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

[Nutriaitch]

You know, it wasn't Alabama or LSU fans (with one glaring exception) that were the problem here after our BCSCG losses, maybe because LSU is successful and their fans are just plain fun and Alabama has the confidence that goes with having such a storied and successful program.

i've been around fan bases of every SEC except Missouri (who really isn't SEC anyway).
and I can honestly say Bama has some of the best.
our rivalry with them is intense, but for the most part respectful. I've never made the trip to Tuscalusa for a game, but have heard from many that it is a great experience.

y'all just need to be thankful you don't play Auburn every year.
that town has got to be the cesspool of the South. never met a decent human being from that area yet.

 

[MD Buckeye]

http://www.si.com/college-football/2014/12/08/ohio-state-buckeyes-college-football-playoff

'We're in!': How Ohio State learned it made the College Football Playoff
This story will appear in the Dec. 15, 2014 issue of Sports Illustrated. To purchase a subscription to the magazine, go here.

A dozen people mingled in a Dublin, Ohio, living room on Sunday, attempting in vain to make small talk over the high-decibel commentary on television. As the minutes dwindled before the estimated 12:45 p.m. announcement of the four teams in the inaugural College Football Playoff, Urban Meyer’s left thumb kept hammering the volume button. The Ohio State coach likes to be in control, and the remote was the only place where he could exert his influence.

Amid the noise, no one else knew quite what to do. The night before, Meyer’s No. 5 Buckeyes had eviscerated 13th-ranked Wisconsin 59-0 in the Big Ten title game. “Shocked,” Meyer said of his team’s dominance. “Shocked. I thought Wisconsin was really good.” Ohio State returned from Indianapolis to Columbus after 3 a.m., and Meyer’s electronic wrist tracker informed him that he’d since slept for three hours and 10 minutes. He sat in a white upholstered chair, looking equal parts anxious and exhausted, dissecting his team’s chances.

Contd....

Really Gene????

 

[Thump]

For OSU to win, they need Blake Sims to throw some picks.

 

[kujirakira]

I visited a couple message boards because I wanted to read what they thought of us and the Missouri comparison is what I saw in a both places. If they think they'll be able to shut down our offense as cleanly as they did Mizzou they'll be in for a surprise.

Yeap, I was listening to a little Finebaum yesterday and they were all going on about how relieved they were to get us instead of Oregon's offense. As Dantonio found out, not a lot of difference there. I think they'll do fine in NOLA, this team was built to play in fair weather (or domes) with enough power on the ground to survive and grind through B1G's weather.
With good prep and execution, both teams should be able to move the ball. Think it comes down to turnovers.

 

[HorseshoeFetish]

For OSU to win, they need Blake Sims to throw some picks.

Especially if they should manage to start the game hot and lead 14-0. Vonn making that interception Saturday night might have been the most important play of the season. As soon as they had gone up 14-0 I was up pacing around. All year it seems like that was when they decided to take some time off and let teams back in. I didn't bother sitting down again until they scored. Call me crazy but once they got over that hump and led 17-0, that's when the "complete" team package manifested before our very eyes.

 

[FerrariEnzo]

Turnovers, turnovers, turnovers. One team could vastly outplay the other and yet be the beneficiary of a few timely fumbles and I see a wild game. I am excited to face Alabama.

 

[bukIpower]

Especially if they should manage to start the game hot and lead 14-0. Vonn making that interception Saturday night might have been the most important play of the season. As soon as they had gone up 14-0 I was up pacing around. All year it seems like that was when they decided to take some time off and let teams back in. I didn't bother sitting down again until they scored. Call me crazy but once they got over that hump and led 17-0, that's when the "complete" team package manifested before our very eyes.

