Ohio State 24, Michigan State 17 (final)

[Buckeye86]

Originally Posted by rocketman

Dantonio's scheme, more than any individual player, will probably give us the most fits.

I think it takes a year or two in the system for players to fully understand their roll in a defensive scheme, and I think it's pretty clear that Michigan State isn't quite there yet (and/or doesn't have the athletes to execute properly yet).

[muffler dragon]

From what little I've seen this year, it appears that Sparty plays to the level of their competition (both up and down). Here's to hoping that we rise above either.

[cincibuck]

What concerns me is the aptly named Saint Dic. Speed rushers have played hell with the OSU offense in the past. A good chance to see if Boone and Barton have improved since the NC game.

[Buckeneye]

Yeah, I dont see Urban pulling the same things twice and getting by Tressel.

It didnt help that our defensive scheme remained the same the whole night (zone) Leaked played the game of his life. On 2nd and short against Michigan, being how conservative Tressel is, I never expected a bomb to Ginn.

Thats the type of play calls we'll have to open up sooner or later. I just wish we could have been more creative Jan 8th.

[st8ofmind]

MSU is my #1 and OSU is my #2 so this is always a tough week.

Especially when you guys are playing for something and we are playing for which kind of 3rd rate bowl we might get to play in...

I agree the spread might be a little low, I think the tone of the game might be closer, but I can easily see the outcome being 20+ in your favor so it is probably 'real close'.

The whole MSU offense is predicated on outpowering teams and sucking the safeties up, then defeating them with deep passes to Thomas or intermediate passes to the TE Davis.

Davis, Thomas, and Ringer are the only guys that really hold a candle to their OSU counterparts, and I have a hard time believing that Wells isn't/won't be better than Ringer with equivalent experience, Thomas and Robeiske (sp?) are a similar situation. I see only 2 starters on our D that could even crack your playing group, let alone start.

It's going to take a negative turnover situation coupled with a B- effort from OSU and an A+ effort from MSU just for there to be any doubt on the outcome in the 4th Q.

Good Luck the rest of the way guys, and if you don't beat uOFm/TSUN THIS SEASON, it will be miserable for us and I will demand mass suicides on your part .

No looking ahead though.

13~17 (which would be an acheivement as you haven't given up a 'real' TD in the shoe yet.)

24~31 (As Wisc dropped 34 on us, this may be a little optimistic on my part)

[LCBuck]

Originally Posted by cincibuck

What concerns me is the aptly named Saint Dic. Speed rushers have played hell with the OSU offense in the past. A good chance to see if Boone and Barton have improved since the NC game.

I agree. He seems to be in the backfield all the time. I hope our OL can handle him. We also need to contain Ringer and NO turnovers. I would like to get up on them early and not sweat this one out.

[st8ofmind]

Originally Posted by LCBuck

I agree. He seems to be in the backfield all the time. I hope our OL can handle him. We also need to contain Ringer and NO turnovers. I would like to get up on them early and not sweat this one out.

I think you'll be ok with him, we've only played 1 decent OL in Wisc and he only had 1 big play vs Wisc and that was when they were foolish enough to put ONLY a TE on him and he beat the TE and forced a fumble on the Wisc 1.

he really sucked vs Northwestern against the pass, but was pretty stout on the screens/run game.


I think you guys deserve to sweat out a few of the cupcakes you've had so far, besides Washington for about 2Q's you haven't even been in a moment of danger...

[muffler dragon]

Originally Posted by st8ofmind

MSU is my #1 and OSU is my #2 so this is always a tough week.

Especially when you guys are playing for something and we are playing for which kind of 3rd rate bowl we might get to play in...

I agree the spread might be a little low, I think the tone of the game might be closer, but I can easily see the outcome being 20+ in your favor so it is probably 'real close'.

The whole MSU offense is predicated on outpowering teams and sucking the safeties up, then defeating them with deep passes to Thomas or intermediate passes to the TE Davis.

Davis, Thomas, and Ringer are the only guys that really hold a candle to their OSU counterparts, and I have a hard time believing that Wells isn't/won't be better than Ringer with equivalent experience, Thomas and Robeiske (sp?) are a similar situation. I see only 2 starters on our D that could even crack your playing group, let alone start.

It's going to take a negative turnover situation coupled with a B- effort from OSU and an A+ effort from MSU just for there to be any doubt on the outcome in the 4th Q.

Good Luck the rest of the way guys, and if you don't beat uOFm/TSUN THIS SEASON, it will be miserable for us and I will demand mass suicides on your part .

No looking ahead though.

13~17 (which would be an acheivement as you haven't given up a 'real' TD in the shoe yet.)

24~31 (As Wisc dropped 34 on us, this may be a little optimistic on my part)

Besides playing to the level of your competition, how are you liking Dantonio so far?

[Thump]

Anxious to see what Michigan St. team shows up.

Also anxious to see how our def. handles two big RB's.

[t_BuckeyeScott]

Living in OKC I don't think I'm going to catch this game at home. Texas Tech Missourri is the likely game that will be on ABC.

[Bucky Katt]

Originally Posted by t_BuckeyeScott

Living in OKC I don't think I'm going to catch this game at home. Texas Tech Missourri is the likely game that will be on ABC.

That should be entertaining, even if it isn't OSU.

[st8ofmind]

Originally Posted by muffler dragon

Besides playing to the level of your competition, how are you liking Dantonio so far?

I was bummed when he left MSU in 01'...

99% of the time he, Narduzzi, and Treadwell have all been awesome, but they have made some tremendous tactical errors at the end of halves and games this season.

By far the best coach since $atan, and if you take the fact that unlike $atan he brings "no baggage" into account he has a chance to be the best coach since Duffy @ MSU.

A few real bad screw ups this season (getting killed by NU over and over and over again by blitzing recklessly, horrible TO usage vs Wisc) but I like the 'groundwork' he is laying.

I was ecstatic with how in Perles/Woody/Bo fashion he ground Indiana in a little pile of dust with our excellent RB's like I had been begging for him to do for a while...

[st8ofmind]

Originally Posted by Bucky Katt

That should be entertaining, even if it isn't OSU.

If you get ESPN, they have agreed to pickup the Big Ten game every week, if you don't get it on your local ABC.

Sorry, wrong quote...

[t_BuckeyeScott]

So your'e saying that I should get this game on one of the ESPN channels (not gameplan?) if it's not on ABC! I hope that's what you're saying and that you're right.

[st8ofmind]

Originally Posted by t_BuckeyeScott

So your'e saying that I should get this game on one of the ESPN channels (not gameplan?) if it's not on ABC! I hope that's what you're saying and that you're right.

The practice this year has been for ESPN to pick up the Big Ten's ABC game if your ABC affiliate is picking up a different game.

Some people have been getting the big ten game on ESPN and ABC because of this...