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CFP Game: #9 Tennessee at #8 tOSU, Sat 12/21 8 ET on ABC/ESPN

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billmac91 said:
I get that 36 degree weather shouldn’t be a true “game changer” but I believe it is a major factor, because Will Howard has such limited arm talent.

When you have a Haskins, Fields, Stroud, McCord ….slight wind in cold weather isn’t nearly as damaging. But when your QB has very minimal arm talent, the slightest wind, in the cold can make already average throws really, really bad. The out route to Carnell Tate against Michigan is a perfect illustration of this. There were multiple down field throws where Howard’s ball was impacted by wind. He just doesn’t throw a piercing ball……it is what it is.

For those that don’t think it’s a big deal, it’s telling to me, that OSU regularly practices in their indoor facility come winter, but will be spending the next two weeks practicing outside. It’s a tell that Day wants these kids ready for outdoor football on Dec 20th. If OSU lays the wood to Michigan I think there’s a strong likelihood 90% of the Tennessee game prep is inside at the WHAC…after beating Indiana, they had 3 live practices indoors and one walk through outdoors in prep for Michigan.

It just is what it is…..everyone is more comfortable in a beautiful indoor practice facility. But you’re doing yourself a disservice when you don’t take the elements you’re going to be playing in, into account. I think Michigan has been whooping our ass in that regard during this run…..Harbaugh had his teams outside every day and loading the defensive line with (2) extra lineman and telling the offense they’re failing if they can’t get two yards on an inside run…..like, just putting his kids in an impossible position at practice and demanding success. Gotta give some credit where it’s due….

One other point…..Columbus is not Green Bay or even Chicago. But those NFL stadiums both have state of the art water heaters that run under the field that keep the field from freezing, and in turn, keeps the ball at a regular temperature. Players actually say you feel warmth on the field surface when tackled which is far nicer than a frozen surface to bounce off of.

Very few college programs could afford such a system, but OSU is one. I think it’d be an incredible investment for quality play, for recruiting, and for a better product when they’re on field.
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Great stuff, Mac. The point about practicing outside is one that I didn’t think much about, but it’s something that I fully agree with. These kids need to toughen up over the next couple of weeks and develop some kind of an edge if they want to run a daunting 4 game gauntlet, especially offensively. I believe in them and still think this team is capable of having a breakout offensive game and tie it all together. In order to do so, Howard is going to have to be razor sharp.
 
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jarv said:
Temperature at 8pm in Columbus on December 21st the last 5 years:

2023: 39°
2022: 34°
2021: 35°
2020: 40°
2019: 34°

Average: 36.4°
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Going to be a lot colder than that this year. Dont know what the fuck is going on but it's been in the 20's all month so far except today with some rain. Seems more like late January than the normal so far. Supposed to be low 20's during that night game with a low chance of snow with light wind 8-10mph. Any wind is going to be freezing so I expect a low scoring game with a bunch of "wtf was that" situations. I just hope more happen to them than us!
 
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Bestbuck36 said:
Going to be a lot colder than that this year. Dont know what the fuck is going on but it's been in the 20's all month so far except today with some rain. Seems more like late January than the normal so far. Supposed to be low 20's during that night game with a low chance of snow with light wind 8-10mph. Any wind is going to be freezing so I expect a low scoring game with a bunch of "wtf was that" situations. I just hope more happen to them than us!
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Three posts below that one, two words - The Nina.
 
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jarv said:
227/314 (71.3%), 27 TDs, 8 INTs, 8.6 TD%, 238.3 yards per game, 83.0 QBR

4th in Completion Percentage
11th in TDs
6th in QBR
4th in TD%

"Very minimal arm talent"
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That’s what I’m saying… he has more than enough arm to throw it in the air 50+ yards and he shows a really strong arm inside 30 yards on those deeper patterns.

IMO we just don’t call enough of them. Zach Smith went over his deep throw issues. Howard was ok at them (not great but not bad) but he had like half as many attempts as the others at the top.

You can’t complete them if you don’t throw them
 
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Captain Buckeye said:
wtf I didn’t remember how egregious that play was…

Was that play reviewed?
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I don’t think it was ‘officially reviewed‘ with a stoppage of play. I remember being in the stands and wanting Tressel to call a timeout before Illinois got lined up. In the early days of replay review (it had only started in the B1G in 2004) they didn’t stop plays for review nearly as often as they do now. But there should have been enough time to look at it because they had to move the chains about 70 yards.
 
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jarv said:
227/314 (71.3%), 27 TDs, 8 INTs, 8.6 TD%, 238.3 yards per game, 83.0 QBR

4th in Completion Percentage
11th in TDs
6th in QBR
4th in TD%

"Very minimal arm talent"
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I think it’s pretty obvious what @billmac91 was referring to, and it doesn’t show up in the stats.

My definition of “arm talent” is more subjective and is probably a combination of delivery, strength, accuracy, precision, touch, and repeatability. Definition: see early Matt Stafford.

Maybe “very minimal” is too extreme, but Howard hasn’t shown a huge improvement since he arrived on campus. I would say average talent. He was viewed as a mobile, wide bodied distributor of the football with so-so passing stats and decision making but medium to high potential. Has he shown he has the ability and is capable? Absolutely. But, if he was accurate and consistent down the field, I think we’d see it more because the coaches would utilize and Howard would be confident in pulling the trigger. He even mentioned earlier in the year he needed to “just let loose” (or something to that effect) throwing the ball down the field. He is a leader, but it seems like his limitations were more structural than just the offense he was playing in.

Personally, I hope we see more of Will using his legs to pick up yards in the CFP and more RPOs because he seems confident on his keys. It may not be the last game of the season, but it very well could be, so…

Fuck Dan Fouts, but also:

f9f95fbf-028b-45cf-836e-c34aff2f68b6_text.gif
 
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billmac91 said:
Harbaugh had his teams outside every day and loading the defensive line with (2) extra lineman and telling the offense they’re failing if they can’t get two yards on an inside run…..like, just putting his kids in an impossible position at practice and demanding success. Gotta give some credit where it’s due….
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Why? I’m not interested in laundering talking points for a cheater who’s trying to come up with reasons for his team suddenly getting over a 6 year hump. With all the info we have now, does anyone think any part of his success had to do with seeing the light and coming up with state of the art ideas such as adding extra lineman in practice?

I thought we were done with the tough thing? The furtherest thing on anyone’s mind should be “Besides the cheating, I wonder what Harbaugh did for 3 years that was so special?”.
 
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BB73 said:
I don’t think it was ‘officially reviewed‘ with a stoppage of play. I remember being in the stands and wanting Tressel to call a timeout before Illinois got lined up. In the early days of replay review (it had only started in the B1G in 2004) they didn’t stop plays for review nearly as often as they do now. But there should have been enough time to look at it because they had to move the chains about 70 yards.
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I explain what happened in detail in the link above

Big Ten official allegedly tied to gambling, abuse

No one asks why Tressel didn't throw the flag. Too early in the game? I would prefer Tressel not being liberal with challenges. Had he saw it clearly, I'm sure he would have. Coaches often contest calls they didn't even see. The problem everyone should have with this is a touchdown isn't...
buckeyeplanet.com

This was directly from a Big Ten official
 
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