We haven't actually had much discussion about the game to this point. Just curious what everyone's thoughts are about what we need to do to stay within striking distance, key matchups, etc.
My thoughts:
1. Our safeties and linebackers are going to be thoroughly tested. Between helping the CB's with Ginn and Gonzalez and helping in run support, Brown, Sanderson, and company will have a very busy day. Our LB's are going to have to make plays against the running game and also the underneath passing game.
2. I can't wait to see the Lichtensteiger/Markray vs. Pitcock/Patterson interior line battle. Pitcock absolutely destroyed UC's line a couple weeks ago. I hope that Kory and our other interior linemen can contain him on Saturday.
3. I know it's beating a dead horse, but we have to keep their offense off the field. If they only have 25 minutes TOP, I still think they can score 50 points. Keep those guys on the sidelines as much as possible.
4. Special teams have to be perfect, turnovers cannot be commited, and we have to be opportunistic. Troy Smith may make 2 or 3 bad throws throughout the game. We have to make them pay for any and all mistakes. If Pittman carries the ball loosely, we have to make them pay with a forced fumble/recovery.
5. We need a number of good breaks. We got a good break on Jenkins' fumble in '03 as OSU was driving and the bounces on the onside kick were nearly perfect.
If we can hang around into the second half, I will be very pleasantly surprised. I think we're asking a lot of a very young back 7 to control or contain Smith/Pittman/Wells/Ginn/Gonzalez. They're unbelievably explosive, but I can't wait to watch our guys try.
Game Thoughts
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18thAveBuck
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I'll be honest: I know very, very little about BG's team. I do know about the Bucks, and can fill in some stuff there:
1. Typically, OSU on rushes the front four, with occasional blitzes by the cornerbacks or LBs. Thus far, it has been pretty effective, and it has allowed the secondary to create more turnovers.
2. The starting safety, Anderson Russel, was lost for the year during the Iowa game. His replacement, Jamario O'Neal (another Glenville kid), has the physical tools, but has not been as good in coverage. From reports, he hasn't picked up on the defensive schemes and relies mostly on athletic ability.
3. The staff has been rotating players TONS. Almost 60 different people played in the first half of the Texas game.
4. During the Iowa and Texas games, once a lead was established, the D went into a nickel defense.
5. As was pointed out constantly during the Iowa game, Pittman generally rushes to the left, behind a 6'8" 320lb LT and a 6'8" 315lb LG. When C. Wells comes into the game, expect a rush straight up the middle.
Personally, I think the game will fall somewhere in-between the NIU game (where the Bucks lead 28-0 by the first play of the second quarter) and the UC game (UC winning at half).
1. Typically, OSU on rushes the front four, with occasional blitzes by the cornerbacks or LBs. Thus far, it has been pretty effective, and it has allowed the secondary to create more turnovers.
2. The starting safety, Anderson Russel, was lost for the year during the Iowa game. His replacement, Jamario O'Neal (another Glenville kid), has the physical tools, but has not been as good in coverage. From reports, he hasn't picked up on the defensive schemes and relies mostly on athletic ability.
3. The staff has been rotating players TONS. Almost 60 different people played in the first half of the Texas game.
4. During the Iowa and Texas games, once a lead was established, the D went into a nickel defense.
5. As was pointed out constantly during the Iowa game, Pittman generally rushes to the left, behind a 6'8" 320lb LT and a 6'8" 315lb LG. When C. Wells comes into the game, expect a rush straight up the middle.
Personally, I think the game will fall somewhere in-between the NIU game (where the Bucks lead 28-0 by the first play of the second quarter) and the UC game (UC winning at half).
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BGStudent10
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JohnnySwoop '85
- Peregrine
- Posts: 662
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Well what do you know...an OSU fan who is actually talking about FOOTBALL!
Welcome.
This year we are not playing much of a style that comes with the infamy of the "Basketball on Grass" era. Sometimes we have questioned why are we running qb keepers and draws on 3rd and long.
The last game began to show glimmers of wide-open risky plays such as the screen pass to a wideout who throws long to somebody, and that somebody could be the guy who lines up as qb.
Chris Bullock at rb has ground out some tough yards and he will see increasingly more action.
