Game Thread Game Two: Texas 25, Ohio State 22 (final)

[BuckEyeDr]

I think X-Ray has had some radiation overexposure if he thinks Ginn isn't one of, if not the fastest player in the college football game right now.

Also, this dig on our Big Ten conference team speed. I think the overall team speed in the Big Ten can hold its own against big 12 competition. We've seen Ginn against top level DivI talent and he is quite fast enough so far to out run them all.

 

[Torch7]

I think X-Ray has had some radiation overexposure if he thinks Ginn isn't one of, if not the fastest player in the college football game right now.

I don't think that the argument is that Ginn is one of the fastest players in college football, just that stating he is the fastest doesn't hold water.

 

[BB73]

Soft doesn't describe this team. VY brings swagger and the attitude that we're gonna pull out the win regardless of the situation. Additionally, the coaching staff changed their approach to the star players. They get pushed much harder now. The team was pretty soft a few years ago.

You can see VY's attitude spreading. Ok. St. was really proof. We were down 28 points. Two years ago, we lose by 42. But the team came out and played to win. No one left the stadium...we believe they'll pull it out.

If we need two scores in 4 minutes, they'll make it happen. 4th and 18...they'll convert it. This team's mental toughness is just remarkable.

Lately it seems like it may be sacrilege for a Buckeye fan to say something positive about the Longhorns, but I think these comments about VY's attitude and the affect it has on the team are valid. Two years ago Texas didn't have that toughness. They lost an early home game to Arkansas, got taken to the woodshed by Ohlahoma, and were trailing late against Texas Tech; needing a long drive to win the game. Mack Brown correctly pulled VY in favor of Chance Mock to lead the game-winning drive. Game experience and clock management factored into the decision. I was watching the game, and said ahead of time that Mack should make the switch, which fortunately for Mack resulted in a TD and a 43-40 victory. By the way, was there much pressure on Chance Mock during that drive? It was his last home game, he's put the team's rising superstar on the bench, his parents both went to Texas Tech, and he grew up in Lubbock!

Anyway, VY two years ago wasn't ready to pull out a clutch win for the team in that situation, since he lacked experience and there wasn't enough time to run the ball much. But last year he led dramatic comebacks against Okie St., against Kansas, and in the Rose Bowl. They also got an early road victory at Arkansas. I watched all of those games live, and they did get a couple of breaks (Matt Jones late fumble as he was twisting for more yardage, and Mark Mangino's least favorite penalty flag made Kansas punt very late), but the team showed heart. The OC's brain cramp in the RRS is still something they need to get past, however.

September 10th should be a classic game, and it can't get here soon enough. I believe that while we have some friendly banter and talk a little smack with the Texas fans, we should understand their mindsets. They are a team in the top-10 of all-time in college football, they have one of the largest fan bases in a state that is passionate about football; and despite several recent seasons in the top-10, they have stuggled against their arch-rival and haven't won the NC in almost 35 years. Does that sound at all familiar?

So while firing back at Longhorn posters that deserve it when they get a little carried away, let's be respectful to the Longhorn posters that have posted intelligently and respectfully. And let's try to recognize sarcasm when it's as well done as HL's recent post on apparent posting rules.

 

[SanClementeBuck]

Good remarks, BB73. Ya gotta like the Texas posters (vast majority of em), for bringing us some great detail, lots of history, a very complimentary view of our beloved Ohio Stadium and some excellent football savvy.

In my squad when things get tough I always want a couple of Texans cover'n. As for the game on 10Sep...I hope our Bucks can hook em good.

 

[xrayrandy]

As the poster defending me said while my computer connection was down, I agree with the statement that he is one of the fastest players in the college game. But there are a lot of fast players around the country, and we happen to have a few who are right up there too.

 

[High Lonesome]

good to see this settle down a bit, we do have over a month till the game still. I have to admit that while i was critical of some of his other posts i though xray backed up his statements well about Huff's speed. Whether or not you think it is relevant is one thing, but he made his point and provided a source.

 

[jwinslow]

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I keep hearing how fast OSU players are, and forty times being quoted, yet when xray calls yall on forty times you turn the discussion to game speed. You can't keep switching your argument.

We brought up 40 times about the LBs and some DE's, cuz they aren't quite as likely to be sifting back and forth and taking 40 yard time sout of the equation. However Hawk is as good as he is b/c that speed is used as well as anyone in the game (much like DJ seems to have done last year) in terms of pursuit angles.

The point is that there are tons of track stars that play football. There is a huge variable that leads to their football speed, and that is extremely hard to measure.

It's not like we haven't been watching fast players. Heck we all grew up watching Joey Galloway (one of the fastest NFL players in the last decade) among other speedsters. And we've still never seen anyone like Ginn.

