Outcoached: Part "Deaux" (Streeter Lecka)
Don't really know why I'm even posting this but the final Coaches and AP polls were released early this morning.
After a second straight title game collapse, the Bucks fell to 4th in the Coaches and 5th in the AP.
Personally, I'm surprised they weren't dropped lower considering OSU beat just one team (Michigan 19th) ranked in the Top 20 of the final Coaches and AP polls before allowing a 31-0 run last night.
Of course, of larger importance is the fact OSU has lost any benefit of the doubt going forward and the program appears to be at some type of crossroads. Don't think USC isn't already licking their chops hoping to bury the program into national irrelevance, if that hasn't already happened. Hard to believe. Am I overreacting?
Comments
You're not over-reacting, you're acting like a man unlike your counterparts over at Men of Scarlet and Gray. I think you understand someone in the program needs to change their tactic in order to get out of the death spiral that OSU and in turn the Big Ten are now caught in.
I don't think your "over-reacting," but at the same time, the only team that has won more games in the last 7 years than the Buckeyes is USC. We are still a very dominant team, and considering we made it to the title game 3 out of 6 years, I don't think we have a reason to complain. Yes, we've been embarrassed on the national stage two years in a row. But come on, what's Michigan done the last 7 years?
I am not one to call for coaching changes very often, but I think it needs to be done on the defensive side of the ball. It is frustrating to see us sit back and let a team dictate the pace and feel of the game. I think we need to go outside the program and get a new voice to coach the D.
"Am I overreacting?"
Yes. A 15-1 record over the last 2 seasons is something to be proud of. This is far from "national irrelevance." Though the bucks have lost twice in a row in the MNC game, think of how many teams didn't even get that far. I'm guessing something like 119 minus two teams amirite? Second place is not, in fact, the "first loser," as those TShirts from the 90's would have us believe. Second place is the *last* loser. Buck up, Bucks.
I think the entire Big Ten needs to step up.
We were the best team in the league this year. The Unspeakable was losing to 1-AA teams, Unspeakable's Little Brother had Yet Another Midseason Collapse, Iowa continues to be inexplicably owned in its in-state rivalry, Penn State's quarteback was only good until he saw pressure...we won't even mention Minnesota. We not only will look bad, we will not be ready for greater opponents until we have the opportunity to face greater opponents. Right now, the Big Ten has no worthy competition.
The Buckeyes simply aren't at LSU's level right now. This is not an indictment of Ohio State, nor is it an attempt to glorify LSU. It's just fact. Ohio State simply met a much better football team and lost. The game in question happened to be for a national championship.
This was a much better year for the Bucks than anyone expected, and this result isn't altogether shocking, so the healthy way to look at it is, "Hey, this team overachieved." And by the way I noticed they didn't stop fighting 'til the bitter end. You have plenty to be proud of.
Though the reality that our defeat will spell difficult times for the Buckeyes (and Big Ten) in the coming years, "bury the program into national irrelevance" is taking it a bit far.
Listening to the talking heads this morning and there seems to still be some great respect for the program and what they've accomplished (2nd straight NC game) to my surprise.
Any loss can be overcome by a win, and USC is going to be a big game for us next year.
TLB, I agree and trust your opinion on defense. It seems as if we dictate most games with pressure, but then sit back in a soft zone when the big game hits.
"I think the entire Big Ten needs to step up."
Agreed, we were not the better team last night, but the conference in general has been down and it doesn't prepare teams for these tougher Southern opponents.
Gatorpilot, I also agree with you, they didn't stop fighting and LSU was a better team last night, that played agaisnt an opponent who made fatal mistakes.
I kind of agree with the "National Irrelevance".....did anyone hear Herbstreit compare the Big Ten to the MAC and Conf USA last night after the game???
We basically have no leg to stand on now when the SEC chest thumpers come around...we preyed on a weak schedule...and blew our opportunity to prove anyone who said that wrong...
To clarify my comment, I don't personally believe we are nationally irrelevant because of two losses but I do think voters in future years are not going to give us that benefit of the doubt in scenarios such as this year where we were a 1 loss team amongst a slew of good 2 loss teams from better performing conferences. I also believe the average fan outside of bigten country is more convinced than ever that the whole conference has become irrelevant and its hard to argue. So, my irrelevancy comment was about national perception, not necessarily my personal opinion.
