"You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, & in the manner in which you live.
So, live. Live. Fight like hell. And when you get too tired to fight then lay down and rest and let somebody else fight for you. "
- Stuart Scott
If heart wins out, I haven't seen a lot of heart from this team this year. I think their heart was crushed in pre-season and they've not gotten over it all year. Now if they can hang in early and not get gashed by their rival, they have the offensive tools to hang with anybody late (see last week). Maybe then their pride allows them to win. But not getting gashed is a BIG IF for this defense. If the rival smells blood in the water due to us giving up big plays early, they will gain the momentum to get about 10 years of revenge in one game.
I don't really agree with this. The team has definitely lacked leadership at times but the offense has shown plenty of heart in battling back from deficits and digging out of holes that the defense created. Penn State and Maryland come to mind. Haskins and the offense willed them to win.
I see your "don't really agree" and raise you to "don't agree at all." The defense has played everywhere from "sucked" to "almost looked competent", but the offense has time and again showed heart and it kind of ticks me off that a lot of the disappointed fans either haven't noticed this or at least haven't thought it was worth commenting on. Had the offense not played with heart the possibility exists that OSU could easily be 1-10 instead of 10-1. And I get where the panel is coming from by writing this season off as a disappointment, but time and again I've marveled at the resilience, once again, of the offense to not let the poor defensive play prevent them from doing their best. You can take what you want from the season and I've enjoyed a lot of seasons more than this one, but I have to admit to a little bit of awe at how the offense has done such a good job of overcoming the mistakes and poor play of the defense.
If we matchup Shefield on peoples Jones, I dont believe that is our best option. On the flip side, I believe they will target whoever he is covering. If the coaching staff does not feel kendall is up to the task they need to put on their big boy pants and put the best interest of the Buckeyes ahead of butt hurt feelings. #grownassdecisions
"Life is not about how hard you can hit, it's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. THATS HOW WINNING IS DONE!!" - Rocky Ballboa
Sheffield is a symptom of the main problem. Because of the scheme, safeties have to either be in man coverage and/or provide run support, so there is usually no deep help and if it is, it’s usually on the field side instead of the boundary. As the boundary corner, he’s exposed more often. He’s not been perfect, but he and Arnette have arguable the toughest job on the field. Ward, Apple, Lattimore, Roby, (the list goes on) were good enough to handle it. These corners just aren’t.
I think some of the coaches have their super big boy pants on and aren't necessarily listening to Urban as much as in the past. That will change one way or another. I think that is what we are witnessing to some degree. I'm still confidant the shoe will be rocking and that we will pull this one out if not play our best game and beat them by 2 TDs.
I agree. TTUN is 9th in 3rd down conversions, we are 9th in stopping 3rd down conversions. To me that is the key, win 3rd down. Let Haskins let it fly.
Haskins is the ace up the sleeve. He plays his best game and a win is probable, not possible. Hate to put that much on him but I think that is the deal.
You are entitled to you own opinion, not your own facts.
Great point on controlling 3rd down. If we can win on 3rd downs and tire out that defense, that will be huge. Equally huge is a fast start: if we are, somehow, able to catch them sleeping and put up a quick 14 points on them, that will be massive in terms of getting our guys to believe even more than they already do. Start fast, win 3rd down, and the Bucks will win The Game.
Number 1 rule in life: always beat That Team Up North.
IIRC, *ichigan D plays on average 55 snaps per game. The Buckeyes ran 105 offensive plays against *aryland. I say we run tempo up their butts and wear them out by halftime.
I’_ with you. I think this is the week that everything fires, and part of _e feels like I’_ going to be saying, “Wow, I sure didn’t see that co_ing!” after the ga_e. Re_e_ber Wisconsin a few years back? I don’t think that’s going to happen, but I really have a sneaking sense we’re going to be proud of what our tea_ will have done to_orrow by the final whistle.
Call me crazy but I have it 31-13 good guys. I think Schiano had this game on his mind before Maryland even.
"I've had smarter people around me all my life, but I haven't run into one yet that can outwork me. And if they can't outwork you, then smarts aren't going to do them much good." - Woody Hayes
I think in Saturday we see why Michigan's offense has been underwhelming this year and we also see the Buckeyes offense give Michigan death by a thousand cuts with crossing routes and screens.
