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Game Thread Game Two: #1 Ohio State 24, #2 Texas 7 (9/9/06)

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Freshman QBs should do fine

I'm not that worried about the QBs. Are they going to play at VY's level? No. But they don't have to. Last year, the entire offense was designed to maximize the talent of our QB. This year, the entire offense was designed to maximize the talent surrounding our QB. Of course, since most people at a national level could only name one player on our offense last year, they think there wasn't much talent surrounding VY. This year, everyone will find out that was not the case.

One of those talented players is Jermichael Finley. The last time I was this excited about a freshman was two years ago with Jordan Shipley. Unfortunately, Jordan has had injuries both of those years to keep him off the field. So needless to say I'm very excited that both will be playing this year. Finley and Shipley are one of those catch-any-ball-thrown-within-five-yards kind of guys.

Anyway, with these two on the field, the QBs will have an easier time throwing the ball. In practice, Finley is already becoming a favorite safety valve for both our QBs.

With all that said, the big question is who will step up their game when we are down 12 points with 10 minutes to go in the game now that VY is gone. That's the intangible that no one will know until the season starts and could possibly be the difference in a very close game with OSU.

Last year, I thought the UT-OSU game would be a close one and I have no reason to believe otherwise this year. Yes, the QBs lack experience but they have a lot of talent surrounding them and an outstanding defense to keep the opposition's score low.
 
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bchorn said:
I'm not that worried about the QBs. Are they going to play at VY's level? No. But they don't have to. Last year, the entire offense was designed to maximize the talent of our QB. This year, the entire offense was designed to maximize the talent surrounding our QB.
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"Was designed" for this year - are they already changing the plan :)
I do agree with you that the QBs for Texas do not have to play at a VY level for Texas to have a good year. However, I do think that without that ability to spring huge 3rd down conversions - and the escapability he demonstrated then and at other times - the Texas offfense may be spelled with a smaller "o" than last year. It is a case of diminished expectations. I'd also be both happy and worried with the warm-up game. While I am sure North Texas isn't completely chopped liver they will not provide a thoroughly stringent test of your offensive line and pass-blocking. I say this because, though the UT O line is clearly good, they may be required to hold their blocks for longer than was needed with the more experienced and versatile Young at the helm. Last year North Texas dropped 9 games throughout their season. This means to me UT enters the September 9th game still without a clear leader, or a confidence building weathering of a defensive storm.
bchorn said:
Of course, since most people at a national level could only name one player on our offense last year, they think there wasn't much talent surrounding VY. This year, everyone will find out that was not the case.
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I'm not sure why you raise this as an issue here of all places. We are familiar with the cast of characters on Texas' O, and the gaps left by those who have graduated or departed for $ greener pastures, or departed because of something too green in the back-seat of their car :)
bchorn said:
One of those talented players is Jermichael Finley. The last time I was this excited about a freshman was two years ago with Jordan Shipley. Unfortunately, Jordan has had injuries both of those years to keep him off the field. So needless to say I'm very excited that both will be playing this year. Finley and Shipley are one of those catch-any-ball-thrown-within-five-yards kind of guys.
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As you note below the Finley name has been floated with frequency in this thread, and he certainly seems like a star in the making. Still, showing well in practice is one thinng, playing up that level against a defense that wants to take you head off is certainly a different kettle of fish.
bchorn said:
Anyway, with these two on the field, the QBs will have an easier time throwing the ball. In practice, Finley is already becoming a favorite safety valve for both our QBs.
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Whether Shipley or Finley gets to see the ball will come down to the time those young, untested QBs have. Heacock will have our defense ready to apply pressure, it should be an interesting tactical match-up against a very good UT offensive line.
bchorn said:
With all that said, the big question is who will step up their game when we are down 12 points with 10 minutes to go in the game now that VY is gone. That's the intangible that no one will know until the season starts and could possibly be the difference in a very close game with OSU.
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Now that is a very candid assessment of what may happen, if Texas is down 12 with 10 minutes to go I'd say you can call it "This One Belongs to The Buckeyes." :biggrin:

bchorn said:
Last year, I thought the UT-OSU game would be a close one and I have no reason to believe otherwise this year. Yes, the QBs lack experience but they have a lot of talent surrounding them and an outstanding defense to keep the opposition's score low.
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And overall, I think this actually closer to how the game will go than the above "down 12 and 10 minutes to go" scenario.