Gatorpilot - to your comment, I wholeheartedly agree this team overachieved considering the preseason predictions. Hell, those of us who thought OSU did have a chance to get back to the title game based it largely on the non-conf schedule and the weakness of the conference in general. That doesn't change the fact that LSU is beatable and we're left with What If's again due to a poor game plan and a loss of composure from coaches and players, among other things.
That said, I tip my cap to LSU. They were the better team. No question.
I do think we need a new defensive coordinator. There is no reason for the lack of discipline on defense, other than a poor game plan and preparation.
It is not like LSU ran plays that were unknown.
Anyway, we need a better QB and some better line play as well.
At least, they kept fighting. LSU was better and I do not think USC or West Virginia would have beaten them either. Remember, LSU had plenty of seniors and juniors that came back for a National Championship win. Just like Florida last year.
It would be nice if the Buckeyes had a lot of players who had that type of pride as well.
They need to find a new D coordinator...pronto. third and six and the corners are 8 yards off of the line? The pressure on Flynn was there. Man up on the outside and take away that short pass crap. Looked like the friggin' Steelers out there.
Killin' me.
You might be slightly over-reacting. The commenter who used the phrase "death-spiral" to describe the team is probably going a little overboard. We have a great record over the last 7 years. Our record in second (to SoCal) in that time frame. We have lost three games in two seasons. Who would you rather be? Missouri (one great season every 40 years)? Notre Dame (totally fell apart)? We have a good coach and a good system. It is not perfect, but whose is? We played a very good team, and we got beat. We made too many mistakes that cost us big.
I'll take number 5 to finish the season. Isn't that where the school up north was ranked at the beginning of the season? We were 12 or something like that. If someone had told me we would finish with 2 losses and a number 5 ranking I'd have said "I'll take it." So we lost to LSU. There's no shame in that. It's not as if they were off or anything. They were 100% healthy and they played a great game. My hat's off to them for a great performance. Yes we have things to work on, but I don't think anyone needs to be fired. As for the loss of respect, it will all come back if we go and win at USC. Redemption is just a big win away. And don't fool yourselves about the "lack of respect" deal. If we go undefeated next year and no one else does, we will be in the title game again. You heard it here first.
Penn State fan weighing in. Sorry about the loss, but keep your heads up, remember this was supposed to be a transition year for you. I figured the Vest would not be outdone the 2nd time around he is simply that damn good. You were on the wrong end of the majority of the game changing plays; LSU return fumble they recovered, punt block personal foul, 3 silly personal fouls, though the 1st one was bogus. LSU made the most of the mistakes.
Screw Herby, suggesting the Big 10 is on par with Conference USA, what a suckass and media shill, then mumbling and bumbling when trying to backpedal, are you ashamed to have him as an alum?
The bigger problem at hand is the media and their bogus insinuations about Big 10 football. At least Beanie proved that it isnt a speed thing. Problem is that this purveyed mindset will influence voters next year, since its partially a popularity poll anyways.
Imagine the Plus 1 football scenario that everyone talks about. Of course USC would win the popularity contest, but what about Georgia? Nothing works other than a playoff!
Scraper...I hear ya on the 2nd best record deal. I've used it to support OSU in many an argument this season and I continue to bleed Scarlet and Gray. I'm just trying to look at things objectively and its hard not to see some degree of a paper tiger based on how we've fared against top teams. How bout the defense's performance in the last few legit big games that featured high powered offenses? Since holding Texas to 7 points in Sept '06 we've allowed Mich 39 points, Fla 41 points, LSU 38 points.
TRC, did you notice both polls had Texas Tech ranked ahead of Penn State (PSU not even ranked in AP poll)? I guess they didn't see your bowl game.
Also, I notice 5 Big Ten teams in the coaches final Top 25. How many from the Conf. USA or MAC were there? I apologize to the world for Herbie's comments last night. He was obviously frustrated, but that was ridiculous.