I think it’s a little fools gold this season for ttun. Lost at nd, down 17-0 at nw and scraped by. Wins at home against an average wisc team compared to the last few years. McSorley was banged up and on the road so that win was too easy. If ttun beat wisc and or penn state on the road easily and Penn state and wisc were as good as last year than that’s pretty good. So we’ll see what happens tomorrow.
Michigan should win. If this game were in Ann Arbor, they would.
But two intangible things remain a problem from Michigan in this game: (1) They struggle on the road: and (2) They struggle against Ohio State, in particular.
Rational analysis would lead to a conclusion of a Michigan victory. The Wolverines have a shown a consistent old school focus and discipline that Ohio State has only shown glimpses of all season. Sure State could rise to the occasion but Michigan is simply due. Sometimes the intangibles are more important than Jimmies and Joes and X's and O's.
That said, the Wolverines take advantage of Buckeye mental errors and turnovers in the second half and win going away 49-21. Though that statement makes me feel unclean, sometimes a trip to the woodshed is needed to purge what is wrong with the soul.
Too much time spent at the North Heidelberg rather than the classroom. SSD 68-72
I have been dreading this game for a few weeks, but now I can't help but believe we win. I little grit was shown last week in what should have been a loss. I think we take it in the second half and win again.
I really think the key of the game will be red zone offense. Michigan has struggled with it all year. If the Bucks can keep them kicking field goals, we have a good chance to win. O-line needs to play their best game of the year too.
Not sure what the homer fans are seeing or maybe hoping to see tomorrow but the defense suddenly playing well enough to win just is not going to happen. The defensive coaches are just too dumb. They just keep playing the players that stink and cant tackle or pursue. Its the same guys out there making mental mistakes and are just too slow to be on the field. Its just inexcusable they have not tried other players at LB and in the secondary.
The defense lacks toughness and intelligence and is just bad. If you are giving up 42 points to Purdue and 44 to Maryland you are not capable of beating a team like Michigan. Fans can hope but at some point accept reality this year.
Not saying that you're necessarily wrong, but it's all about matchups. We're better suited to line up against Michigan's pro-style offense than the likes of a more spread type. We can't let Patterson pull a McSorely though and make a bunch of plays with his feet.
And while Michigan's defense has no doubt been spectacular this year - Haskins is easily the best QB they've faced all season long. This receiver core is the best they've faced as well. You can't coach elite SEC-level speed, and that's one thing Ohio State has. If Paris and KJ can get the ball in space and make some plays, we can put some points up on them.
obviously, the first part has ()ade things very co()plicated this season. The only way this Shitigan offense scores is if the D serves up their usual....8-10 big plays per ga()e, 20-28pts.
Here's to hoping that for The Game, the D finally stands strong.
I'm back and forth on how I feel about this one. Theres a good chance that a majority of Buckeye practices are spent prepping for this game. That explains the performances against Purdue, Minn, and Maryland. Or...we're just not that great this year.
According to Bill Connelly, "In games in which teams’ success rates are within 5 percentage points of each other (as should be the case here), teams that win the points-per-opportunity battle in 2018 are 129-55, a win percentage of 70. It can’t be overstated how important finishing drives is." Ohio State has the advantage here, 5.05 points per scoring opportunity (24th in FBS), compared to *ichigan, 4.6 points per scoring opportunity (68th in FBS).
I also agree with Banks Of Olentangy that *ichigan's season contains more than a trace of fool's gold.
Ohio State by 16 (including an insurance touchdown late in the game). Go Bucks!
The 2001 win was #1. Gone were the Cooper days. Tressel delivered on his promise in Ann Arbor. I was with my Dad and Brother in NYC seeing family. We were jumping up and down like little kids. Just pure joy. The Buckeyes were back!
2nd place goes to 2005. I was at a sports bar in Seattle. It was a majority OSU crowd, but there was a UM couple by the TV that kept smugly smirking to each other as they were leading. When OSU pulled the upset the place erupted and the UM fans looked genuinely terrified. No-one got out of line, of course. We save our couch burning for Columbus, only.
"We get paid to score touchdowns, not kick field goals"
-- Urban Meyer
34-24 Ohio State. _ichigan pro style offense helps our d, removing the horizontal stretch that seems to mystify us. Screens open up the run game and a few deep passes for us.
