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

[DaddyBigBucks]

I like how it is taken as a given that the LSU 07 defense is better than the USC 08 and thus mathematically Beanie will at least match that performance.

It's still July, so the transitive property still applies I guess...


While there are objective reasons to believe that Beanie will do well in this game, some of the talk here really is beginning to resemble a SNL "da Bears" skit. I once posted that I was as optimistic as anyone on the board about this game. I retract that statement.

Having said that; it is not unreasonable to think that the 2008 Buckeyes will be the best OOC team that any Pete Carroll team will have played in the regular season.

 

[jwinslow]

Those saying McNight won't get wide are delusional. That offense is designed to spread people out and work wide.

maybe if that were what they're talking about, but they are not. Mcknight is a rb whose strength is his speed and agility, and is most dangerous outside the tackles in space. He'll undoubtedly try to bounce (or start) some runs outside and use his speed, being the opposite of a power runner who does the dirty work inside. Not that Joe cannot run inside, but he's more lethal outside beyond traffic.

Osu has always been a d with great speed, and east west plays very rarely work. The best way to beat osu 07 was to pound it straight at them, where their athleticism is less necessary and their strength is exposed a bit. Hopefully some of that departs with their maturation from young pups, especially at dt.

They will score. That's agiven. But how much?

We won't win a shoot out.

says who? This isn't sc of leinart/bush, at least not yet.

Low score plays to our style better and increases our chances. Tressel does like high scoring games.

His strategy in 06 was to outscore teams with offense and force the opposition to play from behind. Last year he still took a ton of shots downfield, so I would not put it past him to attack SC aggressively. If he does not, SC will clog the box and hold beanie to 125-135 and 4 ypc, which is good but not necessarily enough to carry a team.

 

[DaddyBigBucks]

maybe if that were what they're talking about, but they are not. Mcknight is a rb whose strength is his speed and agility, and is most dangerous outside the tackles in space. He'll undoubtedly try to bounce (or start) some runs outside and use his speed, being the opposite of a power runner who does the dirty work inside. Not that Joe cannot run inside, but he's more lethal outside beyond traffic.

Osu has always been a d with great speed, and east west plays very rarely work. The best way to beat osu 07 was to pound it straight at them, where their athleticism is less necessary and their strength is exposed a bit. Hopefully some of that departs with their maturation from young pups, especially at dt.says who? This isn't sc of leinart/bush, at least not yet.
His strategy in 06 was to outscore teams with offense and force the opposition to play from behind. Last year he still took a ton of shots downfield, so I would not put it past him to attack SC aggressively. If he does not, SC will clog the box and hold beanie to 125-135 and 4 ypc, which is good but not necessarily enough to carry a team.

So let me get this straight: The sky isn't falling?

 

[troy#1]

Reggie Bush didn't blow anyone away his first year, either.

McKnight: 94 carries, 540 yds, 3 TDs | 23 receptions, 203 yds, 1 TD
Bush: 90 carries, 521 yds, 3 TD | 15 receptions, 314 yds, 4 TDs

Beanies stats as a freshman: 104 carries, 576 yds, 7 TD - 2 receptions,16 yds,0 TD. Pretty similar frosh stats other than receiving. McKnight is involved in the passing alittle more, thats all.:)

 

[troy#1]

maybe if that were what they're talking about, but they are not. Mcknight is a rb whose strength is his speed and agility, and is most dangerous outside the tackles in space. He'll undoubtedly try to bounce (or start) some runs outside and use his speed, being the opposite of a power runner who does the dirty work inside. Not that Joe cannot run inside, but he's more lethal outside beyond traffic.

Osu has always been a d with great speed, and east west plays very rarely work. The best way to beat osu 07 was to pound it straight at them, where their athleticism is less necessary and their strength is exposed a bit. Hopefully some of that departs with their maturation from young pups, especially at dt.says who? This isn't sc of leinart/bush, at least not yet.
His strategy in 06 was to outscore teams with offense and force the opposition to play from behind. Last year he still took a ton of shots downfield, so I would not put it past him to attack SC aggressively. If he does not, SC will clog the box and hold beanie to 125-135 and 4 ypc, which is good but not necessarily enough to carry a team.

I agree totally! This Trojan team is different than past teams because of personnel, just like osu's team will have a different look somewhat without Ginn and Smith . Coaches usually have a set offense, but they will adjust it to current players strengths. I still think this is the game of the year, and will fill many networks reels with awesome highlights!

 

[troy#1]

So let me get this straight: The sky isn't falling?

Heck no! I think more people will watch this game than the superbowl! I live in south carolina, and when I wear a SC hat, people will ask if I am excited about the game with OSU. OF COURSE! :)

 

[troy#1]

Son what video's of Todd did you get ahold of!? haha

J/k man...


Seriously though. I have to agree. Yes Mcknight was good in HS, but he did nothing special last year. If he was a great as people are making him out to be he would've done better regaurdless. Outside rushing doesn't worry me in the least its the bigger back USC throws at us that does. Stephon whatever his name is.

USC can def. beat us easily though if we don't come out and put the fight to them. I can see all scores possible in this game as well. Blow outs either way or close win either way. The way USC coaches in big games scares me to death as well with a everything goes attitude. How will Tressels more conservative approach hold up to USC's all out attitude? Will Todd play like the PSU game? Will USC be able to stop our running game or Can they replace the lines on both sides of the ball? All these questions will be answered soon enough, but right now I have to go with the buckeyes for the fact we return more (especially on the lines). OSU 24 USC 17 with OSU going up 10-0 to start.

