• Follow us on Twitter @buckeyeplanet and @bp_recruiting, like us on Facebook! Enjoy a post or article, recommend it to others! BP is only as strong as its community, and we only promote by word of mouth, so share away!
  • Consider registering! Fewer and higher quality ads, no emails you don't want, access to all the forums, download game torrents, private messages, polls, Sportsbook, etc. Even if you just want to lurk, there are a lot of good reasons to register!

Game Thread 2015 Sugar Bowl: (1) Alabama vs. (4) Ohio State, Jan 1st @ 8:30p ET, ESPN (civilized thread)

Jump to latest Follow Reply
Sort by date Sort by votes
The Buckeyes have a huge challenge ahead of them given the circumstances. This Alabama team is very sound, in all 3 phases, and have some ability to exploit OSU's weaknesses. The same applies to Ohio St. as they relate to 'Bama, but I see 'Bama as a deeper team at the moment.

I think OSU needs to score first - try to to gain early momentum and avoid having to play catch-up. While I'm concerned about Cardale's inexperience in this particular game against this particular defense, his ability to throw the long ball will need to be a part of the offensive game plan. The Tide are somewhat susceptible to it, but Collins and Co. are rock solid back there. Running to the perimeter on this team is a problem. The option will not be successful, and Cardale is suspect at executing that play as it is. Cardale will need to run straight upfield on this team on design runs/breakdowns. I think we push the perimeter with jet sweeps to Marshall (Wilson?) b/c we have to. I think we can gain enough to open up Zeke on in the inside, which is where we will have to make our money on offense in this game. I think we see a lot of short slants to Thomas in this one as well, hopefully on earlier downs.

My much bigger concern is our defense against this offense. Alabama can run spread, power spread, and old fashioned I-Formation on any given play, and they do just that. Kiffin is using a lot of pre-snap motion (Cooper) to disguise and set-up future play sets. They keep defenses very off balance with run/pass/play-action sets (toss right/toss left/fake toss PA). It feels like Cooper gets every throw, but White is very quick and they'll sneak him deep often. Their o-line is very good, but I think they're center is where we need to focus. He's strong, but can be moved and may force doubles by guards at times and could open up Washington/Bosa on a few plays. They have a freshman left tackle w/an ankle issue, but will most likely be in good shape come 1/1/15. Simms is really good, but has moments of brain freeze. He runs very very well, great speed. When he's on, it's tough to defend. Alabama offense still seems to be making a few early season mistakes (missed assignments, etc.), but this is by far the most balanced offense we've faced, probably in Urban's time at OSU. We can defend them, but they will score and it will be difficult to get them off the field in 3 plays.

This is going to be a very good match-up, two coaches who know one another, almost to a fault. Saban has had Urban's number overall throughout the years, let's hope the Buckeyes can get one in the win column this time around. Alabama should be respected (not feared), they are damn good.

Go Bucks
 
Upvote 0
The one thing I'm noticing a lot out of as far as fan bases is what we can and cannot do against bama'. For example....

We can throw deep but don't try to run to the edges because it's not possible. I see it from both sides, including our fan base.

IMO, everything needs to be on the table. We need to run sweeps to Jalin, we need to do the touch pass, we need to run speed option, we need to run wild cat, and hell I hope we see another halfback pass. It's all there it's just how we set it up is the issue because of course if we motion Dontre guess what it's their mark that it's probably a sweep and eventually it will be but if we run a couple Zeke dives off of that to start it'll be there I assure you later in the game. Same goes for Zeke on the outside zone run eventually it can be there if we run a bootleg play action off it and hit Huerman on a drag route for 10 yards. Screw the whole "oh don't go there on bama' " no we better go there because if we set it up right by the 4th quarter all our plays will be options.

The one thing about this offense that we will hear Saban talk about soon (as well as every other coach we play against) is just how many formations, motions, and disguises we run in order to set up our offense. The fucked up thing about it? We will start in one formation, motion to another, then motion a player into a sweep/toss pass move and it's all to run a power dive right at you. It's a lot to comprehend for a defensive player and it forces them to think rather than to go downhill which is exactly what Alabama does not want to be doing.

I'm not as confident as I was heading into the Wisconsin game (and for you Alabama posters last weeks game was the only game all year which I stated my confidence so it's just not being a homer) but I really do feel we can win this game as long as we avoid turnovers and limit big plays. I would be severely disappointed if Zeke doesn't hit 100 and I would be disappointed if Cooper has more than 130 yards and a score.

My question to Alabama fans would be compare this years team to last years team. The way I see it a downgrade at QB, upgrade at WR, downgrade at OL, downgrade in the secondary, with the DL/LB about the same. If Alabama can lose to Oklahoma with Knight as their QB then we can win. Just win the turnovers, win 1st down on defense, and don't give up the big plays.
 
Upvote 0
I think if no one is dropping back to provide help with Devin, Cardale will give him the benefit of the doubt and toss it up again, which I really don't have a problem with if it's there. I do believe Bama's secondary is much more dangerous than Bucky's, so INTs scare me in this one. Jones will have to put that ball on the money if we want to avoid turnovers. Throwing it up for grabs will give me a heart attack. Then again, we have over double the interceptions that they have on the year, so I like our odds in the turnover battle. Hoping our guys can find a way to step in front of a few balls or be in the right spot for a deflection. Something tells me the TO margin could be a huge factor in this game. Marshall still scares the life out of me every time he's back to return a punt, although he was solid in our last game, he still made a few questionable decisions from what I can recall.
 
Upvote 0
bukIpower said:
My question to Alabama fans would be compare this years team to last years team. The way I see it a downgrade at QB, upgrade at WR, downgrade at OL, downgrade in the secondary, with the DL/LB about the same. If Alabama can lose to Oklahoma with Knight as their QB then we can win. Just win the turnovers, win 1st down on defense, and don't give up the big plays.
Click to expand...

