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

[campies]

I tend to think that if we get 2 TD's from young playmakers or defense: read, those other than Vince that OSU is not expecting, we will be in good shape. I think 2 is reasonable whether it be on a long pass play, a catch and run, possible misdirection that goes to the house, or a pick returned for a TD, Texas certainly has the guns to get it done.

Given this small cushion of 14 points, in addition to the 2-3 TD's I expect VY to account for(I think most Horns and Bucks fans would agree thats a reasonable total), this would seem to be enough points to keep us in a closely fought, well-played game, or perhaps give us a comfortable 7-10 point lead late in the game. This of course all hinges on getting those points from unexpected playmakers whom will have to step up in a hostile environment. I for one think they can, and will, and think it would be prudent for Ohio St. to assume every skill position on the Horns' side is capable of being a gamebreaker, or else they might get burned by someone other than VY. You can bet that Texas will take that approach to the Bucks' offense across the board, no matter how much people want to focus on Mr.Ginn, Holmes, or Smith.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

I tend to think that if we get 2 TD's from young playmakers or defense: read, those other than Vince that OSU is not expecting, we will be in good shape. I think 2 is reasonable whether it be on a long pass play, a catch and run, possible misdirection that goes to the house, or a pick returned for a TD, Texas certainly has the guns to get it done.

Given this small cushion of 14 points, in addition to the 2-3 TD's I expect VY to account for(I think most Horns and Bucks fans would agree thats a reasonable total),...

You're going to score 28-35 points on us in The Shoe?! Three words for you: "Crack is bad".

 

[bukIpower]

Campies- I for one think they can, and will, and think it would be prudent for Ohio St. to assume every skill position on the Horns' side is capable of being a gamebreaker, or else they might get burned by someone other than VY. You can bet that Texas will take that approach to the Bucks' offense across the board, no matter how much people want to focus on Mr.Ginn, Holmes, or Smith.

Now while I know its hard for a Texas fan to really put this game in perspective just like some of us buckeyes do, but I don't know if you know just how dangerous our offense is. If you think that someone is going to come in on your defense and play Ginn one on one you're done. We've yet to see anyone stop our offense since switching to our current formation. This is the reason, many teams put too much into stopping ginn. However guess what? HE STILL BEATS THEM. Michigan and Oky State tried to not punt to him (MIchingan did maybe 2 times and got burnt once) Oky State pretty much kicked away from him the whole game. That leaves us with this who are you going to double cover? You have to double someone because I can gaurentee you that not all your corners/linebacker or whoever you have out there can cover all three of these players one on one at any given time. Now when you do Double someone (most likely Ginn) that leaves the second fastest kid on the team Gonzo (4.2 40), and our best Reciever Holmes one on one and if you can tell me that you have two corner backs that can cover these two one on one I believe you have the best Secondary in the NCAA.

You're right on one thing, Texas NEEDS to have someone step up. Tell me how are your recievers? I know you have a new running back, and a veteran O-line so I think the way you can beat the bucks is if you go STRAIGHT at them. I will claim a victory right now if you do what most teams do and thats try to get to the edge. If you do that with Vince or any other player he won't mount to much because this defense if very very fast. Carpenter/Hawk both run 4.5's in the 40 and they are both in the 250+ range.

I say you need one person to step up for you guys and thats your running back. Now it'd be nice to have a reciever for you guys beat us down the field but sorry VY doesn't exactly strike the fear of god into anyone when he drops back. What scares me most is your o-line and you guys running straight at us.

I can see VY getting 1 score and the same can be said for Ginn in this game. However, the bucks have more weapons for your defense to worry about and I say we win by more than 2 score... something like 24-10. its just my opinion so if you think its off maybe it is, but claiming 35 points in Ohio Stadium at night against a premier team is going on a limb.

 

[jwinslow]

Basically look at it this way... Michigan got to half field on every kick return, basically. Then they scored with pretty high frequency thru the air. They scored a lot and very quickly, and gave you the ball back a lot. Then your QB went nuts and ran for about 2 million yards and a ton of TDs. He had his way with UM.

Can VY break off big runs? definitely. Will one of your guys step up and make a big play at WR or elsewhere? probably. Are you going to have highlight-reel worthy play after play like the rose bowl? not likely.

Both of you scored at will and the defense/special teams could do little about it. You only scored 38 on them IIRC, so I don't see you scoring more than 28 against us and that would be an accomplishment.

But its hardly worth arguing about it. We can't know the nuances of how VY has a lot of good passing ability but is still raw, or your other ready to emerge playmakers. Neither can you know the details of how our whole team switched around, or how injuries ruined some games on D.

BTW, what is THE texas forum? is it hookemhorns? the scout board?

 

[casey_buckeye]

Since Coach Tressel has been here, how many teams has beat us with a running QB? I can only think of Zack Miles of Penn State in 2001.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

OK, let's get serious. Texas will not, that's will NOT, score 28+ points on us. No team has scored that many offensive points against using regulation in The Shoe since Tressel took over (Purdue scored 34 points on us, but one TD was on a blocked punt and another on a INT return). Only two teams have scored 24 offensive points against us at home in regulation (NC State in 2003 and Wisconsin in 2004).