GB89...You are right. If we go undefeated next year, I'd say a spot in the title game is assured but if we have one loss and so do a couple other teams, do you honestly think we'll get be ranked high enough in the human polls to be at least #2 in the BCS if there's already an undefeated team ranked #1?
I'm not gonna say we can't win at USC because come September I'll likely guarantee a win but recent performances against teams full of athletes don't make me that optimistic as it stands today.
As for Herbie, I've never been his biggest fan and last night was another example of his swaying too far to the other side to make it clear to everyone he's not OSU biased.
The Big 10 was weak this year with not only tsun losing to a 1AA school but also Minnesota. add in Northwestern losing to Duke and Purdue nearly losing their bowl game to a MAC team followed by OSU and Illinois getting drubbed in BCS games (2nd year in a row that the top 2 teams in the conference were creamed in the BCS), and the evidence is clear. The Big 10 is weak. OSU is the best of an average crop. I have been a Buckeye fan for over 40 years and have not seen OSU play this bad on the national stage in consecutive years as far as i can remember. Yes we have lost before, but we have never lost back to back bowl games by 14 plus points. And there is no doubt we are the best team in the Big 10 over these past 2 seasons.
Let's not despair. Despite a weak schedule, this team deserves a great deal of credit. Last spring, nobody in their right mind would have put them into the BCS Championship game. The Big Ten Conference however should be concerned with its competitiveness against other conferences such as the SEC, Big 12 and PAC 10. One thing I think that would help matters is to play a more competitive non-conference schedule. Tune up games against the likes of Akron, YSU, Ball State, Eastern Illinois, etc, don't exactly put you in a good position for confrontations with the likes of USC, Texas, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Oklahoma, and other potential BCS bowl game foes. The Buck have some great recruits coming in next year. Let's be positive.
I'm taking the middle stance on this whole "crossroads," description of our team. The '07 team gave good effort (unlike the 06' team, making this loss hurt a bit less), but LSU was a better team, and our gameplan was a bit lacking. True we were in the game, but I never felt like we'd get over that hump esp. basically playing at LSU.
This was a team that wasn't supposed to be here, and no matter what anyone says, we didn't back in or lobby to get in the game, all the chips fell in the right place for us. We do need some changes to our offensive play calling and defensive schemes, because honestly opposing coaches are figuring it out.
Unfortunately to lose in the NC two years in a row by at least 2 TDs does do significant damage to us and the Big Ten, because even if we beat USC, UM, PSU and maybe lose to a Wisconsin, we will not be back in the NC game imo. The team had great fortune to get in a year early, however that may to be our detriment in the future as voters will try to keep OSU out even if we have a great year in the next few years. We have to earn back respect, but it may take awhile due to the preconceived media notions that the B10 is weak, slow, etc. Other teams in conference must step up as does OSU. It's a shame honestly, to be successful for the past 7 years and to be penalized for it.
Anyway I'm proud of these kids, they played hard all season and blew away my expectations of hoping just to make a BCS. Individuals players don't deserve to be trashed, because we lost as a team.
To a better 08-09 season, GO BUCKS!!!
After the Big 10's showing in bowl games (3 and 5) it should be renamed the Wee 11. The Big 10 is an overrated and pathetic conference. The big problem is that you guys are so egocentric that you don't realize how weak your conference is. I am tired of hearing about Big 10 smash mouth football. If you watched SEC football on a regular basis you would see smash mouth speed. The lower tier of the SEC is faster, more athletic, tougher, and better coached than any team in the Big 10. If you put OSU in the SEC they would not finish better than 500 in any year.
Could not agree more with SEC rules.
The Big 10 acts like it is them against the world. The media bias toward the Big 10 is ridiculous! Most of the commentators have ties to the Big 10 (Herbstreet, Corso, Musberg, Spielman to name a few). I am tired of all the whining that comes from the Big 10 about how they don’t get the respect that they believe they deserve. When Big 10 team lose they never acknowledge that they were beat by a better team. Instead they make excuses about how they didn’t play as well as they could. Funny how this seems to always happen when they play a SEC team in a bowl game.
Good to see you agree with yourself...
http://www.elevenwarriors.com/...
