Game Thread BCS National Championship Game: tOSU 24, LSU 38 (final)

[COTiger]

Eh, the Florida things weren't bad calls really in and of themselves. The bigger issue is why LSU was in 4th down so many times. Indeed they hadn't stopped Hester to that point.... but why all the other cutesy outside runs instead of power running? I didn't feel like the fact that they got first downs over and over was the "lucky part" of that, but, looked to me like there were some favorable spots, etc on some of the 3rd downs that made the 4ht downs a bit easier. Also, my impressions at the time were that Florida's secondary was a known weakness, and I was sort of befuddled as to why Miles didn't attack it more in that game... or at least the 4th Quarter.

Excellent observations and despite watching the game live and several times the following week I'm still puzzled by our play calling in the UF game. I don't know how much Doucet's absence influenced the game plan re the passing game, but I kept asking myself why aren't we throwing more often since we were playing from behind well into the 4th quarter.

 

[Nutriaitch]

Eh, the Florida things weren't bad calls really in and of themselves. The bigger issue is why LSU was in 4th down so many times. Indeed they hadn't stopped Hester to that point.... but why all the other cutesy outside runs instead of power running? I didn't feel like the fact that they got first downs over and over was the "lucky part" of that, but, looked to me like there were some favorable spots, etc on some of the 3rd downs that made the 4ht downs a bit easier. Also, my impressions at the time were that Florida's secondary was a known weakness, and I was sort of befuddled as to why Miles didn't attack it more in that game... or at least the 4th Quarter.

Our QB's completed barely 50% of their passes that game, I was glad we didn't throw it more.

 

[Lockup]

Our QB's completed barely 50% of their passes that game, I was glad we didn't throw it more.

Well heres hoping you have the same problem on Jan 7th

 

[Tigertracker]

no. if anything conservative play calling nullifies the talent gap, it doesn't widen it. last year our offense was worlds better than illi's d. they were young and inexperienced as well as undersized. we were faster, bigger, stronger, more talented, and had a lot more experience. in the first half jt threw the playbook at them and we turned their d inside out at will.

towards the end of the second quarter guys looked to me to be taking plays off. in the second half jt came out, lined up 2 te's in the eye and ran damn near the exact same play every single down. in fact, i think in 3 consecutive 3 and outs we litearlly ran the exact same 3 plays in the exact same order on each drive. illi, not being stupid, put 10 guys in the box and keyed on those plays stopping us for marginal gains each play.

think about it, if i have reggie bush. im not going to line up 2 te I formation and run the same iso play over and over again. im going to move him around, look for mismatches and exploit the talent difference.

as far as trick plays go, i don't truely consider them risky. we run our share, some coaches run more... some run less. but a trick play isn't all that more effective at breaking tendancies than calling any other play the d doesn't expect. whether i line up the fastest wr on my team as a te in a run formation on 2nd and 2 then fake the run hitting him wide open for a td. or do a super double ninja quadruple reverse triple pass option to the center for a td. the goal is to keep the d honest and to keep them guessing.



are you sure thats what you want to say?

I think your equating conservative play calling with just running the ball. There are many types of pass plays that can be called conservative. If the other team dedicates 8 or 9 players in the box to stop the run and it is working it's not conservative to keep running it, it's hardheaded. If your talent level is good enough to force them into that type of commitment, there should be many other things that are open and they can still be conservative.
As for the trick plays, I think one of the biggest pluses of running them is the effect they have on future opponents. After we ran a couple and they were replayed on ESPN for a week, nobody seemed to rush our kicker or punter the rest of the year. :-)

 

[AKAK]

Excellent observations and despite watching the game live and several times the following week I'm still puzzled by our play calling in the UF game. I don't know how much Doucet's absence influenced the game plan re the passing game, but I kept asking myself why aren't we throwing more often since we were playing from behind well into the 4th quarter.

Our QB's completed barely 50% of their passes that game, I was glad we didn't throw it more.

Well.. the 50% thing is interesting... and... that's not a terrible stat but for the fact that most of the throws I do remember were either behind the LOS or well short of 1st downs... now, a number of them did turn into big gains... but... yeah... I mean... I can buy the idea of using the outside runs to set up the inside runs... if you can't/won't/don't throw the ball down the field. Honestly, if I were either one of these coaches, I'd worry about the ability to play from behind... I mean... I don't remember counting... but once one of these teams get a lead... we're gonna see a shitload of Nickel out of them on D.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

Not at first, scouts or rivals, had him originally as a 2 star fb/lb actually.

And both changed him to 3* LB well before NLOID. And it was 2002, not 2001...

