Scott
Guest
It’s the game for which Buckeye fans have been waiting.
Ohio State gets a chance to avenge its only loss from last season Monday when the Buckeyes visit Blacksburg and a road test against Virginia Tech.
Just wondering … if someone at that school gets arrested do they get sent to the Hokie Pokey?
But I digress. It was somewhat of a shocker last year, but that loss made J.T. Barrett a better quarterback and sparked his run to the Heisman finals.
Barrett is likely to be the starting quarterback Monday although Urban Meyer has vowed to keep who he is starting a secret. Ya know, close to the Jim Tressel vest.
As the season kicks off the Buckeyes are the prohibitive favorite to defend their national title.
I would love to see that. But as for Monday, here is what I and the rest of tBBC crack staff want to see.
Me
A win: Avenge the loss and start out 1-0 with a convincing win.
No injuries: Stay healthy. Yes OSU has depth. But no, I don’t want the Buckeyes to have to show it.
Mike
Continued momentum: Start up where the Buckeyes left off and dominate on both sides of the ball!
DL to be dominant: Without Bosa the Buckeyes still have talent that should be much improved. Washington, Lewis and the H&H boys (Holmes and Hubbard) need to make a statement.
WR U: If the saying is “next man up” then the Buckeyes need to show it here. Time to separate the Leaders from the Followers … Braxton and Dixon time!
Make believers: Whoever Urban puts out there at QB, show they earned it! Put all doubters on either side to bed!
The obvious: No Turnovers, No injuries and a WIN!!!
Charles
No more than one turnover: VT tends to win games with its defense and by forcing the opponent to make mistakes, lets not make those mistakes.
New people stepping up: The four suspensions hurt, but this a deep team, lets see someone take advantage of their opportunity and step up.
No jitters in the offensive play calling: The departure of Herman means that someone new will be involved in the play calling, hopefully we won’t see any first game jitters.
TBDBITL showing how its done: I always love when the band goes on the road and gets to show an opposing fanbase why they are the Pride of the Buckeyes.
WVaBuckeye
Best foot forward: We don’t know yet, what will get us to the B1G title game, but we know what horse can get us there. Make sure Ezekiel sets the tone. Early and often.
Isolate their best: Put the secondary on an island and make them defend in man and have to run support. Buckeyes win the game controlling the run game.
Win the coaching duel: The Urban Meyer-led staff took one on the chin last year. Game planning will need to be a few steps above last year but experience will also help in this great coaching matchup.
MaliBuckeye
Play like you belong: Defending champs, lots of hype, blah blah blah … X’s and O’s people.
Meh-Tallica: No offense to Jason, but I want to see Ohio State take the teeth out of one of the most hostile home environments in college sports early.
No false starts: Same goal as always … go two games without it, and I’ll stop asking.
Braxton: You don’t have to do everything, bro… just do what you do.
Eli: Doesn’t get a lot of “hype”, because he’s more reserved … but this is his year.
Hydra: I’d love to see a formation with all three “quarterbacks” on the field at the same time.
Patrick
Blocking up front: We don’t have to relive what happened last season versus Va. Tech but we know Bud Foster will do the same thing. Thank God Herman isn’t here to screw up the play calling so let’s up Warriner has everything ready to combat the blitz.
Steady dose of Eze: Once again, we know Elliott didn’t get the carries he should’ve in the ’14 Va. Tech game … ride that horse and control the ball.
Silver Bullets: Continued growth from the last 3 games of the season last year. Big games from the vets, Washington, Perry, and Schutt may be crucial to keeping Va. Tech off the scoreboard.
Hold on to the ball: Turnovers ended the Va. Tech game in ’14, 0, ZERO, turnovers Monday night.
Ken (who has to be different when he submits his information)
I’d like to see a win.
I’d like to see no injuries.
I’d like to see +300 yards total offense from whoever starts at QB for Ohio State.
I’d like to Zeke rush for +200 yards.
I’d like to see the defense hold VT to 17 or fewer points.
Jason
Running: At least 20 carries for Zeke pounding away that Hokie front 7.
No penalties: Blah blah blah blah. (Here is the translation.)
Pick 6: Eli Apple, the end zone is calling.
XBrax360: It’s going to be good to see #5 err #1 out there again, stutter stepping and breaking ankles!
Joe
Start off strong At Lane Stadium: Virginia Tech is 48-3 against non-conference opponents at Lane Stadium since 1996. Urban Meyer said on Thursday that Lane Stadium is one of the top five toughest places to play. To answer the challenge, the Buckeyes have to come out strong early.
Protect The QB: 25 percent of the sacks-against last year came from this very same defensive line from Virginia Tech. The Buckeye offensive line is 20 steps ahead of where it was last year, but this is still one of the top five fronts in the country.
Protect the football: Since 1996, the Hokies are fourth in the Power Five in takeaways. In that same span since the great Bud Foster took over as defensive coordinator, Virginia Tech has scored the most combined special teams and defensive touchdowns in the country. We saw how much turnovers played a factor last year. The Buckeyes must protect the football
Convert on third down: Bud Foster’s defenses have forced opponents to a 31.5 percent third down conversion percentage since 1996. The Buckeyes only converted four third downs last season against his defense. Ohio State has to be able to get the yardage to move the chains in key third down situations to control this football game.
Score 30+: The Buckeyes are 33-1 in the Urban Meyer era when scoring 30 or more points. The only loss coming in the Orange Bowl to Clemson in 2013. No matter how well the Virginia Tech defense plays, it will be hard for the Hokie offense to put more than 30 points on the board.
The post What Do You Want To see? VaTech appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
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