The secondary are all pretty young, the front line is undersized versus what Big 10's usually face but there are some play makers.
If we can cover returns on special teams and make you work for your scores I agree with the assessment that this will be somewhere between NIU game being over by your 3rd possession and still you up slightly by half.
If not, well then your RS freshman, Zwick, and many other names not known to grace every single media outlet in the state will have plenty of playing time well after the outcome was determined.
Welcome.
This year we are not playing much of a style that comes with the infamy of the "Basketball on Grass" era. Sometimes we have questioned why are we running qb keepers and draws on 3rd and long.
The last game began to show glimmers of wide-open risky plays such as the screen pass to a wideout who throws long to somebody, and that somebody could be the guy who lines up as qb.
Chris Bullock at rb has ground out some tough yards and he will see increasingly more action.
The secondary are all pretty young, the front line is undersized versus what Big 10's usually face but there are some play makers.
If we can cover returns on special teams and make you work for your scores I agree with the assessment that this will be somewhere between NIU game being over by your 3rd possession and still you up slightly by half.
If not, well then your RS freshman, Zwick, and many other names not known to grace every single media outlet in the state will have plenty of playing time well after the outcome was determined.
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18thAveBuck
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- Joined: Wed Oct 04, 2006 3:02 pm
That I can recall, this year's D has not faced a mobile qb.
Besides Iowa, each team the Bucks faced either had a decent/good qb or a decent/good (or amazing, when it comes to NIU) rb; only Iowa hadto have both.
A mobile qb could cause problems for the young D. Trick plays most definetly would; the young defenders would most likely key in and try to make the big play, coming off of their man. Since the NIU game, the D has gotten better against the screen (Iowa tried to run it without much success a few times).
Speed, both on offense and defense, will be killer. Tressel places recruits in three basic categories: Speed (rbs, wrs, dbs), Big Speed (LBs, DEs, TEs, FBs) and Power (OLs, DTs). No one is quite sure where QB and kickers come in under this. Due to this, many players are moved around from their original positions (both Ginn and Gonzalez were recruited as corners) to a place of need. Very few defenses can match up with the team speed--PSU did not have to because the rain pretty much took away the passing game.
While the defense is fast, there are still many missed tackles, especially amongst Freeman and Kerr at LB. It has been a bend-not-break defense, giving up less than 9 points a game (less that last year's team), and gave up the first rushing TD last week, if I remember correctly. (I think NIU either scored on a screen or normal pass play).
Teams have effectively rushed against the D (see NIU, Texas), though the D is improving. Also, with the O being able to score most teams are forced to throw the ball to try to score and keep in the game.
As a poster above mentioned, ball control will be key for BG this weekend. Don't turn the ball over, keep the ball as long as possible, and BG will be in the game.
The second half is when I think OSU will pull away; the size, speed, athleticism, and (maybe most important) depth advantage come across much more prominetly when both teams are tired.
Anyone who thinks BG will not play their hearts out is crazy; Ohio teams always do against the Bucks. I may sound like a conceited OSU fan, but generally the MAC schools in Ohio are filled with players who were not recruited by the Bucks, but these players felt they should have been, have friends who play for the Bucks, or played against them in high school. They go out with something to prove, and nothing to lose. This makes in-state games VERY dangerous.
Sorry for the long post. Any questions about specific players or anything else, feel free to ask.
Besides Iowa, each team the Bucks faced either had a decent/good qb or a decent/good (or amazing, when it comes to NIU) rb; only Iowa hadto have both.
A mobile qb could cause problems for the young D. Trick plays most definetly would; the young defenders would most likely key in and try to make the big play, coming off of their man. Since the NIU game, the D has gotten better against the screen (Iowa tried to run it without much success a few times).
Speed, both on offense and defense, will be killer. Tressel places recruits in three basic categories: Speed (rbs, wrs, dbs), Big Speed (LBs, DEs, TEs, FBs) and Power (OLs, DTs). No one is quite sure where QB and kickers come in under this. Due to this, many players are moved around from their original positions (both Ginn and Gonzalez were recruited as corners) to a place of need. Very few defenses can match up with the team speed--PSU did not have to because the rain pretty much took away the passing game.
