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2020 Team Discussion Thread



“This is Practice No. 39, if you can believe it,” Day said. “We’ve had 39 practices, now there’s only been a very small percentage of those with pads on, but it’s no longer just practice. We’re playing in a game, so the urgency really has to show up. I told them: ‘You’re either going to look like a champ or look like a chump based on your preparation.’

“Now is the time, and it’s not like you can just go get it the next rep. That’s what happens when you practice so much and there are no real consequences for a mistake. Well, now there will be. We’ll get a better idea what kind of team we have on Saturday.”
 
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THE FIRE INSIDE

Don’t worry: Ohio State hasn’t forgotten how last year ended. The coaches and players remember the devastating Fiesta Bowl loss to Clemson. By posting the score in the weight room and keeping it a topic of conversation, the Buckeyes plan to avenge their College Football Playoff semifinal loss later in the upcoming season.

“That motivation comes from not finishing the job,” Borland said. “Not finishing the way that we would like to last year. Obviously, it's a new season, new people. But that fire's still there and we still remember that. That's something we talk about frequently as a team and something we carry with us.”

The chase for redemption begins on Saturday.

“There's a great responsibility with being an Ohio State football player,” Borland said. “A long history of much success. We're just trying to do our part. But we're not really focused on what's to come in the long run. We know we have to take it day by day, practice by practice, game by game. Just being in a present moment. That's what our preparation has been. It's been completely focused on Nebraska and going 1-0 this week.”
 
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I would opine that the biggest loss is JK Dobbins until I see otherwise. You don't just replace guys like that.

The new stable of RB's might very well be good but there is a big gap between 'good' and what JK Dobbins brought to the table. Hoping the gap isn't made up with Fields running more.


But what the fuck do I know?
 
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Last year against FAU, JK got 92 yards on 21 carries.
Yesterday against UNL, Teague and Sermon got 101 yards on 23 carries.

When asked about the similarity, Day said that sometimes this happens in first games, where you've seen the same D line for months and you struggle the first time you go against someone else. There is a chance that they'll be fine... I expect they'll be better. But neither one is Dobbins. Then again, this year, they don't have to be. Fields just eviscerated a defense without much of a threat from the running game.

The biggest improvement I'm hoping to see over the next few games (apart from the OL), is Fields getting the ball out faster. The Buckeyes do have some plays where the primary receiver's route takes a little longer than others... hopefully Fields can learn to see and take the check-down faster at such times.

There was definitely better recognition and exploitation of the blitz on 3rd and medium yesterday, so there is hope there.
 
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Biggest thing I'd like to see is to be set on defense as the play begins. Too many times corn would motion and our guy following playing man wouldn't be set. Also the DL needs to do better too many times getting pushed back and they weren't very disruptive on the passing downs.
 
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Rewatched the first game....

Not concerned about the running game. Thought NU took their chances with our passing game and loaded up. You combine that with them being very big up front and I consider 200+ rushing a very good outing. Would also be nice to see more people touch the ball at WR though. Did Gee Scott play? Didn't see him at all.

Defense was about what I thought but a few observations. We played way too much man. Every single time there was a motion across the field Nebraska ran opposite of the motion to a vacant area. That coupled with DBs with their backs turned on QB runs and I think we played way too much man. Also up front we stunted a ton and Nebraska did a great job trapping out inside guys on stunts and cutting underneath it and washing our DL out.

I think 7/24/41/26 had very good games. There wasnt much production from their WRs at all. Most of their success was on play action against Lbs playing far too aggressive.

The chief concern though to me is this resembled the 2018 style defense with the over aggressive and man defense. Obviously it was a fairly good outing after the 1st quarter but I'm definitely a little concerned about the style being more aggressive.

We got turnovers though, held up pretty well in the redzone, and I though the secondary was great. Will be curious to see of we start to blend more zone in next week to get more eyes on the ball.
 
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Rewatched the first game....

Not concerned about the running game. Thought NU took their chances with our passing game and loaded up. You combine that with them being very big up front and I consider 200+ rushing a very good outing. Would also be nice to see more people touch the ball at WR though. Did Gee Scott play? Didn't see him at all.

Defense was about what I thought but a few observations. We played way too much man. Every single time there was a motion across the field Nebraska ran opposite of the motion to a vacant area. That coupled with DBs with their backs turned on QB runs and I think we played way too much man. Also up front we stunted a ton and Nebraska did a great job trapping out inside guys on stunts and cutting underneath it and washing our DL out.

I think 7/24/41/26 had very good games. There wasnt much production from their WRs at all. Most of their success was on play action against Lbs playing far too aggressive.

The chief concern though to me is this resembled the 2018 style defense with the over aggressive and man defense. Obviously it was a fairly good outing after the 1st quarter but I'm definitely a little concerned about the style being more aggressive.

We got turnovers though, held up pretty well in the redzone, and I though the secondary was great. Will be curious to see of we start to blend more zone in next week to get more eyes on the ball.

The game changed once we put this DL in:

Z Harrison
H Garrett
T Togai
T Smith
 
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