Being an old timer, I still think 50-14 is the best game ever. Over the years I've learned not to predict this game....too much heartbreak. I stand by the old saying "offense wins games, defense wins championships" . In the last few years we have made many mediocre qb's look like Heisman winners..My brain says TTUN, my heart says Buckeyes. Are we going to be game winners or Champions? We'll see soon...
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As far as dominance in rivalries go:
Navy won 14 straight vs Army and 16 out of 17
USC beat UCLA 12/13 from '99-'11
Bama beat Auburn 11/13 from '73-'85
Washington beat Wash St 11/13 from '59-'71
depending on how much of a rivalry one thinks this is..Bama has an 11-0 ('71-'81) and 12-0 ('07-'18) vs Tennessee
OSU's 13/14 and 15/17 is already historic. 14/15 and 16/18 and it is within reach of the most epic ever
I like OSU's chances...but I also worry about the law of averages....hope they can be put off a few more years.
I'd almost trade no big plays from the defense and ttun ekeing out a win versus seeing them gash our defense - been so rough to watch
"Year for what?"
Not me. If you promise me we'll score just one more point than them, they can get to 100 for all I care.
The only good thing about The Game is winning it - Urban Meyer
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Key word: almost
"Year for what?"
Communication is said to have 3 parts: what you want to say, what you say, and what is heard. Good example of these not lining up, haha
"Year for what?"
Upvote for seeing the humor in it SilverState.
"You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, & in the manner in which you live.
So, live. Live. Fight like hell. And when you get too tired to fight then lay down and rest and let somebody else fight for you. "
- Stuart Scott
Head says the rival. If they ever have a shot at this under Harbaugh, this is it.
Heart says good guys.
Watch the kicking game - Nordin sat out last week, true freshman booted six FG's against IU. That's not happening in Columbus.
Heart wins out, late kick to win it.
In remembrance.
If heart wins out, I haven't seen a lot of heart from this team this year. I think their heart was crushed in pre-season and they've not gotten over it all year. Now if they can hang in early and not get gashed by their rival, they have the offensive tools to hang with anybody late (see last week). Maybe then their pride allows them to win. But not getting gashed is a BIG IF for this defense. If the rival smells blood in the water due to us giving up big plays early, they will gain the momentum to get about 10 years of revenge in one game.
So Go Bucks! XICHIGAN SUCKS!!!
Steelybuck54
I don't really agree with this. The team has definitely lacked leadership at times but the offense has shown plenty of heart in battling back from deficits and digging out of holes that the defense created. Penn State and Maryland come to mind. Haskins and the offense willed them to win.
I see your "don't really agree" and raise you to "don't agree at all." The defense has played everywhere from "sucked" to "almost looked competent", but the offense has time and again showed heart and it kind of ticks me off that a lot of the disappointed fans either haven't noticed this or at least haven't thought it was worth commenting on. Had the offense not played with heart the possibility exists that OSU could easily be 1-10 instead of 10-1. And I get where the panel is coming from by writing this season off as a disappointment, but time and again I've marveled at the resilience, once again, of the offense to not let the poor defensive play prevent them from doing their best. You can take what you want from the season and I've enjoyed a lot of seasons more than this one, but I have to admit to a little bit of awe at how the offense has done such a good job of overcoming the mistakes and poor play of the defense.
Never place a bet on anything that can talk.
I just would love to see Michigan punt and have to earn it.
Stay golden, Ponyboy.
Weather will be a factor. Time to release the Tate.
If we matchup Shefield on peoples Jones, I dont believe that is our best option. On the flip side, I believe they will target whoever he is covering. If the coaching staff does not feel kendall is up to the task they need to put on their big boy pants and put the best interest of the Buckeyes ahead of butt hurt feelings. #grownassdecisions
"Life is not about how hard you can hit, it's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. THATS HOW WINNING IS DONE!!" - Rocky Ballboa
Sheffield is a symptom of the main problem. Because of the scheme, safeties have to either be in man coverage and/or provide run support, so there is usually no deep help and if it is, it’s usually on the field side instead of the boundary. As the boundary corner, he’s exposed more often. He’s not been perfect, but he and Arnette have arguable the toughest job on the field. Ward, Apple, Lattimore, Roby, (the list goes on) were good enough to handle it. These corners just aren’t.
