Preview: #9 Ohio State vs. #3 Texas
The Johnson family: Brenda, Steve, Colt, Coltie and Coltson
 #9 Ohio State 10-2, 7-1 Big Ten Roster | Schedule |
January 5, 2009 8:00 PM ET – FOX —— Univ. of Phoenix Stadium Glendale, AZ |
 #3 Texas 11-1, 7-1 Big 12 Roster | Schedule |
After nearly a century without playing each other, Ohio State and Texas, two of the bluebloods of the college football world, will meet tonight for the third time in the past four years. Vince Young and the Longhorns won an instant classic in 2005 and the Buckeyes led by Troy Smith and Ted Ginn Jr. returned the favor in Austin the next year. Now, a neutral field of the Fiesta Bowl will be the site of the rubber match.
The 15 seniors on the Buckeye two-deep will be playing not only for the victory, but for a chance to end their careers, which can only be described as bittersweet, on a good note. Many were freshman the last time the team closed the season with a victory and the last time they played in this state-of-the-art spaceship of a stadium was a nightmare on all accounts and was the start of this malaise the program has found itself in the last few years.
The following year, when Laurinaitis, Boone, Jenkins and company were juniors, they had an overachieving season and wound up back in the national championship game before they were dispatched by a gorilla with a chainsaw for a penis.
2008 was supposed to be the year, but instead, the new primate with dangerous objects swinging from its groin proceeded to beat the championship thoughts out of this team in early September. Yet here they are again, with a chance to face another elite opponent and by extension another chance to salvage the program’s reputation (somewhat).
A win tonight would also mean a lot to the legacy of this senior class. We all remember the last one, after all, and whenever you go a combined 6-1 against the Longhorns and Wolverines, you’ve had a great career. If Texas runs away with this one, then no amount of gold pants will cover the scars of the way they ended seasons.
When the Longhorns Have the Ball
Let’s just get this out of the way: Texas is going to move the ball through the air. McCoy is just that good — he can read his receivers’ minds and word on the street is that he can levitate for up to two seconds when needed. So the first time you see them moving the chains and picking up third downs on that soft, soft zone, take a deep breath and realize that adjustments will be made and the teams will settle into the flow of the game, just like they did after Vince ripped off chunks of yards on the Longhorn’s first drive in the Shoe.
Profiles in Y’allism
DPR – Sergio Kindle
WR – Quan Cosby
WR – Jordan Shipley
DE – Brian Orakpo
QB – Colt McCoy
Texas will come out and spread the field and McCoy will distribute the ball making smart decisions and gladly taking seven, eight or 19 yard chunks. Once the defense commits to shutting off the underneath stuff, they won’t hesitate to go over the top. They will run when they need to or to otherwise set up another throw and won’t shy away from trickery if it suits the situation.
They’re saying the Buckeye secondary will be the best they’ve faced, and Ohio State has seen this scheme before a few times, but never with anything approximating the talent plugged into it tonight. And for added stomach pain, the last time OSU squared off with an elite passing unit, Mark Sanchez dropped four touchdowns on them. Granted, Greg Davis is no Steve Sarkisian, but McCoy could pile up yards without a coach.
You don’t have to be a Michigan grad to realize that getting pressure on Colt would go a long way towards the Buckeyes actually ending this one with more points than the Longhorns and I’m guessing Heacock will dial the blitzes up a bit. The Texas offensive line is solid, but not excellent and they’ve given up their share of sacks on the year. Tech was able to score the upset in part by getting after McCoy and by also stopping the Longhorn rushing attack.
This will leave the backs in a lot of man coverage situations and while I don’t exactly fear the homerun threat out of Shipley or Cosby, sure tackling will be huge. Without it, 12 yard patterns become 45 yard gains — or worse. The state of the field could have an impact as it was trampled pretty good by the Cardinals and Falcons Saturday, so Jenkins, Chekwa and Washington will have to be careful with their footing as well.
