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

[BrockSamson]

The hype on Finley is because no one really saw him until this past Tuesday, and he looked as dominant as our more heralded recruits we expect to see the field this year. He definately isn't big enough to play TE this year. If he plays, it will be at WR/H-back.

If Finley can catch the ball, and we don't have 4+ other guys that step up, I don't see him not playing. If he can catch and block downfield, he could play a bunch. You know Mack loves WRs that block downfield, and RBs that can pick up a blitz.

At this point I don't care if we play kindergarteners...we need a WR that doesn't drop the ball.

Re: Quan...I think he just needs one big play. I can see Vince throwing an INT and Quan utterly de-cleating the offending DB (forced fumble +recovery being a bonus), and being the explosive player we're expecting for the rest of his career. I don't think the machine is rusty, but the pilot has gone out. Just needs a spark.

 

[High Lonesome]

Well we agree on some things, I too do not expect much from shipley in the osu game, I do however expect crosby to be able to step right in. He has been a proffesional athlete now for 3 years and should be physically and mentaly able to handle it. I don't know if I think vince likes throwing to TE's more or if they were just our best recievers last year. I think that vince will throw plenty to the wide outs so long as they prove that they will not let him down. I really don't have as much faith in sweed as you do. I see a kid that has dominated people with his athletisism and never had to work on the small things. If he continues to have that approach he will never amount to anything. I hope I am wrong because the kid is one hell of an athlete.

 

[jwinslow]

At this point I don't care if we play kindergarteners...we need a WR that doesn't drop the ball.

This is precisely why I am not that scared of VY. I think VY is clearly talented enough, but I don't know whose going to be catching those passes. I think our LBs can stick with your TEs quite well, and then whose left?

Similar to Dukes, most of us expect big things out of him (and in a year or more out of Hartline and others)... but he's got a lot to prove before he should be used in arguments.

This doesn't mean your guys can't get it done. It just means that I see them as being very green coming into an extremely tough environment for a game of epic proportions.

 

[buckeyeboy]

To what extent is the hype about the UT D line the product of the fact that last year opponents were probably more worried about Johnson, therefore leaving 1-1 matchups between their O lines and UT's D line? I ask only b/c sometimes the stats of a teammate of a superstar player (and hence their ability) can be overly-inflated by offenses keying on the superstar (like Kevin Hardy and Simeon Rice at UI).

 

[BrockSamson]

This is precisely why I am not that scared of VY. I think VY is clearly talented enough, but I don't know whose going to be catching those passes. I think our LBs can stick with your TEs quite well, and then whose left?

If we play our cards right, we could put your LBs in some tough positions. They're going to have to give run support, cover our TEs, and keep Vince Young's running lanes closed. That's a tough proposition for 3 LBs...no one can be in two places at once.

Some responsiblities have to go to the safeties. I'm sure you'd rather have your LBs contain VY, but David Thomas against safeties is a mismatch, and without the safeties deep opens up the deep ball...assuming we have someone we are willing to throw it deep to.

I think our teams match up so well it is bizarre. Your O should keep us in nickel D, which I'd prefer because I trust our DBs more than OLBs. Our O generally exploits LBs, which is your biggest strength. It should be an interesting day.

To what extent is the hype about the UT D line the product of the fact that last year opponents were probably more worried about Johnson, therefore leaving 1-1 matchups between their O lines and UT's D line?

Very little. Coming into last year we had little proven depth on D-line (injuries at DT, other probs at DE) so the D-line was asked to play conservatively - they wanted them to be fresh in the 4th if we couldn't count on the young guys. They just closed up holes and DJ cleaned up the whatever was left over. They actually weren't all that productive, because they weren't asked to be productive. It turns out we had tons of talent...the freshman played extremely well. With the unknown now at OLB, we'll probably unleash the D-line to take pressure off the LBs.

