Game Two: #1 Ohio State 24, #2 Texas 7 (9/9/06)

[MililaniBuckeye]

Originally Posted by xrayrandy

Players on both sides of the ball have improved since then.

Not to the degree that Smith has...

[campies]

Originally Posted by buckeyeboy

I've got it as a high scoring game. They'll score on us b/c of our new defense, and we'll put some points up on them based in part by their new QB making mistakes. OSU 34, UT 28. Admittedly this is tainted by a bit of homerism.

Anybody that thinks that OSU scoring 34 points against Texas at home is a pretty reasonable thing to expect is being a little toooo optimistic I think. Is it that far off of possible? No. But to so cavalierly say that "....yea, probably decided by a TD or something. Bucks offense and Troy being Troy now give us the advantage; we put up 30-35 pts based on that and freshmen qb mistakes by Texas....." Uhhhh, easy there.

You should to go into this game expecting that a game at night in DKR, albeit not quite as loud, this early on, will be just as intimidating, rowdy, and advantageous for the home team as a game at night in The Shoe was last year. It definately mattered last year for us, and it will again this year for you. Not because DKR and The Shoe are completely equitable in terms of game atmosphere and crowd influence, but because the fact remains: Texas is a very good defensive team, and that usefully favors the home team in early, big games like this. And secondly, we have a tremendous home field advantage based on winning percentage at DKR under Mack Brown.

Although xrayrandy is often chastised for firm opinions, his take is not far off regarding the outcome of the game based on turnovers in relation to what happened last year. Home field advantage and all, you netted 22 points. This was all after we GAVE you outstanding field position on two occasions with turnovers, and several others with kick coverage and you were only able to come away with field goals on all but one of them. That immediately took away scoring opportunities away from us, and set them up for you, yet we still scored more touchdowns, and points overall. You wont be settling for field goals this time around, you say. Well, if you had to settle for them with only 40 yards to go on your own turf, given the rotating quarterbacks, then why are you so sure you wont have to settle for them while going 80 yards at an opponent's turf, better qb notwithstanding?

I know your offense is good, and it likely wouldn't be held the same way if given the same kind of field position like last year. But remember, the Texas defense could certainly be better this time around than at last year's, and homefield advantage is not something to be dismissed with the Horns, considering they've only lost 1 game there in the last 6 years.

[MililaniBuckeye]

Originally Posted by campies

...we have a tremendous home field advantage based on winning percentage at DKR under Mack Brown.

...Home field advantage and all, you netted 22 points. This was all after we GAVE you outstanding field position on two occasions with turnovers, and several others with kick coverage and you were only able to come away with field goals on all but one of them.

First, how may teams of Ohio State's caliber have you played at home under Mack Brown?

Second, you give us three TOs in your territory again this year and I can ssure you that you won't hold us to nine points with a seasoned Troy Smith at the helm (and we should have a TE who can frickin' catch). Our offense will be totally different in terms of execution...

[smith10ginn7]

If your young QB's turn the ball over constantly, the games over. The offense is going to cause enough trouble as it is. The freshman QB's are going to have to play a good game and NOT turn the ball over if your going to have a shot at this one. Not saying that you don't have a shot because obviously you guys do, but if you turn the ball over constantly with the offense were bringing in, it's going to be a long night for the Texas "D".

[UTMNC]

Under M.Brown, Ut has not played a team as good as tOSU at DKR Memorial. I used the Arkansas team (the last to beat UT in Austin) for my analogy of what I think, IMO, are similarities with what the 2006 tOSU team will have, No, Im not comparing tOSU to that Ark. team, but here's how I think they are similar and could produce the same results.

1. Very, Very big and talanted OL.

2. Big strong RB's, Arkansas rotated two big backs and just banged away behind that line for 3 - 4 yards a pop. (Damn that got frustrating watching that happen). P.S. Im know Pittman and Wells are also fast, not just big.

3. Arksansas QB Matt Jones( who was totally misused by H. Nutt) had the same physical make up of T. Smith. Big, Strong, Smart, Better passer than given credit for, and most of all, a PUNISHING runner.

tOSU has all the things, plus, Im pretty sure tOSU defense will be better than that Ark. defense was. Im just worried the same thing might happen, and that's is that the UT defense will wear down late in the game, and T. Smith, or one of the big back's break a run for a game winner.

[Bucks21]

Originally Posted by smith10ginn7

But I think our secondary won't be much of a weakness. I think that Malcolm Jenkins is going to surprise a lot of people and have a great season. He played pretty good last year, but more importantly got some game experience in several games as a Freshman. If he plays good, I don't see the secondary being a weakness next year.

Malcom Jenkins isn't the person i am worried about in the secondary its the other young guys that don't have as much experience as him. IMO Malcom might have been our best corner last year after Youboty got hurt. I think its also important that the db's jell fast becasue they have to be in sync espciallly when we run zone coverages.

