• New here? Register here now for access to all the forums, download game torrents, private messages, polls, Sportsbook, etc. Plus, stay connected and follow BP on Instagram @buckeyeplanet and Facebook.

Game Thread THE GAME: #1 tOSU at tCun, Sat. Nov. 29th, 12 pm ET, FOX

Jump to latest Follow Reply
plum diamonds buckeye planet
Sort by date Sort by votes
Mike80 said:
TL;DR - just be what they are and things will go swimmingly.

=========================================================

Been thinking about it all week. How does Ohio State approach this game, how do they game plan for TCUN and how do they go about staying on track.

A lot of this depends on Smith playing. Not so worried about Tate playing or not, because truly I think Innis compliments Smith's style better - Tate is more of a Smith type receiver and while epically fun to have both on the field, it's not necessarily a requirement.

So, assuming Smith plays, that gives TCUN a problem in their secondary. Between Innis, Klare, Smith, Portal/Graham/another TE, plus the back out of the backfield, they are going to likely be playing zone most of the day. Man to man is a death sentence and they know it. It'll be very much a requirement for Sayin to progress through his reads in a methodical manner to find the gaps. And there will be gaps. TCUN's only hope is to limit big plays and make Ohio State drive the ball. That plays into...

Ohio State needs to be the methodical, efficient monster it's been all year long. They don't need to do anything but be what they are. No "explosions" or faster pace because we can or whatever. Explosive plays are welcome of course. The idea though is to just be what they've been all year long. It's not about being perfect, it's about being good enough to get the job done (i.e. don't let perfect be the enemy of good). That is NOT what happened last year. Last year they tried to be something they weren't and it killed them. This is where the next key is....

The offensive line. Has it been great all year? Yes and no - pass pro has been mostly excellent all year long. There've been some mistakes, but they've been minor. Running game is coming along, and there is some hope that maybe it's turned a corner. TCUN's ONLY hope is Ohio State gets predictable and runs into the pile. Conversely, Ohio State's run game needs to attack the edges a bit and get their backs out in space. If any of the backs get into the open field to the 2nd level of the defense, they have a distinct advantage. TCUN's defense is built for 1985 era offenses. So short of running the veer offense or something dumb, TCUN's defense has to play zone and hope Ohio State does something dumb to play offense in a phone booth....and finally....

The defense - it's been a monster all year long and this is going to be no different. I'd expect to see a defensive scheme very similar to what they used against Manning in week 1. Underwhelming literally is a sub-replacement level (to borrow the term from baseball) college QB right now throwing the ball. A lot of what they do get is broken plays, defensive mistakes or dudes like Marsh just being better than the future accountant or whatever Northwestern was guarding him with. The ONLY way TCUN will move the ball is if Ohio State allows them to do so by playing soft zones or allowing Underwear to get loose running the ball. He cannot throw into tight windows yet and their running game is no where near what it was during the cheating era. The pass rush needs to maintain its rush lanes and edge rushers need to force him to step up into the pocket rather than escaping to the edge. Reese and Styles must absolutely respond to any attempted scrambles and they must tackle well (similar to what Tennecheat and IamaLeaver experienced last year). Secondary just needs to not have any busts and if it's a zone scheme called, the safeties need to play no one gets deep.

Special teams are average yes, but so long as no massive mistakes happen here (like 2 missed FGs) then it won't matter much either way. TCUN's kicker has been inconsistent all year though so keep that in mind.

At the end of the day, the talent advantage is again seriously on Ohio State's side. The biggest difference is at the most important position on the field: QB. If Sayin does what Sayin does, and if Ohio State doesn't let Undercarriage have the game of his life, I personally think Ohio State wins this one in what the final score will seem like an easy victory but in reality had us all biting our finger and toe nails until the 4th quarter.

Ohio State 34
TCUN 13
Click to expand...
 
Upvote 0
BuckeyeNation27 said:
My first one in person. Watched it from 17A with my dad. What a great memory. No expectations. Pure elation. The start of domination that hadn't been seen before, and lead to them being broken enough to start cheating at an unheard of level.
Click to expand...
Same - I was home from Iraq and my ex-wife had bought the tickets for me as a birthday present.

I hadn't expected a win. Hell I was just glad to be back in the states for a bit as I was flying back that following Monday. It made my whole year really.
 
Upvote 0
Buckeneye said:
Per the usual in my annual traditions... going back and watching The Game from years past. Typically at a sort of 'milestone' mark.

I'm obviously bias, and 2006 is the pinnacle, but 20 years ago... that 2005 game is still my favorite so far. Every emotion you could have during a football game. Hype, more hype, shit-talking early, struggle, frustration, despair, hope, then pure elation with a touch of shock and relief.

Arguably the two best drives back to back, sandwiching a defensive stand, in Buckeye history.

Click to expand...

When I was a young whipper snapper in high school, we kicked off the OSU camp in the Shoe and played the full game highlights from this game on the big screen. Pretty awesome to see everyone still cheering in the Shoe over that and JT had the biggest damn smile I've ever seen on him and you know how many times he already watched it.
 
Upvote 0
Buckeneye said:
24 hour warning/countdown.

Hydrate.
Get locked in.

Fuck *ichigan.
Click to expand...
Provisions have been acquired. Toilet paper is filled to the brim in my bathroom, biscuits and gravy will be made fresh as we used to do for kegs and eggs back on campus, my f_ck *ichigan sweater is fresh out the dryer, and most importantly the ashes of my sweet pup Urban in his urn are under the TV with the Buckeye necklace he wore every Saturday for the games. When we finally beat the skunk weasels tomorrow, I will be taking his ashes down to the river where he loved to swim and spreading them like he would have wanted. I've been saving them for this game.
 
Upvote 0
614-488-1910

Very cool! Give this number a call to hear Woody’s legendary pre-game scUM speech!



614-488-1910. This week, HOMAGE – the Columbus apparel company and Eleven Warriorssponsor – shared a video explaining how founder Ryan Vesler acquired Woody Hayes’ old phone number.

How did he do it?

Vesler made a trip to a Columbus library to dig up Hayes’ number, then called AT&T to see if he could claim it. (In a twist of fate, the customer service rep who helped him was from That State Up North.) After securing the number, he used a voice-over service to record one of Hayes’ iconic speeches ahead of The Game:

“This ballgame will boil down to three things… the team that hits the hardest and the longest, the team that starts the fastest and the team that's too damn smart to make mistakes. And that team will win without any question.”
Click to expand...
Why go through all that?

So Ohio State fans could call the number and fire themselves up for the greatest rivalry in sports.

What are you still reading this Skull Session for?

Go call it. Now.

(Then come back.)

(Please.)
Click to expand...
 
Upvote 0
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top