Game Thread CFP Playoff Cotton Bowl, tOSU vs Texas, Fri. Jan. 10th, 7:30 ET on ESPN

[Captain Buckeye]

i know you're joking, but i don't think they're going to play the "short game" with us like you said.

we have had caleb downs parked, like a tomcat, in the middle of the field and daring opposing QBs to throw the last two games.

and i think this very disruptive presence is a big part of what totally scrambled iamaleava and gabriel's brains and made them super twitchy. that look has crept into being after the first oregon game, and after larry johnson finally gave up his stubbornness about his rushmen and a four-man front.

I hope you’re right. I think how you beat OSUs defense is continue to lean on the run and take occasional shots.

The problem is Ewers really struggles getting down the field and take a boat load of sacks too. So if they’re thinking of attacking vertically that’ll play into our pass rush.

 

[shetuck]

I hope you’re right. I think how you beat OSUs defense is continue to lean on the run and take occasional shots.

The problem is Ewers really struggles getting down the field and take a boat load of sacks too. So if they’re thinking of attacking vertically that’ll play into our pass rush.

dilemma...

@EngineerHorn what's your best "homer" assessment as far as a gameplan goes for texas?
EDIT: other than making OSU try for field goals all night long.

 

[Ryan36_1]

I think you will see UT attack vertically because their run game is close to non-existent, so in other words I don't think they have a choice. Just don't give up big plays early and I think we can get them in panic mode quickly (i.e. close to what it looked like when Grabriel and Imawhoeverthename as the games wore on).

I would expect them to attack Iggy and hope for PI calls, but he has cut out the stupid PI plays in the last two games and maybe Mathews started to light a fire under him there to improve in that area.

We don't really create a ton of turnovers, but this is an elite defense regardless if they can apply pressure to the QB, make plays in coverage that aren't INTs generally, and get off the field on 3rd down (that last piece is crucial, we have improved on that). However, Ewers is somewhat turnover prone with 11 INTs this year and typically coming where he panics. Very good QB but we could try to force more turnovers in this game based on the UT games I have watched.

I'm not sure that I am ready to write off their run game quite yet. They have been very Jekyll and Hyde this year in the run game. Lot's of success on the ground early in the season and showed they still can do it versus Clemson. As long as we play sound, I'm not necessarily worried, but this team can make you pay if you lose contain or miss a tackle. Especially when they have Blue in.

I don't think we will see a lot of the QB spy we've used so much in the playoffs tomorrow night. I'm looking for us to mix in bringing the extra guy to pressure Ewers with bringing four and using that 'spy' defender to sit in the fire route/dump off areas of the field looking to bait Ewers into throwing a pick.

 

[Captain Buckeye]

I'm not sure that I am ready to write off their run game quite yet. They have been very Jekyll and Hyde this year in the run game. Lot's of success on the ground early in the season and showed they still can do it versus Clemson. As long as we play sound, I'm not necessarily worried, but this team can make you pay if you lose contain or miss a tackle. Especially when they have Blue in.

I don't think we will see a lot of the QB spy we've used so much in the playoffs tomorrow night. I'm looking for us to mix in bringing the extra guy to pressure Ewers with bringing four and using that 'spy' defender to sit in the fire route/dump off areas of the field looking to bait Ewers into throwing a pick.

Yeah the nice thing is we don’t have to worry about Ewers running so we can focus on their run game. We have got to take away the run or I doubt we’ll win. Especially if they’re somehow above 200 or something. Even if they get 150+ that’s not great if Ewers is also on point during the game taking advantage of play action.

The start of this game fascinates me. Texas is a very fast starting team and they do very well with their scripted plays. So if we can get off the field without any points those first few drives that’ll be a great sign for our defense. Likewise we’ve obviously started fast lately but also Ryan Day starts fast in playoff games in general too.

Think 2019 we go up 16-0 but should’ve been up much bigger, we go up big on Clemson in 2020 and are tied with Alabama 14-14 early, 2021 we scored a bunch in that rose bowl early, and 2022 a crazy hot start vs UGA.

