Game Thread FIESTA BOWL: tOSU 21, Texas 24 (01-05-09)

[TooTall]

You make a great point, bukI! But.
Will JT turn Pryor loose? Will JT open it up?
This could be one of the most fun OSU Bowl games in years! Or another disaster...........

Why shouldn't he? What more does Ohio State have to play for in the 2008 edition? Go for it all, or go for nothing...

 

[generaladm]

Precisely. BukIpower has the right idea. UT's problem is NOT TALENT! It is youth. Physically they can stick with anyone. In a couple of years this secondary will be every bit as good as tosu's this year if they develop at the same rate. Ohio State's receivers are going to have to be really shifty and use their experience because they won't be getting the kind of separation they are used to seeing against our secondary.

While I agree with much of your post, I don't think UT's secondary is at all comparable to OSU's. I rewatched both OSU/UT games recently, and one of the things that stuck out for me was that as touted as OSU's secondary was then (Youboty, Whitner (05), Salley (05), Everett, Mitchell, Russell (before his knee injury), Jenkins, A. Smith) doesn't hold a candle to this year's squad. Keep in mind that everyone on that list at least got a chance to make an NFL roster, and more than half are playing on Sundays, or will next year. The 08 OSU secondary is one of the best I've seen in a long time, and that's saying a lot. The CB trio of Jenkins, Chekwa, and Washington gives us a luxury that few teams in history have had. They are all #1 CB level for %95 of teams. Add to that Hines and Moeller as possible NBs, and a trio of LBs who are above average in pass pro (all but Homan have had multiple INTs), and it's an imposing group. Not saying that UT doesn't have a talented bunch, but I think saying they are tougher than what the Bucks face in practice is a bit of a stretch (discounting the fact that it's much harder to play against a unit you are not familiar with). I think UT would e smart to utilize the strategy that UF and LSU took in the past two NC games. UT seems to have an advantage in the pass rush, if the DBs aggressively jam the WRs at the line, they would give the D-line a chance to get to the QB before the WRs have a chance to get separation. That protects any weaknesses in the secondary, and gets in the QBs head. There is a chance that Pryor's athleticism could negate the pass rush, and the agressiveness of the DBs would lead to breakdowns as TP buys time, but if I were UT's DC I'd take the gamble. I think that even if UT's CBs can handle Robo and Hartline, Sanzenbacher and the TEs can take advantage of LBs and safeties in coverage.

 

[WaitingforKickoff]

While this year's secondary is excellent, I would not say that they are definitely better than the '05 secondary. Salley and Whitner were excellent tacklers and really imposed their will over the middle of the field. This year's safeties have had their share of troubles making tackles at the line of scrimmage and biting on playaction plays. Youboty was an excellent corner and I would rate him just below Jenkins. However, I do think that the emergence of a couple of Safety/LBer hybrids in Moeller and Hines has really improved quality and depth.

I expect them to establish the run with Pryor and Beanie and then pass over the top against their young DBs. We have the weapons to do that.

 

[DontHateOState]

Kurt Coleman has developed into a beast of a strong safety. He has given us a lot of help against spread teams in sky coverage. He blew up quite a few passes to the flats against Michigan.

 

[morbitzerker]

Well I think our passing defense IS better though I'm just saying there's a difference between Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Missouri, and even K-state. Then to NW, Purdue, Illinois, etc

I think our secondary is head/heals better than Texas' but I'm just saying don't sell Texas short because it's not like they're rolling out walk ons. I just think it's more to a credit to the teams they are playing. Also they do blitz more often so I think they leave themselves vulnerable a little in the back end with more man to man

I know there is a difference between Oklahoma and Purdue, that's nonsense.

But how much difference is there between UTEP and Illinois, or A&M and NW?

That's the point I'm trying to make, to say tOSU wouldn't have trouble playing Mizzou, TTech, or OU is ridiculous, but how many times did UTex face Harrell and Bradford? Were they suiting up in secret for all the other teams UTex played?

All I'm saying is that teams have been able to throw on UTex, and there are reasons that account for this. I'm also saying that teams have had a hard time throwing on tOSU, and there are reasons that account for that as well.

I feel that tOSU can throw on UTex's secondary, as long as the front seven aren't on Pryor as soon as he takes the snap.

