OSU/Purdue - 2003

[daddyphatsacs]

Well fellas the season has begun to come to a screeching halt, and a lot of things have started to go our way. It seems like every year everyone speculates what would happen of there are 3 undefeated teams remaining at the end of the season only to find out that history has a way of repeating itself.

We find ourselves sitting in the drivers seat for a Big Ten title and possibly a crack at the National title. Two very big hurdles stand in our way, starting with Purdue. What does it take to beat this team this weekend?

First of all we have to sit back and make the "dink and dunk" boiler offense earn every yard, then our LB's and DB's need to punish the ball carrier. Our front 4 needs to get pressure alone so we do not have to blitz too often, we will need as many guys in coverage as possible. We have to rattle Purdue's qb, because in a Joe Tiller system if he keeps you off balance he has you in the palm of his hand.

From an offensive standpoint we need consistency running and passing the ball. Krenzel needs to continue to find his TE's, this will draw up the safeties which will open up Holmes and Jenkins on the outside due to man coverage. Herbie was quoted as saying that Purdue had the best defense (he later changed his mind) in the Big Ten earlier this season. Our line had better buckle up their chinstraps this weekend or Purdue will let them have it. We need a big game out of Lydell, the line needs to continue to give him 2 or 3 lanes to run through, and the possibility of the cutback. He seems to be finding a rhythm, him and the line are both to credit for this newfound production. Finally, we need to eliminate turnovers, they are the quickest way to turn the momentum in a big game (ask MSU).

Finally, we need the Horseshoe to be as loud as it's ever been. For anyone who will be there, do your part. I think we will get the job done this week setting up a monumental showdown in Ann Arbor.

OSU- 27

Purdue- 17

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

If our offense plays as well as it did against MSU (we could've easily had 40+ points had Krenzel been more accurate), then Purdue might as well not show up. If they try and run then ball on us, we'll shut them down hard.

 

[CleveBucks]

mich. beat Purdue simply by blitzing the hell out of Orton all day long. Apparently Purdue has a hard time picking up the LB blitz. um was in man coverage on Purdue's WR's most of the day. While I think OSU will use more zone/zone blitz packages, I think our DL should be able to put similar pressure on Orton. Maybe send AJ Hawk on the weakside blitz or even bring up a safety to blitz every once in awhile.

Purdue reminds me a bit of MSU, except Purdue probably has a better D and worse O than MSU.

 

[BIGJW]

I think the TE position is going to be huge this week.

Ours need to keep being productive and we need to shut down the middle of the field on D. Blitz, Blitz, and Blitz some more!

 

[LightningRod]

Consistently send the TEs and Wrs down/across the middle of the field so that Purdue does not get comfortable with 9 men in the box like they did last year. Open it up for Ross to run for 125.

 

[ohiobuck94]

I think OSU's defense can handle Purdue. Last year Purdue only scored one TD if I remember right. The one concern is for our offense to put more points on the board. Last year our running game wasn't there. Of course Clarett was still limited because of his stinger. Krenzel was hurried in his throws and didn't have time to find anyone open. If the O-line and Ross have a good day, we should score enough to win. I think this will be a low scoring game unless Krenzel can find some open receivers and get the passing game going to open up the running game.

 

[ScarletNGry]

Unfortunately, if our coaches go back to watch how scUM beat Purdue they will see it is something that we cannot duplicate. Here is the reason. Purdue basically beat themselves against scUM. They dropped something like 12 balls. They had the hot routes there, the recievers were not catching the ball.

I think the way we beat Purdue is to make them work all the way down the field. They cannot have the 15-20 yards chunks of yardage. They will not be able to run against us, so they will have to go to the bubble screens, flat routes, and rubs to get the ball moving quickly. They are not going to hold onto the ball long enough for our D-line to get to the QB and knock him around. We HAVE to tackle these guys as soon as they catch the ball and hit them hard everytime. Eventually they will start to short arm the ball and that iswhen we take control of the game.

Our offense simply has to keep doing the same things it has been doing. We have to run the ball with some effectiveness. Controll t he clock and grind the game down to the point that their offense can have no rhythm in the passing game. Also, we cannot miss those WIDEOPEN recievers. we have to put the points on the board every chance we get.

 

[kippy1040]

Andy and Mili were right on the money in this thread. Bottom line is that CK is going to have to be very precise in his accuracy and I just feel Holmes could have a bust out game If Krenzel is on target. The pass blocking seems to have been upgraded to the point where our offensive run patterns could open some holes for the running backs too. But it all depends on Krenzels throws. I think the defense will take care of itself If we have the opportunity to be sucessful in the blitzing department.

