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Game Thread CFP Semifinal: Ohio State vs. Clemson, Sat 12/31 @ 7p ET, ESPN

They had athletes that were just as good as bama, and OSU was far better mentally.

The underdog mentality as it really was Ohio against the world. Urban, as always, the x factor. Tebow said during 2006 Meyer mentioned several quotes, etc. that weren't true to motivate the Gators against the Buckeyes.

Also, as others have mentioned previously, a well rested Cardale Jones was a fairly unknown x factor as he and Ohio State were playin' w/house $$$. Could JT have done as good against 'bama? Again, the stars aligned for the Buckeyes (2) years ago.

Just like the stars aligned against the Buckeyes last year ie too much talent, plus the two qb situation disaster. Mike Greenberg mentioned yesterday the best "team" the past three years didn't make the playoffs ie the 2015 Buckeyes. woulda, coulda, shoulda.

I digress.

>

There's probably another thread for this, but don't underestimate/take for granted Washington. It's usually a team w/no frickin' chance who upsets the apple cart. Pun intended. Washington will definitely be playing with house $$$.
 
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Complete overpursuit. Landon Collins was also out of the game at this point due to trying to put a big hit on Cardale, who was a large man. It's interesting watching this game how much more mentally ready OSU was. They had athletes that were just as good as bama, and OSU was far better mentally.
Agreed about the mental edge, which is how tiny little Boren manhandled your mountains along the DL.

Evan Spencer had maybe the best block in the history of OSU football from a non-lineman. He detonated both interior LBs. That play alone makes him a legend, but also throwing the best WR pass I've ever seen, recovering the onsides kick and almost hauling in that absurd one hander? Mercy.
Any chance this game is a shootout? What type of score are you guys predicting? I keep getting hung up on how Clemson looked last year, but it's clear something is different about them.
If both teams are clicking, I see 37-34. If both teams are a bit off, I see 27-21 OSU. I think OSU is better equipped to win an ugly offensive game. JT knows how to win ugly (and frequently does so after having a pretty mediocre/bad first half).

It does not bode well for Clemson that they are really sloppy with turnovers. OSU is terrific at turning teams over and converting those into pick sixes, and Jerome Baker has been just as lethal as the DBs in this regard. I said all year that it would come back to bite Speight when he played OSU and it did.

OSU's defense is very good but not great. Hooker and Baker are incredible talents but can get a bit undisciplined. OSU has 3 premiere DBs in CB Conley, CB Lattimore and S Hooker but are weak at the nickel spot (although sometimes weak = not a top-20 pick). Teams have picked on the other safety Webb and nickelback Arnette this year, to the point where OSU began 3 cover corners and sliding Conley into the slot in nickel formations.

OSU has recruited at a Bama level everywhere but WR and DT, specifically nose tackle. Not surprisingly, those are their two weaknesses in this game. OSU has a lot of 3-techs and promising tweeners, but at the 1-tech spot they have Michael Hill and no one else (redshirt frosh Hamilton has been okay but isn't a 3-down player). OSU came in second for Lawrence and Wilkins and would kill for either one (and now gets to face both).

In their place, they have junior Michael Hill and literally nothing but freshmen DTs. Dre'Mont Jones is a 3-tech hybrid who has played pretty well but is still a bit undersized (thickness wise). Robert Landers is a very undersized whirling dervish at DT and is the type of guy who usually lands at Purdue or Wisconsin and wreaks havoc on the blue bloods that thought he was too small. Nick Bosa has been ahead of big brother Joey Bosa at every point in his football career and that holds true this year as well. He's also a bit of a hybrid for now.

OSU is pretty good at forcing 3rd and medium to long situations, which brings out their best unit, their rushmen package with 4 killer pass rushers. They use Jalyn Holmes and Joey Bosa inside with Hubbard and Lewis outside. They don't always get home but they consistently force early passes and iffy decision making, leading to the many interceptions and TDs. Unlike early downs where they're a little undersized, they are as good as anyone in america when it comes to their DL on passing downs. They also force this pressure without much blitzing, making an unexpected blitzing LB even more devastating (like Michigan found out).
 
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OSU's defense is very good but not great. Hooker and Baker are incredible talents but can get a bit undisciplined. OSU has 3 premiere DBs in CB Conley, CB Lattimore and S Hooker but are weak at the nickel spot (although sometimes weak = not a top-20 pick). Teams have picked on the other safety Webb and nickelback Arnette this year, to the point where OSU began 3 cover corners and sliding Conley into the slot in nickel formations.

OSU has recruited at a Bama level everywhere but WR and DT, specifically nose tackle. Not surprisingly, those are their two weaknesses in this game. OSU has a lot of 3-techs and promising tweeners, but at the 1-tech spot they have Michael Hill and no one else (redshirt frosh Hamilton has been okay but isn't a 3-down player). OSU came in second for Lawrence and Wilkins and would kill for either one (and now gets to face both).

In their place, they have junior Michael Hill and literally nothing but freshmen DTs. Dre'Mont Jones is a 3-tech hybrid who has played pretty well but is still a bit undersized (thickness wise). Robert Landers is a very undersized whirling dervish at DT and is the type of guy who usually lands at Purdue or Wisconsin and wreaks havoc on the blue bloods that thought he was too small. Nick Bosa has been ahead of big brother Joey Bosa at every point in his football career and that holds true this year as well. He's also a bit of a hybrid for now.