 

[High Lonesome]

To what extent is the hype about the UT D line the product of the fact that last year opponents were probably more worried about Johnson, therefore leaving 1-1 matchups between their O lines and UT's D line? I ask only b/c sometimes the stats of a teammate of a superstar player (and hence their ability) can be overly-inflated by offenses keying on the superstar (like Kevin Hardy and Simeon Rice at UI).

I would say almost 0, There were actually those that said that DJ was a product of never having to move through traffic because the line was so good. The line saw plenty of double teams last year and will no doubt experience the same this year but do know that the hype that they recieve is from their play on the field. Wright had a down year due to some nagging injuries but he is 100% and expected to be a force in the middle.

 

[jreal26]

To what extent is the hype about the UT D line the product of the fact that last year opponents were probably more worried about Johnson, therefore leaving 1-1 matchups between their O lines and UT's D line? I ask only b/c sometimes the stats of a teammate of a superstar player (and hence their ability) can be overly-inflated by offenses keying on the superstar (like Kevin Hardy and Simeon Rice at UI).

It's not just a hype machine as far as our tackles. Rodrique Wright is a bad dude coming off a down year due to an ankle injury. He's the real deal and is 100%. The other starting tackle, Larry Dibbles is a playmaker as well and is very quick off the ball. He's worked himself into the best shape of his life this offseason and should have another great year. Then we also return a true Sophmore, Frank Okam that is a beast. He is a prototypical DT, 6'5 315, and very quick for his size. He was a frosh AA last year and will see plenty of time this year. If he can keep his pad level down this year, he will be a nightmare for offenses.

The Defensive Ends should be better this year but there will be a dropoff from the DT's. Crowder is probably our best pass rushing end. He's pretty good and came along at the end of the year. Had a great game against Okie St. Robinson is a solid starter by all means, but he struggled at times last year vs the run. Both should improve upon last year and make more plays this year.

DJ benefitted from playing behind great DT's. In most games he was able to run free to the ball. If he did not have such an outstanding line to run behind he would have had to take on more OLineman, and this was many scouts biggest knock against him.

 

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

I'm not here to give Texas any props, but with the 02 D-Line class they nabbed, anyone saying it's all "hype" (as opposed to a solid unit) has no clue what he's talking about.

If I was Texas, I'd be more worried about how to block OSU's front 7 (Who I assure you, is going to be faster than you think - ask Miami, Fla) (And no, I'm not suggesting anyone said OSU was slow. Just sayin)

 

[xrayrandy]

"Randy, I really don't see any way that we don't redshirt him. We recruited him as a tight end and he is not big enough. If we use him at wide reciever he would just be added to the ever growing list of touted young wide outs on our team. So I ask again, Have you heard somehting I haven't?"

Well I heard Mack Brown's signing day press conference where he said that Finley would start out at SE because of his size, but he expected he would develop into a TE eventually. I usually feel pretty confident about my statements when they happen to match the head coach's.

Did you watch the game? I haven't met anyone who watched the game who thinks Finley won't play next year. Normally I would not expect too much from an incoming freshman, but with the new rules allowing them to attend summer class he, and the rest of our signees, have already been working out with the team and S&C coach for 8 weeks. I think that was one reason the Texas players dominated the game so much.

All in all though our WRs are still a huge question mark in terms of real game performance, but I think they'll surprise people.

 

[jwinslow]

We really need to get a seed going for the Rose Bowl, since we already have one for the Michigan game, if you texans missed it.

Mike Kudla is coming off of a near death experience last fall, and nagging injuries throughout. He was finally healthy at the end of the year, and he obliterated UM's talented line. He's a physical freak (4.5 40, 585 max, 225 lbs x 52 reps)... and could be a terror for us next year.

Richardson looks like he'll be solid and occasionally wreak some havoc in the backfield.

