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

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BamaInHoustonRTR said:
Thanks for the insightful post. We aren't as strong running behind guards as we have been in the past. The interior of the Oline just isn't as dominant and we don't have a big back that can really pound it. Henry is a 240lb back that prefers to run in space. So I imagine we will try to run outside more and when we test the middle go wit the I using Fowler at FB. Fowler is also a good pass catching threat.

What sort of defense do you guys play. Will you guys play man on our WRs. Will your CBs press or play off. How much zone do you play? Who is your best CB?
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The Buckeyes base defense is 4-3 or Nickel Cover 4. It's a new system for them this season and it has taken a while for the Buckeyes to grow into it. The Buckeyes departed from it a bit against M*ch*g*n State and Wisconsin though. Against M*ch*g*n State they played more man-to-man, with Doran Grant following their best receiver, Tony Lippett wherever he lined up. Grant is our best and most experienced CB, and while he was superb against Lippett I don't think he (or anybody else in college) is good enough to do the same against Cooper. I think they'll play more zone against Alabama.

Ohio State's Cover 4 has mostly avoided bringing the safeties close to the line for run support, and that has caused the linebackers (who are deficient as a unit) to get exposed against teams that commit to running the ball. That was the departure against Wisconsin - the DBs were used much more in run support to stop Melvin Gordon. They were able to do this because Wisconsin presented zero passing threat - which will definitely not be the case against Alabama.

Also worth mentioning among DBs is Eli Apple. He's a RS freshman who has grown up a lot this season. Pretty decent tackler on the edge and in the open field. Has picked up a few costly PIs this season, but has also been the most likely to come up with a crucial interception. Our safeties leave something to be desired, but on the whole the Buckeye secondary is much better than it was last season.

Since bringing in Chris Ash from Arkansas for this season, the Buckeyes pass defense has improved markedly from what you may have seen last season and particularly against Clemson in the Orange Bowl. It has come at the cost of the run defense though, and except against Melvin Gordon the Buckeyes have been gashed by RBs throughout the season.
 
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Brodman said:
LOl, my wife is an Auburn grad, I would get beat in my sleep...
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You know, you'd think that there's a lot of hatred between the two, but all the time I've spent in Alabama proved otherwise. Auburn and Bama fans being friends, lovers, etc. I found that extremely odd. You'll rarely see something like that with UM/TOSU, but it does happen from time to time.
 
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jlb1705 said:
The Buckeyes base defense is Cover 4. It's a new system for them this season and it has taken a while for the Buckeyes to grow into it. The Buckeyes departed from it a bit against M*ch*g*n State and Wisconsin though. Against M*ch*g*n State they played more man-to-man, with Doran Grant following their best receiver, Tony Lippett wherever he lined up. Grant is our best and most experienced CB, and while he was superb against Lippett I don't think he (or anybody else in college) is good enough to do the same against Cooper. I think they'll play more zone against Alabama.

Ohio State's Cover 4 has mostly avoided bringing the safeties close to the line for run support, and that has caused the linebackers (who are deficient as a unit) to get exposed against teams that commit to running the ball. That was the departure against Wisconsin - the DBs were used much more in run support to stop Melvin Gordon. They were able to do this because Wisconsin presented zero passing threat - which will definitely not be the case against Alabama.

Also worth mentioning among DBs is Eli Apple. He's a RS freshman who has grown up a lot this season. Pretty decent tackler on the edge and in the open field. Has picked up a few costly PIs this season, but has also been the most likely to come up with a crucial interception. Our safeties leave something to be desired, but on the whole the Buckeye secondary is much better than it was last season.

Since bringing in Chris Ash from Arkansas for this season, the Buckeyes pass defense has improved markedly from what you may have seen last season and particularly against Clemson in the Orange Bowl. It has come at the cost of the run defense though, and except against Melvin Gordon the Buckeyes have been gashed by RBs throughout the season.
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I feel like Meyer will play some type of bracket coverage/zone against Cooper, it may open the run a bit, but Bama doesn't have the same run game we have had in the past
 
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BamaInHoustonRTR said:
Thanks for the insightful post. We aren't as strong running behind guards as we have been in the past. The interior of the Oline just isn't as dominant and we don't have a big back that can really pound it. Henry is a 240lb back that prefers to run in space. So I imagine we will try to run outside more and when we test the middle go wit the I using Fowler at FB. Fowler is also a good pass catching threat.