This doesn't mean Ginn is unstoppable. It just means that his speed will be arguably the fastest you'll face next year.

What you have to realize is that even if Huff did play CB (he seems headed to SS, correct me please), he should be covering Santonio Holmes. He's a fast WR, that is largely thought to be the top WR out there next year. Either way, he's our best WR that your #1 DB will be on.

That leaves Ginn for your #2, and Gonzalez on your #3 (which is the matchup we salivate about before every game).

 

[xrayrandy]

I didn't provide a source on Huff but here is one. http://www.texassports.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=22&change_well_id=17&member_id=144
I can also provide links for Quan Cosby 10.46 (FAT), Palmer Palmer 10.50 (FAT), Taylor 10.57 (FAT), Michael Griffin 10.65 (FAT), Jamal Charles 10.69 (FAT), Cedric Griffin 10.5 (hand), Tarel Brown 10.5 (hand), Selvin Young 10.6 (hand), Matt Melton 10.77 (FAT) and so on.

I was browsing through your stats again and found something I missed before, red zone defense 33 trips 20 TDs 9 FGs. Wow that's bad. I knew about your red zone offense 31 trips 12 TDs 13 FGs, 'cuse that's bad too.

I found your 42% red zone TD efficiency interesting the first time I saw it because it matches Vince Young's TD efficiency for drives.

 

[jwinslow]

stats really do get you off don't they?

Keep pleasuring yourself with stats, they don't win ballgames, especially not a year later. They could tell you something about making a prediction, but anything can happen out there. Both squads have far too much talent to know exactly what's gonna happen.

But just to appease you:
Did you compare the stats from the early season with the late season yet? Or the 100 yard offensive days under Zwick/Ross?

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

xrayrandy: You must look like The Professor in the Back to the Future movies. Life cannot be explained in a statistical manner, as much as you would like it. And, for the umpteenth time, full-season stats do not come close to reflecting on how well our defense (and offense) blossumed late in the season.

 

[xrayrandy]

For a time I ran a high voltage, x-ray and fusion project and had a Transylvanian assistant, but I don't look like the guy you are talking about.

For the previous post talking about Huff's matchup, if he does play corner in this game, as I hope, he and Cedric Griffin will likely stay on one side and not swap from side to side to follow any one receiver. There is not enough difference in their abilities to warrant that. Our FS/SS Michael Griffin is also a projected first day pick and covers as well as Cedric Griffin (no relation). If Huff is a SS then Brown or Ross will be the other corner. They are both 10.5 100m guys, who can cover. There are a little overshadowed by the other DBs and not as highly regarded because of that. The talent drop off is not that great, as both are regarded as NFL prospects.

We have a couple sophomore safeties who will play in nickle situations or when Huff is at corner. Marcus Griffin (Michael's twin) is now only slightly below his brother in speed and overall ability, and Bobby Tatum was more highly regarded as a DB than Ginn coming out of the Army combine. He was a few hundredths slower but a better overall athlete. (I'm not making that up, you can check their website)

Speed is not going to be the issue with our coverage. Finding openings in our zone when we play zone will be critical. That was our weakness last year.

 

[BuckWrestler141]

Anyone else here want to welcome Randy to work our new stat engine for next season? At the very least for the September 10th game :tongue2:

 

[gost8]

OK people spread the word. I know this will pick up in the weeks before the game. (list edited)

 

[DCBuckFan]

...and Bobby Tatum was more highly regarded as a DB than Ginn coming out of the Army combine.

OK now... I know you are a Texas fan and all, but just think about that for a second...

Ginn was the undisputed (at least as far as HS recruiting goes) CB in the nation coming out of high school. There wasn't any question there at all.

I am sure that Bobby Tatum is/will be a good player, he has the genes, but there is no way you are going to go to an OHIO STATE site and convince anyone that Ginn wasn't the top ranked CB in the nation coming out.

That said, I know you are trying to stand up for your team... but please just take Mili's bet(s) and cut off the stats. I am a Mathematician as well, but my eyes feel like they are going to bleed from all of your consistant stats on every little freaking thing...

Oh yeah, and I almost forgot, Texas has a shot at this game, and will make it close... but in the end might games in the Shoe are just tough on visiting teams. You will need a little help from us (TOs) to win this game.

Next year could be a different story, but that is a long ways off

 

[craigblitz]

Throw in the towel bucks. Texas is just too damn fast.. I mean for goodness sake look at the stats. Ginn, yep he is average speed whenn it comes to Texas players, why do we even have this discussion. I mean just like Cryami... we have no speed that can match theirs, but we did get lucky. I guess Oklahoma doesn't have Texas speed as well. Maybe, just maybe we can get lucky like we did against Miami and maybe we can get lucky like the lot slowe Oklahoma team as well..... After all the team with the fastest 40 times always win right....