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

[mercer_buckeye]

Originally Posted by smithlabs

Tressel has flirted with the option on and off through the years.

Yeah Boeckman running 2-3 option plays against USC last year was hands down the worst call I've ever seen Tressel make. I understand what you are saying just pointing out that that was a really bad idea.

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.

Something tells me Tressel learned the ins and outs of the option early in his coaching career. It's not exactly a new offense. Also, the coaching staff could learn more watching some good high school teams run the option.

Coaches have a finite amount of time.

My bet is that the coaches spent enough time defensing the play

Do they have time on their hands or not?

[BB73]

This matchup made the list of top-50 non-conference games.

cfn

42. Navy at Ohio State, Sept. 5

Ohio State was dangerously close to losing early season games against Ohio and Troy last year, needing to pull away late to put those two games away. The Buckeyes don't always come roaring out of the gate, and with USC coming to town the week after, there's a good chance they won't be fully focused to kick off the rebuilding season. Navy's offense is just dangerous enough make things very, very interesting with so many new starting faces on the OSU D.

[bukIpower]

we lost three true starters, and 5 total with Washington/Abdullah (spelling?). Hardly a defense with "so many new faces"

The fron 7 will have 5 returning. The Secondary will have three returning. 8 returning starters, but yet SO MANY NEW FACES. lol

As Calhoun would say... "get your facts straight..."

[Poe McKnoe]

Has it been brought up that a Paul Johnson coached Georgia Southern rocked a Jim Tressel coached Youngstown State, 59-24. It was one of the most lopsided defeats in the history of the FCS championships?

Now Navy isn't coached by Paul Johnson and OSU isn't YSU, but I'm just sayin'...this might not be as easy as expected.

[Steve19]

I'll take command superiority and air and ground superiority in this one...

[cincibuck]

Originally Posted by DaytonBuck

Navy runs the same offense as Centerville

And with half as much talent. Folks, let us remember all the [censored] we (me too) gave Notre Dame for scheduling Navy and Air Force. It will doubtless be the game for which I am entitled to fork over $200 on the off cance that I will get picked in this year's lottery. BTW, anyone seen their ticket letter yet this year?

[BuckeyeMike80]

Worried isn't the right word really, but this game has my interest.

Nothing like starting out the season against a team that requires a disciplined defense to stop it. with the new starters on defense, especially at linebacker, it will be an interesting battle.

[808 Buck]

Now Navy isn't coached by Paul Johnson

But they do have a guy who is well versed in option football. Ken Niumatalolo played for and coached with Johnson over the years. He knows that offense inside and out, and he will schematically give Heacock a battle. But, the Bucks have too many horses. Defensively, if the Bucks tackle well (sounds boring, but they need to make sure that the FB is wrapped up on the dive, and no missed tackles on the perimeter with the slot on the pitch), they will be in good shape. Something else to look for is who wins on first down. Coming up with negative plays on first down will force Navy into more predictable passing situations where their play-action stuff isn't as effective.

One more thing. I am confident that defensively, turnovers will be created. The Bucks need to score touchdowns off of these situations. Create a two (or more) score lead early, and force Navy to throw the ball. You cannot let these guys hang around with a chance to win in the fourth quarter. Sounds easy, doesn't it?

[MSURacerDT55]

It won't happen this year, with all due respect. They don't have anyone on their roster that can contain TP2

[BB73]

CFN

Q: A year removed from Paul Johnson leaving, how are things now different? Is Navy going to keep working on what works, or are there any new wrinkles going to be added to the mix?

A: By Don Yates GoMids.com - Nothing different. Ken Niumatalolo kept Paul Johnson's triple option system in place because it works. Nothing is different other than the name of the head coach. The most important position battle will be fullback as the Mids must replace now graduated Eric Kettani. The quarterback must also be replaced. However, it's more of a battle for the backup spot as junior-to-be Ricky Dobbs performed so well in 2008 as a backup that he is virtually a lock for starter in 2009.

[Jake]

Originally Posted by cincibuck

And with half as much talent. Folks, let us remember all the [censored] we (me too) gave Notre Dame for scheduling Navy and Air Force. It will doubtless be the game for which I am entitled to fork over $200 on the off cance that I will get picked in this year's lottery. BTW, anyone seen their ticket letter yet this year?

No ticket letter yet. Still seems a bit early for that.

I'm hoping to get this game. I've never seen the Middies. As for comparing us to Notre Dame I strongly disagree. We're scheduling Navy as a season opener, which is a far better first opponent than many of our peers. Conversely, Notre Dame schedules Navy in the middle of the season and calls it a rivalry.

(And if there are any Domers here spare me the story about the WWII era and what Navy did for Notre Dame, and vice versa. I know about it. I also know it was 60+ years ago and the game has changed a lot since then.)

[osucollegebuck]

I can't wait for this game and I can guarantee I will not behave as badly as those Rutger students did against Navy.

[JBaney45]

Originally Posted by Poe McKnoe

Has it been brought up that a Paul Johnson coached Georgia Southern rocked a Jim Tressel coached Youngstown State, 59-24. It was one of the most lopsided defeats in the history of the FCS championships?

Now Navy isn't coached by Paul Johnson and OSU isn't YSU, but I'm just sayin'...this might not be as easy as expected.

I'm sorry, but I think your worrying a bit too much. You can never take an opponent lightly but I don't think that you can really draw a parallel between the game you speak of and this game

#1 The option may have hurt one of Tressel's teams but Tressel isn't a defensive coach to begin with. Nobody currently on Tressel's defensive staff served with him at YSU

#2 Navy doesn't have the horses that OSU does. Georgia Southern had every bit the number of athletes that YSU did, including one of the greatest 1-AA players of all time, Adrian Peterson

Runs like this don't have anything to do with the scheme..

YouTube - Adrian Peterson "The Run"

If we tackle like that, then we'll have big time problems

[BB73]

A brief account of Navy's spring game.

CFN

Navy

April 17 - QB Ricky Dobbs only got two series to work, leaving with a sprained ankle, and he was able to make them count leading the way to two Jon Teague field goals from 42 and 22 yards out in the Gold's 19-0 win over the Blue. The Blue team got 42 yards from quarterback Mike Stukel, but it was LB Craig Schaefer who had the best game making eight tackles with a tackle for loss. While the running game worked for the Gold team, Dobbs only completed one of his four passes for 11 yards, while Kriss Proctor completed three of his four passes for 22 yards. The Blue quarterbacks, Mike Stukel and Greg Zingler, combined to compete two of seven passes for 23 yards and an interception.

[JohnLSU]

Originally Posted by Steve19

Nice pic to illustrate what the Ohio State football team is going to do to the US Naval Academy football team.