Back on the rollercoaster?

[Cicero]

This season is eerily similar to the '02 season. Under rated offense, great defense, little notice fromthe media and so on. Does this also mean a return to the nail biting weekly scares? I wouldn't have it any other way. We have the best damn coaching staff in the land and I trust them to keep our guys focused. It isn't going to be easy but I believe.

Hang on Sloopy!!

[Dryden]

My only concern is the D-Line. This one is really good, but I think a lot of us have already forgotten how dominant the 02/03 D-Line was. We didn't get enough pressure on Minny for my tastes. We're just not getting sacks/TFLs without bringing the LBs, and that could come back to bite us.

[stxbuck]

I don't think we are on a roller coaster-the Buckeyes were in control all game and scored 30 points-any other Top 10 team would gladly have taken that this week. The o did get a bit sluggish in the 2nd half, but part of that was due, IMO, to Tressel's insistence on Mo Wells getting carries instead of Beanie. This year's o is better than the 02' edition, even w/ a healthy MoC,IMO.
On D, we are not near the 02' edition-they wanted to HURT people-this years edition does not have the same bloodlust on the DL and at the safety position. CB and LB are about even. Last night I was talking w/ some guys who were proclaiming that this years D could potentially be as good as the 02 ' edition, and I said no way, the 02' edition was something transcendant-not just a very good D.

[Cicero]

Originally Posted by stxbuck

I don't think we are on a roller coaster-the Buckeyes were in control all game and scored 30 points-any other Top 10 team would gladly have taken that this week. The o did get a bit sluggish in the 2nd half, but part of that was due, IMO, to Tressel's insistence on Mo Wells getting carries instead of Beanie. This year's o is better than the 02' edition, even w/ a healthy MoC,IMO.
On D, we are not near the 02' edition-they wanted to HURT people-this years edition does not have the same bloodlust on the DL and at the safety position. CB and LB are about even. Last night I was talking w/ some guys who were proclaiming that this years D could potentially be as good as the 02 ' edition, and I said no way, the 02' edition was something transcendant-not just a very good D.

This years editon is also younger than that defense was. I think they get nastier as the season goes on. They are starting to take Laurinitis's style which is great.

[rocketman]

Biggest difference between '02 and now is the teams we played. We faced a lot of solid teams on our way to the NC game. Also, everyone seems beatable this year, unlike the build up to playing Miami, who came into the NC game as the unstoppable juggernaut with a 34-game win streak.

[NFBuck]

Originally Posted by Cicero

This years editon is also younger than that defense was. I think they get nastier as the season goes on. They are starting to take Laurinitis's style which is great.

I wouldn't say this years D is that much younger than '02 ( aside from the front 4). We don't necessarily have a Doss, but that '02 D wasn't exactly Senior-laden.

[GoodLifeSean]

I think this team has the ability, and additionally, we must look at the propensity to blow up opponents... Yes OSU has won by relatively small margins (Outside of NW) but look at who they have to play yet. After this week six of thier las 7 games are against teams that could pop off a big day. Purdon't, Wisky, Illinois,scUM, PSU, and MSU... not to mention a tenacious, though underskilled Kent team... People want to talk about OSU's weak schedule but it's no different than most... just happens all the weakest teams were in the first half... It's about to get fun boys and girls... GO BUCKS

[BuckeyeMike80]

Originally Posted by Cicero

This season is eerily similar to the '02 season. Under rated offense, great defense, little notice fromthe media and so on. Does this also mean a return to the nail biting weekly scares? I wouldn't have it any other way. We have the best damn coaching staff in the land and I trust them to keep our guys focused. It isn't going to be easy but I believe.

Hang on Sloopy!!

1) The 2002 offense wasn't underrated. Without MoC, that team would have (and did when he was hurt) issues moving the ball with any consistency.

2) This year's defense isn't quite up to the 2002 standard yet. It might get there someday, but the 2002 defense was ready to rock from day one against teams liek Washington State and Texas Tech. That's a big jump from Youngstown State and crAkron....

[808 Buck]

Every Buckeye team is different, every opponent brings a new challenge, every season is a roller coaster ride. That's the beauty of college football. One more thing, I like the direction of this team. I could care less where the Bucks are ranked, don't want to hear about BCS projections. I want to see a team that continues to improve, and a team that plays with passion. So far, so good. But, this week will be the stiffest test of the season to this point, in my opinion. It's time for the '07 Bucks to take the next step.

[Saw31]

This team is no-where near as good as 2002. Not yet...

[fourteenandoh]

what a [censored]ing day. i thought the buckeye bar went nuts when app st did their thing against scUM. good god! when that kid made the 2nd FG against florida we exploded. i can't believe we are going to be ranked 4th. thinking back on the teams we've had in the past who were top 5 this one is not even close IMO. the good thing is that it's a long season and we keep getting better. who knows where this road will take us. anyone up for New Orleans?

[Zurp]

In 2002 Ohio State struggled on the road. They barely beat Cincinnati in Cincinnati. They struggled against Northwestern, despite Northwestern's terrible defense.

It also seemed that Ohio State did "play down" to their competition. Despite that Penn State had a great running back that year, I seem to remember that they didn't really have much of a defense. And Ohio State couldn't score a single offensive touchdown against them.

This year, Ohio State is stomping their opponents into the ground. They found a weak spot in Washington, and attacked it. They crushed Northwestern. They conservatively pounded Minnesota.

I agree that Ohio State is getting about the same media coverage and respect that they were in 2002. But I think that the way that they're winning the games is much more convincing than in 2002. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I don't know.

[GoodLifeSean]

To all the detractors from the season... in defense of the conservative pounding as Zurp put it.
Remember its hard to play well when you are blinded by the canary yellow jump suits... I think they did well for playing literally blind.

[UpNorthBuckeye]

Absolutely we are doing better, margin-of-victory wise, than 2002. Sean Newbie, bud, you don't know nail biting until you go through the Purdue game --- well, we lost that game, we were sure.. Fourth and 3, might as well be fifth and fifty, we were cooked, and then Krenzel hits Jenkins in the endzone for a TD. Crazy!
No, the 2002 team would have been thrilled to beat someone like Washington on the road by 19 points.
As for the D line not getting enough pressure last night against Minny. I think with the spreads everyone is running we are thinking more contain than going balls-out after the QB. Witness the way the Bucks are sniffing out most screens, bubble screens, laterals to flankers, etc.
What a solid game by Freeman last night. Lots to be happy about, including two more interceptions. Nice stuff.
This defense earned buckeye leaves all around after the Beanie fumble on the seven yard line and they stop Minny "four and out".

The play calling is getting a little tedious.... run run pass, run run pass. But I'm just hoping it's all about keeping our playbook short and close to the vest.
Some tough Big Ten games coming up before i'm thinking about what bowl game might be instore. MSU looks tough. Wisky looks sort of tough. Illinois is lying in wait for us, one week before Meatchicken. So, it's shaping up to be a fun season....
Go Buckeyes! Just win, baby!

[OSUBuckeye4Life]

Originally Posted by Dryden

My only concern is the D-Line. This one is really good, but I think a lot of us have already forgotten how dominant the 02/03 D-Line was. We didn't get enough pressure on Minny for my tastes. We're just not getting sacks/TFLs without bringing the LBs, and that could come back to bite us.

I think quite a bit of that had to do with Minny's gameplan. They didn't use the QB in many runs and it looked like they were in the business of the "dink and dunk."

It's hard to get pressure on 3 step drops.