[bukIpower]

Yeah I don't really see 30+ points being as far reached as some feel... with the young talent thats going to be out on the field that night I'd think there will be some mistakes. I mean we got a young Offense and Texas is losing a couple on defense to go along with having a brand new QB. One thing that will remain from last season's game IMO is the field position battle... we won it last year and we'll win it again this year. Texas has always struggled with kick/punt coverage and with Teddy and Gonzo back thier I'd say it will help out our young defense tremendously if we can make Texas go 60-80 yards every time they touch the ball...If we can shorten our field and make Texas go the distance each time I'd like our chances.

IMO the most important aspect of this game will be A) Turnover margins B) Who can run the ball and C) Field position... I like tosu's chances in all of them, but then again Texas is more than capable of running the ball.

[WyoBuck]

Originally Posted by campies

Anybody that thinks that OSU scoring 34 points against Texas at home is a pretty reasonable thing to expect is being a little toooo optimistic I think. Is it that far off of possible? No. But to so cavalierly say that "....yea, probably decided by a TD or something. Bucks offense and Troy being Troy now give us the advantage; we put up 30-35 pts based on that and freshmen qb mistakes by Texas....." Uhhhh, easy there.

I think that I actually agee with you here, except for it being toooo reasonable. It is definately possible, but i think that the Texas D will be the best we face all year. I truly believe that in this game it is going to come down to field position. This is going to be another Tresselball clinic. JT is confident enough in his team to play the odds on this or anything else. Solid Special Teams, Solid D are what are going to win this game. I really don't expect many highlight reel plays here. If we roll on offense maybe, but this will probably be a grueling game.

There is a lot of talent out there. Objectively I have to give the edge to tOSU based on how good our offense will be. Texas will have a good D, no doubt, likely the best we will see all year, but I expect that we should be a little more honed.

Their offense against our D, again, despite our lack of experience(though it isnt as much as some would claim), I think we have an edge. All of our D has seen the field, and a lot would have been regulars long ago. To be sure, Texas' offense COULD be productive as long as their unproven, Frosh, QB(s) can control their side of the ball.

All in all, this will be a fairly conservative game. Probably on both parts. If it is a blowout, I like tOSU's chances, otherwise it is going to be just like last year, and hang on to your seat.

[MililaniBuckeye]

Originally Posted by UTMNC

2. Big strong RB's, Arkansas rotated two big backs and just banged away behind that line for 3 - 4 yards a pop. (Damn that got frustrating watching that happen). P.S. Im know Pittman and Wells are also fast, not just big.

I'm guessing your DL this season will be markedly better than the 2003 one that Arkansas ran over. I highly doubt your defense will give up 38+ points three time this year like they did in 2003...although their doing so on Sept 9th would be nice.

[campies]

I think we're all getting somewhere in finding common ground to discuss when we acknowledge just how significant turnover margin will play into this game. If affects confidence, field position, and momentum, more than any other single factor in a game. No one would disagree with that, or with the notion that it will be probably be the most important aspect of this game between us.

The difference, however, between us Horns and us Bucks (aside from the hot women down here and bad chili up there......haha, just messin ) is that the Horns believe that our quarterbacks are capable enough and maybe more likely to play an efficent, well-executed game than a disasterous one (3+ turnovers would be quite "disasterous"). I'm not sure even 2 turnovers, as big as they might be, would doom us, though it would certainly set the ball in motion. It would depend on where they happened, time/score/situation, etc, but just saying, even THAT might be permissible, as it was last year. Obviously we can't count on you guys coming up short again on drives, but I'm sure our defense will, in that thats the bar they set for themselves to play at. Home field can't hurt our effort either. Whatever though; all thats neither here nor there.

The point is, most Buckeye fans predicting a win and 30+ pts in our house are banking on the fact that our quarterbacks playing a terrible game is more likely than not, and your offense is just as unstoppable as your perception of it over the last 8 games or so of the 2005 season. From down here, most Horns just don't feel that way. We believe in our talented but inexperienced quarterbacks in the same way that we believe in our talented and very experienced 10 teammates surrounding them. We believe your offense is very good, but we also believe our defense, bolstered by its home crowd, is going to be better. And lastly, we believe strongly that Texas BBQ and Texas women beat anything north the Red River has to offer, and that Bevo could kick the sh*t out of Brutus even without his giggle berries. But hey, thats why we love our own teams and have our biases, something no one can truly judge or quantify, and thats the way it should be. Otherwise we'd be heartless robots, and that wouldn't be any fun now, would it?

[campies]

I was thinking, even though Ohio State will be the highest-ranked, most prominent powerhouse team to come into Royal-Memorial in the last 25 years probably, Texas has beaten some quality teams over the course of Mack Brown's tenure that support that excellent 8 year record, and give credence to its legitimacy of home field advantage. Here's a list of some of the top teams we've played, and beaten, at DKR:

1) #3 Nebraska, W 24-20, 1999- One of the more amazing games I've ever seen. That was one game in which we were clearly the inferior team, and yet took the Big Red's best shot and still made the plays in the end to win it. Definately bolstered by the crowd's presence that day, and widely regarded as one of DKR's largest and loudest crowds.

