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

[Chalumpa]

I ask again, are we talking about the same defense that Oklahoma State shredded in Austin? The same one that gave up 37 points to scUM?

It's actually not the same defense because we've upgraded our defensive coordinator. Yes, last year's DC went on to be the head coach at Syracuse and we UPGRADED. We do have just as much talent as y'all and we've got the best defensive coordinator in the nation from last year. You also talk a lot of trash about letting OK State put up 35 in the first half but how many did they score in the second? None. We fell flat on our faces that first quarter but that wasn't because they were better than us, it was because we didn't show up until the second half. If we play like we did in the first half of that game you'll crush us but if we play like we did in the second half of that game we'll blow you out. If you don't believe me, find a tape of that game and watch it, I'm not trying to piss everybody off here it's just that I've never seen a football team play as well as we did in the second half of that game.

 

[zincfinger]

Agreed. The thing that makes this match-up intriguing is that the two programs have comparable overall talent levels. That wasn't the case (from the Buckeye point of view) with Wash. State, Texas Tech., or the majority of our recent higher-profile non-conference match-ups. To hold up the Texas/OK. State game as an indicator of how we'll handle Texas is as off-base as looking at our Northwestern game from last year as an indicator of the Bucks top performance capability.

That said, I think OSU has the advantage in this game, particularly at home in a riled-up nightime environment. But if we pull it out, it'll be a great, great win, precisely because it's a seriously tough opponent.

 

[jwinslow]

To clarify, VY is a freak when running with the ball. He better learn to tuck the ball away however, or he's gonna fumble it a few times in the Shoe.

As for his passing game, there are many reasons to question whether he is capable of passing to win the game. He will have to carry the whole team without Benson, and I'm not sure he can do that (please don't reference UM... we've already established that their LBs would not even make the 2-deep at our schools)...

You are right that the game will be won in the trenches. However coaching is definitely an edge for Tressel. He has always come to play in the big games (which includes our rivals), whereas Mack has looked iffy in a number of big games.

This should be a great series (edit, typo), which means both games will be good. Even if we do get the upperhand this year, we will have to replace holmes, all 3 LBs, and a few other key players for 06. Plus it will be at home, which will be an advantage just like playing in the shoe will be.

I want to clarify something... the Longhorn players will not be intimidated playing in the Shoe. However it will be very hard to hear, and they can't feed off the crowd like tOSU can (see UM game for evidence of this). The same will be true when we switch to Austin in 06, even if you do have 30,000 less people, its still the same story.

 

[Chalumpa]

even if you do have 30,000 less people

How many people does the Shoe actually hold? DKR in Austin can push 85 thousand for big games but I didn't think your stadium held 115 thou. Our gameday crowd is often larger than the listed capacity for the stadium so that may account for why I don't know how big your stadium really can be.

 

[jwinslow]

We can push up above 105K (whereas the capacity is 101)... I thought I had remembered reading 75K for you guys... oh well

My point was that its not about intimidation, its about having a home crowd cheering you on. The other team doesnt necessarily get rattled, but you get vaulted up to another level.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

It's actually not the same defense because we've upgraded our defensive coordinator. Yes, last year's DC went on to be the head coach at Syracuse and we UPGRADED. We do have just as much talent as y'all and we've got the best defensive coordinator in the nation from last year. You also talk a lot of trash about letting OK State put up 35 in the first half but how many did they score in the second? None. We fell flat on our faces that first quarter but that wasn't because they were better than us, it was because we didn't show up until the second half. If we play like we did in the first half of that game you'll crush us but if we play like we did in the second half of that game we'll blow you out. If you don't believe me, find a tape of that game and watch it, I'm not trying to piss everybody off here it's just that I've never seen a football team play as well as we did in the second half of that game.

"but if we play like we did in the second half of that game we'll blow you out". Whoa, look who's the one who's talking trash now. Sorry, but since Tressel has been our HC, no one has come close to blowing us out in The Shoe, and we've faced some of the top offenses in the country (minimum of four Heisman candidate QBs and a Heisman candidate RB). There is not a team in the country that can blow us out at home...no one.

