Game Thread Cal Bears at tOSU - Sat, Sep 15, Noon ABC

[HorseshoeFetish]

I've heard a lot of complaints about our pass defense, but our pass coverage hasn't really been our problem - it's been our tackling.

I'll agree that our tackling has been less than stellar. I just don't know that anyone on the schedule has someone that can burn our corners deep. So why give them a cushion to catch the ball, break a tackle, and make a play on a 3 step drop?

I'm almost positive that we won't face a QB anywhere near as good as the kid from Miami, but he certainly gave a blueprint on how to do it. I'm sure Purdue wouldn't mind playing the same way.

 

[TheStoicPaisano]

Champions from Cal game:

ST: TBD
Scout Team: Tyvis Powell
O: D. Smith, Hall, Boren, Heuerman. Yes, no Braxton, no Stoneburner.
D: Hankins, Roby, Shazier

D. Smith and Hankins were players of the game.

 

[Jaxbuck]

I'll agree that our tackling has been less than stellar. I just don't know that anyone on the schedule has someone that can burn our corners deep. So why give them a cushion to catch the ball, break a tackle, and make a play on a 3 step drop?

I'm almost positive that we won't face a QB anywhere near as good as the kid from Miami, but he certainly gave a blueprint on how to do it. I'm sure Purdue wouldn't mind playing the same way.

From what I have seen so far Purdue, Nebraska and to a lesser degree, scUM all have offenses that can hurt our defense. MSU and Wisky look very one dimensional and the dimension we can handle the best. Indiana and Penn State are just out matched. Illinois I haven't seen play this year but Scheelhase (sp?) is the kind of QB that can hurt us with a legit running threat to compliment him.

That's 4 of 8 B1G games that present a real threat to this defense as things look right now and another 2 that are certainly a threat but less of a matchup issue.

I think Buckeye fans need to come to grips with the fact it will take 28+ points from the O to win most game the rest of the way.

 

[Onebuckfan]

I think the defense and defensive coaches will look better against the Big10 team because game planning will be easier. They will be more familiar with what the offenses are trying to do. It seemed that the first three opponents tried to confuse our O and D with schemes they had not shown. We know what MSU is going to do we just have to get our players in position and execute. Tackling will be at a premium against Bell.

 

[JXC]

I think the defense and defensive coaches will look better against the Big10 team because game planning will be easier. They will be more familiar with what the offenses are trying to do. It seemed that the first three opponents tried to confuse our O and D with schemes they had not shown. We know what MSU is going to do we just have to get our players in position and execute. Tackling will be at a premium against Bell.

I don't buy the fact that confusion was the reason that Cal had hundreds of YAC (yards after contact).

 

[bukIpower]

I'll agree that our tackling has been less than stellar. I just don't know that anyone on the schedule has someone that can burn our corners deep. So why give them a cushion to catch the ball, break a tackle, and make a play on a 3 step drop?

I'm almost positive that we won't face a QB anywhere near as good as the kid from Miami, but he certainly gave a blueprint on how to do it. I'm sure Purdue wouldn't mind playing the same way.

I've always been in this boat too Horseshoe. I wish we would on third and short just to force the timing to be off between QB/WR. Robey can run with anyone so why we're worried about atleast him getting beat deep is beyond me. I'd love to see a better mixture but i'm sure that just isn't going to happen, just seems to be our style.

 

[buckeyebri]

I've always been in this boat too Horseshoe. I wish we would on third and short just to force the timing to be off between QB/WR. Robey can run with anyone so why we're worried about atleast him getting beat deep is beyond me. I'd love to see a better mixture but i'm sure that just isn't going to happen, just seems to be our style.

I still want to see in game adjustments from this staff. You saw where this was going now adjust. It was the same against Miami,. They weren't running it, so get up on them to some extent and give less cushion.

 

[redguard117]

I'm going to repost this, but only because it directly answers why we are giving receivers such a large cushion:

Everett Withers adds Aggressive Touch

?It's an aggressive style. It's the ability to play off sometimes in the back end and still allow those guys to have great vision and play on the football.?

...

One major change for the defense this year is a decision to play the cornerbacks further from the line of scrimmage. The coaches felt Ohio State?s corners were limited in their ability to make plays on the ball last season because they were forced to play so much press coverage.

I think I will wait the full season to see how this new strategy evolves and serves us. That said, considering that our previous man to man, press coverages turned us into DB U, I wouldn't be displeased with a return to tradition.

(Also, can someone call Heacock and have him give Vrabel some advice on coaching college kids. Maybe we have a problem with too much information - everyone on the DL is taking classes concurrently, after all.)

 

[buckeyebri]

Great, we all understand what the base defense is, as has been discussed in the defense thread. Where are the in game adjustments to counteract what is happening?

 

[Abenaki]

Didn't feel like starting a new thread, Tedford is out.

http://blog.sfgate.com/crumpacker/2012/11/20/tedford-era-ends-at-cal/