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

[smithlabs]

You miss the beauty of the game... Ohio State gets to pick up a couple of triple option plays for the USC game. OSU gets a dose of something different for USC. With how effective Pryor was at running last year this might be just the thing.

[billmac91]

Originally Posted by smithlabs

You miss the beauty of the game... Ohio State gets to pick up a couple of triple option plays for the USC game. OSU gets a dose of something different for USC. With how effective Pryor was at running last year this might be just the thing.

so you think tOSU steals a couple Navy plays for their attack against USC??

Why not just watch a few Navy games and incorporate a few plays into your offense?? You don't need to play a team to steal a play....

[jwinslow]

Starting QB: gone.
Backup QB: gone.
Star RB: gone.
Backup RB: gone.
Only noteworthy WR: gone.

Color me skeptical.

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.

I really can't imagine many, if any (besides you), saying that. Navy is not taken seriously by fans.

[generaladm]

I seem to remember the Navy game being a replacement for a team that backed out, but I can't find any mention of it. The series wasn't announced until late April 08, which is pretty late, plus the return date isn't til 2014.

Regardless, I don't see a problem with the matchup. I would rather play a team that will bring a bit more competition than a YSU or Akron who comes in saying "Well, at least it will be cool to play in the 'Shoe". Sure, the fact that they play an offensive set we won't see for the rest of the season isn't the ideal situation, but hopefully, it will give them a little more motivation thru camp than if they knew they had a relatively easy game against a lower level opponent. Most of the players would have played against some option schemes in HS, so it's not like it completely foreign. We return around 8 players on D (depending how you count Wilson, Hines, Moeller, etc. could be more) who saw USC last time around, and I'm sure they remember what it was like. Defending the option will be hardest on the emerging LBs, and the Navy game certainly won't help prepare the DBs for the coverage challenges of USC (the greatest fear, IMO), but I don't think it will pose a far greater schematic challenge than playing, say, Wisky or MSU one week, and then ILL or NW the next. One aspect where we might gain a slight advantage is in our D-line vs. USC's O'line, since our guys will have been preparing to play a very active, read oriented scheme. I'll agree that the timing is not ideal, but preparing for USC is a challenge no matter who you play the week before. IMO, this is the best opener since we went to Seattle in 03.

[leroyjenkins]

Originally Posted by generaladm

IMO, this is the best opener since we went to Seattle in 03.

Good post but they came here in 03. I was there and they had Reggie Williams at WR, and Cody Pickett at QB IIRC.

2003 Ohio State Buckeyes football team - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[billmac91]

Originally Posted by jwinslow

Starting QB: gone.
Backup QB: gone.
Star RB: gone.
Backup RB: gone.
Only noteworthy WR: gone.

Color me skeptical.I really can't imagine many, if any (besides you), saying that. Navy is not taken seriously by fans.

fair enough, Josh.

Take Navy lightly and they can bite though. Wake Forest was legit and they got an admittedly bad Notre Dame team 2 years ago.

I certainly don't expect Navy to beat us at home, especially if we're rolling Big 10 refs up in the house. As stated before, I just dislike having to put so much practice time towards an offense that USC will never-ever run. It's a useless warm-up game in regards to our defense and they will have to spend a week on studying and learning an offense they will probably never see again.

[jwinslow]

Well I plan on taking them very lightly before, during and after kickoff... and then reviewing the pictures of those who have to actually take them seriously. Beating Wake was like beating MSU imo, impressive for them but not enough to make me shiver in my boots at this point.

Can Navy stop OSU enough to make the other battle important?

[generaladm]

Originally Posted by leroyjenkins

Good post but they came here in 03. I was there and they had Reggie Williams at WR, and Cody Pickett at QB IIRC.

2003 Ohio State Buckeyes football team - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I don't know why I wrote that, especially considering the away game was less than 2 years ago. Be glad you were at the game, it saved you from having to watch closeups of MoC on the sidelines between every single play.

[billmac91]

Originally Posted by jwinslow

Well I plan on taking them very lightly before, during and after kickoff... and then reviewing the pictures of those who have to actually take them seriously. Beating Wake was like beating MSU imo, impressive for them but not enough to make me shiver in my boots at this point.

Can Navy stop OSU enough to make the other battle important?

I like your confidence, but God I hope the team doesn't have the same attitude.

Enjoy your photo opp's.

[jwinslow]

This is a big stage for most of the OSU team, and it's week 1. They've been itching to get out there for months, and so many groups have much to prove. Brand new OL, LBs, DBs, special teamers... returning starters who can finally take up their flag and lead with veterans departed.

I know it's not automatic, but I have a hard time worrying about a brand new Navy offense on the road.

[billmac91]

Originally Posted by jwinslow

This is a big stage for most of the OSU team, and it's week 1. They've been itching to get out there for months, and so many groups have much to prove. Brand new OL, LBs, DBs, special teamers... returning starters who can finally take up their flag and lead with veterans departed.

I know it's not automatic, but I have a hard time worrying about a brand new Navy offense on the road.

But again, even if you think it's a gimmee, it's at least a week spent on how to defend the option. An option offense that will never be seen again. It's essentially wasted practice time.

I agree that I think we handle them, but week 1 also offers missed assignments and mental mistakes.

We shoyld win easily, but we shoukd have won easily over a lot of teams in recent history where we got into a dog-fight.

Hopefully we roll them, and you have a chance to catch the squad in a joyfull mode.

[OCBucksFan]

Originally Posted by jwinslow

Color me skeptical.I really can't imagine many, if any (besides you), saying that. Navy is not taken seriously by fans.

Agreed, I would go so far as to say that there's probably more respect in the CFB fan base for Ohio than there is for Navy. If the Bucks get blasted by USC at home, there will be no mention of Navy, and the how they were over focused, you already know what the talk will be.

[808 Buck]

Just my opinion, but the best time to catch an option team is early in the year. Getting the correct read and timing are critical to triple option success. I don't have any data to back it up, but early in the season, you are more likely to see QB and FB mesh problems (due to incorrect reads), or pitch issues between the QB and Slot, who swings around in Navy's scheme (timing). I wouldn't mind seeing the Bucks capitalize on a few early turnovers.

[smithlabs]

Originally Posted by billmac91

so you think tOSU steals a couple Navy plays for their attack against USC??

Why not just watch a few Navy games and incorporate a few plays into your offense?? You don't need to play a team to steal a play....

Tressel has flirted with the option on and off through the years. Coaches have a finite amount of time. I think Tress will learn more breaking down Navy film than he would at a cursory glance. I think somewhere, on some level of importance, the chance to study a decent option team is appealing to the OSU coaching staff. Did you notice NFL teams running single wing (wildcat etc) plays more in the playoffs when they played teams with a strong single wing package (miami)? I did. My bet is that the coaches spent enough time defensing the play that they could incorporate it into the offense with only marignally more effort.

[southcampus]

This could help us actually. I think USC has hinted at running some wildcat with McKnight running the show. I would bet we see that in the shoe next year, and having Navy will at least give us some experience at playing disciplined defense.