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Game Thread Game One: #1 Ohio State 35, Northern Illinois 12 (9/2/06)

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NIU007 said:
Certainly our receivers will have to produce in order to soften up the defense. We seem to pass just enough to enable us to run the ball the rest of the time. OSU will probably stack the line of scrimmage against the run (if they feel they need to) and dare us to throw (well that's what I would do). Normally we're effective throwing the ball when that happens but not always.

I expect Wolfe to break a few fairly long runs but will also get stuck in the backfield with no place to run. He needs at least a little bit of room, fortunately not too much though.
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I personally hope we don't "dare you to throw".

As many have observed, OSU typically runs a vanilla offensive game plan against a sub-top-25 opponent when a top 5 opponent is looming. The fact is, we also run fairly vanilla coverage on defense in that situation.

Stacking the line of scrimmage, with a vanilla coverage behind it is not a recipe for success against a good offense; not even when you're Ohio State. Your QB is better than some people think, and it's not uncommon for opposing QBs to have great days against OSU (see Minnesota last year).

OSU did very well against Northwestern last year by playing to stop the pass first. We held them to 153 yards through the air. Their back, Tyrell Sutton (very similar to Wolfe BTW) had a decent day (93 yards); but it wasn't nearly enough. They scored on their first possession and didn't sniff the end zone for the rest of the game.

Don't be surprised if we try something similar with NIU. Your quarterback is very well respected among people who know the game; and we may find him easier to stop than Wolfe.

But then, Tressell does have a well known predilection for making teams play "left-handed". In your case, that would mean keying on Wolfe and letting the speed of our DBs take out the passing game. That would be risky IMHO; but if it's what Tressell/Heacock decide to do, I would bet that it works.
 
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DaddyBigBucks said:
I personally hope we don't "dare you to throw".

As many have observed, OSU typically runs a vanilla offensive game plan against a sub-top-25 opponent when a top 5 opponent is looming. The fact is, we also run fairly vanilla coverage on defense in that situation.

Stacking the line of scrimmage, with a vanilla coverage behind it is not a recipe for success against a good offense; not even when you're Ohio State. Your QB is better than some people think, and it's not uncommon for opposing QBs to have great days against OSU (see Minnesota last year).

OSU did very well against Northwestern last year by playing to stop the pass first. We held them to 153 yards through the air. Their back, Tyrell Sutton (very similar to Wolfe BTW) had a decent day (93 yards); but it wasn't nearly enough. They scored on their first possession and didn't sniff the end zone for the rest of the game.

Don't be surprised if we try something similar with NIU. Your quarterback is very well respected among people who know the game; and we may find him easier to stop than Wolfe.

But then, Tressell does have a well known predilection for making teams play "left-handed". In your case, that would mean keying on Wolfe and letting the speed of our DBs take out the passing game. That would be risky IMHO; but if it's what Tressell/Heacock decide to do, I would bet that it works.
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All good points. The reason I say our passing game is less of a threat is that, assuming Horvath is our QB, his arm isn't that strong and he occasionally floats one that can be picked off (he's had a few run back for TD's, something we definitely can't afford). He's normally very accurate on shorter passes but doesn't throw deep that often. Since your DBs are faster than the typical team we play you might be able to get away with that. Our receivers this year are fast and athletic but not real experienced. Wolfe is a known factor; unless he fumbles it's much less risky to hand it off to him and see what he can do. And he can take it the distance against anybody if our O-line can give him a little room.

On a separate note, I was really impressed with Sutton when we played NU. It was hard to tell just how good he was because our tackling admittedly needed work too.
 
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scarletngrey77 said:
First of all welcome to Buckeyeplanet.

Secondly, NIU hasnt seen athletes as good as the ones at OSU.

We have, NIU played Alabama in 03 in Tuscaloosa, their offense was horrible that year but their D was solid as it usually is. NIU also beat the #2 team in the ACC in 03 (MD). Several of our 4th and 5th year Seniors played in those game.

The Horseshoe is a harder place to play than the Shit House up North,

From watching the game last year it was quiet for 110K fans.

and they dont really play defense up there anymore.

Michigan was #3 for least yards allowed and #4 by .3 per game (Iowa#3) for fewest points allowed. Hate Michigan all U want but UR opinion is not supported by facts.

Anyway, good to be here I'll post some links to NFL.com, Gil Brandt lists his top 07 Seniors by position.
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onlinepole said:
Hate Michigan all U want but UR opinion is not supported by facts.
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Nice try but their overall defensive standings paint a much more accurate portrait than their conference standings do. They were something like 42nd in yards allowed and 23rd in points allowed. (These stats don't even illustrate the fact that TSUN couldn't make a meaningful stop to save their lives last year.) If you know anything about scUM football then you know that those numbers do not constitute playing defense. Calling them out on that has nothing to do with hatred. It has to do with holding them to the standard they have set for themselves.
Also, I think you are going to have trouble convincing anybody on this site that '03 Maryland or '03 Bama were as athletic as this year's Buckeyes (that includes myself). I have to believe that we will have just as much trouble convincing you they weren't. We fans will just have to wait and let the Buckeyes make their case in September.

P.S. Thanks for the info on your team.
 