While the defense is fast, there are still many missed tackles, especially amongst Freeman and Kerr at LB. It has been a bend-not-break defense, giving up less than 9 points a game (less that last year's team), and gave up the first rushing TD last week, if I remember correctly. (I think NIU either scored on a screen or normal pass play).
Teams have effectively rushed against the D (see NIU, Texas), though the D is improving. Also, with the O being able to score most teams are forced to throw the ball to try to score and keep in the game.
As a poster above mentioned, ball control will be key for BG this weekend. Don't turn the ball over, keep the ball as long as possible, and BG will be in the game.
The second half is when I think OSU will pull away; the size, speed, athleticism, and (maybe most important) depth advantage come across much more prominetly when both teams are tired.
Anyone who thinks BG will not play their hearts out is crazy; Ohio teams always do against the Bucks. I may sound like a conceited OSU fan, but generally the MAC schools in Ohio are filled with players who were not recruited by the Bucks, but these players felt they should have been, have friends who play for the Bucks, or played against them in high school. They go out with something to prove, and nothing to lose. This makes in-state games VERY dangerous.
Sorry for the long post. Any questions about specific players or anything else, feel free to ask.
Welcome!18thAveBuck wrote:That I can recall, this year's D has not faced a mobile qb.
Besides Iowa, each team the Bucks faced either had a decent/good qb or a decent/good (or amazing, when it comes to NIU) rb; only Iowa hadto have both.
A mobile qb could cause problems for the young D. Trick plays most definetly would; the young defenders would most likely key in and try to make the big play, coming off of their man. Since the NIU game, the D has gotten better against the screen (Iowa tried to run it without much success a few times).
Speed, both on offense and defense, will be killer. Tressel places recruits in three basic categories: Speed (rbs, wrs, dbs), Big Speed (LBs, DEs, TEs, FBs) and Power (OLs, DTs). No one is quite sure where QB and kickers come in under this. Due to this, many players are moved around from their original positions (both Ginn and Gonzalez were recruited as corners) to a place of need. Very few defenses can match up with the team speed--PSU did not have to because the rain pretty much took away the passing game.
While the defense is fast, there are still many missed tackles, especially amongst Freeman and Kerr at LB. It has been a bend-not-break defense, giving up less than 9 points a game (less that last year's team), and gave up the first rushing TD last week, if I remember correctly. (I think NIU either scored on a screen or normal pass play).
Teams have effectively rushed against the D (see NIU, Texas), though the D is improving. Also, with the O being able to score most teams are forced to throw the ball to try to score and keep in the game.
As a poster above mentioned, ball control will be key for BG this weekend. Don't turn the ball over, keep the ball as long as possible, and BG will be in the game.
The second half is when I think OSU will pull away; the size, speed, athleticism, and (maybe most important) depth advantage come across much more prominetly when both teams are tired.
Anyone who thinks BG will not play their hearts out is crazy; Ohio teams always do against the Bucks. I may sound like a conceited OSU fan, but generally the MAC schools in Ohio are filled with players who were not recruited by the Bucks, but these players felt they should have been, have friends who play for the Bucks, are played against them in high school. They go out with something to prove, and nothing to lose. This makes in-state games VERY dangerous.
Sorry for the long post. Any questions about specific players or anything else, feel free to ask.
This is the kind of dialogue I appreciate from OSU fans. He actually seems to have respect for us.
Chris Malanga ('97)
Veteran of BGSU Radio
"If you wanted to be a Buckeye, you should have gone to OSU. You're a Falcon. Accept it. Be proud." - Lizzie Keller, BG News Column
Veteran of BGSU Radio
"If you wanted to be a Buckeye, you should have gone to OSU. You're a Falcon. Accept it. Be proud." - Lizzie Keller, BG News Column
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Jacobs4Heisman
- a.k.a. Capt. Rex Kramer
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The bit about OSU pulling away in the second half is exactly how I feel this game will play out. I think we'll come out fired up, and maybe even grab the early lead. Maybe the score would be something like 17-10 OSU at halftime. Second half the momentum turns on a big BG mistake. Perhaps an INT or blocked punt for a touchdown. After that, OSU goes up by 3 scores in the third, and the backups coast in the fourth.
Roll Along!