"Because we couldn't go for three"
I think some of the coaches have their super big boy pants on and aren't necessarily listening to Urban as much as in the past. That will change one way or another. I think that is what we are witnessing to some degree. I'm still confidant the shoe will be rocking and that we will pull this one out if not play our best game and beat them by 2 TDs.
I’ll probably be downvoted into oblivion for voicing an opinion because apparently that’s frowned upon.
With these defensive coaches and this scheme; I don’t see a way we win.
Fortune favors the bold.
There's always a way.
You Got Barbecue Back There!?!?!?!
I agree. TTUN is 9th in 3rd down conversions, we are 9th in stopping 3rd down conversions. To me that is the key, win 3rd down. Let Haskins let it fly.
Fortune favors the bold.
Haskins is the ace up the sleeve. He plays his best game and a win is probable, not possible. Hate to put that much on him but I think that is the deal.
You are entitled to you own opinion, not your own facts.
It is all on him. 100% correct.
Fortune favors the bold.
Great point on controlling 3rd down. If we can win on 3rd downs and tire out that defense, that will be huge. Equally huge is a fast start: if we are, somehow, able to catch them sleeping and put up a quick 14 points on them, that will be massive in terms of getting our guys to believe even more than they already do. Start fast, win 3rd down, and the Bucks will win The Game.
Number 1 rule in life: always beat That Team Up North.
IIRC, *ichigan D plays on average 55 snaps per game. The Buckeyes ran 105 offensive plays against *aryland. I say we run tempo up their butts and wear them out by halftime.
I'd rather be an hour early than a minute late.
There’s always a way. Nothing is impossible in the best rivalry game in all sports.
Go Bucks!
These guys aren’t old enough to remember Marcus Ray ... and that smug punchable face of Brian Griese
Bucks win 38 - 27
Life long fan of... The!
I’_ with you. I think this is the week that everything fires, and part of _e feels like I’_ going to be saying, “Wow, I sure didn’t see that co_ing!” after the ga_e. Re_e_ber Wisconsin a few years back? I don’t think that’s going to happen, but I really have a sneaking sense we’re going to be proud of what our tea_ will have done to_orrow by the final whistle.
Life is full of choices. Make good ones.
Call me crazy but I have it 31-13 good guys. I think Schiano had this game on his mind before Maryland even.
"I've had smarter people around me all my life, but I haven't run into one yet that can outwork me. And if they can't outwork you, then smarts aren't going to do them much good." - Woody Hayes
It's rivalry week, we will see a different defense show up this week..I see another game similarly to 2006
I think in Saturday we see why Michigan's offense has been underwhelming this year and we also see the Buckeyes offense give Michigan death by a thousand cuts with crossing routes and screens.
31-24 good guys.
Yesterday I was actually thankful for the Maryland game: Perhaps it was the kick-in-the-butt that they needed.
OSU 34, TTUN 28.
"Hell, Woody didn't recruit me; he recruited my mother!" -Jack Tatum
I think it’s a little fools gold this season for ttun. Lost at nd, down 17-0 at nw and scraped by. Wins at home against an average wisc team compared to the last few years. McSorley was banged up and on the road so that win was too easy. If ttun beat wisc and or penn state on the road easily and Penn state and wisc were as good as last year than that’s pretty good. So we’ll see what happens tomorrow.
Banks of olentangy
Not having Kerry Combs and the under achieving dbs is something I don’t thing we talk enough about
47-3
Four players can really be difference makers.
Chasr Young
Jordan Fuller
Kendall Sheffield
Malik Harrison
All of these guys have been able to rise up and make plays, bat down passes and disrupt the backfield.
Chase and Malik seem super human when they decide to be.
Defense Play with reckless abandon.
Go Bucks!
Beat. whip, outplay. out muscle, pulverize and humiliate Xichigan!!!!!!
Michigan should win. If this game were in Ann Arbor, they would.
But two intangible things remain a problem from Michigan in this game: (1) They struggle on the road: and (2) They struggle against Ohio State, in particular.
Rational analysis would lead to a conclusion of a Michigan victory. The Wolverines have a shown a consistent old school focus and discipline that Ohio State has only shown glimpses of all season. Sure State could rise to the occasion but Michigan is simply due. Sometimes the intangibles are more important than Jimmies and Joes and X's and O's.
