Game Thread tOSU @ Virginia Tech, Sep 7 2015 @ 8pm ET, ESPN

[bukIpower]

They threw the ball to Corey at least 12 times (and that's not an exaggeration). He probably received that many targets in the next 14 games combined. Spencer also received more deep balls than he should have received, as he also struggles on those contested 1v1 situations.

Meanwhile the true deep ball specialist was in the dog house, playing sporadically and not playing with the same fire and effort that would galvanize his season later on.

That's whats tough about having a team man you up and just bring the heat every down with putting 8-9 guys in the box. The deep ball is begging to be hit but IMO the deep ball is such a low conversion rate compared to most other typical plays (captain obvious I know). With Tech they took the chance that we would not be able to make them pay and it payed off because unlike Cardale JT wasn't able to hit some of those 50/50 deep passes to give our running game some breathing room.

 

[jwinslow]

That's whats tough about having a team man you up and just bring the heat every down with putting 8-9 guys in the box. The deep ball is begging to be hit but IMO the deep ball is such a low conversion rate compared to most other typical plays (captain obvious I know). With Tech they took the chance that we would not be able to make them pay and it payed off because unlike Cardale JT wasn't able to hit some of those 50/50 deep passes to give our running game some breathing room.

Cardale wasn't throwing those deep balls to Corey and Evan. There was only one of those in three games and it ended predictably.

Now I do think cardale throws a nicer deep ball but the receiver was a pretty large factor as well. It was frustrating to watch them consistently target their worst jump ball wrs.

 

[VT Grad]

Is there a decent non-pay VT board? Some time just freed up on my non-Buckeye Planet web browsing schedule.

Honestly, I haven't spent much time on VT message boards, but I follow The Key Play on twitter and the site also has a pretty decent forum. That would definitely be my first recommendation if you're looking for news/updates/discussion from the VT side.

http://www.thekeyplay.com/forum

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

Is there a decent non-pay VT board? Some time just freed up on my non-Buckeye Planet web browsing schedule.

Honestly, I haven't spent much time on VT message boards, but I follow The Key Play on twitter and the site also has a pretty decent forum. That would definitely be my first recommendation if you're looking for news/updates/discussion from the VT side.

http://www.thekeyplay.com/forum

Be advised that KeyPlay has it's group of unabashed homers that believe our youth had nothing to do with their winning last year and they were truly the superior team. Also, you can't start a thread (but can view and reply) as a newbie until you get 40 turkey legs (essentially "likes"). You can get legs fairly easily but they can also get taken away if someone doesn't like your post (i.e., doesn't grovel to the mighty VT defense)...

 

[woofermazing]

Michael Thomas is a hell of a player, and the height difference will give him an advantage when going up for balls, but Fuller's skill set is phenomenal. What he may lack in height he compensates with an extremely high football IQ and athleticism. He's a student of the game and puts himself in the right position to make plays. Of course, Thomas is also very talented and very well may get a few big plays on him, but he's going to have to really earn it.

In his FIRST game as a true freshman Fuller was covering Amari Cooper when we played Bama, and Cooper finished 4 for 38 yards (0 TDs). And yes, I realize VT lost that game. That's what happens when you allow 21 points from 2 kick return TDs and a pick six. Damn that game still pisses me off...

Nearly everyone shut down Cooper that year. He went into the Iron Bowl with less than 500 yards on the season and blew up from there.

 

[TampaBuckeyes]

Be advised that KeyPlay has it's group of unabashed homers that believe our youth had nothing to do with their winning last year and they were truly the superior team.

In all reality, they were the better team during week 2 of last year. They weren't the better team in week 14 and that's what matters. They probably weren't the better team after week 4 or 5. The reason they were better last year in week 2 was mostly because of the youth....so right and wrong?

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

In all reality, they were the better team during week 2 of last year. They weren't the better team in week 14 and that's what matters. They probably weren't the better team after week 4 or 5. The reason they were better last year in week 2 was mostly because of the youth....so right and wrong?

They weren't "better" as in more talented. Not only were we less experienced but also coming of a tough game with a cut-blocking team. VT played way out of their asses. Some of those chest-thumpers sounded like Pedsters with their excuses on how they lost so many games.

 

[Dryden]

In all reality, they were the better team during week 2 of last year. They weren't the better team in week 14 and that's what matters. They probably weren't the better team after week 4 or 5. The reason they were better last year in week 2 was mostly because of the youth....so right and wrong?

I think the fact OSU had to spend a week or two installing a defense for the triple option instead of working on the their new base Cover 4 contributed to it. But yes, the team was young. Too many drops. Corey smith dropped what? Three receptions that game, including one in the end zone that killed a drive resulting in a missed FG. Even the kicker played poorly.

In contrast, the OSU offense is not something unique to Bud Foster. They've been playing Georgia Tech since joining the ACC, and previous that were defending Rich Rods WVU team when they were both members of the Big East. He knows how to take away power run from teams that are running Veer. They gambled Barrett couldn't beat them and won.

Perfect mix of opportunity and preparation.

 

[LostLassie]

They weren't "better" as in more talented. Not only were we less experienced but also coming of a tough game with a cut-blocking team. VT played way out of their asses.

