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Game Thread Southern Cal 18, at tOSU 15 (Sept 12th, 8 pm, ESPN)

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NateG;1516606; said:
btw.... they were saying that with corp out that barkley took 100% of the reps with the first team. If they were considering mustain for a takeover they would have had him practice some of the first team reps maybe like barkley 80% mustain 20% with the first team. i bet barkley starts.
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In the first fall scrimmage, Mitch Mustain had a big day, so I dont think its all Barkley like most bucks fans are hoping.
 
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generaladm;1516675; said:
Quick thoughts on the unit matchups.



OSU D-line vs. USC O-line: Push at best, more like healthy edge USC.

OSU O-line vs. USC D-line: So much turnover on both sides its hard to say so that leaves recent history which would be edge USC. Big.

OSU LB vs. USC RB: The JL/Freeman duo were over hyped. Lets just be honest about it. This crew should be better but I doubt they are at this point in their careers. This matchup never happens in a vacum so who knows but I'd say push to slight edge USC.

OSU RB vs. USC LB. Our RB's aren't better after losing Beanie. I'll buy the idea we use them more effectively out in space when I see it. Push.

OSU WR vs. USC DB. This may be the biggest advantage for the trojans. Yep. TP's ability to make accurate throws will be a big factor. Yep. Again, going from what we saw last year big edge USC.

OSU DB vs. USC WR. .... but I think our safeties will be improved in coverage this year. Why is that? We've seen them for the past 3 years whats going to change this year?

If USC does their usual plug and play at QB and WR we are in bad shape here. However I do think asking a brand new starter/true freshman to step in and play that well after missing a couple of weeks of camp and in the environment he will be faced with is stretching it even for USC.
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See bold above.

To me it comes down to how much, if any, pressure the defense can get on the USC QB and what affect, if any, the atmosphere can have on him. If the QB gets time there will be open receivers all over the place. The Colt McCoy plan worked pretty damn well, don't out think ourselves here and say they'll never see the rush 3 drop 8 thing coming.

Likewise it will hinge on how our young QB has progressed. Can he make a good team respect the pass? Can our offensive line do anything to help or are they still pretty much the same act we've seen the past 8 years with different names?

The other match up not mentioned here is coaching.

Last year was as much an ass beating in the booth as anything else. Are we finally going to have a high powered, unpredictable OSU offense sighting or are we in for more of the same? If we don't end up having a good OSU offense sighting its time to start asking hard questions as to why not.

Is the defense going to stay aggressive like they were against Texas and try to affect the inexperienced QB or will will spring another trap like we did on Florida and make sure he is comfortable and in rhythm? As the leader of our program over the long term there is no one I want more than JT. For one big game you have to give the edge to PC's staff at this point.

For some strange reason I do have a feeling we'll win but I just can't put my finger on why, anymore than its time for the tide to turn on our big game woes. Hope is not a plan but its all I've got at this point.
 
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Jaxbuck;1516720; said:
See bold above.

To me it comes down to how much, if any, pressure the defense can get on the USC QB and what affect, if any, the atmosphere can have on him. If the QB gets time there will be open receivers all over the place. The Colt McCoy plan worked pretty damn well, don't out think ourselves here and say they'll never see the rush 3 drop 8 thing coming.

Likewise it will hinge on how our young QB has progressed. Can he make a good team respect the pass? Can our offensive line do anything to help or are they still pretty much the same act we've seen the past 8 years with different names?

The other match up not mentioned here is coaching.

Last year was as much an ass beating in the booth as anything else. Are we finally going to have a high powered, unpredictable OSU offense sighting or are we in for more of the same? If we don't end up having a good OSU offense sighting its time to start asking hard questions as to why not.

Is the defense going to stay aggressive like they were against Texas and try to affect the inexperienced QB or will will spring another trap like we did on Florida and make sure he is comfortable and in rhythm? As the leader of our program over the long term there is no one I want more than JT. For one big game you have to give the edge to PC's staff at this point.

For some strange reason I do have a feeling we'll win but I just can't put my finger on why, anymore than its time for the tide to turn on our big game woes. Hope is not a plan but its all I've got at this point.
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What is interesting is the fact that I think we ALL think this, and yet it isn't done. Are we stupid? Do we not appreciate the abilities of our players and coaches? I happen to think this year Tressel and Heacock will be up to the task, win or not.
 