Good post by the way - homerism yes, but well seasoned with rationality.
 
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Sorry if I implied that this year's offense was a complete redesign over last year. I guess "tailored" would have been a better choice of words than designed. The zone read will still be in our repetorie (sp?). But we won't run it nearly as much as last year and we certainly don't expect the QB to run for 80 yards and a TD. Just a first down would be nice.

My "down 12 points with 10 minutes to go" was actually a reference to last year's Rose Bowl and not this year's OSU game.

Thanks for the props. I know objective posts from opposing fans are better received than homer ones.
 
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Are you seriously chasitizing someone for saying Jamaal Charles is a Heisman caliber running back? Do you just dig up quips that tickle your fancy no matter how far under the rug in the conversation they are, just so you can get your little negative 2 cents in?? I'm appologize, I'm not trying to be an A-hole, it just seems that you always are. This is a great board, and you seem like a pretty good guy and a great fan of the Bucks. Seems it would be more productive if you used your insights to build up your own, while maybe builiding up the opposition occasionally, instead of always dragging us down.

As far as Jamaal is concerned, aside from splitting time with other backs who accumulated nearly 1,500 yards, and a QB who took over 1,000, (due in large part to an ankle injury that I'm sure you as well as anyone can understand will impede one's performance) expect a faster, more durable Jamaal who's added strength, size, and confidence to an already exceptional, and now experienced, frame.
 
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campies said:
Are you seriously chasitizing someone for saying Jamaal Charles is a Heisman caliber running back? Do you just dig up quips that tickle your fancy no matter how far under the rug in the conversation they are, just so you can get your little negative 2 cents in?? I'm appologize, I'm not trying to be an A-hole, it just seems that you always are. This is a great board, and you seem like a pretty good guy and a great fan of the Bucks. Seems it would be more productive if you used your insights to build up your own, while maybe builiding up the opposition occasionally, instead of always dragging us down.

As far as Jamaal is concerned, aside from splitting time with other backs who accumulated nearly 1,500 yards, and a QB who took over 1,000, (due in large part to an ankle injury that I'm sure you as well as anyone can understand will impede one's performance) expect a faster, more durable Jamaal who's added strength, size, and confidence to an already exceptional, and now experienced, frame.
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Jamaal hasnt shown that he is a Heisman caliber running back yet. Hes had flashes, but so did someone 2 years ago that was overhyped (Ted Ginn Jr.) He very well could be a Heisman candidate, but its not ridiculous to think he wont be.
 
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campies said:
Are you seriously chasitizing someone for saying Jamaal Charles is a Heisman caliber running back? Do you just dig up quips that tickle your fancy no matter how far under the rug in the conversation they are, just so you can get your little negative 2 cents in?? I'm appologize, I'm not trying to be an A-hole, it just seems that you always are. This is a great board, and you seem like a pretty good guy and a great fan of the Bucks. Seems it would be more productive if you used your insights to build up your own, while maybe builiding up the opposition occasionally, instead of always dragging us down.
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Mr Pot, meet Mr Kettle. So, it's fine for a UT fan to make delusional posts about nearly everyone on his team being a sure-fire, or at least potential, All-American, and then also flat out state that his RB who finished 58th in the country rushing is all of a sudden a Heisman finalist for the next two years?

Look again at my reply to that. Do you see me calling xrayrandy an asshole? No. Do you see me chatising the Texas football program in any way? No. What you do see is me pointing out--with stats, as xrayrandy himself always does--how silly his claim is.

If you think that calling out hyperbole is "dragging you down", then maybe you should find another board to visit. This is an Ohio State board, and while we gladly welcome opposing fans with welcome arms, don't sit there and expect us to join you in singing your fight song...
 
