Game Thread tOSU at Sparty - Sep 29, 3:30 ET, ABC

[NugentsMyHero]

Gameplan for MSU is going to simple enough, hand off to Bell and laugh as he breaks every tackle. Hopefully this is the week we get it together or this could be an embarassing game.

 

[BuckJr]

Mostly the same OSU defense last year that held Bell and company to 10 total points.

MSU will be without their starting center, Hankins can have a big game.

The sparty offense looks awful, no receivers, a decent TE, average oline, good runningback, awful quarterback.

I see this game going 3 ways. A tight game, either team can win. Toss up. An Ohio State blowout victory, or the same results as last year.A close win on the scoreboard for MSU but had a comfortable win.

Im not impressed with the MSU db's at all. They are physical better at the run game. They got beat multiple times by the ND and EMU receivers deep. If Braxton can connect on the deep balls he can have a big game.

OSU can win this game if the same team that showed up to play ND and EMU plays. They are not an elite team, hell I think they are just above average. They struggled with a bad boise team too dont forget.

 

[SPONG]

The sparty offense looks awful, no receivers, a decent TE, average oline, good runningback, awful quarterback.

The question is, how good do they need to be to complete passes to the sidelines if no one is within 8 yards?

My fear is that the DBs will play tighter coverage, but the pass rush still won't get there in time and the opposing receivers will have more of an opportunity to make big plays on double moves.

 

[Onebuckfan]

I think this game is on the Lb's and Safeties..tackle rally to the football..if you make the initial tackle its hard to drive the ball only running. Our coaches and corners have been giving to much respect to the WR's we face. If our corners couldn't handle UAB's receivers one on one we need new corners. Same with MSU's inexperienced WR's.

 

[BuckJr]

Keep in mind Barnett and Roby didnt play in the UAB game either, they probably would have made a few plays. Michael Bennett should be back as well hopefully adds to the Dline.

MSU is hurting at the wrong time. We should be getting some key contributors back

 

[SEREbuckeye]

Everyone's talking about our defensive problems.


Not much talk about the struggling O? Im worried we just simply won't be able to move the chains and score enough to stay in it. We put up an embarrassing 29 against UAB, most of that in the first half and NONE though the air.

 

[BuckJr]

Everyone's talking about our defensive problems.


Not much talk about the struggling O? Im worried we just simply won't be able to move the chains and score enough to stay in it. We put up an embarrassing 29 against UAB, most of that in the first half and NONE though the air.

Well the offense is averaging about 38 points and over 400 yards a game. It probably should have been 36-15, Devin Smith had the drop TD at the end.

Carlos Hyde I think could have got some 1st downs in some cases or make the 3rd downs way more reasonable. Hes returning too so thats a positive.

 

[SEREbuckeye]

Well the offense is averaging about 38 points and over 400 yards a game. It probably should have been 36-15, Devin Smith had the drop TD at the end.

Carlos Hyde I think could have got some 1st downs in some cases or make the 3rd downs way more reasonable. Hes returning too so thats a positive.

And the defense is averaging only 17 points against them yet were worried about their performance.

This offense that was hyped up in the preseason as "fast" and able to "score at will" is ranked 99th in the passing game. I know Braxton can pass but its the thing that scares me going into big showdowns. Rushing isn't any issue, we average almost 230 per game (24th nationally).

 

[BuckJr]

And the defense is averaging only 17 points against them yet were worried about their performance.

This offense that was hyped up in the preseason as "fast" and able to "score at will" is ranked 99th in the passing game. I know Braxton can pass but its the thing that scares me going into big showdowns. Rushing isn't any issue, we average almost 230 per game (24th nationally).

Stats are stats, not gonna argue with them. Just get it done.

The offense has looked great when it wants too. I think dropped passes has killed alot of momentum in drives. Yesterday was an example, some 3rd down conversions could have been made but our receivers failed. I think they'll get more consistent but im not too worried about it.

I think the defense will be better, too much talent to not be good.

 

[Buckeye513]

This offense that was hyped up in the preseason as "fast" and able to "score at will" is ranked 99th in the passing game. I know Braxton can pass but its the thing that scares me going into big showdowns.

They can score at any time because of Braxton. It's common knowledge that the offense lacks reliable receivers.

 

[Mike80]

They can score at any time because of Braxton. It's common knowledge that the offense lacks reliable receivers.

And the offense lacks any serious form of consistency from drive to drive too as we have seen over and over again.

Honestly, if they lose this game and get punched in the mouth, that isn't necessarily a bad thing if they learn from it. Since these games are essentially meaningless in every way except to prepare for next year, getting knocked off the stool as violently as possible can be very beneficial in the long run.

If the defense steps up and shuts down Bell and Maxwell - great.

if the offense forms something akin to consistency (other than being consistently bad) great.

that could mean the program UFM is putting into effect is taking hold. I don't think it has yet - at least not entirely.

I predict pain on Saturday. I think this team seriously needs an attitude adjustment on the actual field and not just in practice. the mentality needs a shock that only getting run over time and time again without coming back to win the game can deliver. Is sparty the team to do that? I don't know. We will find out.

 

[BearBuck27]

This offense that was hyped up in the preseason as "fast" and able to "score at will" is ranked 99th in the passing game.

If anybody actually thought that, they simply weren't thinking things through. Any time you're going through a complete overhaul in offensive scheme, there's going to be growing pains.

There is no overhaul in scheme on the defensive side. These are the same players on defense that played last year. Their performance was a disappointment a year ago, and continues to be that way this year. That's why people are so upset with the way things are going for the defense.

Personally, I'm actually surprised at how good the offense looks at times. At other times, I expected it to look that bad. There's a long way to go personnel wise for Urban on that side of the ball.

EDIT: I wanted to add that you're not going to get an argument from me about the inconsistency from the offense. It's absolutely there, and needs to change if this team is going to go above .500 in a weak B1G.

Never an excuse at Ohio State for as poor of tackling as there has been through four games, with no real sign of letting up.

 

[scarletmike]

You know, I hadn't really thought about it before, and we always talk about how trying to put Braxton on a "leash" seems to tighten him up and make him uncomfortable, but I think we've also been missing the other half of the consequences; how that also affects the receivers. It seems to me that when Braxton is "let loose," the rest of the offense seems to be able to "breathe" a little easier and things just happen instead of everyone on offense over thinking.

I agree that the passing game needs work, and that Braxton running a little less would be better in the long term. However, I think that blatantly announcing it (through play calling, to the player(s) in practice/huddles) seems to be counter-productive with this team. Just make sure they understand what the goal is, but don't clamp down on it.

Anyway, just my $.02 and something I hope to possibly see change with the MSU game. I think if they play with an understanding instead of a hard rule, they come out and blow us (and MSU) away with their performance, and it definitely needs to happen this game.

 

[OSU_D/]

ESPN Gameday's twitter account said they will be in East Lansing this weekend. Sort of surprised, but not really because ESPN will never pass up an opportunity to talk about how poor the B1G is this year.

I am sure we will hear that... and the Big 10 is a middle school league this year. But this is the only match-up between two ranked teams this week and it includes one of the biggest draws in CFB - The Ohio State University.

 

[Mike80]

I am sure we will here that... and the Big 10 is a middle school league this year. But this is the only match-up between two ranked teams this week and it includes on of the biggest draws in CFB - The Ohio State University.

I'd laugh if someone goes up with there with a huge sign that has Herbstreit's face on it when they had that earthquake in Oklahoma...