2) #6 Texas A&M, W 26-24, 1998- Back in the days of A&M being a good program; much like OSU with defense and special teams being their calling card. The Wrecking Crew w/ Dat Nyuegn and co. was legit and would keep them in any game. More famous because Ricky broke the run which broke the record that day. Pretty sweet game.

3) edit: #10 Kansas State, W 24-20, 2003 - The VY debut, this was a game that showed us all what he was truly about. After basically fracturing his ankle, but not, coming back on the field with a prayer and a tape-job to lead one of the most spectacular and emotional comebacks I've ever seen. Regardless of its dimensions, DKR was louder that day than maybe any stadium I've ever heard, and thats not something that I would have ever said if it hadn't happened. KSU team went on to have a great year despite some injuries, waxing an OU team that waxed us earlier in the year and played for NC, and playing in the Fiesta Bowl, though you guys probably have your own opinions on how that one went.

4) #14 Colorado, W 42-14, 2001 - Not quite as impressive a team as the othes, but still well ranked and loaded with RB talent, we absolutely pasted this team after they got up early in the game. After the win in Austin, we would play the Buffs again in the Big12 championship game only to lose in the most gut-wrenching, pain-staking, and improbable fashion, in a game that will forever remain isolated at the top my list for the most disheartening athletic contest I have ever witnessed. Buffs would be ranked #9 at the time.

5) #10 Texas Tech, W 52-17, 2005- I usually wouldn't ever consider putting up a Tech team on a who's-who bragging list of slayed opponents, however, this team was actually offensively proficient, and defensively improved, enough to garner my respect at the time of the contest. Obviously they turned out to not be as good as their ranking (though still a fine team at 9-3 w/ a close loss to Bama at the end), but we actually had to played a well-executed and concerted effort of a game to put it away like we did. Score would indicate roll over, but it wasn't that easy.

All of these ain't the #1 or 2 Buckeyes, but it isn't completely irrelavent for how we respond to big games in our house. Can't wait!

[Dryden]

I guess I don't see why everyone thinks a high scoring game is out of the question? I know you can't put too much stock into what-ifs, but going back to last years match up, if you credit Melton the TD (and therefore erase the safety on the ensuing play after the change), and credit Hamby the TD for catching a pass, you've got a 30-29 game right there. Huston kicked 5 stinkin' FGs, and missed 1 more. Either team could've gotten into the mid-30s, or higher, if tempo dictated it, and even all that was against two experienced defenses that played lights out as if the national championship was being determined on that night (I think it was).

For 2006, OSU brings a better offense with an experienced QB, an experienced Ted Ginn, and (at least) two legit future All Big-10 RBs. I assure you, they will not settle for six FG attempts this time around -- especially with the Smith, Pittman, Wells in the red zone vs the option of a rookie kicker.

[texasfight06]

Originally Posted by MililaniBuckeye

Not to the degree that Smith has...

Maybe not to the degree that Smith has, but Okam and MiGriffin have become two of the top players at their position in the country. Also, Robert Killebrew who didn't start against tOSU last year, but started from game four on, really came on strong at the end of the year and flat out kills the ball carrier (he has a tendency to collect some personal fouls though). Its a little bit harder to match the progress of Smith, but these three underclassmen really came into their own on the UT side. As I mentioned before, its still going to determined how much the WRs progressed last year on their own talent and skill vs. what VY opened up for them.

on another note (I was too lazy to go back and find the quotes from 7 or 8 pages ago from someone else) losing Aaron Harris was brought up to be a big loss to our defense, but that's not the case. Despite being mentioned as an All-American at the beginning of last season, and having a crap load of tackles, he wasn't fast enough for Chizik's liking. he was a great leader, and a great middle LB, but the LB corp. this year will be much faster w/o Harris on the field. Not saying that they will be better, but they should be more tailored to Chizik's scheme and flying all over the field. He moved Kelson from safety last year for that reason.

[t_BuckeyeScott]

I am buying the Harris bit. It does happen everynow and again. Was he even drafted? I'm a believer in talent before smarts and sounds like the next guy has more talent. However, I won't be buying anything that says Huff wasn't a big loss.

[texasfight06]

Originally Posted by t_BuckeyeScott

I am buying the Harris bit. It does happen everynow and again. Was he even drafted? I'm a believer in talent before smarts and sounds like the next guy has more talent. However, I won't be buying anything that says Huff wasn't a big loss.

Huff is a huge loss, hopefully MiGriffin can pick up where Huff left off. As an aside, Huff has dubbed MiGriffin as the 2006 Thorpe Award winner, and said that if MiGriffin, Ross or Brown doesn't win the Thorpe Award, he is going to stop calling them (as show, losing Huff's quotes will also be a shame.) Losing Cedric Griffin is not nearly the loss that losing Huff is, as the back up safeties last year saw limited action unlike Brown and Ross who have logged a bunch of playing time.