If the Longhorns are able to compliment their passing attack with a productive ground game, the Buckeyes could be in for a long night. McCoy is the team’s leading rusher, but other options exist in the form of running back-by-committee. Freshman Foswhitt Whittacker got a lot of the late season love, but Crhis Ogbonnaya had a 100 yard game against the Sooners and Cody Johnson, with 12 touchdowns, is the short-yardage/goal line guy. Simple put, Ohio State must bottle-up the run.
Having a healthy Jermale Hines back along with an emerging Moeller should help to keep the Texas rushing game from picking up too much steam and with the Buckeyes likely to run nickel most of the night, they will both get plenty of pass defense opportunities as well. It’s the safeties that I’m a little worried about and if Texas has done their film work (which they have), they will figure out a way to attack that tandem.
When the Buckeyes have the Ball
While most think the Buckeyes have to run the ball well to have any chance in this game, I think the opposite is true. They certainly must run the ball, but if Pryor does not come out, make the correct reads and get things going with his arm, then we’ll have the luxury of watching Texas stack the line to stop Beanie and harassing Pryor on 3rd and longs.
We’ll see a heavy dose of Beanie, but I think the team will come out in passing formations in an attempt to set up the run by throwing the ball, especially considering Muschamp has likely spent the better part of the past six weeks working on stopping Wells. Getting out ahead on the early downs will limit the upfield rushing that Orakpo, Melton and Kindle will be able to do as will the read option, employed at the right times.
Robiskie and Hartline had trouble getting open against the LSU secondary last year, but Pryor’s feet will buy some openness and this Longhorn secondary isn’t quite as good as the one the Tigers had last year. As Blake Gideon can attest to, there have also been some tackling problems back there, so the potential to turn something underneath into something bigger exists.
Muschamp, American BadassIf the Buckeyes can get any type of traction throwing the ball, then it’s Beanie time. Texas hasn’t played a back like him before and if he gets going, that will enable the team to put together time-consuming drives that keep Colt McCoy and that explosive offense on the sidelines. This would be a good thing.
Ultimately, the play of the Ohio State offensive line will determine how the team fares in this outing. Boone and Orakpo will be the featured matchup, but Browning will be busy on his side as well. The Person-Rehring flip experiment will be interesting to watch, and one of them or Brewster will need to get out and get a hat on Muckleroy. If things start slow and Texas is able to get consistent pressure into the Buckeye backfield, especially from the edges, draws may be needed in large amounts.
From a personnel standpoint, Cordle is available to play but will not start. Brandon Saine is likely out for the game and Hartline may or may not have a curfew problem giving either Posey or the Ghost a chance to get see the field earlier than planned.
Prediction
I’ve been optimistic since this game was announced, based mostly on the assumption that Pryor would be taking a huge step in his Buckeye career. He struggled a bit early against Michigan, but has had a great rookie year. If he can take some of the pressure off of Wells with either his arm or his feet, I’m liking Ohio State’s chances.
I think at this point, most fans would be happy for a competitive game, but the Buckeyes will have a chance to win this one late before the experience of McCoy comes through late for Texas.
Texas 23, Ohio State 17
Etc.
FOX will carry the game nationally with Matt Vasgersian, Tim Ryan, Laura Okmin and Chris Myers describing the action… Ohio State will be wearing white jerseys tonight — they are 9-1 wearing the whites the last two years… The love affair with In-N-Out Burger endures… Tressel snuck in the news that Willie Mobley suffered a season-ending injury at his press conference Sunday.
i curse whatever spawn of satan that decided to invent the in n out burger
they are delicious! try the fries animal style…it is the best! ask for it by name!
And let’s not forget about the holy grail of burgers, the double-double animal style!
OMG that is way too much the fries animal style is a meal without any burger….go bucks!
