• Follow us on Twitter @buckeyeplanet and @bp_recruiting, like us on Facebook! Enjoy a post or article, recommend it to others! BP is only as strong as its community, and we only promote by word of mouth, so share away!
  • Consider registering! Fewer and higher quality ads, no emails you don't want, access to all the forums, download game torrents, private messages, polls, Sportsbook, etc. Even if you just want to lurk, there are a lot of good reasons to register!

Sugar Bowl: #3 Ohio State 49, #2 Clemson 28, Jan 1 in New Orleans

Jump to latest Follow Reply
Sort by date Sort by votes
Reviewing what Ohio State did better this year to beat Clemson

RUN THE BALL EFFECTIVELY AND CONSISTENTLY
In the previous piece, I discussed how J.K. Dobbins was so important to Ohio State's offense in the loss to Clemson. When the Buckeyes had success early on, building a 16-0 lead and carrying an advantage into the halftime locker, a lot of it had to do with Dobbins' ability both as a rusher and as a pass catcher out of the backfield.

When Dobbins suffered an ankle injury and was not as effective in the second half, the Scarlet and Gray struggled to move the ball. Some credit had to go to Clemson's halftime adjustments defensively, but not having a healthy Dobbins didn't help matters.

In this year's game, I believed, Ohio State needed to run the ball effectively and consistently throughout, meaning the rushing attack couldn't have the same fall off it did in the second half last season. In order to keep the Tigers' defense honest, I believed the Buckeyes needed the rushing just as much as the passing.

At the time I wrote that, I did not know Master Teague would be out. It turned out, that was not a problem and was probably better for the Scarlet and Gray because the carries went to one player instead of splitting between two. Oh, and Trey Sermon is a pretty good running back who has finally found his groove in the Ohio State offense.

Despite facing a top-10 rushing defense, the Buckeyes were able to run the ball pretty much whenever and however they wanted. After getting stopped for just one yard on his first carry, Sermon started cooking. His third rush of the game was a 32-yard scamper for a touchdown and the running back did not look back. Even when Clemson knew the Scarlet and Gray were going to run, the defense couldn't stop it as Sermon finished with 193 rushing yards, the third-highest in a Playoff semifinal game.

Ohio State was able to run the ball throughout and with a lead, that was a major factor in winning the time of possession and keeping the Tiger offense off the field.

BE AWARE AND READY FOR THE QUARTERBACK RUN
Trevor Lawrence killed Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl, but it wasn't the quarterback's arm that really did the damage. Although he threw for 259 yards and two touchdowns, what really hurt the Buckeyes was Lawrence's rushing, something he wasn't really known for coming into the game.

Lawrence finished that contest with a team-high 107 rushing yards and a touchdown. Lawrence had a near back-breaking 67-yard run shortly before halftime that cut the lead to two.

The Scarlet and Gray knew this couldn't be the case again in this game. The defensive players and coaches discussed this leading into the game and it was clear it would be a focus in the Sugar Bowl.

As it turned out, not only did Ohio State focus on this, but the defense eliminated Lawrence as a runner. If you include sacks, the quarterback had minus-eight yards on 10 carries in the game. Lawrence did have a two-yard touchdown run early to open the scoring, but the Clemson quarterback had only one carry over four yards in the game.

Knowing that the Tigers like to rely on Lawrence to run the ball in bigger games, the Buckeyes did not allow this, cutting out an important piece of the Clemson offense.

Entire article: https://247sports.com/college/ohio-...ter-Teague-Trey-Sermon-158372419/#158372419_1
 
Upvote 0
Interesting that to the casual observer it seemed Clemson targeted( using Powell ) Wade more than Banks. I'd have to do some more research on that tho. Wade isn't very physical right now. Maybe that's just what he is?
Clemson's Powell 8 receptions for 139 2 tds.
 
Upvote 0
Buckeye86 said:
Yeah, Fields hasn’t been great under pressure or against zone defenses, and Clemson does nothing but disguise zone blitzes to confuse QBs.

That is concerning.

The game plan (whatever they come up with to deal with that, I hope not too much stuff in the flats since that doesn’t seem to really work against zone, perhaps some *gasp* TE over the middle stuff... but whatever, just something to counter what we know is coming) and how well Fields executes it will be the story of the game.

I think Ohio State can slow down Clemson on O enough to win as long as the offense doesn’t lay an egg.
Click to expand...
tenor.gif
 
Upvote 0
Telekinesis said:
I don’t blame you. Can’t exactly put my finger on why, but I think a lot of it has to do with feeling that last year’s team was better and couldn’t get it done. That and the fact that 2020 doesn’t feel like the year for exorcising our demons, instead resorting to hiding from them like kids under the bed. The feeling of dread is hard to shake.

