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

[82Trojan]

Obviously both sides are loaded with talent and speed, but I can't help but wonder if it's not been "game plan" that's been the problem for Ohio State, and say Oklahoma during the past few years. Both teams have rolled through the regular season only to be stunned in their BCS Bowls. I wonder if they have a habit of predictability that some of the other coaches have picked up on and exploited. We talk so much about the players.

I think the players show up, but the game plans may be lacking. And/or the right adjustments aren't made because the coach is determined to stay the course.

Carroll seems to have the knack when he has time to prepare, but he usually has his teams peaking in November. This will be a fun game to watch. I'll be at the game and I'm sure that the kickoff will be electric.

Hey thanks to somebody remembering my post! I'll use it as a credibility to offer my "at the game" observations:

1. That Pryor kid is the sh*t. He's going to be a great one. His likeness to Vince Young in stature and ability is amazing. He also showed lots of poise back there. The offense needs to be restructured around his playing style. Unfortunately he and TB have such different styles it's going to be a challenge playing both. You almost need two offenses. You just need to keep adding plays that are geared towards TP until he can fully take over the reins.

2. Halftime adjustments. PC always comes out in the second half by going aggressively after what worked in the first half. I knew that he would be coming after the QB and rushing the line when OSU refused to play a vertical passing game. Hence the 30 yards of total offense in the second half. JT has to learn from this and be able to exploit it. Where were the screen passes and quick pops over the middle? He needed to abandon what was not working. This is why coaches get the big money.

3. I don't think that your guys looked that bad. The feelings in the stands were that this is a very good team, but just up against a killer defense and missing a key player. This wake-up call may pay huge dividends throughout the rest of the season. Better have it come now and finish the season on a high. I just think that the Bucks are just not dialed in for some reason. We had the same problem the last few years. Some stretches where we were not reaching our potential and keeping inferior teams in the game. Then the boot would fall and some stinker team would beat us. It's just one of those intangibles. I think that a TP lead offense could turn things around drastically, especially if he has great leadership skills.

4. You have some great fans. They were loud and encouraging, but respectful. OSU boosters were all around campus and in all of the alumni pubs. They had no fear of mixing in and were well received.

5. I like JT. Class act. He just needs to figure out how to get the team dialed in. The locker room at SC is almost like a cult. I don't know what he does in there to whip them up, but they come out with the fire.

6. I think OSU has a lot to look forward to. The talent is there. It's all about finding the formula to get things clicking. Once someone yells "Eureka!" the machine will be back.

7. If Beanie misses any more games he should forget about the NFL for a year. He needs to stay and have a showcase year. If TP is as good as he's looked, next year might be what you had hoped for this year.

8. Good luck to you all the rest of the way! Don't get too down. Experiment until you unlock the secret. See you in Pasadena.

 

[Buckeneye]

The feelings in the stands were that this is a very good team, but just up against a killer defense and missing a key player.

Pretty sure the feelings from the stands were echoed through-out the whole game, "over-rated" was rather auidble last night.

See you in Pasadena.[/FONT][/COLOR]

Seeing that you'll be in Miami, I doubt it... but good luck though.

 

[Taosman]

Elite teams usually have someone "special" behind center. Todd does not have that. He may be just fine most of the time and even have very good games(Penn State), Eventually, Pryor or even Joe B. may be that "special" guy. They just aren't "there", yet. So. A combo of QBs is probably are best bet for now.
But. The QB, whoever he is still needs "help" from players to make plays. We are lacking "difference makers(outside of Beanie) right now. I think we may have some guys(Posey,Thomas) who could make a difference, but they must see the field. Ray Small is one guy who is a difference maker, but he's a work in progress right now.
This team will get better and has not hit a ceiling. This is just September and there's lots of football to be played. Traditionally, Tressel teams peak in November.

 

[buckeyes_rock]

Elite teams usually have someone "special" behind center. Todd does not have that. He may be just fine most of the time and even have very good games(Penn State), Eventually, Pryor or even Joe B. may be that "special" guy. They just aren't "there", yet. So. A combo of QBs is probably are best bet for now.
But. The QB, whoever he is still needs "help" from players to make plays. We are lacking "difference makers(outside of Beanie) right now. I think we may have some guys(Posey,Thomas) who could make a difference, but they must see the field. Ray Small is one guy who is a difference maker, but he's a work in progress right now.
This team will get better and has not hit a ceiling. This is just September and there's lots of football to be played. Traditionally, Tressel teams peak in November.

 

[joefoshow]

With no disrespect to Todd but he just didn't have his "A" game last night. also it exposed were he is weak as a quarterback so i am expecting more teams to blitz more often. Fortunatly for Ohio State i don't see a team on the schedule that can execute like USC.

 

[Jaxbuck]

With no disrespect to Todd but he just didn't have his "A" game last night. also it exposed were he is weak as a quarterback so i am expecting more teams to blitz more often. Fortunatly for Ohio State i don't see a team on the schedule that can execute like USC.

Not to the level of USC but there are teams on the schedule that can beat us the way we are built right now without Beanie. The manhandling of both our lines can be be replicated by Wisky and PSU, there is no doubt in my mind.

 

[Joe56]

Like everyone, I'm dissapointed and most of all, crushed for the squad and most notably the men who came back.
I feel the team is at the point where some of the core beliefs/doctrine need to change.

1) Our playcalling is at times, horribly predictable.Swing passes against a team with the team speed of SC don't work.We throw either short or long, but the intermediate route is not there, and SC looked VERY susceptible to the pass.The O Line was not totally overmatched as much as it was outschemed. And if we're playing classic Tress ball, special units need to get much better. Further, adjustments at the half. I'm no coach, but it was hard to detect where we made large scale adjustments.