 

[LsuGrrrl]

Hope none of you are trying to get here today for the game tomorrow. This city is in total shut down. Most snow I’ve ever seen here and it’s coming down in sheets along with ice. DFW airport is at a stoppage until 12:30 and doubt planes begin moving even then. They just don’t have enough de-icers for this much ice and snow.

Most of our highways are elevated and we don’t have enough equipment to cover all the areas needed. Just went out to de-ice my sloped driveway and there’s a nice coating of ice under the snow with more sleet falling now.

Dfw

 

[OHSportsFan]

 

[Telekinesis]

Hope none of you are trying to get here today for the game tomorrow. This city is in total shut down. Most snow I’ve ever seen here and it’s coming down in sheets along with ice. DFW airport is at a stoppage until 12:30 and doubt planes begin moving even then. They just don’t have enough de-icers for this much ice and snow.

Most of our highways are elevated and we don’t have enough equipment to cover all the areas needed. Just went out to de-ice my sloped driveway and there’s a nice coating of ice under the snow with more sleet falling now.

Dfw

Watching that video wouldn’t be as funny if we didn’t just get HAMMERED here in Ohio.

I’m sorry, but seeing the south try to drive in the snow is one of my favorite things.

 

[LsuGrrrl]

Watching that video wouldn’t be as funny if we didn’t just get HAMMERED here in Ohio.

I’m sorry, but seeing the south try to drive in the snow is one of my favorite things.

Oh, feel free the laugh away at us. None of us know how to drive in this weather. We don’t have the road equipment yall do so all this snow and ice is just going to stay frozen on the highways until Saturday afternoon. Schools are shut down for the rest of the week bc no one can get the kids there. I’m sure there is sheer panic happening right now trying to figure out how to make the Cotton Bowl happen.

 

[Telekinesis]

Oh, feel free the laugh away at us. None of us know how to drive in this weather. We don’t have the road equipment yall do so all this snow and ice is just going to stay frozen on the highways until Saturday afternoon. Schools are shut down for the rest of the week bc no one can get the kids there. I’m sure there is sheer panic happening right now trying to figure out how to make the Cotton Bowl happen.

I get it. You’ll have to forgive me, my wife is from Middle of Nowhere, Canada… and this is what we’d call “a dusting” up there.

They have to have snow removed from their houses to keep the roof from caving in.

 

[LsuGrrrl]

I get it. You’ll have to forgive me, my wife is from Middle of Nowhere, Canada… and this is what we’d call “a dusting” up there.

They have to have snow removed from their houses to keep the roof from caving in.

I get it. I bet you wouldn’t know to tie your boat to the roof of your house when a hurricane comes or why you should.

 

[Telekinesis]

I get it. I bet you wouldn’t know to tie your boat to the roof of your house when a hurricane comes or why you should.

That’s a fair point! I’ve spent my fair share of time in North Alabama and went fishing/camping from there to Tishomingo… but never had to think about tying the boat to a roof.

 

[LsuGrrrl]

That’s a fair point! I’ve spent my fair share of time in North Alabama and went fishing/camping from there to Tishomingo… but never had to think about tying the boat to a roof.

Saved my dad‘s life during Katrina. I already like Ohio fans bc they are some of the only ones that can hang with LSU fans drinking. We would all be dangerous if we ever shared disaster life skills

 

[Telekinesis]

Saved my dad‘s life during Katrina. I already like Ohio fans bc they are some of the only ones that can hang with LSU fans drinking. We would all be dangerous if we ever shared disaster life skills

Glad to hear your dad made it through that nightmare.

Agreed on the drinking. There are quite a few around here who can go the distance, I can confirm!

We made the trip along the Natchez Trace and stayed in the French Quarter a couple years back. Beautiful trip and amazing food! I’ll also add, someone was blackout drunk in a pickup as we crossed the bridge and he damn near took us out! Lol

 

[BuckeyeNation27]

Saved my dad‘s life during Katrina. I already like Ohio fans bc they are some of the only ones that can hang with LSU fans drinking. We would all be dangerous if we ever shared disaster life skills

 

[Telekinesis]

I gotta be honest, I didn’t even notice. I’m dying.