I feel like this is the year we should have a 3rd string QB starting, because I honestly thought we would kick Bama’s ass that year. Or at least walk away with a win, very least give them all they could handle.

I’ll be head over heels if we win, but for some reason I’m going into this one with low expectations. I don’t think it has much to do with the Big Ten Championship, but who knows... maybe if it’s 59-0, I’d feel differently.

I’m not normally the one to feel this way about a playoff game, but it’s there and I can’t get rid of the damn thing. I’m usually quick to expect a slaughter in favor of the good guys, but I can’t board that train this year.

Edit: And before anyone says “Good thing the game is being played in 2021!” — yeah, yeah, I get it. :lol:
Click to expand...

tenor.gif
 
Upvote 0
Telekinesis said:
I’ve been thinking about that Wisconsin game with Cardale making his first start. I was really nervous for that one. I had similar feelings for that one as I do about this one. I remember thinking: “Well, I’m proud of the guys for getting to the Big Ten Championship, but we’re going up against a Heisman candidate in Melvin and JT is done...”

I for damn sure didn’t see the most complete game the team had played all year coming, culminating in a thorough dismantling of Bucky. You might recall the defense wasn’t exactly mauling teams before that game.

Just some food for thought before Friday.
Click to expand...

Last one. :lol:

tenor.gif
 
Upvote 0
ScriptOhio said:
Reviewing what Ohio State did better this year to beat Clemson

RUN THE BALL EFFECTIVELY AND CONSISTENTLY
In the previous piece, I discussed how J.K. Dobbins was so important to Ohio State's offense in the loss to Clemson. When the Buckeyes had success early on, building a 16-0 lead and carrying an advantage into the halftime locker, a lot of it had to do with Dobbins' ability both as a rusher and as a pass catcher out of the backfield.

When Dobbins suffered an ankle injury and was not as effective in the second half, the Scarlet and Gray struggled to move the ball. Some credit had to go to Clemson's halftime adjustments defensively, but not having a healthy Dobbins didn't help matters.

In this year's game, I believed, Ohio State needed to run the ball effectively and consistently throughout, meaning the rushing attack couldn't have the same fall off it did in the second half last season. In order to keep the Tigers' defense honest, I believed the Buckeyes needed the rushing just as much as the passing.

At the time I wrote that, I did not know Master Teague would be out. It turned out, that was not a problem and was probably better for the Scarlet and Gray because the carries went to one player instead of splitting between two. Oh, and Trey Sermon is a pretty good running back who has finally found his groove in the Ohio State offense.

Despite facing a top-10 rushing defense, the Buckeyes were able to run the ball pretty much whenever and however they wanted. After getting stopped for just one yard on his first carry, Sermon started cooking. His third rush of the game was a 32-yard scamper for a touchdown and the running back did not look back. Even when Clemson knew the Scarlet and Gray were going to run, the defense couldn't stop it as Sermon finished with 193 rushing yards, the third-highest in a Playoff semifinal game.

Ohio State was able to run the ball throughout and with a lead, that was a major factor in winning the time of possession and keeping the Tiger offense off the field.

BE AWARE AND READY FOR THE QUARTERBACK RUN
Trevor Lawrence killed Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl, but it wasn't the quarterback's arm that really did the damage. Although he threw for 259 yards and two touchdowns, what really hurt the Buckeyes was Lawrence's rushing, something he wasn't really known for coming into the game.

Lawrence finished that contest with a team-high 107 rushing yards and a touchdown. Lawrence had a near back-breaking 67-yard run shortly before halftime that cut the lead to two.

The Scarlet and Gray knew this couldn't be the case again in this game. The defensive players and coaches discussed this leading into the game and it was clear it would be a focus in the Sugar Bowl.

As it turned out, not only did Ohio State focus on this, but the defense eliminated Lawrence as a runner. If you include sacks, the quarterback had minus-eight yards on 10 carries in the game. Lawrence did have a two-yard touchdown run early to open the scoring, but the Clemson quarterback had only one carry over four yards in the game.

Knowing that the Tigers like to rely on Lawrence to run the ball in bigger games, the Buckeyes did not allow this, cutting out an important piece of the Clemson offense.

Entire article: https://247sports.com/college/ohio-...ter-Teague-Trey-Sermon-158372419/#158372419_1
Click to expand...
Cliff Notes: They did everything better than Clemson
 
Upvote 0
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top