 

[Jaxbuck]

Campies is obviously just infatuated with VY and is doing the truely simplistic thing and taking what he did vs scUM and projecting it to our game.

We all know how horribly wrong that line of thought is and I get the feeling maybe the other UT guys do as well.

However, if he wants to use that as the measuring stick fine, I never did get a response from the VY lovers when I pointed out that two other QB's in the B10 put up better numbers on that sorry ass scUM defense than VY did(one of them being ours).

 

[zincfinger]

Im not so much worried about your front 4 as I am your linebackers. I expect/hope to see texas roll young out much the way they had him do the last half of the season(conveniently after the ou game) It will be up to the LB's to contain him, maybe your ss if you roll him up I dont know enough about your defense.

You're right about that. Our D-line played much better in the last two games of last year, but for much of the season we didn't get enough penetration from the line, and it spelled major defensive trouble for the Bucks. If I were Mack, I'd take the first couple of series to see if UT's O-line could gain control of the line of scrimmage; just run it right at us (as one of the Bucks fans said in an earlier post), and maybe mix in a couple of deep balls - but stay in the pocket. If the OSU D-line manages to get control of scrimmage, then bring in roll outs, quick outs, etc. That may not sound exciting to Texas fans who aren't happy with conservative offensive gameplanning, but I think it's the right approach against a team that has had some questions on the D-line. I don't think you want to go straight to an approach that puts the onus on the strongest part of our D.

 

[bukIpower]

Yeah you're definatly right, Texas IMO will come out and test our front four. Now remember though our d-line should be improved over last years and considering the way they played down the stretch we might be surprised at how they play. Pitcock and Green are going to be very solid in the middle as we know the biggest questions is at the rush end spot. We know Kudla can play run defense which IMO wil be good this game, but our other d-end spot is up in the air.

I also agree that I don't know if Texas can afford to play a risky type of offense against us. Especially this early in the year and at night on the road.Texas can win, but they need to keep it simple and just grind on us.

However, Ohio State might just do the same thing? We won't know much about our teams till after the first week of the season.

 

[SanClementeBuck]

Hey Lonesome: Just reviewed the last 3 pages here. Is it true Brown says your OL is the best he's had at Austin? If so, tell us a bit about it, especially your new center.

Hoof 'em! (that means git em good, an ancient Buckeye battle cry) The expression originated in our Ohio trotter (these are horses that pull little charriots that hold a sitter with a whip) empire here in the Buckeye state. Trotters are known for their grace, coordination, high-stepping, endurance, controlled speed and strength.

Hoof 'em, eventually morphed into: Kick Ass! This, as we changed from an agricultural state to a mixed industrial/agricultural state.

I would note that your Texas quarter horses are mainly known for haul'n ass in a relatively short race.

 

[campies]

OK, let's get serious. Texas will not, that's will NOT, score 28+ points on us. No team has scored that many offensive points against using regulation in The Shoe since Tressel took over (Purdue scored 34 points on us, but one TD was on a blocked punt and another on a INT return). Only two teams have scored 24 offensive points against us at home in regulation (NC State in 2003 and Wisconsin in 2004).

Who cares if 2 TD's were non-offensive TD's? The way I see it(and so does the scoreboard) they still count for 7 points regardless of how they get up there. I believe I stated that I expected at least 2 of our scores, assuming we have that many, to come from defense or unexpected offense/special teams. Not only that, but Texas is far more offensively powerful and athletic than any of those teams, save maybe the air-raid potential of Phil Rivers or a good-day Kyle Orton.

Campies is obviously just infatuated with VY and is doing the truely simplistic thing and taking what he did vs scUM and projecting it to our game.

Campies is not particulary infatuated with VY anymore than he is infatuated with the University of Texas as a whole. Campies is however, a realist, with the customary homeric tint of burnt orange over his perspective, and in this case, it includes having witnessed Vince Young do some pretty incredible things in his 2 years on the 40 acres, not the least of which is being a whole-hearted, 100% winner, whom happens to be saddled in one of the most athletic bodies the sporting world has seen in the last 10 years. Given this history, it is then perfectly reasonable to expect that this pattern of character and performance will continue into the future, regardless of opponent, because success and greatness have become the norm rather than exception.

I am by no means guarenteeing a victory based on past VY heroics. I am however guarenteeing future VY heroics to be on the night of Sept.10, which may or may not be enough to lead the Horns to a W in the Horsehoe. It will take one hell of an effort to do so to be sure, but one hell of an effort is exactly what you can expect to get from Vince Young and co.

 

[BB73]

Here's an SI.com article on spring practice for Texas.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/football/ncaa/04/01/bc.fbc.texasspring.ap/index.html

AUSTIN (AP) -- Spring football practice started a new era for the Texas Longhorns.
Gone from the lineup for the first time in four years are running back Cedric Benson and linebacker Derrick Johnson, who are waiting to be drafted by the NFL.