2) Defensively, our scheme needs to be reworked. Fool me once, shame on you. Twice shame on me. But three times? Coach Heacock's scheme is agressive to a point, but relies far too much on the zone package he is so fond of. Our athletes are just as good as SC's with some exceptions,but our scheme combined with some mental errors, limits their impact ability.
Is it time for a new coordinator? Most other top ten programs would say yes. It's not my place to say yes or no, but clearly, we need some help.

3) TP is ready to go. He HAS to play.Our offense looked much more confident when he was in the saddle.Todd is a good player and a good leader, but can't "out krenzel,krenzel." Craig was faster and made better decisions. He also handled pressure better. Todd had alot of pressure all night, but to use him as an option qb is not the best use of his talent.

4) SWAGGER.
In my obviously biased opinion,Ohio State has the finest tradition in college football. We need to start acting like it. I'm not saying have the men write "ballin for life"on their eye tape like I saw with some of SC's dudes. But there is a palpable lack of confidence for whatever reason. JT is the classiest guy in college athletics, but is it within the realm of possibility that we are "too" respectful of the opponents abilities?

With all respect.

 

[Gatorubet]

FWIW, in the Plain Dealer Boone was quoted saying this:


"When we walked in at halftime and nobody was saying anything, I mean, what the (heck), we're Ohio State, we should be screaming and swearing and saying anything we could think of, and guys are hanging their head and you don't know what to say to them. You start screaming and they just put their head down even more, and we can't play like that. If we play like that the rest of the season, we won't be any good."

Not good, psyche wise.

 

[Jaxbuck]

FWIW, in the Plain Dealer Boone was quoted saying this:


"When we walked in at halftime and nobody was saying anything, I mean, what the (heck), we're Ohio State, we should be screaming and swearing and saying anything we could think of, and guys are hanging their head and you don't know what to say to them. You start screaming and they just put their head down even more, and we can't play like that. If we play like that the rest of the season, we won't be any good."

Not good, psyche wise.

IMO they are at the worst point an athlete can get to, they are questioning if they are good enough.

In all fairness and honestly not trying to hurt any of the kids (or parents) if they read this stuff, but its a question that needs asking in some cases.

 

[Jake]

that would explain why the swapping in and out of Pryor and running some of the newer plays seemed to work decently in the first half.....

Yet it only produced 3 points.

Tressel has earned the chance to correct this ship. This isn't Lane Kiffin in his first ever head coaching job here. Short of a new coaching regime entirely (which isn't going to happen), Tressel has to be the guy to get it done.

I agree. In no way am I advocating the silliness of "fire Tressel!" I've seen elsewhere. That's nonsense.

My concern is that JT's post game comments don't indicate that he sees a need to "correct" anything, but simply "work harder". Perhaps it's just him being the Senator, and saying all the right things in public. I hope that's the case. Because if we stubbornly continue doing the same things, we'll see similar results against top competition.

 

[GoBucksForever]

FWIW, in the Plain Dealer Boone was quoted saying this:


"When we walked in at halftime and nobody was saying anything, I mean, what the (heck), we're Ohio State, we should be screaming and swearing and saying anything we could think of, and guys are hanging their head and you don't know what to say to them. You start screaming and they just put their head down even more, and we can't play like that. If we play like that the rest of the season, we won't be any good."

Not good, psyche wise.

Yeah I remember watching him say that on 10tv in Columbus he was very disappointed with that game and so was everyone else I feel bad for all the seniors that came back for their senior year to win the NCG but things happen Hopfully we can win the rest of are games and get back to the Rose Bowl I just hope Beanie is alright and he stays for his Senoir year. Hopefully we beat USC next season and put this lost behind us Go Bucks.

 

[OHSportsFan]

FWIW, in the Plain Dealer Boone was quoted saying this:


"When we walked in at halftime and nobody was saying anything, I mean, what the (heck), we're Ohio State, we should be screaming and swearing and saying anything we could think of, and guys are hanging their head and you don't know what to say to them. You start screaming and they just put their head down even more, and we can't play like that. If we play like that the rest of the season, we won't be any good."

Not good, psyche wise.

Sort of how Ohio St. fans like to take some credit for stealing away Miami's swagger, and their downfall after the '02 NC game...I feel like Ohio State's swagger has not been the same since halftime of the Florida game. Weren't there a bunch of arguments and such during that game? Thought I read some quotes about how the team just fell apart in the locker room.

Congrats!

 

[Gatorubet]

Sort of how Ohio St. fans like to take some credit for stealing away Miami's swagger, and their downfall after the '02 NC game...I feel like Ohio State's swagger has not been the same since halftime of the Florida game. Weren't there a bunch of arguments and such during that game? Thought I read some quotes about how the team just fell apart in the locker room.

Congrats!

Sure. Start a theory that just one half of an SEC loss can take out the entire Buckeye program for years.

Yeah...like nobody on the SEC boards would run with that.

 

[BUCKYLE]

USC proves they're #1 by crushing the Buckeyes 35-3.

Well, there's always the Rose Bowl. This game was a replay of the disasters against Florida and LSU. The Buckeyes just are not good enough to compete with the top teams in college football. The Buckeyes are lucky we play in the Big 10 because we could not compete in the Southeast Conference and maybe not in the PAC 10.
Read More..

Bill Smith is a former coach of several semi-pro teams

So he knows what he's talking about.

 

[OHSportsFan]

Sure. Start a theory that just one half of an SEC loss can take out the entire Buckeye program for years.

Yeah...like nobody on the SEC boards would run with that.

Hey, someone from an SEC board was going to start in on that theory eventually...just giving them a head start. :)

I'd say that SEC people don't need a head start (with that speed and all), but I don't think SEC speed applies to theorizing...or reading for that matter.