That said, the Wolverines take advantage of Buckeye mental errors and turnovers in the second half and win going away 49-21. Though that statement makes me feel unclean, sometimes a trip to the woodshed is needed to purge what is wrong with the soul.
Too much time spent at the North Heidelberg rather than the classroom. SSD 68-72
I have been dreading this game for a few weeks, but now I can't help but believe we win. I little grit was shown last week in what should have been a loss. I think we take it in the second half and win again.
Our people are everywhere, Esto Dignus.
I really think the key of the game will be red zone offense. Michigan has struggled with it all year. If the Bucks can keep them kicking field goals, we have a good chance to win. O-line needs to play their best game of the year too.
Not sure what the homer fans are seeing or maybe hoping to see tomorrow but the defense suddenly playing well enough to win just is not going to happen. The defensive coaches are just too dumb. They just keep playing the players that stink and cant tackle or pursue. Its the same guys out there making mental mistakes and are just too slow to be on the field. Its just inexcusable they have not tried other players at LB and in the secondary.
The defense lacks toughness and intelligence and is just bad. If you are giving up 42 points to Purdue and 44 to Maryland you are not capable of beating a team like Michigan. Fans can hope but at some point accept reality this year.
Dgeneral
Not saying that you're necessarily wrong, but it's all about matchups. We're better suited to line up against Michigan's pro-style offense than the likes of a more spread type. We can't let Patterson pull a McSorely though and make a bunch of plays with his feet.
And while Michigan's defense has no doubt been spectacular this year - Haskins is easily the best QB they've faced all season long. This receiver core is the best they've faced as well. You can't coach elite SEC-level speed, and that's one thing Ohio State has. If Paris and KJ can get the ball in space and make some plays, we can put some points up on them.
The for()ula is very simple:
Low nu()bers of big plays surrendered = Win.
obviously, the first part has ()ade things very co()plicated this season. The only way this Shitigan offense scores is if the D serves up their usual....8-10 big plays per ga()e, 20-28pts.
Here's to hoping that for The Game, the D finally stands strong.
fck Shitigan.
GO BUCKS.
Yoda888
I'm back and forth on how I feel about this one. Theres a good chance that a majority of Buckeye practices are spent prepping for this game. That explains the performances against Purdue, Minn, and Maryland. Or...we're just not that great this year.
According to Bill Connelly, "In games in which teams’ success rates are within 5 percentage points of each other (as should be the case here), teams that win the points-per-opportunity battle in 2018 are 129-55, a win percentage of 70. It can’t be overstated how important finishing drives is." Ohio State has the advantage here, 5.05 points per scoring opportunity (24th in FBS), compared to *ichigan, 4.6 points per scoring opportunity (68th in FBS).
I also agree with Banks Of Olentangy that *ichigan's season contains more than a trace of fool's gold.
Ohio State by 16 (including an insurance touchdown late in the game). Go Bucks!
The 2001 win was #1. Gone were the Cooper days. Tressel delivered on his promise in Ann Arbor. I was with my Dad and Brother in NYC seeing family. We were jumping up and down like little kids. Just pure joy. The Buckeyes were back!
2nd place goes to 2005. I was at a sports bar in Seattle. It was a majority OSU crowd, but there was a UM couple by the TV that kept smugly smirking to each other as they were leading. When OSU pulled the upset the place erupted and the UM fans looked genuinely terrified. No-one got out of line, of course. We save our couch burning for Columbus, only.
"We get paid to score touchdowns, not kick field goals"
-- Urban Meyer
Great news on couch burning, the one my wife picked out is hideous :)
Go Buckeyes !!!
34-24 Ohio State. _ichigan pro style offense helps our d, removing the horizontal stretch that seems to mystify us. Screens open up the run game and a few deep passes for us.
Being an old timer, I still think 50-14 is the best game ever. Over the years I've learned not to predict this game....too much heartbreak. I stand by the old saying "offense wins games, defense wins championships" . In the last few years we have made many mediocre qb's look like Heisman winners..My brain says TTUN, my heart says Buckeyes. Are we going to be game winners or Champions? We'll see soon...
mkosu73
Harbaugh looks like he is dying on the inside in the picture at the top of the story.
If we can just get one more year of that, it'd be a great day.
Success - it's what you do with what you've got. - Woody Hayes