Honestly, all I’m hoping for is that we eat up enough clock to prevent the score from getting out of hound. A win seems improbable (and the Person-Rehring talk isn’t helping), so I just hope we keep it respectable.
C’mon Flip— respectable my ass!! We can win!! I didnt say we will win, I said we can….. Everyone must do their job and play as a team… when Texas capaitalizes on an OSU mistake, the team cannot go into panic mode. A good team can win despite a few mistakes… Colt McCoy is not Joe Montana and Mack Brown is not Paul Brown…. they can be beat. Pryor must establish the passing game and the Buckeyes must keep long drives going to eat the clock—- Beanie will get his yards if the passing game comes along….
24-20 Bucks
I am so worried guys! this is another chance for us to redeem ourselfs…but i have to say, i have been singing the same tune the past few years since our florida national championship debacle. I am a true buck leave and breath buckeyenation…but I must say….i am worried. but! I am not a beleiver in the big 12…lots of offense but have they seen a true defense lately? I am hoping for a win, geeshhh we need this win to shut all the pac 10 and sec hommers.
go bucks! we need our defense to play like the true expectations before the season started…go seniors! we also need pryor to show up in a big game….hope bennie is healthy and we redeem for the pride of the big 10.
I live in southern cal and it is a nightmare to wear my shirt without the hackling…I dont give a shit. fuck usc
GO BUCKS!
omg i cant believe we lost that game! it was ours for the taking! seriously in our hands! WHAT THE F*(&^! I am so hurt! I blame tressel and his lack of confidence in our boy pryor! WHAT was that double quarterback shit?
I AM HURTING BAD!!!!!!
The double QB worked pretty well. Not sure why you are complaining about that. We needed TB to make some throws, and for the most part he did. TP isn’t there yet as a passer. I just wish they would have run some QB draws to Todd, or at least let him hand off. They were teeing off on him and he still made the throws…the 2 QB system was NOT what lost the game, it kept us in the game.
true that buddy! I was so hurt last night and it got the best of me.
we played so well and that game was ours all night long.
we got respect big time and we shut maccoy all night long.
TP played with some fear, boom was great, i just wished we played the clock a little better on the last drive.. even if we plyed the clock and went for a field goal the game was ours.
too many usc hommers in my town so it was not a good day to go to work
cant wait till next usc game in columbus i think we have a chance.
GO BUCKS!
that picture may give me nightmares
I liked the Burnt Orange Nation’s review of Pryor. Thought it was sound and loved the references to Vince Young, since everyone seems to think that LiC is the next VY: If VY was like Jordan, then LiC is like Lebron….love that comparison and haven’t really heard that (obviously the VY to Jordan part; he is LiC for a reason!).
YES! That Jordan to Lebron comparison was brilliant.
After reading that preview and some of their comments I’m liking our chances in this one. I also recently re-watched their game against Texas Tech. I think Jason makes a key point, TP has got to prove he can move the ball through the air, then when (not if) Beanie gets to the second level he’ll destroy their smaller sized LBs and DBs with the stiff arm of justice. Passing will feed the ground attack. Orakpo and their D-line is scary fast, but scrambling QBs (Griffin at Baylor and Robinson at Okla St) have run on them, less mobile QBs are quickly gobbled up in their pass rush.
This game all comes down to Terrelle and the Buck passing game. If the o-line can give him time then we should be able to keep this close. We don’t need TP to do anything spectacular, just conservative 6-12 yard slants and quick outs to Robo, POSEY, and Dane to keep the chains moving and to keep Texas from putting 8 in the box. I think if TP goes 12-20 for 150 yards then it should be a very entertaining game to watch. Beanie WILL for for at least 125, guaranteed.
And please, lord, let’s get aggressive on defense! If we come out in a soft-zone and McCoy dinks and dunks short passes for an easy first drive I think I’m going to throw up. Blitz like crazy! From everywhere! I’d rather get burned on a blitz than play this soft-zone s%$t that we’ve seen over the past few years. Maybe having Moeller and Hines on the field at the same time will help us cover Texas´spread style.