What sort of defense do you guys play. Will you guys play man on our WRs. Will your CBs press or play off. How much zone do you play? Who is your best CB?
Click to expand...
Cover 4. They hired Chris Ash this offseason (and asked most of the defensive staff to find new jobs). They want to emulate Sparty 2013 but are still a work in progress. They play a lot of man up near the LOS but are not great at pressing. I'd describe it as being present early in the route rather than disruptive.

Ross Fulton at Eleven Warriors is a phenomenal read for X's and O's of Buckeye football and will surely have multiple film and scheme breakdowns of our upcoming game.

His spring breakdown of OSU's move to cover-4: http://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-...d-ohio-states-ongoing-struggle-cover-4-part-i

His sparty breakdown: http://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-...90/ohio-state-v-michigan-state-film-breakdown

Penn state: http://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-.../42426/ohio-state-v-penn-state-film-breakdown



The best corner is Doran Grant. Good cover man, solid size (5'11 193), good in run support. He does not have Bradley Roby's ludicrous speed but he is no slouch. Teams tend to attack Eli Apple instead, who has come a long way from being a liability in september to being a promising freshman (who is just solid at this point).
 
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jwinslow said:
Cover 4. They hired Chris Ash this offseason (and asked most of the defensive staff to find new jobs). They want to emulate Sparty 2013 but are still a work in progress. They play a lot of man up near the LOS but are not great at pressing. I'd describe it as being present early in the route rather than disruptive.

Ross Fulton at Eleven Warriors is a phenomenal read for X's and O's of Buckeye football and will surely have multiple film and scheme breakdowns of our upcoming game.

His spring breakdown of OSU's move to cover-4: http://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-...d-ohio-states-ongoing-struggle-cover-4-part-i

His sparty breakdown: http://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-...90/ohio-state-v-michigan-state-film-breakdown

Penn state: http://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-.../42426/ohio-state-v-penn-state-film-breakdown



The best corner is Doran Grant. Good cover man, solid size (5'11 193), good in run support. He does not have Bradley Roby's ludicrous speed but he is no slouch. Teams tend to attack Eli Apple instead, who has come a long way from being a liability in september to being a promising freshman (who is just solid at this point).
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God bless you for pointing out 11W. I always want to do that here, but I don't want to step on toes. Excellent writers/analysts over there for us, though. Amazing group of guys.
 
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Brodman said:
I feel like Meyer will play some type of bracket coverage/zone against Cooper, it may open the run a bit, but Bama doesn't have the same run game we have had in the past
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You may not have the same run game as in the past, but it's still strong enough that it needs to be respected and accounted for. Stopping the Alabama run game - particularly in the second half - is one of the most unenviable tasks in the sport. I've watched and rooted against you guys enough to know how your run game can break opponents physically and mentally late in the game.
 
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jlb1705 said:
You may not have the same run game as in the past, but it's still strong enough that it needs to be respected and accounted for. Stopping the Alabama run game - particularly in the second half - is one of the most unenviable tasks in the sport. I've watched and rooted against you guys enough to know how your run game can break opponents physically and mentally late in the game.
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The difference between the 1st and 2nd half run game is noticeable...
 
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Telekinesis said:
I never see any 11W discussions and I've been here for a long time. Maybe I should start checking other forums outside of game day threads and poking fun at Jameis Winston. :lol:
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Well ramzy is naturally a rockstar, especially on the twitters. I'm still laughing at his \pants off response to today's announcement :lol:
 
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jlb1705 said:
You may not have the same run game as in the past, but it's still strong enough that it needs to be respected and accounted for. Stopping the Alabama run game - particularly in the second half - is one of the most unenviable tasks in the sport. I've watched and rooted against you guys enough to know how your run game can break opponents physically and mentally late in the game.
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I think that's depth... Yeldon get's done then defenses have to deal with Henry, and he can be a monster when your tired, same with our D-line... too deep for most to deal with, but Meyer knows whats coming, he can handle it
 
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I'm not sure if it can be dug up but I seem to remember in one of Urban Meyer's first press conferences as Ohio State head coach that he made a statement to the effect that Alabama was the standard in college football to aspire to achieve. We now get a chance to see how the Buckeyes measure up.
 
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