Game Thread Ohio State 3, Southern Cal 35 (Sept. 13)

[westbrock]

I'd love to see what Luke Fickell would bring as D coordinator. Someone is going to steal him away from Ohio State unless they do something to keep him. I'd love to see him take the reigns on D.

Isn't he already the co-Defensive cooridinator?

 

[buckeyebri]

USC doesn't do anything crazy... they know who they are... and they line up and play that brand of football... well. You think Ohio State should be different? If I could have one difference it would be this:

USC's scheme wasn't better than Ohio State's really.. what was better was USC's relentlessness.
USC's players weren't better than Ohio State's really... what was better was the fact that they truly play each second of each down as if it was their last play on earth. And if it's 50 to nothing, they don't care.. they play each and every play like it matters.

THATS what I'd like to see the staff teach the Buckeyes. If OSU learns nothing else from this trip out west, I hope it's that... What USC showed wasn't better because of some kind of magic. It's better because they play with intensity and urgency and relentlessness. ALL the time.

You are spot on here. Make no mistake about it USC. LSU, Florida they play to kick your ass and kick it thoroughly. They will tell they are going to do it, they go do it, and then they tell you they did it. They are confident teams. Right now we are not a confident team and we have no fire in the belly. I don't see the Silver Bullets of the past who would smack you in the face play after play.

 

[akronbuck]

I really feel bad for JL, he came back his senior year for a NC and he played his ass off last night, but his teammates didn't pull through for him. I'm really gonna miss him after he graduates, you don;t find players like him very often.

I agree and whats even worse. JL,Beanie and Jenkins are the only 3 buckeyes that would start for USC. Talent difference and coaching stood out badly :(

 

[tibor75]

Basically, I don't think the talent level is there to justify thinking this team is top 5. If you compare this team to 2002, there is no comparison. None. From every position, this team suffers in comparison to 2002.

I think TB should deserve some slack. On his best day, against average competition, he looks like Krenzel. On his worst day, against elite teams, he looks like Bellisari. What does this mean? Probably that as a QB, he is better than Bellisari, but not as good as Krenzel. TB could possibily be a NC winning QB, if he had a great OL and great WRs. But nobody on this team reminds me of Michael Jenkins. And I have no idea why this OL is not up to par with OSU's OL of the past. That is the most baffling part.

 

[sparcboxbuck]

All that is just another way of running the ball, Pryor shouldn't have been rotating every other play once he got in the groove of things....If your going to use him, Let him go on the 3rd downs...Not 2nd...What sense does that make?


And they might have been better, But there's no way in hell we should of gotten dominated like that.

Perhaps TP is not in a place where enough of the playbook is under his command that would justify keeping him in the game for more? While I agree with what I believe you would suggest (TP looked good and the O seemed to be in better shape with him in the game), I'm not sure that he's got enough of the playbook under his belt to fully take charge. I expect that he'll be brought along in fairly quick order.

In the mean time:

 

[Onebuckfan]

I think its Tp's time...just from viewing him in a meaningless All-star game and in Sat. game he has a refuse to lose mentality..thats what is lacking in the Offense and Defense..it seems that the team is to comfortable with losing..USC plays through turnovers and penalties we don't ..The team seems to have lost the killer mindset before the FLa. game. Something happened in those 50 days off, we went from being a team to a collection of stars. TS becamme the "Rose of Cleveland", TG,AP,andAG were worried about the draft. The team hasn't seemed in sync really since then!! Yes we won games but most times we just over matched them! How do we change..if I knew I'd be a coach! Good Luck JT!

 

[Jaxbuck]

Basically, I don't think the talent level is there to justify thinking this team is top 5. If you compare this team to 2002, there is no comparison. None. From every position, this team suffers in comparison to 2002.

I think TB should deserve some slack. On his best day, against average competition, he looks like Krenzel. On his worst day, against elite teams, he looks like Bellisari. What does this mean? Probably that as a QB, he is better than Bellisari, but not as good as Krenzel. TB could possibily be a NC winning QB, if he had a great OL and great WRs. But nobody on this team reminds me of Michael Jenkins. And I have no idea why this OL is not up to par with OSU's OL of the past. That is the most baffling part.

agree 100%

How amusing are those poll threads comparing the 2002 units to the 2008 units now?

 

[ysubuck]

agree 100%

How amusing are those poll threads comparing the 2002 units to the 2008 units now?