I feel good about this one, let’s go BUCKS!
The thing is, we do blitz. Quite often. The problem is that 90% of the time it’s on an obvious passing down, if the quarterback makes the right read, he’ll see the whole quickly and have the ball there in a matter of moments. First down. Also, when we do blitz, more often than not it’s a straight LB blitz; we only bring the CB blitz on 3rd and long, from what I’ve seen.
You got your wish, we blitzed like crazy all night and we got burned on the last play of the game. It was right there in our reach…….arghhhh
1. That picture is disturbing.
2. I feel like I have to watch this game with my hands over my face.
3. If Ohio State wins it’s the first step and we will all be happy.
I hate having to watch a game waiting for the Axe to fall…. I am always the optomist, but a realist. Momentum and tides change… OSU is due (big time) for a complete and dominating game in crunch time.
Where’s Cie Grant when we need him?
Maybe he’ll be there to sing the Alma Mater for us after the game.
I hope that the wait for the game to start is worse than watching the game.
Go Bucks!
Is Saine still dealing with the knee, or are there other injuries he’s dealing with? If so, does anyone know what they are?
I think he has run-into-the pile itis….. Maurice Wells suffers from that at times. Very difficult to treat and usually requires sitting on a wooden bench for long periods……
“I think he has run-into-the pile itis…..”
True, but I was referring to the not-so-blatantly obvious injuries. :-)
He has had a couple of “knee injuries” and mostly his injuries have been “undisclosed”…maybe he is having trouble playing while banged up??
http://www.sportsline.com/mcc/messages/chrono/10670476
PBB:
Ah the hamstring injury. I forgot about that. That one must’ve been a lot more serious than everyone was giving it credit for.
Maybe I’m crazy but to me, Saine is nothing more than a track star in shoulder pads and I’d just as soon not see him ever touch the ball. He can’t consistently make anyone miss but he can’t run over anyone either. I’d prefer Boom take any catches/carries that could possibly be allotted to Saine. I’ve seen enough of Saine on kickoff returns. He’s the least elusive speed guy I’ve seen at Ohio State. As long as Berry sticks with his verbal, I’m more than fine with Boom and Berry taking 100% of the 2009 running back snaps. If they want to work Saine in as an occasional fullback or wingback, I could live with that.
Berry looks liek Mo Wells. He’s short and deadlocked. I’ll be more than happy to be wrong, but from what I’ve seen, I don’t have great expectations for him.
I don’t follow recruiting much, but after watching last night’s game, it looks like Berry is quicker than Wells and I seem to remember him doing something Maurice Wells hasn’t done once in four years in breaking a tackle.
Nonetheless, the Ohio State offense has little use for darting scatback lightning-dwarf types. If all the changes – coordinators, ceding of playcalling duties – take place like we want and expect them to, then I see a much brighter future for Berry than if we continue on our present course.
Dan, Berry is also hurt…We don’t know how good the kid really is. His Jr film is out dated (But, great) and his Senior film was him at less than 100%. I wouldn’t be so quick to comapre him with Mo Wells just yet. I honostly believe that with his running style, the kid will end up more like a Jonathan Stewart.
Chris, We have had a lot of success with turning track stars into football players. I do agree that Saine didn’t come along like we all thought he would, but I also don’t feel we used him like I would have thought we would either.
Saine would have been a good “Percy Harvin” type of player, but for whatever reason (Talent or Injury) we never got him to that point. However, I think that role, if we decide to look into it, would really work with Lamarr Thomas and I hope to see some of that tonight.
I just dont think Texas is as good as LSU last year. They dont have the overall speed. Sure they have a few beasts here and there. We have the best RB in the country, its on the line to open holes and Pryor to take the attention of him. Grind it out, keep it out of Colts hands. We start throwing picks(UM game) its all over.