Now, please explain to me who this "best defensive coordinator in the nation" is. Mark Dantonio is the HC at Cincinnati now, so you can't have the best DC in the country. You lost your all-world LB and have changed your DC and so your defense is "UPGRADED"? I can't wait to see that. You also say that the reason that Okie State rang up 35 on you in one half is because "you didn't show up" for that half. You do that in The Shoe and we'll put up more than 35 on you. You may have played a great second half that game, but that came against a very pourous defense which gave up 20 TDs in their last four regular season games. Our defense is extremely tough at home. Over the last three years, the most points given up my our defense in regulation at home is 24, and that was only twice (2003 against NC State and 2004 against Wisconsin). And coincidentally, both those teams scored one of their TDs in the fourth quarter after we turned the ball over on our own 17 yard line on botched punt returns. Here are the points surrendered at home since from 2002 through 2004:


2002:
21 (Heisman Trophy candidate Kill Kingsbury threw two TDs late in fourth against our bench when we had 45 points)
17 (last TD came in fourth against bench when we had 51 points)
7 (against Heisman Trophy candidate Jason Gesser, shut him out after their opening drive TD)
17 (late fourth quarter TD against our bench when we had 45 points)
7 (San Diego State...oh well)
7 (shut down Heisman Trophy candidate RB Larry Johnson)
3 (Minnesota was undefeated at the time IIRC)
9 (Michigan had only three first-half FGs)

2003:
9 (Heisman Trophy candidate Cody Pickett didn't score until fourthe quarter when we we up 28-3)
13 (San Diego State...oh well)
38 (only 24 in regulation against Heisman Trophy candidate Phillip Rivers...see above about late gift TD)
17 (Bowling Green had a very good athletic scrambling QB)
0 (Northwestern)
10 (Iowa)
23 (Michigan State)
13 (Purdue)

2004:
6 (Cincinnati)
21 (Marshall...one TD was on fumble recovery, so only 14 points were from offense)
24 (Wisconsin, see above about gift TD in fourth quarter)
7 (Indiana)
10 (Penn State)
21 (Michigan, held them to 7 points last 50 minutes of the game).

As you can see, we are tough at home defensively. There is no way that anyone is going to put 28 points on the board against us in The Shoe, especially at night.

 

[campies]

Well, now we got this thread alive again!! I was hoping my firm comments would stir things up a bit for discussion.

As for OSU's offense not being held to 17 at home and what not, I consider that a reasonable number for an offense that has been reasonably inconsistent the last few years, with unproven running backs, multiple quarterbacks, and the replacement of an All-American kicker. Does the OSU offense have the talent and potential to score much more? Absolutely. But given the inconsistencies, and the early-season nature of this game, I think that would be a reasonable total to expect against the Texas D, assuming it plays reasonably well, which there is evidence to expect that of it.

Some of you cite the Oklahoma St. game against us as evidence for our defensive liabilities. If anything, I'd use that game as a staple for the potential dominance our unit has shown capable of. As aformentioned, the way Ok St. broke open the game early on with long runs and capitalizing on some lucky plays goes contrary to the way our D had played all year. Even in the OU game, where we gave up more than enough yards on the ground, the sooners rarely scored, as we play very much "bend, dont' break." Conversely, the okie state game hinted at a lack of focus and slippery slope of a first half for them scoring. When it rains, it pours, and it did for them that night. At least for one half. Coming out in the 3rd quarter, Texas scores 49 unanswered points and completely destroys any semblence of the offensive atttack that had torn us up in the 1st half. That seems to me, as I said, to be more about a lack of focus inititally, but a quick recovery and fullfilment of the dominant potential that defense has shown from the beginning.
So given that its shortcomings had more to do w/ focus than competence, and I can guarentee you that focus will not be a problem for a 2nd-game-of the season-top 10-road match against you guys, I wouldn't expect much of the same performance that y'all seem to think reinforces our defensive liabilities, and more of the majority performances where they played like a top 10 unit.

Like any big game between great teams though, big plays will be made on both sides, and it will come down in large part to the team that is able to make the best adjustments with their players to the action and reaction of the game and the opponent's team. We will see who's better.

Remember, Mack Brown's teams have one lost 1 game in 4 years on the opponents' field, a close 42-35 shootout with Texas Tech in 2002. For whatever reason, the road success hasn't translated into wins 4 hours north of Austin in Dallas for the RRS, even w/ our 40,000 fans there, but that doesn't dismiss the fact that we win everywhere else.

On another note regarding the defense, as good as our defense had been last year, it was all done with virtually NO pass rush, as we lost our speed-rush defensive end over the summer workouts, and had to stunt a slower LB on the line to compensate. However, this year, not only is DE gone from weakness to strength in a year's time, as we've returned our injured and stockpiled talented recruits for the position, but aforementioned speed-rush end, Mike Williams, is back, and happens to be one of the better players on our defense. He will make a name for himself, as he did in 2003 when he came on in the 2nd half of the season. DL has become the strength of our defense when last year, it was somewhat hampered. A strong DL push will give our exceptionally talented but inexperienced linebacking corps a chance to get comfortable and really make some plays. The talent is there, and the leadership is in place with Aaron Harris. Chizick will find the players who make it happen on the field; it may just take some time.

Hopefully, by Sept.10. :)

 

[High Lonesome]

I ask again, are we talking about the same defense that Oklahoma State shredded in Austin? The same one that gave up 37 points to scUM? And now they lose the best LB in college football last year and are going to be better?