Yeah I was the same way.. Wisconsin was driving with a few first downs and Gordon had popped a couple nice 7-10 yard gains and then on first down Stave throws a Yip. Even outside of that we stalled on our 3rd drive and that's how it normally goes and I really feel we need to anticipate a team adjusting by the third drive. I have no doubt we will start the game well against Bama' because it'll be a frustrating 4 weeks for our guys' hearing about how it should be TCU and how Bama' is 10 point favorites. We just need to put Bama' away if we are given any opportunity to do so early (which I wouldn't doubt if it's there to take). I think scoring two straight possessions while holding Bama' to 3 points or less is not out of the question. It's what we do on Defense/Offense if we somehow go up 14-0 or 10-0 because we really have struggled all year getting bogged down on that third possession.

For the visiting tide fans I'm not saying we are going to go up 14-0 or 10-0 but rather if we do happen to start the game like we normally do (which is really quick) then we need to plan for Bama' to adjust by the 3rd series and have something different for them. The more I watch that Wisconsin game (and I have a few times) the more I feel we really need to get Devin involved early in the game particularly deep, even if we don't connect.

 

[youra6]

It hasn't even been 3 days since our last game and I'm already dying of anticipation.

 

[AlabamaPaul]

It hasn't even been 3 days since our last game and I'm already dying of anticipation.

Only three more weeks to go...

 

[Telekinesis]

Ohio State is a hungrier bunch than Alabama for this win. Agree or disagree? Who wants it more?

 

[Nutriaitch]

Ohio State is a hungrier bunch than Alabama for this win. Agree or disagree? Who wants it more?

Ohio State has more to prove than Bama does right now.

but the pressure is all on tOSU.
if Bama loses, they'll still be Bama and right in the mix next year with ESPN blowing. them all season.

if tOSU loses, the media narrative will be "see, we told you they couldn't hang with the top of the SEC."
and tOSU won't get the benefit of the doubt in a close vote for a while yet again.

 

[Onebuckfan]

I see tOSU going fast with few subs.. trying to catch the right match up against either the run D or the pass rush D. We can stay in base personell and run or pass. Expect Donte/Jalin to be a factor..as Smith will draw a lot of attention. I know Saban does not like the hurry-up so I think we use it to stop situational defenses.

 

[Zander42]

Ohio State has more to prove than Bama does right now.

but the pressure is all on tOSU.
if Bama loses, they'll still be Bama and right in the mix next year with ESPN blowing. them all season.

if tOSU loses, the media narrative will be "see, we told you they couldn't hang with the top of the SEC."
and tOSU won't get the benefit of the doubt in a close vote for a while yet again.

Weren't people saying that last year when we lost to Clemson?

Folks always seem to think these things are bigger than they are.

 

[scarletmike]

I see tOSU going fast with few subs.. trying to catch the right match up against either the run D or the pass rush D. We can stay in base personell and run or pass. Expect Donte/Jalin to be a factor..as Smith will draw a lot of attention. I know Saban does not like the hurry-up so I think we use it to stop situational defenses.

That's the key, try to have an offensive series that is set up that doesn't require many/any subs to give the D as little time to reset as possible. The most important thing, however, is to get the play call in ASAP and be ready to roll almost as soon as the ball is allowed to be snapped. Can't be ready to go only to take 10+ seconds looking back to the side line to reset the play call.

 

[lvbuckeye]

An opposing team's success or failure on running the football really depends on which lineman we have in the game at the time. A run dominant team usually faces our " space eaters" and has little success running between the tackles but has moderate success outside. Pass happy teams, like Texas A&M for example, have little success on the perimeter but have moderate success in between the tackles. Saban and DC Kirby Smart want match ups defensively. If your personnel favor a run, we substitute to mitigate your success of running. If your personnel favor a pass, we substitute more astute pass rushers. The HUNH gives us problems because we are often caught with bad match ups with the opposing teams personnel. So...if you guys can play tempo, you might find easier sledding.

Ohio State runs the same personnel from multiple formations. The base is an 11 set. Urban and Herman move the players to get favorable matchups. Can't load up the box against 3 or 4 wide, and the Buckeyes run power from those spread sets. No huddle is a staple, but it's not always hurry up. They get to the line quickly, but then make adjustments and calls based on what the defense shows.