Texas 38, Buckeyes 20
Texas is up 14-0 early and Megatron spies TP eliminating his jazz runs. Wells gets his 20 touches for 105 yrds. Jordan S. has a monster gam with 10+ catches and two touchdowns. Texas blocks a kick or punt. OSU does well on kick returns.
Prove it. With science.
Science damn you Pogue!
well boys, you can at least rest assured that Dawgaddict is rooting for you, along with most of the SEC if what i’m hearing is representative….
probably for the first time.
and likely for the last.
go Bucks!
What reason do SEC fans have to root for OSU when they’ve done nothing but badmouth us for the past two years, and practically petitioned for OSU to be banned from BCS contention forever?
Because they want the Big 12 to look as bad as possible so they can continue lording their supposed superiority over their lessers in a Freudian subconscious effort to mentally undo their pwnage, (and all the feelings associated with it – i.e. a massive inferiority complex) at the hands of the North in the civil war?
I dont want a second tier conference rooting for my team, Id rather have a top-level conference like the Mountain West.
We don’t need your charity dawg fan…go root for your rival.
It always kills me to read people saying they have to watch the game with their hands over their eyes, or while chugging Pepto-Bismol, or whatever. Have some faith in your team! And if you don’t, then it’s simple…don’t watch. I realize the Bucks have struggled in big games recently, but come on. If it affects you that much, you should really take a good look at yourself and put some things in perspective.
That said, Go Bucks!
Perspective yes, but I live and breathe Scarlet and Grey……….. Not the most important thing in my life, but it is important. My lowest feeling in years was the day after the Florida loss…. that one hurt. This win would make my year(and many other people’s)
Some ‘divine’ intervention:
Our Woody, which art in Heaven
Football be thy game
Thy gameday come, thy will be done
On the field as it is in Heaven
Give us this day our bowl game win
And forgive us our spread offenses
As we defend those who spread offense against us
Lead us not into humiliation
But deliver us from ESPN (evil)
For thine is the three yards, the cloud and the dust
For ever and ever, GO BUCKS!
wipes tear from face
Nicely said my Buckeye Brother…. Amen!!
Amen!
That gets my vote for comment of the season. And perhaps the comment of 2009, because another one is going to have to be very stout.
ooom num num num…..football? what football? i thought this was our annual trip out west for In-n-out?
oooom num num num
PS – is there going to be a predict the score win a t-shirt deal?
i have…ahem…gone up a size since last year.
1. drain the playclock on offense like we did against Thug U in 2002. shorten the game means less possessions for Colt & Co.
2. Defense is gonna give up points so don’t quit or get down. you can stop them once or twice and the next time they zing you for a TD. come back out and play hard.
3. be creative on offense. they expect to see Beanie between the tackles. they need to get a big dose of everything but.
they are over confident and still ticked not to be in the MNC game. I think we have a shot. if we can make some turnovers we can win. it’s time for Karma to wear Scarlet and Grey again. I say Bucks 31 Texas 17!
Reported in today’s Dallas Morning News: “This is our national championship right now,” junior linebacker Sergio Kindle of Woodrow Wilson said. “If we capitalize right, we still have a chance of splitting it. … We’re looking at it like we still have a chance at a title.”
that means they are playing for the blowout (their only hope). if we get the lead early they will realize they can’t reach their goal and just might roll over.
Utah deserves a split title more.
Oh snap, I saw this post referenced on EDSBS.
I keep bubbling up with fits of optimism but then reality sets in. And the reality is this; Why should this game be the one where our much maligned O line actually gets it done? After 3 years of “the sieve” in big games I just have a hard time believing this unit will be any different tonight. I hope to hell I’m wrong.