What is sometimes forgotten, too, is that we had ESPiN (plus our boy Gene) to thank for switching the schedule around for last year's game. We were not originally supposed to play a game right after Navy. (And, the stats I remember from last year were that almost everybody loses when they play someone the next week after Navy--something to do with the required shift in preparation because of Navy's style of play). It was all about the TV schedule--our dear dear friends at ESPiN complained that they didn't have a marquee game for the weekend, so the schedule was flipped around to accommodate them.

If one were inclined toward conspiracy theories, one could conclude that the Spinners were out to sabotage us.

 

[matttank]

Really last years game went about as wrong in all 3 phases of the game as VT could have hoped. Our O-line/coaching staff was befuddled by the 46 bear front. Our defense couldn't generate a consistent pass rush and couldn't get off the field on 3rd down. But really, we lost last year due to special teams.

All 4 of their offensive scores started with good field position mostly set up by special teams gaffes by OSU.
First score started at OSU 43 after a 24 yd shanked punt. Second score started at VT 42 after a personal foul on a kickoff. Third score started at the VT 39 after Cam unleashed a 63 yd punt that out-kicked his coverage and was returned 35 yds. Fourth score started at VT 35 after a kickoff out of bounds.

We also missed 2 very make-able FGs of 40 and 27yds.

I don't expect our STs to be anywhere near this horrendous in this years matchup. With improvements across the board on O and D, confidence should be high that last year doesn't repeat itself. OSU 38-17.

 

[greyscarlet]

Really last years game went about as wrong in all 3 phases of the game as VT could have hoped.

Not 9 units strong for sure. This year will be very close if not all 9 strong which will result in a very different game. While neither team will be at their peak the Buckeyes are coming into this game with laser focus. can't imagine a better team to start the season against to drive focus during all of fall camp. Cannot wait.

 

[VT Grad]

They weren't "better" as in more talented. Not only were we less experienced but also coming of a tough game with a cut-blocking team. VT played way out of their asses. Some of those chest-thumpers sounded like Pedsters with their excuses on how they lost so many games.

You know, it's ok to admit once in awhile that your team got outplayed and lost a game. No sane person would ever say that VT is a better team than tOSU, but on that night they deserved it. When we lost to JMU it was a f***ing nightmare but I can still congratulate them for doing more to win the game instead of going on and on with excuses such as our 4 days rest after a Monday night game, lack of focus, going against the triple option in pouring rain, etc. But I'm not that petty.

If you want to talk about experience, 3 of our touchdowns were scored by freshmen and the 4th by a sophomore walk-on fullback. In total, our offense featured 2 freshmen running backs (Williams, McKenzie), 3 freshmen receivers (Hodges, Ford, Newsome), and a brand new quarterback who had just transferred after riding the bench at Texas Tech. All going against an elite college powerhouse on the road in a hyped-up night game. That performance probably only happens 1 out of 100 times, but it happened.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

You know, it's ok to admit once in awhile that your team got outplayed and lost a game. No sane person would ever say that VT is a better team than tOSU, but on that night they deserved it. When we lost to JMU it was a f***ing nightmare but I can still congratulate them for doing more to win the game instead of going on and on with excuses such as our 4 days rest after a Monday night game, lack of focus, going against the triple option in pouring rain, etc. But I'm not that petty.

If you want to talk about experience, 3 of our touchdowns were scored by freshmen and the 4th by a sophomore walk-on fullback. In total, our offense featured 2 freshmen running backs (Williams, McKenzie), 3 freshmen receivers (Hodges, Ford, Newsome), and a brand new quarterback who had just transferred after riding the bench at Texas Tech. All going against an elite college powerhouse on the road in a hyped-up night game. That performance probably only happens 1 out of 100 times, but it happened.

In other words, you played way over your heads. Exactly what I'm saying. If VT was as half as good as many on Key Play say they were, then VT would not have gone 7-6 overall and 3-5 in the weakest of the Power Five conferences. To show how mediocre your season was, VT had to resort to troll shit like this to gloat:



Most here congratulated VT for their win, but still understood why it happened.

 

[BuckeyeNation27]

I think a team with as little football history and as bad of a season as they had last year has every right to make those shirts.

 

[VT Grad]

In other words, you played way over your heads. Exactly what I'm saying. If VT was as half as good as many on Key Play say they were, then VT would not have gone 7-6 overall and 3-5 in the weakest of the Power Five conferences. To show how mediocre your season was, VT had to resort to troll [Mark May] like this to gloat:

View attachment 11426 View attachment 11427

Most here congratulated VT for their win, but still understood why it happened.

Absolutely played over our heads. And regarding the obnoxious VT troll fans.... well, yeah I don't have any excuses for them. Just part of most passionate fan bases, and gets blown way out of proportion when it happens for a school that's not used to winning big games. The whole "act like you've been here" argument isn't really valid because, well, we haven't.


Anyways, are any of you guys making the trip down to Blacksburg? If you need any recommendations on tailgate lots, restaurants, parking, etc, let me know. Blacksburg is a pretty small town and will be a circus with all the visiting fans and media, but fortunately a lot of it is walkable. If you don't already have hotel plans then it's going to be tough, and you'll likely have to try AirBnB or stay in a nearby area.

I highly encourage you guys to walk through campus before the game to check out the Drillfield and the Hokie stone buildings. For me, one of my all time favorite football season traditions.