfrich and Scott Frost have made adjustments the past two years that have given them more options to work with.

 

[Buckeye86]

We're more talented in almost every area. You have to remember that the 2010 Rose Bowl was the culmination of Chip Kelly's first season as head coach. He brought in a LOT of talent over the following 4 years and Coach Helfrich has continued that trend. We're a little bigger and much stronger on both lines, loaded at the skill positions, Heisman QB, much improved defense (since the middle of the season), different coach, etc.

I really have a great appreciation for Chip Kelly and what he did for us at Oregon, but there were times when he was stubborn with his play calling. Mark Helfrich and Scott Frost have made adjustments the past two years that have given them more options to work with.

I would counter by saying Ohio State matches up talent wise at every position outside of QB and RB (depth) and is significantly more physical to boot.

Oregon is also dealing with a bunch of injuring issues which depletes the talent pool, no?

And the biggest thing to me, as I've said before, is that although FSU had an equal talent edge, they coasted through a soft schedule (in terms of physical challenges) and were a zombie team infected by success and attitude with no leadership.

Ohio State has the motivation and coaching that FSU did not.

I'm not predicting a blow out or anything, I just think OSU is in a really great position heading into this game.

 

[jwinslow]

Anyone expecting a repeat of 2010 is being myopic. That unit had a stout, physical DL, very disciplined and instinctive lbs and a pair of strong safeties. This team has a lot less consistency at lb and safety and lacks the depth at DT that the 09-10 team enjoyed.

Masoli was also a system guy and noticeably worse than his predecessor, let alone super Mario. He has a deeper crop of weapons than Masoli had.

Conversely, that was a fairly inefficient buckeye offense that came alive against a suspect defense. This is a high octane offense with great blocking, backs and receivers to make life easy on their qb.

I think osu can certainly win this game, and Oregon struggles on defense were hidden by the turnovers forced by fsu. Naturally they deserve credit for those but osu also has a grown man at tail back not a child. Fsu also has spent the entire year turning the ball over and somehow getting away with it, until they played an offense that could bury them.

This has the feel of a team of Destiny. The Oregon o vs osu d makes me feel like this is a win 70% of the time, but then I remember how much trouble Oregon will have with osu's offense. I think this is a very even game and I can't wait.

 

[bigdog3300]

Actually, both of our guys are outstanding backs. Both were 5 star recruits. Tyner had a decent season last year backing up Byron Marshall, who rushed for over 1,000 yards last year, but has been moved around at RB, in the slot, etc. When fall camp came around it was clear that Royce Freeman was a special back. They split time initially, but then Tyner went out several times with nagging injuries. Freeman took over the position and rushed for 1,299 yards - mostly right up the middle. Dude is a true freshman beast! He's not a burner like Zeke, but he can pound the defense consistently for 5, 10, 15 yards a pop. Tyner is also a bruiser, but he's also got breakaway speed and is back at 100%, so you guys will see a 1-2 punch at RB with Mariota as a threat and Byron Marshall stepping in once in awhile as a change of pace.

Hey Joe, thanks for the response. Always good to have some outside perspectives coming in.

I hear what you're saying with the 5 star recruits, but that speaks nothing on their production and you already know the volume of 5* busts. For as talented as they are and with a QB like Mariota, they aren't producing per carry like I would expect. Freeman and Tyner are pulling 5.6 and 5.1 YPC - which is solid but when you compare it to Zeke and our #2, Samuel, you're looking at 6.9 and 6.6. Those are big time numbers....it wasn't saying they aren't talented, it's saying I expected more out of your running game especially with that other threat of a Heisman QB back there.

Zeke isn't even a burner, which is the scary part....strictly from a ground game perspective OSU has a clear edge IMO and we need to pound the rock to the tune of 40+ carries.

 

[Joe Stewart]

I would counter by saying Ohio State matches up talent wise at every position outside of QB and RB (depth) and is significantly more physical to boot.

Of course they do. I wouldn't argue that, but that wasn't your question. You wanted to know what makes this Oregon team different from the team you played in 2009. The answer is "we're a lot better".

Oregon is also dealing with a bunch of injuring issues which depletes the talent pool, no?

To an extent, but the Ducks are deep and have a lot more experience than we did at the beginning of the year. Losing Ifo Ekpre-Olamu and Phoaroh Brown hurt, but our secondary is still very talented. Those guys have had most of the balls thrown at them all year long because teams were trying to avoid Ifo. Evan Bayliss is a capable TE, as he showed in the Rose Bowl. Losing Devan Allen's speed hurts a litte, but we're loaded at receiver, so that's not a major concern. With the exception of the guys that were injured in fall camp, all of our offensive linemen are back now, and they're deeper than they have been all season.

And the biggest thing to me, as I've said before, is that although FSU had an equal talent edge, they coasted through a soft schedule (in terms of physical challenges) and were a zombie team infected by success and attitude with no leadership.

I agree 100%.

Ohio State has the motivation and coaching that FSU did not.

I wouldn't know anything about that. Regardless of their schedule, it's not easy to get through a season 13-0. You can have bad games, injuries, bad calls, bad matchups, etc. There's also more parity now in college football than there's ever been. I'm in no way a fan of Jameis Winston, Jimbo Fisher or Florida State, but I won't undermine their accomplishments.

I'm not predicting a blow out or anything, I just think OSU is in a really great position heading into this game.

I think they probably are, too. Urban Meyer is one of the best coaches in the country and I have no doubt that he'll have his team ready to play.

On the other hand, I like Oregon's chances, too. Quack, quack! :-)

 

[Buckeye86]

This team has a lot less consistency at lb and safety and lacks the depth at DT that the 09-10 team enjoyed.

At the beginning of the year I would agree 100% on the DBs and LBs... right now not so much.

Tyvis Powell is equal to or greater than Anderson Russell and Vonn Bell is comparable to Kurt Coleman IMO.

We had an extremely good Nickel in Jermale Hines that year, and although Armani Reeves isn't nearly the physical presence that Hines was, I think Reeves is very capable and underrated.

At CB, Doran Grant equals Chimdi Chekwa and Apple is equal to or greater than Devon Torrance.

Finally, I think guys like Conley and Burrows provide depth in the secondary that wasnt there in '09.

At LB I think Darron Lee is comparable to Brian Rolle while Josh Perry and Curtis Grant are markedly better than Spitler but a step down from Homan.

I worry about Perry and/or Grant in space against the Ducks.

At DT I agree the depth is not there (although Schutt had a strong game against Wisky) but I think Bennett is better than Larrimore and Worthington while Adolphus is comparable to both.

Not having Spence hurts a lot as he would be the Thaddeus Gibson comparison, but clearly Bosa and Heyward are comparable.

We can quibble over details, but outside of proven DL depth I don't think this years unit is markedly worse than '09.

Most importantly, they have improved so much throughout the year and I think they are still on an upward trajectory given their youth.

 

[greyscarlet]

There is zero comparison between the two. Mariota is the far superior QB

you must have a short memory. I'm not saying Mariota is not superior but you are saying that with the knowledge of tOSU rolling Masolli. This Oregon team is not much different than the 09 version and that starts at QB.

 

[greyscarlet]

you must have a short memory. I'm not saying Mariota is not superior but you are saying that with the knowledge of tOSU rolling Masolli. This Oregon team is not much different than the 09 version and that starts at QB.

from what i've seen what makes Mariota special is ability to improvise and make plays when the initial playcall breaks down. This is wher tOSU d needs to wrap up and finish or there will be trouble.