Navy 27, at tOSU 31 (Sep 5th, ESPN)

[HorticullyBuck]

I have to agree, i think this will be better prep for the USC game than most other previous season openers have been. USC is running a first timer QB, there going to be running alot with those 3 backs they have and yes, the option isnt the same as a heavy run offense but it still gives the D line and LB's a competative work out. im not worried about the 2ndary. Thad wont let the ball in the air as fast as he can fly back there

[southcampus]

As someone alluded to earlier in the thread, assignment football beats an option attack. I hope our linebackers are ready to fight off lead blockers and make some tackles because Navy is one of the most disciplined teams in the country. I don't think we should have a problem with these guys, but I didn't think we would have a problem getting by Ohio University.

[DontHateOState]

I love option football. Real option football. Not that cheap knockoff RR has up in Ann Arbor. I'm really looking forward to this game.

[Wells4Heisman]

Can't wait to watch this game. Well the same can be said about any game of Buckeye Football, but especially this year because were playing a decent team in the opener!

[calibuck]

But the real show will be the flocks of Tomcats, Eagles, Falcons, etc. that will land at Lockbourne, Port Columbus, Wright Patterson AFB, etc. for the Naval aviators to come in for the game.....(not too many seaways to get those aircraft carriers into Columbus).

[MililaniBuckeye]

Navy was held to the following point totals last year:

23: Ball State - 29th, 20.5 ppg (+ 1.5)
23: Rutgers - 19th, 18.8 ppg (+ 4.2)
21: Pittsburgh - 35th, 21.5 ppg (+ 0.5)
21: Notre Dame - 42nd, 22.2 ppg (- 1.2)
16: Northern Illinois - 14th, 18.0 ppg (- 2.0)
19: Wake Forest - 16th, 18.3 ppg (+ 0.7)

Now, you can say that those were some pretty good scoring defenses, statistically, they faced. But note that they really never exceeded those opponents' average points-given-up.

You can summize that, given Navy's offensive output against good scoring defenses, since our scoring defense averaged 13.9 ppg last season (6th in FBS) we should be able to hold Navy to 12 to 17 points. And since Pittsburgh put up 35 points on Navy in the first half, Ball State put up 35, and Air Force, Temple, Notre Dame, and Wake Forest all put up 27+ points on them (of those four, only Air Force at #52 was in the top half of scoring offenses), our chances of putting up 30+ points on them are good.

My early prediction is 34-16, Ohio State.

[Buck Naked]

35-9 Bucks Roll

[southcampus]

I believe Navy did beat Wake and Rutgers. Two respectable wins to say the least. I think our defense has trouble with the option attack for about 2 possessions early and dominates from then on out.
My way-too-early prediction:
Bucks: 41
Navy: 13

[billmac91]

the timing of this game couldn't be any worse. You have to take Navy VERY seriously, and you have to put a lot of time into defending the option.

Not fantastic when you have an offense like USC coming in the following week. I can't imagine JT was thrilled with the timing of this game. I'd assume he has some say in the schedule, but this is a bit baffling to me....

[leroyjenkins]

Originally Posted by billmac91

the timing of this game couldn't be any worse. You have to take Navy VERY seriously, and you have to put a lot of time into defending the option.

Not fantastic when you have an offense like USC coming in the following week. I can't imagine JT was thrilled with the timing of this game. I'd assume he has some say in the schedule, but this is a bit baffling to me....

When would be a better time in the season to be able to spend a lot of practice time on the option?

I'd bet that JT will have a lil USC sprinkled in there too.

[billmac91]

Originally Posted by leroyjenkins

When would be a better time in the season to be able to spend a lot of practice time on the option?

I'd bet that JT will have a lil USC sprinkled in there too.

any other weekend when USC isn't the following opponent. There's a major difference between USC and every other team on our schedule.

I'm not saying the coaching staff doesn't sprinkle in some USC during Navy week, but that is scary to me. The option isn't easy to defend, and you don't just throw out superior athletes and stop it. It takes discipline and a lot of practice time to learn how to defend it.

Navy has beaten some very good teams over the last several years, so to just assume an easy victory is a bit presumptious to me. Especially when you consider Marshall, Troy, Ohio, Cincinnati, etc. as teams that scared us late into the ball game.

[leroyjenkins]

Originally Posted by billmac91

any other weekend when USC isn't the following opponent. There's a major difference between USC and every other team on our schedule.

I'm not saying the coaching staff doesn't sprinkle in some USC during Navy week, but that is scary to me. The option isn't easy to defend, and you don't just throw out superior athletes and stop it. It takes discipline and a lot of practice time to learn how to defend it.

Navy has beaten some very good teams over the last several years, so to just assume an easy victory is a bit presumptious to me. Especially when you consider Marshall, Troy, Ohio, Cincinnati, etc. as teams that scared us late into the ball game.

I know you probably did not mean ME as someone who thinks this will be an "easy" win, but I dont. It's hard to think of our team as a "lock" to beat anyone early in the season. I think our past teams, for the most part, have played down to the level of comp early in the season.

I know that " throwing better athletes" at an option does not beat it but throwing better athletes that play disciplined defense will beat it.

I see what youre saying about USC scaring you after having to play a completely different/tough offense as a well played option. I just think that I'd rather have a month to prepare for these 2 teams, than a week any other time in the season. We may just have to agree to disagree.

[billmac91]

Originally Posted by leroyjenkins

I know you probably did not mean ME as someone who thinks this will be an "easy" win, but I dont. It's hard to think of our team as a "lock" to beat anyone early in the season. I think our past teams, for the most part, have played down to the level of comp early in the season.

I know that " throwing better athletes" at an option does not beat it but throwing better athletes that play disciplined defense will beat it.

I see what youre saying about USC scaring you after having to play a completely different/tough offense as a well played option. I just think that I'd rather have a month to prepare for these 2 teams, than a week any other time in the season. We may just have to agree to disagree.

From my perspective, if you know you have USC on the schedule but still want a respectable opponent instead of a cupcake, there were a lot better choices.

There are some solid mid-level conference teams that still run a pro-style offense that would allow you to practice for both teams essentially.

I just dislike the idea of putting so much effort towards Navy, a team with an offense you will see one time the entire season, and follow that up with the most explosive pro-style offense year after year in USC.

Just poor timing, IMO.

[leroyjenkins]

Originally Posted by billmac91

From my perspective, if you know you have USC on the schedule but still want a respectable opponent instead of a cupcake, there were a lot better choices.

There are some solid mid-level conference teams that still run a pro-style offense that would allow you to practice for both teams essentially.

I just dislike the idea of putting so much effort towards Navy, a team with an offense you will see one time the entire season, and follow that up with the most explosive pro-style offense year after year in USC.

Just poor timing, IMO.

I agree it is bad timing. Any idea when the 2 schools were scheduled? Werent we supposed to go play at Navy last year? Or maybe we have something set up in a couple years for Army at their place?

[billmac91]

USC has been scheduled a lot longer than Navy.....I know that.

They 100% knew Navy would fall the week before USC. I have to assume JT had say in this, so my argument loses some validity. But if we come out flat against Navy everyone will say we didn't focus enough on them, and if USC blasts us at home, everyone will say we had to focus too much on Navy.

Again, just bad timing.

Hopefully we just handle both, and then this is all for not.