<!--startclickprintexclude-->Their departure left coach Mack Brown trying to fill some big holes if the Longhorns hope to return to the Rose Bowl, this time to play for a national championship. Texas concludes spring drills Saturday night with its annual Orange & White scrimmage.

Replacing Benson and Johnson are the top concerns before the season starts Sept. 3 against Louisiana-Lafayette.

Benson finished his career as the fifth-leading rusher in Division I history with 5,540 yards and Johnson was one of the most dominating defenders in the nation last year.

Selvin Young, who was expected to start at tailback in the fall, has missed spring drills because of academics and is still recovering from an ankle injury suffered last fall. That left room for speedy Ramonce Taylor to make a move for the starting role.

Brown also signed a trio of talented running backs in February, including prep All-American Jamaal Charles of Port Arthur Memorial High School.

Taylor was moved to wide receiver last season but has impressed Brown at tailback this spring.

"[Taylor] has definitely showed us that he can be a tailback. We do not feel that anybody can do what Ricky [Williams] did or what Cedric Benson did and carry the load by themselves. So, we will probably alternate tailbacks next year," Brown said. "Ramonce runs more like Vince [Young], in that he gets people a little off balance and then he can run through them with his quickness."

The Longhorns also are looking to shore up a group of wide receivers that fell short of expectations last year.

They got an immediate boost with the return of Jordan Shipley, who set Texas high school career records for catches (264), yards (5,424) and touchdowns (73) but missed last season with a knee injury. He has drawn rave reviews from Brown since his return to practice this spring.

For the first time in two years, Texas has no doubts at quarterback. Any questions about Vince Young's ability to lead the team were answered over the last half of the season and with his remarkable four-touchdown performance in the 38-37 win over Michigan in the Rose Bowl.

Depth is a concern, however, should Young get hurt. Little-used backup Matt Nordgren is the only other quarterback with any game experience.

Defensively, middle linebacker Aaron Harris, a tremendous hitter, appears ready to take over the role of team leader on the field but is unlikely to be able to cover as much ground as the speedy Johnson did.

Harris had 8 1/2 tackles and a sack in the Rose Bowl, a game was Johnson finished with just 1 1/2 tackles.

"He is the big hit guy," Brown said of Harris. "I thought he played with passion and intensity in the Rose Bowl. We have told him that for us to be the defense that we want to be, then he needs to play how he did in the Rose Bowl."

Texas fans will also get their first look Saturday night at new defensive co-coordinator Gene Chizik. He came from Auburn to replace Greg Robinson, who is now the head coach at Syracuse.

 

[bukIpower]

This is why VY won't pull any 'heroics' on september 10th. I don't think anyone is actually going to play like you describe them. I think the team with the deepest talent is going to win this game. I dunno I think you might like VY more than I did Troy Smith all of last year. Remember, we have a mobile QB we can game plan with so they'll be ready.

 

[osugrad21]

Not only that, but Texas is far more offensively powerful and athletic than any of those teams, save maybe the air-raid potential of Phil Rivers or a good-day Kyle Orton.

I'd like to hear some solid evidence for this opinion...beyond your homeric tinting as you said. Far more offensively powerful? Based on what? BigXII statistics? Squeezing past an over-achieving, young scUM team in the Rose Bowl? Getting shutout against an OU defense that gave up how many points to USC?

The Big 10 was under a youth movement last year...tOSU and the QBs, Iowa with Tate, scUM with Hart and Henne. Purdue was supposed to be the cream of the crop, but then they showed why they are a 2nd or 3rd tier team. However, I would still take Big 10 defenses over Big 12 defenses every day and twice on sunday...The Big 12 plays some dominating defense..against other Big 12 schools.

On the other hand, Texas had an experienced team lead possibly by two of the top 10 draft picks. Now you lose these two studs and you are telling me Vince Young is enough to cover those two glaring losses? If the game was mid-season, I might agree...but playing so early favors tOSU and the 'Shoe really favors tOSU.

 

[sandgk]

I have heard it said many times on this board, Rivalry games are different. Yes ou shut us out. Are they as good as we made them look? no. Im not so much worried about your front 4 as I am your linebackers. I expect/hope to see texas roll young out much the way they had him do the last half of the season(conveniently after the ou game) It will be up to the LB's to contain him, maybe your ss if you roll him up I dont know enough about your defense. I have no doubt that young will have his work cut out for him, but my orange glasses allow me to see him on at least 1 30 yard jaunt up the field

Others have commented on the front 4 pressure scheme, but yer right Lonesome, the LB corp is a staunch part of the tOSU's D. One name from that group -- Schegel... That young man seems to hunt down the type of option or roll-out plays that would make best use of Young's athletic ability. And if you think the "hunt" wording is over-inflated we can direct your attention to some primitive weapons hunting photos, beast on beast, with Schlegel taking down a huge boar. I believe we will hear Anthony's number called many times after he plants Vince Young.

Young will get yards -- he is too good to be bottled up all night -- overall though his experience could turn out to be quite stifling.