Game Thread BCS Championship Game, tOSU vs. Florida - Jan 8th

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

OHIO STATE FOOTBALL
OSU has winning routine for postseason
Friday, December 22, 2006
Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH


If Ohio State practices behind closed doors for two weeks and there?s no media or fans watching, does it mean the Buckeyes still are going to make some noise Jan. 8 in the national championship game against Florida? Just look at the record, safety Brandon Mitchell said. In his fifth season, Mitchell knows that coach Jim Tressel has won four straight bowl games since he lost his first after the 2001 season. The Buckeyes have won the Fiesta Bowl three times, including a win over the University of Miami for the 2002 national title.

Continued.....

 

[Gatorhater]

"If Russell played in the Big Ten his stats would be far superior to Smiths."

Hmmm. This would be like saying Randle El is the best Big Ten QB in the past decade. I'll remind you that Randle El was the Indiana team that Illinois beat to bring home its first Big Ten home win in two years (1998), which followed a winless year (1997).

So yeah, if Russell played in the Big Ten, clearly his stats would be so amazing they'd create a new award for him. /sarcasm
The SEC, though, thinks the Big Ten is a joke, and really, all other conferences are jokes in football. One of the many reasons I hate them Gators.

 

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

Hmmm. This would be like saying Randle El is the best Big Ten QB in the past decade. I'll remind you that Randle El was the Indiana team that Illinois beat to bring home its first Big Ten home win in two years (1998), which followed a winless year (1997).

So yeah, if Russell played in the Big Ten, clearly his stats would be so amazing they'd create a new award for him. /sarcasm
The SEC, though, thinks the Big Ten is a joke, and really, all other conferences are jokes in football. One of the many reasons I hate them Gators.

As the game preview will show, this SEC fever has no basis in fact - particularly where the Big Ten is concerned.
[/teaser]

 

[CookyPuss]

Okay, so now for my impressions. Firstly, Florida's defense is very good against the run. But Arkansas' play calling was terrible. Most of the time they ran it until they were forced to pass on third and long, and even then they were able to convert quite a few times when Florida was expecting pass.

Appreciate the analysis. I (like many others I'm sure) was watching USC during the first half of this game. I was actually flipping back and forth. UF looked so much better than USC that it wasn't even funny. I'm sitting there thinking, man I hate USC and want to see them lose, but I'd rather face them than UF. USC goes down in flames and now I'm on the UF game exclusively. Next thing I know, UF is starting to look inept and here comes Arkansas. That muffed punt totally changed that game... no doubt about it. UF just looked stupid most of that half, until that last TD drive. As you noted, the Arkansas D looked pretty worn out at that point.

My thoughts run similar to yours. If USC had been our opponent, I think it would have been Tresselball all the way. Slow'em down and win with kicking and D. I think we spread UF out and ramp up the intensity. Pressure D and quick strike offense. UF's Achilles heel is making mistakes and I think Tressel will go right at them and force as many mistakes as possible. That's what I love about Tressel. His gameplans are often as much about the opponent's weakness as our strengths.

 

[cincibuck]

I'd agree with you if the game were held in a dome. Nobody wants a fucking mudbowl National Championship game.

Yet another MYTH: The sun is always out in Sunbelt sites. I've seen rainy, muddy Rose and Orange bowl games. Weather happens.

If the NFL can play it's conference championship games in Chicago, Green Bay, Buffalo, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Pittsburg et al, and draw a full house then there is no reason why you couldn't fill a stadium in the Midwest for a top tier bowl game...none.

Old school here. Basketball is an indoor sport. Domed stadiums for baseball and football detract from the game. I don't like them one bit.

 

[Taosman]

Did anyone else notice that Florida is 118th in the nation in committing penalties?
Only 1 team is worse!
In a big game penalties will beat you even if your playing equal to the other team!

 

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

Yet another MYTH: The sun is always out in Sunbelt sites. I've seen rainy, muddy Rose and Orange bowl games. Weather happens.

If the NFL can play it's conference championship games in Chicago, Green Bay, Buffalo, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Pittsburg et al, and draw a full house then there is no reason why you couldn't fill a stadium in the Midwest for a top tier bowl game...none.

Old school here. Basketball is an indoor sport. Domed stadiums for baseball and football detract from the game. I don't like them one bit.

I'm in your corner on this one, Cinci. Truth be told, I don't like all the perscription turf either. Nothing says football like a mud bath. Give me the days when a team playing on Astroturf in Pittsburgh or Philly still managed to get dirty... When the Minnesota Vikings played outside... when a rain storm in the Coliseum created the "mud bowl"

 

[SanAntonioBuck]

Did anyone else notice that Florida is 118th in the nation in committing penalties?
Only 1 team is worse!
In a big game penalties will beat you even if your playing equal to the other team!

They lack self control, no team ranked that high should have those kind of discipline problems. I guess they can't control all that speed.

 

[cincibuck]

I guess they can control all that speed.

Aren't you the one who wrote about how difficult it was to reel in the Top Gun hot shots for class time?

I think that what I've seen in Ted Ginn Jr. these last two years is growth in understanding how to use and control his speed. That's the result of excellent coaching and a willingness on his part to learn and discipline his talent.

 

[Taosman]

When the top teams play each other it usually comes down to the small things.
Team dicisipline is important.

Am I the only one looking forward to seeing Teddy healthy and running full speed(controlled) one last time?
Of coarse no one has that "southern speed" like Florida!

And it will be interesting to see Ray Small, again.

 

[SanAntonioBuck]

Aren't you the one who wrote about how difficult it was to reel in the Top Gun hot shots for class time?

Yes, I guess my students do pull too many G's.

 

[pokey]

Still, Florida does make good teams play poorly, matching them with turn overs and penalties.

I noticed that too. Why do you think it is? I have 2 theories:
1) Special Teams don't show up too many stats. And Florida is great at causing turnovers with their special teams.
2) Florida's defense and special teams are very intimidating, prompting the other side to make mistakes.

Any thoughts?

 

[Gatorhater]

1) Special Teams don't show up too many stats. And Florida is great at causing turnovers with their special teams.
2) Florida's defense and special teams are very intimidating, prompting the other side to make mistakes.

Any thoughts?

Florida's special teams are a study in contrast. You've got a placekicker that can't make a fieldgoal, and a punter that can turn field position on its head. Returns are good, not great, while Florida has block a bunch of kicks, especially when it matters (3 blocks in the win over south carolina, which became the reason for the win.)

I propose to you that one reason teams get sloppy is a lack of patience. Florida's defense can slow any offense to a slower pace than it is used to. While at the same time, Florida's offense is stagnant. So when the opposing team's offense comes out, they feel like they have to get some points to start distancing themselves on the scoreboard. Instead of patience, you end up with penalties. If OSU has a patient and clean game, I don't think this will be that close of a game.

 

[BUCKYLE]

I noticed that too. Why do you think it is? I have 2 theories:
1) Special Teams don't show up too many stats. And Florida is great at causing turnovers with their special teams.
2) Florida's defense and special teams are very intimidating, prompting the other side to make mistakes.

Any thoughts?

If you're banking on our offense being intimidated as a key to the 'Gators winning......it's gonna be a long night.

 

[lvbuckeye]

Of coarse