Boy I remember praying that guy was just full of bull.
This was supposed to be a down year and while losing in the NC game is a disappointment, getting there was a huge accomplishment. I would've loved for this team to have ended their season on a winning note, but that's life.
That said, I don't know if I can take another title game loss. I can't. If we get exposed defensively again against USC, I'd really like to see a change at defensive coordinator. Zone coverages aren't working. Zone blitzes aren't working. Man cover blitz packages worked, yet we rarely used them. God they had over a month to prep this team defensively, what the hell happened?
Yes, you are overreacting. At least I'll say that and hopefully convince the both of us. I also want to believe that time will heal, but it doesn't. Winning is the only cure, so I guess the only thing to do is go to LA and win. (Thad will probably help us out a bit like last year)
I'm very glad I read the above comments because there are a lot of positives to take to next season even though it doesn't feel that way right now. It was a very young team and that inexperience was on display last night. I get caught up in the talent level and assume we should, at least, be in the game to the last snap. LSU is a great team with a lot of experience and played a very good game last night. Great teams take advantage of their opponent's mistakes. They did it and the Bucks didn't.
There was one team...(maybe two if your count the Badgers' close loss to Tennesee)...in spite of the shaky start and weak regular season finish...that stepped up against the SEC and beat the whiners from...you guessed it...Florida. There is one team..other than Illinois...that has taken dramatic steps to shake the dust off and take a giant leap forward...yes things are looking up...Go Blue!!! See you boys next year...remember that when you shed so many tears...you need to hydrate yourselves...there is a good drink for that...you guessed it..."Gatorade." It is so much fun listening to you scarlet and grey boys talking in terms like "dated" and "plodding" and the like...again...see you boys next year...Go Blue!!!!!
I'm going to be honest: I came here to flame you guys, just like you did to us a couple of months ago. But the "SEC Rules - Big 10 Drools" guy just saved your asses...
Off to the races, Fire Joe Morgan style:
"After the Big 10’s showing in bowl games (3 and 5) it should be renamed the Wee 11. The Big 10 is an overrated and pathetic conference. The big problem is that you guys are so egocentric that you don’t realize how weak your conference is."
Yeah, 3-5 in bowl games, with virtual road games against Florida in Tampa, LSU in New Orleans, USC in LA, and Texas A&M in San Antonio. Bring your tan ass up to Michigan in January every once in a while. We'll gladly make a spot for you in the Motor City Bowl. Considering we were playing 4 virtual road games, and all 8 further from home than our opponents, I'd say 3-5 isn't too bad.
As for the overrated, pathetic Big Ten, we had the two biggest underdogs of the bowl season. And, oh yeah, one of them beat the mighty Gators in their own backyard. Complain about our egocentricity all you want, and keep whistling past the Gainesville graveyard. And let's not forget that, for all the ESS EEE SEE Speed from last year, we took 2 of 3. We're .500 with you in the last 6 years. Just who is wearing the blinders, Ed?
"I am tired of hearing about Big 10 smash mouth football. If you watched SEC football on a regular basis you would see smash mouth speed."
I watched 2 SEC games a week this season, and I have no idea what this means. Did LSU control the line of scrimmage last night? Yeah, but Glen Dorsey has little to nothing to do with speed. You want speed? Beanie showed you 65 yards of it last night. Arrington and Manningham showed it to Golden Boy. Even Tyler Donovan was getting around the corner on Rocky Top, for Christ's sake.
"The lower tier of the SEC is faster, more athletic, tougher, and better coached than any team in the Big 10."
Any facts to support this? Any? No? Because, while my coach may be overpaid (despite the fact he's 2-1 against the SEC in bowl games), I'd take him over Croom/Orgeron/Nutt/Brooks. Aside from the top tier, the SEC has never seen tough, mostly because it won't venture out of its little inbred corner of the world. The SEC is soft. The SEC doesn't know tough. Just ask Ole Miss.
"If you put OSU in the SEC they would not finish better than 500 in any year."
Again, factual no support for this whatsoever. Come north for once and play a game; we'll find out soon enough.
"Could not agree more with SEC rules."
