How does everyone think Maxwell will fare on Saturday? Will the pass game even be a major factor or will Dantonio just ride the Bell bus all afternoon? Maxwell hasn't proved he can consistently throw more than 5 yards downfield so far this season, will he dare to pass against us? Does anyone believe our offense will put them in a position where they will need to pass?
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Well when our corners play 8 yards back he wont need to throw more then 5 yards. I'm really hoping we put some pressure on them and play more agressive man defense.
I'm hoping we will play more man coverage since Maxwell isn't a very good passer. It was sad to see Burrows (I believe) questioning the lack of man coverage on Twitter. Hopefully this will change as Urban gets the DB's in that he wants.
I do think that we've already played 2 WRs that are better than anyone MSU will put on the field so there won't be a learning curve as far as transitioning into conference play.
I think Maxwell will struggle mightily but it may be for naught because MSU has some guy named Le'Veon Bell. If the OSU defense we're accustomed to shows up on Saturday (for the 1st time this season), I actually think the Bucks could win by 10+...might just be wishful thinking
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Chromedome I agree with you. Were 4-0 and really havent played good actually even decent for 4 straight quarters. If we can get it together we can be pretty dang good.
I think it all comes down to whether the defense plays aggressive or passive as others have said.
If you compare the OSU line to the ND line 2 weeks ago, it seems rather easy to beat Maxwell. He is not a seasoned QB and the pressure makes his already shaky arm even more so. The key will be to slow down (not sure you can stop) Bell and make Maxwell go to the air. After that, a few blitzes should be enough to rattle him. After that, keep up the pressure. He doesn't have the experience or the WR to get off a quick check off pass.
I'm a Chemic from Midland High School like Andrew Maxwell. I always like to see fellow Chemics fare well, but he can fail well versus us, and fare well the rest of the season.
WIBUCKEYE
Oyster, I agree. At least statistically, Maxwell is the weakest QB the Buckeyes have faced this year. He has a basement-level 110.4 QB rating, with only 56.6 completion rate, 3/3 TD/INT ratio, and only 6.1 yds/attempt.
MSU's OL allowed zero sacks against Boise, CMU, and EMU; however, they allowed four against ND. Because Maxwell is incapable of making good, quick reads, and because ND shut down MSU's run game, against ND, MSU was forced to dink-and-dunk all game. Otherwise, Maxwell would have gotten sacked even more often and thrown INTs.
Unfortunately, the Buckeye defense hasn't yet shown that it's on the same lebvel as ND's. If L. Bell can gash the Ohio State interior, that'd take heat off the pass rush, and MSU might be able to go over the top more, as mediocre as Maxwell is (the Buckeyes made Bortles, Maynard, and Perry all look better than they are).
More likely, though, the Buckeyes will slow down MSU's inside run game, harass Maxwell early in the game, and force MSU to dink-and-dunk and throw screens to Bell, like they did against ND.
In theory, that should be advantage Buckeyes. The problem is, the Buckeyes have not handled the screen game well at all and have inexplicable breakdowns downfield on 3D.
Optimistically, I'll say the Buckeyes get it together and Maxwell goes like 27 for 41, 225 yards, with 1 TD and 2 INTs.
Sparty plays like you would think a Tressel acolyte's team would. Slow, grinding, tough football. Bell is a huge RB who can run you over, kind of like Beanie, only I imagine a big slower. Tackling drills HAVE to be a priority this week. Bell will eat the Bullets alive if they keep trying to arm tackle or throw a shoulder into him. Wrap him up and bring him down. That's the best way to stall Sparty. Hopefully we'll get the running game stopped to the point that we can take advantage of Maxwell's inexperience.
I think what everyone keeps missing is the fact that there is now 4 weeks of game film on MSU. While they have won three anyone who watched the EMU game (if you didn't your lucky) knows that the game was much much closer than the score. With those 4 weeks of game film, everyone knows that Maxwell and his recievers can't play and you just need to slow down Le'Veon. The only time Bell actually went off is against BSU when no one had heard of him. I think the Bucks have seen what works against MSU i.e. the ND game and 3 quarters of the EMU game. Some might argue that MSU can watch how we've played, but you have to remember that while Dantonio sticks to what he knows best, Urban adds new plays weekly and is more likely to change it up based on the opponent. I thought after our first 3 games before MSU had played ND that we were going to be well on the losing end, but now I think this game will be pretty close and how our LB crew fares against Le'Veon will be the key.