 

[gregorylee]

Look, this whole game comes down to Colt McCoy. Contain him and it's up in the air, as long as tOSU doesn't screw themselves then, well. CM gets 180 passing and >50 rushing then tOSU is there to win it.

BTW, HL bastard, I am not posting any more hot chicks!!

[censored]er.

 

[VegasBuckeye]

So I'm watching the bowl mania special on ESPN and when the Fiesta Bowl preview comes on they show a short montage of nothing but Texas. Then part of the way through it they start talking about how Pryor is a liability because he is young an untested and show every poor pass and time he was sacked.

The build up to this game reminds me alot of the Notre Dame bowl game a few years ago. On the national scene there was nothing but talk about how great ND, Charlie Weis, and Brady Quinn was and you heard or seen very little about Ohio State. The big difference here is Texas is a much, much better team than ND was.

After getting our asses kicked by the last three quality out of conference games I guess I cant blame the media but it makes me want a win in this game that much more.

 

[Rookie]

*Dangerous Red Bull Rant Voided*

Go Bucks.

Screw the media.

 

[UTSINCE96]

So I'm watching the bowl mania special on ESPN and when the Fiesta Bowl preview comes on they show a short montage of nothing but Texas. Then part of the way through it they start talking about how Pryor is a liability because he is young an untested and show every poor pass and time he was sacked.

The build up to this game reminds me alot of the Notre Dame bowl game a few years ago. On the national scene there was nothing but talk about how great ND, Charlie Weis, and Brady Quinn was and you heard or seen very little about Ohio State. The big difference here is Texas is a much, much better team than ND was.

After getting our asses kicked by the last three quality out of conference games I guess I cant blame the media but it makes me want a win in this game that much more.

Stuff like this shows how fickle the sports media really is. Just a few months ago people were talking about Oklahoma, Missouri and Tech in the Big 12 and you would have thought that Texas went independent or something. Quite a few people had us losing 3 or 4 games. Then just before the Oklahoma game when ESPN was talking about how our pass defense is a liability they showed the EXACT SAME 3 plays of our defensive backs getting burned over and over again while ignoring the fact that we had held ALL our opponents up to that point to under 15 points.

Now all of a sudden they show is love...it's ridiculous how the media can be. I just hope our team isn't buying into the crap the media is saying about them.

 

[morbitzerker]

They're loving on Texas because they've been snubbed by the BCS, and rightly so, but also because Texas is playing Ohio State. It's cool to be anti-tOSU.

 

[ScarletStorms]

Stuff like this shows how fickle the sports media really is. Just a few months ago people were talking about Oklahoma, Missouri and Tech in the Big 12 and you would have thought that Texas went independent or something. Quite a few people had us losing 3 or 4 games. Then just before the Oklahoma game when ESPN was talking about how our pass defense is a liability they showed the EXACT SAME 3 plays of our defensive backs getting burned over and over again while ignoring the fact that we had held ALL our opponents up to that point to under 15 points.

Now all of a sudden they show is love...it's ridiculous how the media can be. I just hope our team isn't buying into the crap the media is saying about them.

Are you getting that sick feeling in your stomach? The one where you feel like projectile vomiting because you know that ESPN going down on you is often an ominous sign of things to come? Do you feel like telling them to stop please? To have mercy on your team?

This first time I felt that was before the Florida game. And I bet that one of the most memorable of these experiences for you was the Texas vs USC game.

 

[bukIpower]

That's the point I'm trying to make, to say tOSU wouldn't have trouble playing Mizzou, TTech, or OU is ridiculous, but how many times did UTex face Harrell and Bradford? Were they suiting up in secret for all the other teams UTex played?

but then texas also played kids like Robinson, The kid from Baylor, Reesing from KU to go along with Daniels,Harrell, and Bradford . Look, again i'm not sayin Texas is as good as OSU or they are the worlds best secondary. All i'm sayin is I think it'd be crazy to assume Texas' secondary is sup par. Just look at the teams they're facing passing the ball that alone would probably raise our pass defense another 75 yards.

 

[BuCKeYe CiTy]

this adda be a good 1 versus te

 

[jwinslow]

this adda be a good 1 versus te

1 versus a Tight End?

 

[BuckeyeNation27]

I read on a Texas board a while back that they had their choice of unis and they picked white. I don't know where they got it or if it's true. Everybody seemed to agree with that decision, because apparently our red unis are ugly? Maybe they were just sick of red unis.