This is quite possibly the most brilliant thing I've ever seen. Well done, Mr. Orgeron.
"The Big 10 acts like it is them against the world."
As if the SEC doesn't? Do you think, in a million years, Ohio State would celebrate a championship by surrounding the postgame broadcast and chanting "Big Ten! Big Ten!" Go fuck yourselves, by the way.
"The media bias toward the Big 10 is ridiculous! Most of the commentators have ties to the Big 10 (Herbstreet, Corso, Musberg, Spielman to name a few)."
First, it's Herbstreit. I'm surprised you forgot Desmond Howard, Gary Danielson (who should be proof enough that Big Ten ties don't equal Big Ten bias), Bob Griese, etc. And I don't know of this Musberg character you speak of...
Corso is a Florida native and played football at Florida State. He coached at Indiana, to be sure, but I'd hardly call him a dyed-in-the-wool Big Ten native.
I have to concede this point. Most of the college football commentators are from Big Ten schools. The fact is, it's hard work finding a Southerner who can talk in complete sentences. Your comments only reiterate that point.
"I am tired of all the whining that comes from the Big 10 about how they don’t get the respect that they believe they deserve. When Big 10 team lose they never acknowledge that they were beat by a better team. Instead they make excuses about how they didn’t play as well as they could. Funny how this seems to always happen when they play a SEC team in a bowl game."
When was the last time Phil Fullmer acknowledged the superiority of an opponent? Meyer? Miles? Or any of their apologists? Type "Urban Meyer Michigan better team" into google, and the results are all from his 2006 hissy fit. He blamed that shitkicking from Michigan on his own mistakes and his team's sluggishness. Funny, where have we heard that before?
As I say often, you're blowing smoke up your own ass. While that makes you one hell of a contortionist, it also makes you an idiot.
"The lower tier of the SEC is faster, more athletic, tougher, and better coached than any team in the Big 10."
Except Michigan, whose record against the SEC is 20-5-1. Michigan rules, SEC drools. If it's all just wins and losses, then you guys can't even carry water for the boys in blue.
"It is so much fun listening to you scarlet and grey boys talking in terms like “dated†and “plodding†and the like…again…see you boys next year…Go Blue!!!!!"
Four losses in a row does tend to sting a bit, doesn't it?
"GB89…You are right. If we go undefeated next year, I’d say a spot in the title game is assured but if we have one loss and so do a couple other teams, do you honestly think we’ll get be ranked high enough in the human polls to be at least #2 in the BCS if there’s already an undefeated team ranked #1?"
I don't know. It depends on who the other 1-loss teams are. But if we don't go undefeated then we can't expect any mercy and we should feel fortunate to get into any BCS bowl. If we have one loss and still manage to make it into the championship game then we should count ourselves fortunate no matter what the country thinks of our conference.
Here is Oklahoma's last bowl history over the last 5 years:
2008 Fiesta Bowl: Loss to WVU by 20 points
2007 Fiesta Bowl: Loss to Boise State by 1 point
2006 Holiday Bowl: Beat Oregon by 3 points
2005 Orange Bowl: Lost to USC by 36 points
2004 Sugar Bowl: Lost to LSU by 7 points
That's 2 blowouts, a loss to a mid-major, a win in a meaningless pre-New Years bowl and overall 4 losses in 5 years for the mighty Sooners program.
Are they irrelevant? Is anyone calling for them to never be in a major bowl game again? Are they experiencing such ridiculous blowback?
Absolutely not on all counts.
Either everyone hates us and this just allows them to feel justified in talking about it.. or people are hypocrites for not seeing and treating Oklahoma the same way.
You guys are right. The national media/fans think we're big game chumps but I doubt they think we're irrelevant. It's just frustration seeping out like puss on a Les Miles ass zit.
I don't think you are overreacting. I think Ohio State actually is bordering on national irrelevence. Which is Twilight Zone-weird, because they've lost--what?--3 regular season games over the last 3 seasons? It's just that in those same seasons they've managed in bowls only a win over Notre Dame (which gets you not credibility bonus anymore) and two big losses in MNC games. If college football had a playoff system, OSU would be in a similar situation to UCLA's college basketball team, 2 straight excellent years, and just hasn't gotten over the hump.