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Jaxbuck;1516720; said:
Why is that? We've seen them for the past 3 years whats going to change this year? Well, most college footballers play their best in their senior season, especially ones with lots of starting experience. Coleman made notable improvement in coverage last season, IMO, and I expect he will build on that. Russell showed good coverage skills before his knee injury, but hasn't gotten back to that point. Even in his "brick hands" season, he was mostly in position, just couldn't hold on to the ball. Last year, AR did not play up to his ability, but I think he will rebound. The skills are there, he just needs to show them on a consistent basis. Hines will be a good addition to the group. He can run with most WRs, he just needs to show more maturity, which is reasonable for a player entering his second year of significant playing time. Add to all that, they should not be forced to hold coverage quite as long, with the improved D-line. I'm not expecting them to be ball hawks, but I think they can control the middle of the field and offer support to the CBs.
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Italics.
 
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troy#1;1516710; said:
In the first fall scrimmage, Mitch Mustain had a big day, so I dont think its all Barkley like most bucks fans are hoping.
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i was repeating what was said by espn radio here and i believe bruce feldman even mentioned it on college football live... it wasn't an opinion.
 
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Well, most college footballers play their best in their senior season, especially ones with lots of starting experience. Coleman made notable improvement in coverage last season, IMO, and I expect he will build on that. Russell showed good coverage skills before his knee injury, but hasn't gotten back to that point. Even in his "brick hands" season, he was mostly in position, just couldn't hold on to the ball. Last year, AR did not play up to his ability, but I think he will rebound. The skills are there, he just needs to show them on a consistent basis. Hines will be a good addition to the group. He can run with most WRs, he just needs to show more maturity, which is reasonable for a player entering his second year of significant playing time. Add to all that, they should not be forced to hold coverage quite as long, with the improved D-line. I'm not expecting them to be ball hawks, but I think they can control the middle of the field and offer support to the CBs.


I've never been a big subscriber to the big leap from JR to SR year theory. You get the occasional Eddie George but usually a known quantity type player is what he is as an upperclassman.
 
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I've never been a big subscriber to the big leap from JR to SR year theory. You get the occasional Eddie George but usually a known quantity type player is what he is as an upperclassman.
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There are more senior "breakout season from nowhere" types than multi-year starters that go from good to great.
 
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Impossible given the subjectivity of it, and that statement was probably a little open ended for what I meant. Which do you think is more likely, a breakout season for Russell or Small? Rose or Ballard? That's what I was getting at... a guy like Coleman is a bit too good to fit the group I was talking about (guys like Russell, Freeman, Rehring, Hartline, etc).
 
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Just to be clear, I never mentioned any of the safeties having a "breakout" year. For one, I don't think they need to, they are all good players at this point. When I said their pass coverage should be improved this season, I didn't mean that it would be all-world level, just in line with the usual progression student athletes make during their careers. College players are expected to show improvement from year to year, regardless of their eligibility status.

Aside from improved play by the safeties themselves, there are other factors which could make their job easier. First, the aforementioned effect of a capable D-line (quicker throws) will allow the safeties to keep the receivers in front of them, and reduce the time they are in one on one coverage. Also, the absence of Jenkins will reduce the safeties need to play man up coverage. With MJ on the field, passing gameplans were formulated to avoid his zone, and attack the middle and opposite side. Without a CB who QBs are afraid to challenge, more attempts will go to the #1 and #2 WRs, away from the safety help. While that may not be good for the overall pass D, it will allow the safeties to play more of their traditional role, as ancillary defenders.
 
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generaladm;1516804; said:
Just to be clear, I never mentioned any of the safeties having a "breakout" year. For one, I don't think they need to, they are all good players at this point. When I said their pass coverage should be improved this season, I didn't mean that it would be all-world level, just in line with the usual progression student athletes make during their careers. College players are expected to show improvement from year to year, regardless of their eligibility status.
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I understand what you are saying.

The point I was making is that more often than not when you have a multi year starter/known commodity going from Jr to SR year there isn't usually much of a difference.

Look at last year. All those known JR's became SR's and the improvement was what? They were essentially the players they were in '07. Not that they were bad but if the over inflated expectations of last summer taught us anything it should have been to not pencil in the automatic improvement of an already established/known player just because he's a year older.
 
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troy#1;1517003; said:
Okay, and I was just responding to what you posted.:biggrin:
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no prob... you just had stated that it was a buckeye fans hopes that barkley was taking over... and i wanted to share the facts i heard. my only opinion is that unless corp gets healthy fast enough and barkley doesnt have anymore 3-4 pic practice days that he'll be the starter. irregardless i believe either mustain or barkley are better for OSU than corp. there is a reason mustain is 3rd on the chart and barkley (not disputing talent) is a freshman.

:oh: (less than 3 weeks!!!)
 
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