Game Thread tOSU at NW'ern, Oct 5, 8 ET, ABC/ESPN/ESPN2

[BuckeyeNation27]

I'm not buying Roby just getting owned. It was obvious he was hurt early in the game. Three years of watching him shut down all kinds of receivers says he was hurting all game. Not that Abacus isn't a good receiver, he is. I just don't think he's "torch an AA all game long" good

I'm not buying that either, but for a different reason. We dared Wisconsin to throw all game. We brought 0 pressure (because that's what you do to a team who runs the ball for 300 some yards per game). So Stave pulled a game out of his ass. We took away their preferred offense, and the result was asking our DBs to cover for a very long time. And we won because of it.

Roby is still the man. We aren't going to face another team in the regular season where we need to shut down the run that desperately, so I'm not going to jump off a bridge thinking our pass defense is terrible. We gave them the pass as long as it meant they didn't run all over us. And it worked.

 

[BUCKYLE]

If he was hurt enough to get exposed like that then wouldn't it behoove the Buckeyes to put in a capable body? Not saying he's replaceable but I'm pretty sure OSU has good enough athletes to not get burned almost every time Abbrederis got called on...

It's easy to make personnel decisions on the Monday after the game. Maybe the second string had a little injury too. Maybe Urban was more comfortable with a banged up Roby rather than a back up with no experience. Roby may get burned a couple times, but he made some plays too. I'm not trying to make excuses or anything, I think AbbaZabba is a really good player. I've just seen Roby shut down equal talent. Something was off, imo.

 

[smith288]

It's easy to make personnel decisions on the Monday after the game. Maybe the second string had a little injury too. Maybe Urban was more comfortable with a banged up Roby rather than a back up with no experience. Roby may get burned a couple times, but he made some plays too. I'm not trying to make excuses or anything, I think AbbaZabba is a really good player. I've just seen Roby shut down equal talent. Something was off, imo.

Yea, something was definitely off. Hopefully he heals ups and/or figures it out because they can't afford their shut down not being able to shut down. I like Roby. Don't get me wrong. I just saw Wisky picking on him constantly like they saw something.

 

[BUCKYLE]

Yea, something was definitely off. Hopefully he heals ups and/or figures it out because they can't afford their shut down not being able to shut down. I like Roby. Don't get me wrong. I just saw Wisky picking on him constantly like they saw something.

I saw it more as Roby was covering their only real receiving threat. The only one Stave was comfortable throwing to consistantly, and I also tend to agree with BN27. When your OL is giving you 30 seconds to get rid of it by holding, the DB's tend to get exposed. Even great ones.

 

[MaxBuck]

If he was hurt enough to get exposed like that then wouldn't it behoove the Buckeyes to put in a capable body? Not saying he's replaceable but I'm pretty sure OSU has good enough athletes to not get burned almost every time Abbrederis got called on...

First, Abbrederis is a damn good receiver. Second, athletes at times get into a "zone," and he was clearly in a zone against Bradley Roby.

Finally, a dinged-up Roby is likely a better choice than any of the alternatives we currently have. I doubt that Reeves or whoever is next in line would've fared any better.

Roby has proven himself to be the finest corner we've had in quite awhile. Nonetheless, Roby won't be sending Abbrederis any presents based on what the receiver likely did to Brad's draft status.

 

[BlufftonBuckeye]

It's easy to make personnel decisions on the Monday after the game. Maybe the second string had a little injury too. Maybe Urban was more comfortable with a banged up Roby rather than a back up with no experience. Roby may get burned a couple times, but he made some plays too. I'm not trying to make excuses or anything, I think AbbaZabba is a really good player. I've just seen Roby shut down equal talent. Something was off, imo.

Re-watching the game, Roby really appeared slowed by the hip injury. Early in the game he was flying all over the place, knocking away passes and harassing Abracadabra. Then he gets nicked...and it seems like Abracadaver had a half to full step on him every time.

Other note: Ohio State took away the run game, period. They absolutely shut it down, told Wisky "If you beat us, it'll be on OUR terms (through the air)." And, like Kyle said in another post, who the 'expletive' else was Stave gonna throw it to? Therefore, you have a dinged up Roby on an island against the only receiving threat they have in a game in which they HAD to throw.

It'll be fine. I expect a big bounce-back game from him against Nerdwestern.

 

[matcar]

Actually, NW doesn't pass the ball well. They run the ball well and they're (no surprise) fundamentally sound. The keys for OSU will be not falling for gadget plays and not beating themselves with turnovers. Northwestern doesn't have anyone on the roster like Gordon or Abbrederis.

You are right, no one on their roster like either of those two, yet likely just as efficient. Will be interesting to see if there will be much of a home field advantage for them.

 

[Coqui]

No kidding.... Abbredabrarusdippitydo motivated Roby in a bad way.

Fixed that for you

 

[bukIpower]

That's just it guys... nw does well on offense what we do well on defense. We stop the run and we do well with gimmicky plays. Bottom line NW has done nothing on teams some poor teams and I see no way they step up and slow us down.

Wisconsin will have been our toughest opponent this year

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

Northwestern doesn't have anyone on the roster like Gordon or Abbrederis.

They do have Venric Mark, and while he's is not like Gordon he's similar to that back from Cal that gashed us last year in The Shoe (and whom we subsequently shut down in the rematch because we actually tackled that day). We just need to play the WRs tight, put pressure on the QB, and tackle cleanly...that's pretty generic, but that's what we need to do against a team like NW.

 

[Taosman]

I see the Cats are only averaging 33yds per punt. They will be giving us good field position all game. Bad for them.
Mark is explosive but has been injured so we don't know if he'll be at full speed for this game.
We have advantages all over the place but Fitz will have his team ready for an all out effort.
Interestingly, Northwestern plays Wiscy the week after us. Ouch!

 

[UpNorth_Buckeye]

Saw this posted by jbook37 (i know, i know, but it's just a recap of 97.1 segment)

Per 97.1 The Fan Pat Fitzgerald and Northwestern is 1-8 when coming out of a bye with 2 weeks to prepare for a team.

 

[Buckskin86]

No. 4 Ohio State (-5.5) at No. 16 Northwestern

This is a huge game for the Northwestern program. College Gameday is coming to town as are thousands upon thousands of Buckeyes fans, looking to flood the quiet town of Evanston. Unfortunately for the Wildcats the Buckeyes themselves are coming as well, and that includes Braxton Miller and all his friends. Now, Northwestern has been a spread defying behemoth (13-3-1 since last season) but it's only 2-2 this year and it failed to cover in its last two games. There's also the fact that this Northwestern defense has been very reliant on the turnover so far this season, and Ohio State just doesn't turn the ball over often enough. So my initial impressions on this line are to take Ohio State -5.5 while I still can, before that spread gets larger because it will.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefoo...udy-its-northwesterns-turn-to-stop-ohio-state

 

[THEWOOD]

I will be at this game, with all my Northwestern buddies. I am shocked this spread is -5.5. I was talking to my buddy Saturday night, and said opening line would be OSU -13.5. Now I had had quite a few beers at that point, however I still think this line is WAY low.

Oh and dont be surprised if you see more scarlet than purple.

 

[Onebuckfan]

tOSU wins by 7 to 10..Mark and Jones will be a thorn in the D.s side. More zone..even though I hate it. Roby should be on Jones but no matter the spin at the PC, I think the coaches were disappointed with Roby.