But when your entire sport is based upon picking the Championship game participants based on only the regular season, then getting blown out in 2 straight title games starts to look like you've pulled a fast one, and your credibility as a big-time program is all but completely eroded. It's odd, but next year I think it's entirely possible a 1-loss OSU (with that one loss to USC) could be passed over in favor of a 2-loss SEC (or maybe Oklahoma) team.
Like I said, it's weird.
Considering we were not even expected to compete for the national title this year, I think yes, you are over reacting. Don't forget, the only reason we got as far as we did was because of all the upsets and freaks. We are a young team this year. A true fan stands behind their team in victory, and in defeat. The Bucks did okay this year in my book, and will do even better next season as they mature. National irrelevance? That's absurd. Sooner or later, they will learn how to compete in the Big 10 and in the BCS. Don't forget, BCS is only a handful of years old. The SEC isn't going to dominate it forever. The BCS is changing the face of the game, and the game itself is at a crossroads - not just the OSU program.
Unfortunately OSU backed into a game they weren't ready for talent wise. Certainly it would have been better for the program not to have been in the spotlight again this soon. The play calling again was unimaginative and one begins to wonder and questions JT's growth in that area. Doubt Tressel feels he has to make changes either, call it too old school or whatever, as unimaginative as the play calling was you'd think he'd have to make staffing changes. I'd argue that the most important event this year could be Pryor's commitment and if he goes Buckeye that would be huge cause he certainly has some lineman recruits he'd need. Playing against USC is what has him interested in OSU, it's certainly not JT's current play calling. Tressel has promised him changes but could you really trust Tressel after the play calling we've seen in these two important games? Now some might say how do you figure a freshman recruit has any say in anything, well these important games hinge on talent. Boeckman is just average and shouldn't be starting for OSU next year period. Pryor is a superstar and he could deliver big time starting next year with this team and some of the great new recruits.
I don't think the problem was play calling. I think the problem had more to do with making the right adjustments to mismatches on the line - especially the ends, and adapting to an unfamiliar offensive style - much the same as last year's BCS. We struggled out there both on O and D. I could see it in the eyes of Wells on his way back to the sidelines after our first TD. There was no joy in them, even though he had just scored. You could tell he was rattled and worried. Having played some high school ball, I know that look, and that feeling - like no matter what you do, it's like running into a brick wall every time the ball is snapped. Let's not blame the whole loss on the fact that we weren't good enough, and at least blame some of it on the fact that LSU was a tough team to beat. In the end we showed a lot of heart, kept pounding away at them and never gave up. Hats off to the Bucks.
Hindsight's always 20/20 but my biggest issue was attempting to pass on 2 and 4 at our own 40 in what amounted to be our last possession of the first half. Instead of running Beanie, Tress called a play action pass play after Boeckman had just went 1 for his last 5 with an INT and a should've-been-INT looking scared as hell doing it. The line collapsed, Boeckman didn't sense the pressure, fumbled but we recovered. The 9 yard loss set up 3rd and 13 and we threw a short route from there before punting. I say you go down swinging with your best players during the most crucial times and no doubt that drive was crucial (24-10 LSU). Again, it's hindsight and there's no reason to assume Beanie would've led us to a TD drive but we would have had a manageable 3rd and short-med at the least.
Speaking of which, does anyone think a shotgun look would've been more effective or was the protection so inconsistent that it wouldn't have mattered?
To be honest, I thought they were going to Wells a little too much last night. Gun or no gun, I think our offensive line was simply overwhelmed and overpowered. When you're pushed back on your heels by that kind of pressure, it's hard to get creative. Our biggest problem last night was our non-existent passing game, but it wasn't the QB's fault. When you can’t defend your offensive line, or beat them to the play downfield, it doesn’t matter who is throwing the ball.
As a relatively impartial observer last night (I am a PSU fan and I detest both OSU and LSU), I actually found the game to be somewhat enjoyable. I think that both teams had some solid talent and there were some exceptional moments in the game. Wells definitely showed some speed and the LSU defense is pretty solid. With that being said, I do not think either team was necessarily the best team in the country, nor do I think anything was accomplished last night. USC, Georgia, and WVU all had very impressive victories and I think that anyone of these three had the talent and teamwork to beat both LSU and OSU as they played the game last night.