 

[Nutriaitch]

Well.. the 50% thing is interesting... and... that's not a terrible stat but for the fact that most of the throws I do remember were either behind the LOS or well short of 1st downs... now, a number of them did turn into big gains... but... yeah... I mean... I can buy the idea of using the outside runs to set up the inside runs... if you can't/won't/don't throw the ball down the field. Honestly, if I were either one of these coaches, I'd worry about the ability to play from behind... I mean... I don't remember counting... but once one of these teams get a lead... we're gonna see a shitload of Nickel out of them on D.

I don't remember the exact number, but Flynn only averaged about 5 yards per completion in that game. This was slap in the middle of our spurt where Flynn either missed guys completely, or they dropped passes that hit them in the hands. Flynn's only pick that game bounced off LaFell's hands.

 

[COTiger]

Honestly, if I were either one of these coaches, I'd worry about the ability to play from behind... I mean... I don't remember counting... but once one of these teams get a lead... we're gonna see a shitload of Nickel out of them on D.

Unfortunately, we're used to playing from behind. We've been trailing at halftime against the Gators, Auburn, Bama, Arkansas, and Tennessee. Granted, none of the deficits were huge but we have definitely been a 2nd half team this season.

 

[COTiger]

I don't remember the exact number, but Flynn only averaged about 5 yards per completion in that game. This was slap in the middle of our spurt where Flynn either missed guys completely, or they dropped passes that hit them in the hands. Flynn's only pick that game bounced off LaFell's hands.

I still had the stats page open. Matt completed 14 for 144. His longest completion was 18 yards.

 

[martinss01]

I think your equating conservative play calling with just running the ball. There are many types of pass plays that can be called conservative. If the other team dedicates 8 or 9 players in the box to stop the run and it is working it's not conservative to keep running it, it's hardheaded. If your talent level is good enough to force them into that type of commitment, there should be many other things that are open and they can still be conservative.

nope, running plays (imo) simply make for better examples.

still not sold on the trick plays. its just another play that a team has to prepair for. same as us lining up in 5 wide on the 2 yard line.

 

[pokey]

The completely idiotic TD pass against Auburn.

That "idiotic" TD pass against Auburn doesn't seem so idiotic when we take into account that LSU can't win in OT.

 

[AKAK]

I think your equating conservative play calling with just running the ball. There are many types of pass plays that can be called conservative. If the other team dedicates 8 or 9 players in the box to stop the run and it is working it's not conservative to keep running it, it's hardheaded. If your talent level is good enough to force them into that type of commitment, there should be many other things that are open and they can still be conservative.

I don't remember the exact number, but Flynn only averaged about 5 yards per completion in that game. This was slap in the middle of our spurt where Flynn either missed guys completely, or they dropped passes that hit them in the hands. Flynn's only pick that game bounced off LaFell's hands.

Hmmm... so... what I've got so far is that Matt Flynn = Todd Collins, Hester = Tyrone Wheatley, Doucet=Derrick Alexander... interesting.

 

[pokey]

Hmmm... so... what I've got so far is that Matt Flynn = Todd Collins, Hester = Tyrone Wheatley, Doucet=Derrick Alexander... interesting.

Todd Collins = gin-based drink, close relative of a Tom Collins

 

[OSUBucksfan09]

The UF game, actually had it not been for a gift interception(hit fl player in helmet, bounced up and was picked) and Meyers bone headedness to never use Moore again after his fumble, they might have won the game and been in the situation that LSU is in right now. Having said that however, the playcalling for FL, other then those 4th down plays, was very interesting. Mixture of good plays and horrible plays, but I agree the QBs were having an off day early from what I saw.

 

[bukIpower]

I'm goin to break it down position for position for fucks sake...

QB-LSU, Flynn's mobility is the key factor here

RB- OSU, Sure LSU has talent here and people claim they go like 4 deep at tailback but to me that means they don't have that go to guy like beanie wells.

FB- OSU, purely because LSU doesn't use one too often

TE- Push

Oline- OSU, I like the size and speed of our line. Unlike LSU, teams have known we are going to run the ball and don't seem like they can do much to stop it even though they know its coming. To me thats what a great line does.

DE- OSU, we have that big time rush end as well as a tough physical end that can play the run as well. We have 1st rounders at End they do not.

DT- LSU, they have 1st rounders we do not haha.

LB- OSU, how can someone give LSU the nod here? #7 for LSU isn't as good as our #33, and I believe our SLB/WLB are slightly better tacklers as well.

CB- OSU, Jenkins/Washington/Chikwa will all be playing on Sundays with both Jenkins and Washington being 1st rounders. Jenkins has the ability to shut down any teams #1 man, and I like Washington over LSU's #1 Zenon.

Saftey- Push, slight edge LSU, I like OSU's cover ability but I love LSU's physical style of play from the saftey position.


These are just my opinion but I'm basing them on the fact of the stats of both teams. OSU's defensive back 7 has played far much better this year and because of that I took things like that into account