 

[daddyphatsacs]

I'm with Andy here guys, I am not for blitzing on every play this week. I think that we have the front 4 to apply pressure without the need for blitzing LB's. I honestly can see us going into a lot of Nickel coverage with Reynolds and Hawk at LB and bringing in the extra db. As I stated earlier, we cannot give them big chunks of yardage, we have to make everything happen in front of us. If we blitz on every play Purdue will have man coverage and will beat us to death on hot routes, and if we do not get to Orton they will have the bombs also. Think back to the BG game, we were blitzing inaffectively (although they had a mobile QB) and they were hitting us up with hot routes all day long.

I do see a lot of zone blitzing possibilities this weekend. Bringing AJ Hawk, or Bobby C. off the corner and dropping Will Smith into coverage is always a good option.

I think that we have a nice cast of DB's especially if we go to the Nickel. Whitner, Salley and Allen have all displayed the ability to come up and smack someone. This week we will need them to absolutely crush whoever catches the ball. I want to see alligator arms in by the 2nd quarter.
What a good game this will be!!

 

[BuckNutty]

I do see a lot of zone blitzing possibilities this weekend. Bringing AJ Hawk, or Bobby C. off the corner and dropping Will Smith into coverage is always a good option.

I understand the concept of the zone blitz, I have been a Steeler fan my whole life(sorry), but I just don't like dropping our best pass rusher into coverage. I suppose he is the best suited to do it because of his athleticism but I want Will Smith getting after the QB when he's on the field. If we tackle well we'll limit what they do on offense. They won't be able to run the ball so limiting what they do after the catch will be key.

The key to this game offensively will be the offensive line. Can they continue to open holes and protect the QB against a very good front 7? I don't think their secondary matches up well with our receivers. Although CK played pretty well Saturday he needs to be sharper. If he's not I'd like to see McMullen get a series or two in the first half to see what he can do. Let's just hope the line remembers the comments coming from Purdue after last year's game about them being slow and predictable.

Last game for the seniors in the Shoe, Gameday in town and a chance to play for the national championship still on the line. I can't wait until Saturday...

 

[diehardbuckeye]

Anyway you want to look at it this is going to have to be the best game we are going to have to play. The offense needs to come out and look like it did against MSU. The defense has to not give up the big play. They are going to bubble screen on us all day and it will work for about 3-6 yds per completion but that is all we are going to have to give them. It seems that Purdue's defense is solid all the way around but we need to keep them off balance as much as possible. One thing that we are going to have to have to avoid is a breakdown in Special Teams. I don't know what happened last weekend but no returns for 6 and the punts have to be on the money. BJ has done a great job this year so lets hope that he keeps it up. This is going to be one hell of a game I can't wait for it.

 

[buckeye68]

I agree with you diehardbuckeye but to go a step further the offense have to play the entire game the way we played the second half. The first we just shot ourselves I the foot a few times to many.

The key is going to be same as the scUM game we have to run the ball. Controlling the clock is going to go along way to winning this game. I have absolutely no worries about our D matching up against Purdue's O, I just don't want to give that O too many chances. Keep them off the field with nice long 5-7 minute drives that score points and this game goes into the win column. I know that sounds like a basic and generic game plan but against Purdue that is what it takes IMO.

 

[gbearbuck]

phatsacs,

Purdues O isn't like they tend to be... they actually run the ball 60% of the time this year... totally dif. O than they tend to be...

Their D has been playing well (except for the scUM game)...

I hope our O continues to improve, the TE has been huge for us this year... the fact the O-line has actually been beating the RB's to the holes is nice as well :tongue2:

They have a stud DE that must be contained... it that means we need a TE to double him all game, so be it (the kid was the Big Ten player of the week the last two weeks in a row)...

PU's O usually scares me, however they don't seem to be high powered this year... I think our DL should be able to control the LOS, if that happens their run game (again 60% of their plays) will be shut down...their back has been getting over 100 yeards per game though.... if that happens their O will pretty much be contained... (however we all know that Tiller has a pass game in his playbook should they choose to go that route if the run is contained... however I don't see them as dangerous passing the ball as MSU was)

Their D is good (very good)... if our O continues to improve they should put some points on PU, however I doubt either team will put up alot of yards or points... this IMO will be a D control game, and field position and special teams will decide the winner (good thing we tend to be good at both of those facets of the game)...

All in all big plays on D will prob. happen for both teams, and we will prob. see alot of field goals... I like the Bucks in this game, however PU is def. one of the better teams we will play this year... thank goodness this game is in the Shoe, so the fans can help our team should they need help...

 

[DiHard]

someone (joe?) is going to have to neutralize schweigert in the running game. he obiterated the running game last year.

 

[diehardbuckeye]

Let's not forget Niko. Someone is going to have to stop both him and Schweigert, they are going to make plays but we have to limit the big ones that they make. To me if falls again with those first 3 series or so. If we can run the ball the safeties are going to have to cheat then we can throw it a little more to make them go back to being honest. Anyway we look at it is still going to be a tough as nails Big TEN game.