I know that many of you claim the OSU did not play their best game last night, but to be honest, I have been forced to watch them play all season and I am not sold that they are that much better than they played. OSU did not face any talented teams this year (including my beloved PSU) and this came back to haunt them. I know that they cannot control how good the big ten teams are, but I would love to see OSU schedule WVU instead of Kent State or Akron. I know the vest thinks he is doing both OSU and these Ohio teams a favor, but just think what a game against a quality Big East or ACC team could do for building a better team, not to mention opening up another rivalry on another border!
As I mentioned earlier, I am not sure if the best team won last night...because I am not sure they were even on the field.
Bring on a playoff!
For the glory!
we'll have to agree to disagree then because I will never believe Beanie was too involved last night nor will I think Boeckman didn't make cotinuous poor decisions...they were in the face of pressure to be sure but he still stank it up and showed he's gotten no better at "feeling" pressure...in boeckman's defense it's hard to wait on receivers to open up when it seemed like most of them were running straight down the field most of the night but to say it 'wasnt his fault' is crazy talk to me...not that it was all his fault, but he's shares in the culpability if you ask me...
Chris, I concur!
As for the shotgun, that might have helped a little, but Boeckman is just not good enough to win these type of games. I am surprised that Tressel put the game in Boeckman's hands. Boeckman does not perform well under pressure from good teams and cannot get it done in the clutch. Boeckman is not a good decision maker in tough games. We need a better QB to make good decisions in games like this.
The Bucks had great success all year running the ball to open up our passing game. But as the NC game wore on, Tressel seemed to stray farther and farther away from it. Seemed kinda like the Florida game, in that regard.
Our clock management was not as good as it should have been. And Tressel is not making the adjustments, once again. These are poor coaching calls.
The penalties have happened all season long, which is a coaching issue as well as players getting sloppy. Which comes from fear. When you play from a fear based mindset, you get angry and lose control and make stupid mistakes. Or, make bad guesses as to what is going to happen and make mistakes.
Beanie and Saine did great. And we strayed from our bread & butter approach which is utilizing our awesome RB's with some smart pass plays.
How can Tress get outcoached by Miles? It is not like LSU ran plays that were unknown. They run the plays that worked for them throughout the season with some mix ups. Perhaps, Miles has better Offensive and Defensive Coordinators than Tressel has?
As for D, we had some great stops and some sloppy plays as well. The missed tackles were killing me. Can anyone wrap up a dude by the legs? And, the blown coverages/assignments/overpursuit on a couple plays lead to 2 LSU touchdowns.
They played hard, but did not have that killer instinct going for them. They looked like they played from fear as opposed to being in the flow of the game and making key plays.
Once again, the Bucks were outcoached and the players out athleted. Funny, how LSU players were out having a good time before the game and it did not affect their mindset or their play. And during the game they were rattled a few times, but recovered and looked like they were in the flow and enjoying themselves.
What happened to the mindset of a champion for the Bucks?
All in all, we had a great season and I thank the Bucks for playing hard!
I do hope our coaches get some coaching and our players need to have Tony Robbins or some other speaker talk to them and get that fearful mindset replaced with the mindset of Champions.
For now, I gotta take the trash talk from plenty of Buckeye haters. No worries, that is part of the game. But, I will be sure to give some right back!
Everyone is making good points, but why in the heck was the bucks offense not in the no huddle mode at the end of the game? They were taking way too much time to get they plays in. I also wonder why not pick the tempo of the offense up in the first half when the offense went stag. JT's play calling and game management has been dissapointing. Despite the loss, the team gave great effort and that will prove that they will continue to mature and make strides going into another offseason. Im already looking forward to the big showdown with SoCal next year. Go Bucks!
Yes, we’ve been embarrassed on the national stage two years in a row. But come on, what’s Michigan done the last 7 years?
Defeat Florida. Twice.
And lose to OSU 6 times.
57-41-6
Coach Rodriguez will hang another ten on you at least.