Great write-up. Agreed on all points.

Might as well send a copy to Dabo and Saban since you already did the :lift:
 
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Clemson is 109th in turnovers!!!!!
Clemson has had turnover issues this year with 9 fumbles and 15!!! interceptions. We have to get an advantage here and in the field position game.
Turnover could make all the difference in two teams evenly matched.


Jerome Baker: 2 INT, 1 FR, 1 Def TD
Damon Webb: 1 INT, 1 FF, 1 Def TD
Garson Conley: 3 INT
Matshon Lattimore: 4 INT, 1 Def TD
Malik Hooker: 6 INT, 3 Def TD

#4 Def Pass INT, #2 Def TDs

Just sayin...
 
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Obviously, our biggest concern is Watson going off on us passing-wise. Here are our scoring, total, and passing-related defensive rankings for the season:

Total: 4th
Scoring: 3rd
Pass Eff: 1st
Pass Yards: 4th

Highest defenses Clemson faced:

Total: BC 8th, Lou 11th, VT 19th, Aub 20th, FSU 29th (five in top 30)
Scoring: Aub 4th, Wake 20th, Troy 22nd, VT 30th (four in top 30)
Pass Eff: VT 13th, Aub 16th, Troy 19th, Wake 41st (three in top 40)
Pass Yards: VT 23rd, BC 33rd, Lou 38th (three in top 40)

Points Clemson scored against the above mentioned teams:

Auburn: 19 points
Troy: 30 points
Louisville: 42 points
BC: 56 points
Auburn: 19 points
FSU: 37 points
Wake: 35 points
VT: 42 points

Against the top three passing efficiency defenses they've faced, they scored 42, 19, and 30 points. Troy also held them to 10 points through three quarters. If our DL can get decent pressure on Watson and keep him relatively contained on scrambles, and if the secondary plays well, I can see us holding Clemson to 24-27 points, which I think should be enough to win.
 
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You forgot tempo, speed, swagger and physicality

Don't quit your day job, you'd never cut it as a football analyst

Is moxie still a thing? You may need some of that too.

Airplane_screenshot_Haggerty_Nielsen.jpg


Let's just not forget who threw the TSUN guys off the bus here...before they bombed Pearl Harbor.

Clearly, you amateurs failed to notice that I was typing with my ears pinned back. Look at the picture below. Pinned back. Big Time. Missed that didn't you?

Also, I typed in space. There's one between every word. But do you notice? Moxie? I would accept the criticism that I wasn't typing in beast-mode, but I did show high motor.

When it comes to adding two plus two to get five, I trust me every time.


capture1.jpg
 
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Airplane_screenshot_Haggerty_Nielsen.jpg


Let's just not forget who threw the TSUN guys off the bus here...before they bombed Pearl Harbor.

Clearly, you amateurs failed to notice that I was typing with my ears pinned back. Look at the picture below. Pinned back. Big Time. Missed that didn't you?

Also, I typed in space. There's one between every word. But do you notice? Moxie? I would accept the criticism that I wasn't typing in beast-mode, but I did show high motor.

When it comes to adding two plus two to get five, I trust me every time.


capture1.jpg


But do you have a "fast twitch"?
 
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... That being said, I don't have a ton of confidence in this team vs. Bama. My heart tells me we can absolutely get there and win it all. But, we all know Bama will be out for revenge & blood after the embarrassment just 2 years ago. I hope and pray we make it that far.

Going back to Clemson, I think Urban absolutely knows our strengths AND what the players need to work on. I sure as hell hope JT has been working on his throwing game in the extra week he's had.

When Meyer spoke to the press on Sunday, he indicated they were already working on game plans. Whereas, Dabo looked like he slept on a park bench.

Geez, you're bringing me down UB. Take 2 of these and call me in the morning ... it will all be better. Among the many benefits are reduced stress, lower blood pressure, high in anti-oxidants and late term termination of Heisman candidacy.

Silver Bullet W Stripes 2.gif

As for Dabo:

Dabo.jpg
 
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Airplane_screenshot_Haggerty_Nielsen.jpg


Let's just not forget who threw the TSUN guys off the bus here...before they bombed Pearl Harbor.

Clearly, you amateurs failed to notice that I was typing with my ears pinned back. Look at the picture below. Pinned back. Big Time. Missed that didn't you?

Also, I typed in space. There's one between every word. But do you notice? Moxie? I would accept the criticism that I wasn't typing in beast-mode, but I did show high motor.

When it comes to adding two plus two to get five, I trust me every time.


capture1.jpg
But do you Stanford football tho?

Also quiet confidence. Not the loud kind like swagger. The quiet kind.
 
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My son and I took the trip last year. Got to see Ohio State mistreat Notre Dame and just had a great time. My son got a job offer while we were out there, he took it, and we got his family moved out there in Oct. So I don't have to mess with hotels whenever I decide to go to a Fiesta Bowl.

In Nov I bought 3 non-refundable plane tickets to Phoenix for Dec 18-25. Pop-Pop needed to see his granddaughter. Now I wish we would have gone a week later.

Anyway, the main thing I wanted to say about Ohio St playing out there is that it is amazing how many Ohio St fans live out there. Buckeye Nation is well represented in Arizona. I'm guessing local fans could easily use up OSUs ticket allotment plus some.

Phoenix has the largest Ohio State alumni base in the country. Heck, there's a Buckeye, Arizona just west of Phoenix.
 
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