Honestly mostly the opposite of what you said. Most of the WRs were the same last year but we also had Norwood. We just had Nussmeir as our OC who was a flippin idiot and didn't know how to ride a hot hand and take advantage of team's weaknesses. This OL is about the same as last years. Im not sure how you figured our secondary was better last year when we had the same CBs just a year younger. The DL is much much better this year and the best under Saban including vast depth and different types of technique players. LB is def weaker not having Mosley back there. QB is only a slight down grade. Sims can throw it deep but is probably overall less accurate on a lot of the other throws. But there are some other things he allows us to do like extend the length of plays and avoid sacks and make yards with his feet that McCarron didn't do as well. This team also loves #6 a lot and plays hard or him. He is the heart beat of this offense. He earned their respect playing 4 years as a scout team player who was never suppose to take a legitimate start but beat out the preseasoned anointed one through shear hard work and determination.
 
Upvote 0
I'm wondering how big an impact the psychological "intangibles" will have in this game. I *shudder* remember Urban as a no chance underdog before so I'm confident he'll have the guys ready to go.

Maybe some of the reasonable Bama fans could shed some light on where they think Bama is in that department? I doubt Saban will overlook us, but Kiffin strikes me as the type who might. Perhaps more importantly, I wonder about the players and whether they're buying all the invincibility hype coming out of virtually every media outlet? Hard to imagine that not having an impact on 18-22 year old guys (on both teams).
 
Upvote 0
bukIpower said:
The one thing I'm noticing a lot out of as far as fan bases is what we can and cannot do against bama'. For example....

We can throw deep but don't try to run to the edges because it's not possible. I see it from both sides, including our fan base.

IMO, everything needs to be on the table. We need to run sweeps to Jalin, we need to do the touch pass, we need to run speed option, we need to run wild cat, and hell I hope we see another halfback pass. It's all there it's just how we set it up is the issue because of course if we motion Dontre guess what it's their mark that it's probably a sweep and eventually it will be but if we run a couple Zeke dives off of that to start it'll be there I assure you later in the game. Same goes for Zeke on the outside zone run eventually it can be there if we run a bootleg play action off it and hit Huerman on a drag route for 10 yards. Screw the whole "oh don't go there on bama' " no we better go there because if we set it up right by the 4th quarter all our plays will be options.

The one thing about this offense that we will hear Saban talk about soon (as well as every other coach we play against) is just how many formations, motions, and disguises we run in order to set up our offense. The fucked up thing about it? We will start in one formation, motion to another, then motion a player into a sweep/toss pass move and it's all to run a power dive right at you. It's a lot to comprehend for a defensive player and it forces them to think rather than to go downhill which is exactly what Alabama does not want to be doing.

I'm not as confident as I was heading into the Wisconsin game (and for you Alabama posters last weeks game was the only game all year which I stated my confidence so it's just not being a homer) but I really do feel we can win this game as long as we avoid turnovers and limit big plays. I would be severely disappointed if Zeke doesn't hit 100 and I would be disappointed if Cooper has more than 130 yards and a score.

My question to Alabama fans would be compare this years team to last years team. The way I see it a downgrade at QB, upgrade at WR, downgrade at OL, downgrade in the secondary, with the DL/LB about the same. If Alabama can lose to Oklahoma with Knight as their QB then we can win. Just win the turnovers, win 1st down on defense, and don't give up the big plays.
Click to expand...
Never said we can't run to the perimeter, I said we will struggle to run the option w/Cardale. We will HAVE to push the perimeter, and we'll try multiple ways of doing it (it's a cornerstone to our offensive game plan). We'll see how successful it turns out, I think we break a few plays, but we won't get there like we have most of this season. It will be a means throughout the game. The whole play book is coming out in this one, there is no question. But I just believe that our best opportunity will be running the ball btwn the tackles at Alabama. Which means we have to hit the perimeter or it will just get ugly.

Look, Nick Saban and Kirby Smart are not turning on Urban's offensive film and getting nervous. This is the same offense Urban ran at Florida - Saban is well verse on tendencies, formations, etc. His unknown is Cardale Jones and the long ball.

On the flip side, Urban sits down to watch film on Bama's offense this season, and you're seeing things that Nick Saban hasn't attempted in the past - and Kiffin is good at it. That's my biggest concern.
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0
buckeye78 said:
I'm wondering how big an impact the psychological "intangibles" will have in this game. I *shudder* remember Urban as a no chance underdog before so I'm confident he'll have the guys ready to go.

Maybe some of the reasonable Bama fans could shed some light on where they think Bama is in that department? I doubt Saban will overlook us, but Kiffin strikes me as the type who might. Perhaps more importantly, I wonder about the players and whether they're buying all the invincibility hype coming out of virtually every media outlet? Hard to imagine that not having an impact on 18-22 year old guys (on both teams).
Click to expand...
The last two bowl game losses came after a chance to play for a championship was gone. Motivation was not there. That's the downside of the " championship or bust" mentality of any program. There's still plenty to play for in this game. We'll be ready to play...and you guys will be too. Won't hear any excuses from us if you guys win.
 
Upvote 0
tidefan1 said:
The last two bowl game losses came after a chance to play for a championship was gone. Motivation was not there. That's the downside of the " championship or bust" mentality of any program. There's still plenty to play for in this game. We'll be ready to play...and you guys will be too. Won't hear any excuses from us if you guys win.
Click to expand...

Point taken, but still doesn't address the question of whether Bama comes into the game overconfident/overlooking us. For example, are they thinking about Oregon/FSU instead of us? Concentrating on the Championship instead of the challenge they have directly ahead of them?
 
Upvote 0
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top