I'm not sure that ya'll are looking at the 37 points to mich. properly. While I agree that that is not an impressive number, I think that it reflects much more poorly on our kick coverage teams and the feild possision/momentum that we were giving mich all game. Clearly, even with the lose of nugent, sp teams is in your favor. More than anything, i am worried about losing this game on a fieldgoal, blocked punt, kick return, any thing in that 1/3 of the game. I would be very surprised to see either team "blow out" the other

 

[HabaneroBuck]

Whoa, look who's the one who's talking trash now.

It is still five-plus months away, so don't worry, it's only barely starting. There are undoubtedly plenty of reasonable Texas fans around the internet. About 50% of them, however, believe that there is Texas football, and then there is everybody else. Notice that Mack Brown has only lost one road game in the last four years....notice that there is no one like Vince Young (even though Troy Smith had a similar game against the Weasels and is a much better passer)....notice that there is a good chance that Texas will blow the Bucks out....

Just imagine what we will be saying when we finally know who will be the starters for our teams after Spring Ball! :box:

 

[jwinslow]

I agree the Rose Bowl involved short field position. However, I don't see any coaching changes to address that problem. Sure they can run a few more drills in practice to get ready for special teams, but Breaston was known as a threat and you guys could not contain him. While he is talented, he is probably on par with Holmes (who got kicked away from last year) and definitely nowhere near Ginn's level.

The comparisons with Lloyd Carr never seem to end. This area is another weakness of Carr's. They can sometimes look solid but often are shaky in big games on special teams. I really think your team needs to have hired a good special teams coach cuz tOSU's #1 weapon is having the best return units in college football. There might be other great KR's, but I have yet to see another school that put up 5 PR TDs in a season against top-notch competition. Having Ginn-Holmes as two options for PR's and having the other make key blocks (almost every TD was thanks to a big block from the one not receiving the punt).

Basically, neither team is outclassed in this game. But just as some tOSU fans are overlooking the trench battles and the lack of a proven RB yet, I think UT fans are overlooking the fact taht Young never seemed to prove his ability to pass and "proved himself" by a UM team whose defense is so atrocious that Lloyd Carr is on the hotseat (somewhat) after back-to-back RB appearances. I also think you are underestimating the fact that the OU defense is not that great. They got slaughtered by OkState, USC, and looked weak at other times. If they can hold you to 0 points, then you really have to wait to be cocky until you establish a replacement for 75% of your offense in benson.

OkState stated after the alamo bowl that our defense was better than OU's.

 

[High Lonesome]

It is still five-plus months away, so don't worry, it's only barely starting. There are undoubtedly plenty of reasonable Texas fans around the internet. About 50% of them, however, believe that there is Texas football, and then there is everybody else. Notice that Mack Brown has only lost one road game in the last four years....notice that there is no one like Vince Young (even though Troy Smith had a similar game against the Weasels and is a much better passer)....notice that there is a good chance that Texas will blow the Bucks out....

Just imagine what we will be saying when we finally know who will be the starters for our teams after Spring Ball! :box:

I would assume that there will be very heated discussions come fall and you are partly right about texans perceptions of football. I would take it a step further though, many/most Texans think that there is Texas and then everywhere else. It is much more than just football. Ya'll seem to have much more pride and confidence than your cohorts in ann arbor. They seemed as if they didnt even think they had a chance and just wanted to complament texas. That gooffy ass love affair obviously won't happen this time around and I would expect nothing less. After all, who wants to see a heavy weight fight where the two combatants hug and complament each other in the pre game.

 

[Buckeye86]

scUM fans were just happy to be in the Rose Bowl. That's probably why they were so nice to you. They all run around with back to back rose bowl shirts on, they don't seem to care that they lost both times.

 

[Zurp]

scUM fans were just happy to be in the Rose Bowl. That's probably why they were so nice to you. They all run around with back to back rose bowl shirts on, they don't seem to care that they lost both times.

If tOSU got to and lost 2 straight Rose Bowls, I would be disgusted. Yuck! I wouldn't take a t-shirt for free, let alone pay for one.

 

[ol104]

I am leaving for Austin tomorrow morning. Will be there till Firday on business. I will be wearing my Buckeye gear the whole trip...If i have any funny Texas fan stories, i will post them when i get back.

 

[High Lonesome]

I am leaving for Austin tomorrow morning. Will be there till Firday on business. I will be wearing my Buckeye gear the whole trip...If i have any funny Texas fan stories, i will post them when i get back.

I would be fairly surprised if you end up getting any "good" stories, Austin is so laid back that most people there wont say anything. That is not to say that a few zeolous(sp?) students might give you a little shit.