That being said I am watching endless you tube Buckeye vids and am fit to run through a wall and head butt my cat. Work is hard right now…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zk6oVdBKVtw
against my better judgment, i just read a chat with mark schlabach.
he claimed again that OSU needs to recruit the south bc there is no question that is where the fast players come from. i am glad to see that there is no cognitive dissonance over at ESPN after the Utah victory.
maybe someone can set up a vigil and ask about that Mountain Time Zone speed.
I think that should be the next t-shirt:
Moutain Time Zone Speed
What I want to see most from this game:
– Playing a full 60 minutes without quitting like pussies
– No team infighting, especially rumors of locker room fistfights
– No unnecessary, stupid personal fouls
If these things happen, things will take care of themselves and they have a chance to win. If the opposite happens, then they will get smoked, just like the last three big games. Really, coming out and doing the above (win or lose) is the only thing that can alter my opinion of this Laurinaitis/Boone/Boeckman/Hartline generation’s legacy of underachieving, quitting, whining, team dissension, etc.
Anyone else watching the 2003-03 Fiesta Bowl? Those where the days…I am however, felling better about this game tonight…
O-H
John Effin Cooper to be honored tonight. There goes our chances.
I pee on Texas.
I’d really like to know who is finger pointing at half time,
All we have to do is execute, there is NO decided advantage talent wise!!!!
How the fuck does stupid ESPN explain people from the South are faster???
Sounds like some ignorant ,low-brow, spin on Darwinism.
Thats all they have to fall back on after their beloved Bama gets curb-stomped, some fuckin racist theory!!!!!
Just a few more hours…..We need this one!
Ive been watching a lot of games this past week and I began to reflect. When was the last time the Buckeyes showed up with a fierce tenacity and warrior mentality no matter the odds? We have the talent to beat anyone but I feel Tressel ball has created a negative effect on the guys. We have an explosive offense again. Let them make some plays! This game is up to whoever shows up and executes. Bad penalties and stupid mistakes have been plaguing the bucks all year and will not be tolerated tonight. The O line has been terrible all year but maybe just maybe they feed those boys some good meals before the game and they dont let them drink whiskey in the locker room before the game and one or two of them make a handful of blocks to let beanie through and do his magic…
I hope that the buckeyes have it in their hearts to leave it all on the field for their dedicated fans and for the seniors who have not had a chance to really leave their mark in bowl games. Tressel better be pissed as hell and pull anyone who shows a lack of heart tonight because honestly im tired of the lack of passion and aggression on the field. What happened to the respect and fear our defense used to put in the opponents eyes?
I hope im not the only one who is enraged about our reputation and all the pussy critics who bash the bucks whenever they get the chance. I know our guys are a special bunch and have it in them to win this one for all of Buckeye Nation. We deserve this win and I would love nothing more than to be able to lean back tonight and witness a dominant performance by a hungry Buckeye team for once!
I want Beanie Hop III tonight, old school silver bullet defense, and an instant classic performance by future Heisman winner TP. LETS GET EXCITED!!!
O-H!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-Anyone think we might see a Boeckman and Pryor split in the backfield? lol…
Buckeyes are going to win. That’s all you need to know. I’m not worried. Also, I’m thinking the national image isn’t a big deal anymore. I’m sorry but the next few years the schedule has, USC, Miami, and Oklahoma. Every year there will be a chance to win a “big” game. Every year is a new chance to prove how good they are the media has a short memory. Say next year they go undefeated and win it all, (not that they will) but people will still hate OSU, the media may pick them to lose the game, but the following year they will be back in the top 10 or top 5 to end the year.
They are going to win tonight though. Texas could just as easily lay the egg that Texas Tech did the other night, remember before Oklahoma when everyone thought they were the force to be reckoned with. I’m going to watch the game with a shit eating grin because I think it could be a big shock how they look tonight.
I meant top 10 or top 5 to begin the year
I just want to say I’m very proud of the way we fought back. That was a great offense we had to play tonight. The future is very bright for the buckeyes and no fan or player should hang their head. GO BUCKS!!