However, don't expect our DE's to overpursue like UM's. VY will no doubt fake outside and sneak inside them occasionally, but we won't be using the same worthless techniques.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

Texas fans keep talking about their dominant OL, WR/S mismatches, and our LBs not being able to be in two places at once. Well, the defense did a great job in the Michigan game of shutting down a passing attack that is light years ahead of Texas and a rushing game (in Mike Hart) comparable to Texas. We also totally shut down an explosive Oklahoma State offense in the Alamo Bowl. Our defense was hot closing out last season and will continue that (returning nine starters) entering this season. Provided our own DL stays in their lanes and provides at least a decent pass rush, our LBs and secondary will handle their assignments quite well. Texas has nothing that we didn't see against either Michigan or Oklahoma State last year.

Another subject that hasn't been mentioned often is the opening games for both of us. We open the season against Miami (Oh), a very solid MAC team that went to a bowl game last year (lost a close 17-13 game to Iowa State) and plays big name teams very tough. Texas plays Sun Belt Louisiana-Lafayette, which has gone 1-10, 3-8, 3-9, 4-8, and 4-7 over the last five seasons. The general belief is that a team's biggest improvement occurs between game one and game two. I think that gives Ohio State the big advantage in preparation for Sep 10th.

Mike Kudla is coming off of a near death experience last fall...

That was early 2003, right after the NC game.

 

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

NO question that Miami Oh will provide OSU with a better look than will Louisiana-Lafayette provide Tex. What is it with you Big XII schools anyway? Does playing all those scabs actually prepare you for the Big XII?

People would do well not to use last year's Michigan as a measuring stick of this year's OSU. The two are hardly comparable, save for both schools playing in the same conference.

 

[High Lonesome]

Did you watch the game? I haven't met anyone who watched the game who thinks Finley won't play next year.

yes and I am very excited to see him play, but i didn't see the press confrence with mack and beyond that i know that he doesn't like to play freshmen. I never said I was right, just that I would be suprised

We open the season against Miami (Oh), a very solid MAC team that went to a bowl game last year (lost a close 17-13 game to Iowa State) and plays big name teams very tough. Texas plays Sun Belt Louisiana-Lafayette, which has gone 1-10, 3-8, 3-9, 4-8, and 4-7 over the last five seasons.

Could it be said that this will allow us to spend more time preparing for yall? I agree that much improvement takes place between those games but generally that is between the o line, we have a group of returning starters and a guy who saw significant playing time last year so it doesnt bother me as much.

Well, the defense did a great job in the Michigan game of shutting down a passing attack that is light years ahead of Texas and a rushing game (in Mike Hart) comparable to Texas.

Mich's offense doesn't ask you to be in two places at once it is either a run or a pass. With VY on the edge you have to commit to one or the other.

no one said anything about our wr and your safteys it was david thomas who is a TE. Thomas is too big for most safteys and too fast for most LB, Hawk should be able to cover him but then you get back to the VY decision.

What is it with you Big XII schools anyway?

I don't know other than its about money, Its embarrassing(sp?) and most of us don't like it.

Does playing all those scabs actually prepare you for the Big XII?

NO

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

Mich's offense doesn't ask you to be in two places at once it is either a run or a pass. With VY on the edge you have to commit to one or the other.

Yeah, like RB Mike Hart and Michigan's WR trio of Edwards, Breaston, and Avant didn't make us defense against both.

As for Young being on the edge, you expect him to do that all game? If he does, he won't make it until halftime because after about 4-5 pancake tackles by Hawk and Carpenter, he'll be on the bench.

 

[High Lonesome]

Yeah, like RB Mike Hart and Michigan's WR trio of Edwards, Breaston, and Avant didn't make us defense against both.

Admitally I didn't watch that whole game but I would be willing to bet that there weren't many plays that hart was running and you were thinking, "shit i hope he doesn't pull up and throw"

As for Young being on the edge, you expect him to do that all game?

no not all game but a good percentage, he is much more comfortable with the run/pass option. I would be very suprised if young takes 5 solid "pancake" tackels all game much less by 1 or 2 players. He has become much better since his freshman year at running out of bounds and he has never been one to take square shots. I have no doubt that your D will get in a good shot or 3 but I think 5 would be pushing it.