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campies said:
Are you seriously chasitizing someone for saying Jamaal Charles is a Heisman caliber running back? Do you just dig up quips that tickle your fancy no matter how far under the rug in the conversation they are, just so you can get your little negative 2 cents in?? I'm appologize, I'm not trying to be an A-hole, it just seems that you always are. This is a great board, and you seem like a pretty good guy and a great fan of the Bucks. Seems it would be more productive if you used your insights to build up your own, while maybe builiding up the opposition occasionally, instead of always dragging us down.

As far as Jamaal is concerned, aside from splitting time with other backs who accumulated nearly 1,500 yards, and a QB who took over 1,000, (due in large part to an ankle injury that I'm sure you as well as anyone can understand will impede one's performance) expect a faster, more durable Jamaal who's added strength, size, and confidence to an already exceptional, and now experienced, frame.
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I would like to commend campies for this post.

I haven't even read it yet, but the fact that it has two separate paragraphs is a noteworthy improvement. :wink2:
 
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No so fast regarding JC

MililaniBuckeye said:
You mean the Jamaal Charles that averaged a staggering 67.54 yards a game (78th in the country), and ran for an eye-popping 2.6 yards per carry against us?
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After the first quarter was over, VY only ran for 14 yards for the rest of the game. So, using your logic, VY isn't a good running quarterback, correct?

The truth is JC's yards per carry was in the top 10 at the end of last season. No he didn't have a total yardage stat for the year that will turn any heads. But that's because he was sharing running back duties with three other players throughout the season (S. Young, R. Taylor, H. Melton). Throw in VY and you can see that running yardage total was shared by all.

Just look up some highlight clips of Jammal on youtube and you'll see what us Texas fans are talking about.
 
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bchorn said:
After the first quarter was over, VY only ran for 14 yards for the rest of the game. So, using your logic, VY isn't a good running quarterback, correct?

The truth is JC's yards per carry was in the top 10 at the end of last season. No he didn't have a total yardage stat for the year that will turn any heads. But that's because he was sharing running back duties with three other players throughout the season (S. Young, R. Taylor, H. Melton). Throw in VY and you can see that running yardage total was shared by all.

Just look up some highlight clips of Jammal on youtube and you'll see what us Texas fans are talking about.
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That's not a good rebuttal. Running is a portion of VYs game, while running is all of Jamaal Charles' game. While VY was only running for 14 yards, he was throwing for a lot more than he is used to. So when you take everything as a whole, VY was being a QB and producing while Charles was being a RB and not.

That being said, I don't like to take a 1 game performance and base the player off it. I don't think Charles should be mentioned in the same sentence as 'Heisman' yet, but not because of what he didn't do against us.
 
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If he doesn't think a Texas runningback with over 2000 all-purpose yards will get Heisman consideration then there isn't much point arguing about it.

But to be clear Jamaal had 95 all-purpose yards against tOSU and it would have been 107 if he hadn't botched that toss on the end around. And, this was a true freshman who barely knew the offense and was shaking when he came in the game.

Jamaal was averaging 157 all purpose yards a game at the moment he was injured against OU (after the 80 yard run), and that is without returning kicks. He is faster, stronger, and more knowledgeable of the offense now. l expect his production will go up.
 
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bchorn said:
The truth is JC's yards per carry was in the top 10 at the end of last season. No he didn't have a total yardage stat for the year that will turn any heads. But that's because he was sharing running back duties with three other players throughout the season (S. Young, R. Taylor, H. Melton). Throw in VY and you can see that running yardage total was shared by all.
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I'd go back and research when and against whom he got the rest of his yardage, but to me it's irrelevent. The kid may indeed turn out to be a great back, but he will not--repeat, will NOT--be a Heisman finalist this year, and maybe not next year either.
 
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xrayrandy said:
If he doesn't think a Texas runningback with over 2000 all-purpose yards will get Heisman consideration then there isn't much point arguing about it.

But to be clear Jamaal had 95 all-purpose yards against tOSU and it would have been 107 if he hadn't botched that toss on the end around. And, this was a true freshman who barely knew the offense and was shaking when he came in the game.

Jamaal was averaging 157 all purpose yards a game at the moment he was injured against OU (after the 80 yard run), and that is without returning kicks. He is faster, stronger, and more knowledgeable of the offense now. l expect his production will go up.
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Sorry homer, but RBs don't win Heismans on all purpose yards.
 
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