If we are talking about strictly talent then I think you can compare them. That's where it ends. They need to be coached up and they need to be in a street fight on every play. Particularly the D line. Look at the DTs from 2002. Tim Anderson didn't get drafted and K Peterson went in the 4th round I believe. Yet they were kicking people's asses on every play. Heart and desire and that's helped by coaching.

 

[osugrad21]

If we are talking about strictly talent then I think you can compare them. That's where it ends. They need to be coached up and they need to be in a street fight on every play. Particularly the D line. Look at the DTs from 2002. Tim Anderson didn't get drafted and K Peterson went in the 4th round I believe. Yet they were kicking people's asses on every play. Heart and desire and that's helped by coaching.

Tim Anderson was a 3rd round pick for Buffalo.

 

[Jaxbuck]

If we are talking about strictly talent then I think you can compare them. That's where it ends. They need to be coached up and they need to be in a street fight on every play. Particularly the D line. Look at the DTs from 2002. Tim Anderson didn't get drafted and K Peterson went in the 4th round I believe. Yet they were kicking people's asses on every play. Heart and desire and that's helped by coaching.

No offense but I wonder how much more some people need to see before they consider that maybe, just maybe, the talent level isn't quite what its made out to be? How many more complete ass beatings at the hands of a clearly superior opponent will it take?

Sure some of it is poor preperation, game plan, play calling etc but the talent level simply has to be questioned.

 

[Best Buckeye]

Lets lighten this up.

A guy walks into a bar in Ann Arbor wearing a Michigan jersey and carrying a cat that also has a Michigan jersey on with a little Wolverine helmet on his head.
The guy says to the bartender, "Can my cat and I watch the Michigan - Ohio State game here? My tv at home broke down and my cat and I always watch the game together."
The bartender replies, "Normally, cats wouldn't be allowed in the bar, but it's not very busy in here right now, so you and the cat can have a seat at the end of the bar. But, if there's any trouble with you or the cat, I'll have to ask you to leave."
The guy agrees, and he and his cat start watching the game. Pretty soon Michigan manages to kick a field goal and the excited cat jumps up on the bar, walks all the way down and gives everyone a high five.
The bartender say, "Hey, that's pretty cool! What does he do for a touchdown?"
The guy answers, "I don't know, I've only had him for two years."

 

[Taosman]

Like Tressel says; "This is only September. There is a ton of football left to play!" Get healthy Beanie, we need you!

 

[lvbuckeye]

Like Tressel says; "This is only September. There is a ton of football left to play!" Get healthy Beanie, we need you!

September is for pretenders. and we were exposed as pretenders.

oh, and when asked about national perception, Tressel also said, "Taking a lot of heat from whom? I guess I?m only concerned with Ohio State fans."

well, this is one Ohio State fan who's less than pleased with the product.

 

[Bucklion]

Basically, I don't think the talent level is there to justify thinking this team is top 5. If you compare this team to 2002, there is no comparison. None. From every position, this team suffers in comparison to 2002.

I think TB should deserve some slack. On his best day, against average competition, he looks like Krenzel. On his worst day, against elite teams, he looks like Bellisari. What does this mean? Probably that as a QB, he is better than Bellisari, but not as good as Krenzel. TB could possibily be a NC winning QB, if he had a great OL and great WRs. But nobody on this team reminds me of Michael Jenkins. And I have no idea why this OL is not up to par with OSU's OL of the past. That is the most baffling part.

Other than Chris Wells, who has dominated Michigan games by himself, I think this is spot on, and the bottom line. Everyone saying that "everything was leading up to 2008" was probably right about the schedule, but wrong about the overall talent level...it happens.

Good analysis of TB. The WR can play, but there really isn't anyone to create the kind of separation that TB needs in the time he needs to throw. He just hangs on to the ball too long...he reminds me of Grossman for the Bears in that way.

As for the OL, it's the stupid penalties that baffle me...so many procedure calls, and obvious holds that the refs have no choice but to call, and some of them are completely away from the play. The lack of discipline, rather than perhaps athleticism,, is to blame. Unfortunately, that reflects some on the coaching staff too.

There's no shame in losing, but there can be some in playing bad.

 

[Jaxbuck]

September is for pretenders. and we were exposed as pretenders.

oh, and when asked about national perception, Tressel also said, "Taking a lot of heat from whom? I guess I?m only concerned with Ohio State fans."

well, this is one Ohio State fan who's less than pleased with the product.

there are at least 2 of us