If you look at my reply to methomps, you will see his stats were similar to beanies frosh stats, only McKnight had more receptions. :)

 

[jwinslow]

I agree folks are underselling mcknight's especially if season stats are the rebuttal. He's more than proven he's very dangerous. He doesn't need 25 touches to get his yards, which diminish the stats angle. He can struggle for 3 qtrs, then blow it wide open.

This comes down to line play. Mcknight and wells will make their plays, to differing degrees. Which qb can be comfortable in the pocket? Which line can consistently get 3-5 yards. Outside of te, lsu did not fly past osu. They punched them in the mouth chunk by chunk, and always had 3rd and short, while osu faced third and long. Beanie had his share of big plays, while lsu's rbs really did not, not even holliday. It was the 3-5 yd gains that were the true killers.

I think anyone predicting a beatdown is being unfair. It's not impossible, but both defenses will keep them in the game. Who will pick up the ugly yards, up the gut, over the middle, escaping a protection breakdown.

 

[troy#1]

I agree folks are underselling mcknight's especially if season stats are the rebuttal. He's more than proven he's very dangerous. He doesn't need 25 touches to get his yards, which diminish the stats angle. He can struggle for 3 qtrs, then blow it wide open.

This comes down to line play. Mcknight and wells will make their plays, to differing degrees. Which qb can be comfortable in the pocket? Which line can consistently get 3-5 yards. Outside of te, lsu did not fly past osu. They punched them in the mouth chunk by chunk, and always had 3rd and short, while osu faced third and long. Beanie had his share of big plays, while lsu's rbs really did not, not even holliday. It was the 3-5 yd gains that were the true killers.

I think anyone predicting a beatdown is being unfair. It's not impossible, but both defenses will keep them in the game. Who will pick up the ugly yards, up the gut, over the middle, escaping a protection breakdown.

No arguement here.:)

 

[Jaxbuck]

His strategy in 06 was to outscore teams with offense and force the opposition to play from behind. Last year he still took a ton of shots downfield, so I would not put it past him to attack SC aggressively. If he does not, SC will clog the box and hold beanie to 125-135 and 4 ypc, which is good but not necessarily enough to carry a team.

I still think Urban Meyer summed up JT's aggressive/conservative tendencies the best. Basically he gets more aggressive the more he feels the other team matches, or exceeds, his teams talent.

If he sees a team can't score on his D, as long as his O doesn't give them a TO, then he adjusts everything to limit a chance of a TO. Also if a team can't stop a certain play or series from his offense, he'll just keep calling it. This is what has made him appear ultra conservative at times.

These two traits are really just manifestations of JT's ruthless efficency imo. He sees the shortest distance to a win and he takes that straight line, asthetics be damned.

As it applies to USC this year, I think as long as he feels he can trust TB, JT knows he has to stay aggressive and score a lot to win. They are playing with cards just as big, if not bigger, than ours (to tie it back to what Urban said).

Assuming Mr Boeckman has progressed I envision an attack most similar to '06 this year. I think JT knows he's going to have to keep firing away against the better teams.

 

[Sportsbuck28]

I agree folks are underselling mcknight's especially if season stats are the rebuttal. He's more than proven he's very dangerous. He doesn't need 25 touches to get his yards, which diminish the stats angle. He can struggle for 3 qtrs, then blow it wide open.

Hell if you watched the Rose Bowl you know McKnight is dangerous. He ran for 125 on 10 carries and then you add in that 65 yard run on the lateral from Booty.

If I had to make a score prediction right now... I'd say 21-17 Ohio State. Beanie makes a few Heisman caliber highlights while McKnight breaks loose a few times. Boeckman comes up with a few key 3rd down conversions to keep drives alive and doesn't throw any costly interceptions.

 

[BuckeyeGanoosh]

I agree folks are underselling mcknight's especially if season stats are the rebuttal. He's more than proven he's very dangerous. He doesn't need 25 touches to get his yards, which diminish the stats angle. He can struggle for 3 qtrs, then blow it wide open.

This comes down to line play. Mcknight and wells will make their plays, to differing degrees. Which qb can be comfortable in the pocket? Which line can consistently get 3-5 yards. Outside of te, lsu did not fly past osu. They punched them in the mouth chunk by chunk, and always had 3rd and short, while osu faced third and long. Beanie had his share of big plays, while lsu's rbs really did not, not even holliday. It was the 3-5 yd gains that were the true killers.

I think anyone predicting a beatdown is being unfair. It's not impossible, but both defenses will keep them in the game. Who will pick up the ugly yards, up the gut, over the middle, escaping a protection breakdown.

I agree 100%. Against LSU, they were getting a good push on our DL and it showed as the game progressed. We had a few missed tackles, but trust me when I say you won't explode against the Bucks D. This could be similar to the strength of the USC defense as well, with a couple good safeties looming.

Tressel could come out gunning right off the rip, loosening the field for a strong running game. Personally I think our strength is pound, pound, pound, play-action. A play-action with a mobile qb wouldn't be shocking to see either.

 

[BuckeyeGanoosh]

31-27 Bucks. :osu:

 

[troy#1]

31-27 Bucks. :osu:

31-17 men from TROY! I can dream too!

 

[Jaxbuck]

Boeckman comes up with a few key 3rd down conversions to keep drives alive and doesn't throw any costly interceptions.

Other than the team that scores the most will win, this is the key to the whole season offensively.