OSU/Wisconsin - 2003

antosu · #1 (**permalink**) 10-03-2003, 06:48 AM

I've heard some say that we are saving certain things for big games but we have had several big ones already. We have had some nail biters that would prompt any coach to use his best stuff on Defense and Offense. I don't think we will see anything to different against Wisky. The main thing will be to perfect the things that we have been a little suspect at doing. On defense the only thing that has really concerned me is the performances by Mike D, and F. Pagac at MLB. Luckily Hawk and crew are playing at a level that hide some of there mistakes.

Offensively, we just need to keep improving at things. Cut the penalties in half and execute a little better. Our passing and running game has improved and looks like it's moving it the right direction.

The only thing I think we will see that we haven't is T. Smith acting as though he is running the qb Draw, and then shoot one down field to Jenkins or Carter .

coxew · #2 (**permalink**) 10-03-2003, 07:46 AM

ant, I think you're right on about Smith throwing the ball. Tressel knows what he doing by putting Smith in on three plays and running the ball on all three. It may be next week when we actually get to see Troy throw. Another play l'd like to see in a goal line situation, only if we really need to use it, is the option that we ran against scUM last year with Hartsock in motion going the other way.

antosu · #3 (**permalink**) 10-04-2003, 12:40 AM

I would love to see the option a few times this year. It's a play that if ran correctly, can beat a team by itself.

lvbuckeye · #4 (**permalink**) 10-04-2003, 01:08 AM

while i don't think that we will pull out all the stops, we most likely see some new wrinkles. i don't think that we have to pull out all the stops to beat the badgers. i could be wrong, but i am feeling better and better about a repeat. maybe it is because we just keep chugging along, and so many other teams are so inconsistant. you never know if a team will show up or not. the Buckeyes D ALWAYS shows up, and the O does enough to get the job done. they are going NUTS on grassy right now, and the anti-Buckeye sentiment is as high as it was in January, which IMHO is GREAT, because it means that the canes unconciously KNOW that we are the team to beat...

it's great to be a Buckeye!!!

asdodge · #5 (**permalink**) 10-05-2003, 09:30 PM

I don't think OSU will pull out all the stops, but we will probably see a greater conssitency by using the plays that have been successful. I think OSU will run more toss sweeps with Guilford and the screens and slants to open up the running game.

OSU just needs to hit one of the deep throws a couple of times and the defenses will back off.

I am not sure what the longest completion of the year is, but I am pretty sure it is under 35 yards, and most of that on the run.

3yardsandacloud · #6 (**permalink**) 10-05-2003, 11:11 PM

I think you're right asdodge. A few long ball will help out. The longest completion is 46 yards against BGSU. I'm pretty sure that was to Jenkins on a mid level crossing route that he took (YAC) for at least half of those yards. The next longest was a 44 yarder against NCST, 37 agsint Washington, and 31 against SDSU.

I think we'll see more wrinkles each week. One thing I'm fairly confident of ... with 2 weeks to plan Tressel will have a GOOD scheme for Wisky.

BuckNutty · #7 (**permalink**) 10-05-2003, 11:31 PM

I've heard more than one person mention the fact the coaches are holding plays back, and it might be true, but take the San Diego State game for example. I truly hope the coaches weren't just saving plays for the meat of the Big Ten schedule during a game we nearly lost because we couldn't move the ball. I guess I'll continue to be skeptical until they actually open up the offense, if they ever do.

LightningRod · #8 (**permalink**) 10-06-2003, 10:25 AM

No need to pull out all the stops. An excerpt from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Quote:

Those plays were nearly wasted because Wisconsin's defense, which had allowed an average of just 256 yards per game in the last three weeks, made Penn State's Michael Robinson and Matt Kranchick look like the best quarterback-tight end tandem in the nation.

OSU's TEs are better than PSU's TE, and there is no reason for the OSU TEs not to have a great day. Add to that the fact that the use of TEs in crossing routes or downfield routes should also open up the running game more, I see Wisconsin's D having a difficult time with our O.

http://www.jsonline.com/badger/fb/oct03/174752.asp

jenkinswoody · #9 (**permalink**) 10-06-2003, 03:59 PM

i agree with nutty. i'd be shocked to find out that coaches were holding plays back just for the big ten season. i mean if we had blow outs earlier than that is a valid arguement, but i hope the coaches used whatever they had to win the game. although we may see the troy smith pass that has been set up or even new wrinkles that have been added over the bye week.