Bucks should stack the box like CRAZY and come at Bell like their hair is on fire. (Urb's original mantra for this team) and TAKE away the short screen game by playing tighter man coverage. If I were a team game planning for OSU, all I'd do is draw up 50 bubble screen variations and call it a day.
Defensively, OSU will need to change their gameplan based on what I've seen. CBs will need to jam the line, safeties should be moved up to help stop the run and the LBs will need to play more contained. Base-D should be a 4-3-4, with a 5-2-4 look, and eight in the box.
Offensively, I think we match up fairly well. Getting to the perimeter on MSU will be key as I think we are faster than them, but they are stronger on the inside than us. Use the quick pass the open up the inside run.
But the bottom line for success is going to be the execution of simple football fundamentals.
1. Catch the ball
2. Proper tackling angle
3. Proper tackling form
4. Know and manage your assignment - Block your man / contain your area
This is a very good team talentwise. However, to date, it has been a collection of top notch talent with very little football fundamentals. Once the fundamentals improve, the team can be drastically better.
I think this is fairly obvious and others have stated... Maxwell plays well if Bell gets rollin'. I don't see them tossing the rock 40 times, but rather utilizing a solid run game to set up their deep throws. That appears to be the set up for Sparty.
Now that said, I think Bell is going to have a good game. Our tackling is mediocre right now and he will bust some runs. Most of Maxwell's yards will come on the screen pass, which has given OSU fits for as long as I can remember. Seems every year we played scUM during the Coop years we would get gashed with those.
Anyway... Maxwell should get some yardage from those screens and a couple of deep(er) balls once we get stack the box to account for Bell. Hopefully Roby and Bryant are well and ready for some stellar play. Or it might be a long day for the D in Easy Lansing.
Maxwell 12/18 for 149, 1 TD/2 INT.
GO BUCKS!
Chicago: you make a very good point about MSU's offense generally, but Bell also went off this past weekend against EMU (258 yards).
Actually, to underline your key point, Bell carried the MSU offense on his back because that offense sputtered against a porous EMU defense. The Spartans have two good players on offense - Bell and the big TE. Their QB and WRs will be the weakest the Buckeyes have faced this year, including the WR corps of a MAC and two CUSA teams, respectively.
Slow down Bell, jam the screen plays, tackle in space . . . and the Buckeyes defense should be able to feast on this offense.
@WIBuckeye, when did you graduate? I went to Dow!
@Fido I think your TD/iNT #s sound about right but ill be shocked if Maxwell passes 41 times, and if he does I hope he throws at least 3 picks
Maxwelll should struggle against OSU's defense (hopefully). With Roby and Barnett back along with the staff waking up to watching tape of D. Grant at CB Sunday morning. Hopefully they saw the same thing I did...he's WAY better than Howard...despite Howard having 3 picks. He sticks to his man as opposed to getting stuck on an island all by himself in zone coverage. If Howard does anything like he did last year vs MSU, then Coomb, Meyer or Fickel needs to make the switch to Grant. He proved he can do it...why play a Senior just because??? Personally I'm way more worried about defensive tackling along with Bell's running ability. That makes me really reluctant to say OSU will win...but I have to go with my Buckeyes (28-17 was my prediction).
"There's nothing that cleanses your soul like getting the hell kicked out of you."
"I love football. I think it is most wonderful game in world and I despise to lose."
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Not sold on Howard either... like the picks, but it seems he gets beat more often than not.
GO BUCKS!
Maxwell's best target is the TE. Which ever LB is assigned to cover him better be ready because he is a load to take down.
@CBUSBUCKEYE, a long, long time ago - 1981.
WIBUCKEYE
CBusBuckeye: I'm being (overly?)optimistic that the Buckeyes contain (preferably shut down) Bell and get early and consistent pressure on Maxwell. If they do, and Ohio State's offense is productive, I see MSU being forced to dink and dunk, which would likely result in a relatively high number of pass attempts and a loss for MSU.
If Maxwell only attempts 20 or fewer passes (which I think you predict elsewhere?), that probably wouldn't be a good sign for the Buckeyes, unless it's because the Ohio State offense is rolling up yards and time-of-possession and/or they send Maxwell to the bench at some point.
@fido, gotcha. I think you are right. I am hoping for a game similar to last year against Wisky when we essentially shut down Ball, if we can do it to Bell, even to a lesser extent, it should be a good day.
Edit: unlike Wisky last year however, I don't think Maxwell will be able to come from behind like Wilson did, even in EL.
@WIbuckeye Nice! I never thought I would see Midland MI brought up on this site lol