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if a team has no offense to maintain ball control, the defense wears down and becomes less effective.

you really have to be kidding about UM being a strong defensive team. It's been years since they played a strong brand of defense up there... and UM fans will be the first to admit it (but their DB turned DC will change everything)
 
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Zurp said:
Admittedly, I don't know much about Northern Illinois. But if their running game is as good as I've heard, I think that they can get a big start with a big passing game. Bomb a couple of deep passes early to stretch out the safeties.

Here are some NFL.com links to articles written by Gil Brandt listing the top 06 NFL draft by position and his outlook for the top 07 college seniors:

Http://nfl./com/draft/analysis.expert/brandt/ol

Http://nfl.com/draft/analysis/expert/brandt/rb

Http://nfl.com/draft/anaysis/expert/brandt/te

Brandt only lists his 07 preview for offensive positions which is strange but 3 of his top Seniors play on NIU's offense.

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?=

OT John Brost chosen to Sporting News 3rd Team Freshman AA offense. All Sporting News honorees are listed in this article. One Big 10 Olineman was chosen 2nd team (Craig Urbik, WI) and one 3rd team from Iowa.

http://collegefootballnews.com/2005/41934/features/freshman_AA3.com

DE Craig Rusch chosen College Football News 3rd Team Freshman AA Defense.

http://www.sportswriters.net/fwaa/news/2005/allamerica060104.html

LB Tim McCarthy chosen for Football Writers Association of America Freshman All American Team. The FWAA chooses only 1 team, 12 O, 12 D and 3 specialists. Being selected for this is quite an honor.

This should give Buck fans more insight into NIU which doesn't receive that much press coverage with ND and 5 Big 10 programs (NU, IL, IA, WI and PU) within 180 miles of DeKalb.

Looking forward to 9/2 it should be an exciting contest and a real measuring stick for our program.

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?=

OT John Brost chosen to Sporting News 3rd Team Freshman AA offense. All Sporting News honorees are listed in this article. One Big 10 Olineman was chosen 2nd team (Craig Urbik, WI) and one 3rd team from Iowa.

http://collegefootballnews.com/2005/41934/features/freshman_AA3.com

DE Craig Rusch chosen College Football News 3rd Team Freshman AA Defense.

http://www.sportswriters.net/fwaa/news/2005/allamerica060104.html

LB Tim McCarthy chosen for Football Writers Association of America Freshman All American Team. The FWAA chooses only 1 team, 12 O, 12 D and 3 specialists. Being selected for this is quite an honor.

This should give Buck fans more insight into NIU which doesn't receive that much press coverage with ND and 5 Big 10 programs (NU, IL, IA, WI and PU) within 180 miles of DeKalb.

Looking forward to 9/2 it should be an exciting contest and a real measuring stick for our program.

http://collegefootballnews.com/2005/41934/features/freshman_AA_3.htm

DE Craig Rusch is chose for CFN's 3rd team Defense.

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?=

OT John Brost chosen to Sporting News 3rd Team Freshman AA offense. All Sporting News honorees are listed in this article. One Big 10 Olineman was chosen 2nd team (Craig Urbik, WI) and one 3rd team from Iowa.

http://collegefootballnews.com/2005/41934/features/freshman_AA3.com

DE Craig Rusch chosen College Football News 3rd Team Freshman AA Defense.

http://www.sportswriters.net/fwaa/news/2005/allamerica060104.html

LB Tim McCarthy chosen for Football Writers Association of America Freshman All American Team. The FWAA chooses only 1 team, 12 O, 12 D and 3 specialists. Being selected for this is quite an honor.

This should give Buck fans more insight into NIU which doesn't receive that much press coverage with ND and 5 Big 10 programs (NU, IL, IA, WI and PU) within 180 miles of DeKalb.

Looking forward to 9/2 it should be an exciting contest and a real measuring stick for our program.

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?=41934

OT John Brost chosen 3rd team Offense Sporting News Freshman AA
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onlinepole said:
NIU played Alabama in 03 in Tuscaloosa, their offense was horrible that year but their D was solid as it usually is.
.
.
.

UR opinion is not supported by facts.
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First, thanks for the info. You're a welcome addition to the board.

While Alabama's defense wasn't terrible in '03; it seems a stretch to say that it was "solid as it usually is". Their rushing defense was ranked 36th in the country that year. They were 4th on '02 and 9th in '05. From my perspective, it looks like you caught them in a down year (even defensively), as their 4-9 record would attest.
 
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Here's a college football item relating to NIU and a Big Ten oponent.

Please note that there is no 's' at the end of Soldier Field. Don't piss off us Chicagoans by adding one. :wink2:

si.com

NIU hosting Iowa at Soldier Field

Posted: Tuesday June 6, 2006 1:39AM

CHICAGO (AP) -- Northern Illinois will host Iowa next year in the first Division 1 football game at Soldier Field since its 2003 renovation, officials from both schools announced Monday.

The Sept. 1, 2007 game will be the first appearance for either school at Soldier Field, which has hosted football since 1926.

"For all Huskie fans, Hawkeye fans and college football fans in general, this is a win-win-win situation," Northern Illinois Director of Athletics Jim Phillips said in a joint statement with outgoing Iowa A.D. Bob Bowlsby.

"It's a great game, an even better venue and an attractive date for television," Phillips said.

Bowlsby added that Iowa is "very excited to be playing Northern Illinois in such a historic venue as Soldier Field."

The matchup is part of a home-and-home series between the programs. Iowa will host the Huskies on Oct. 28.
<!--startclickprintexclude-->
 
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