Southern California at tOSU (Sept 12th, 8 pm, ESPN)

[BigWoof31]

Originally Posted by BB73

After I started this thread, Herbstreit has listed this as his early top-5:

1. Florida
2. USC
3. Oklahoma
4. Texas
5. Ohio State

Hmmm....
Gotta Figure Penn State, Alabama, LSU, Va Tech, Oregon etc....round out the top 10

[BB73]

Originally Posted by PatMicMac

Saw that. Even without Sanchez, USC will still be pretty high on his list. Don't understand how he can put Oklahoma above Texas with all that they're losing.

Well, they'll once again play at a neutral site, and just look at which team won that game in 2008. It's not like anybody would ignore a head-to-head result in ranking teams.

[Buckeyefrankmp]

Will we see Mitch Mustain or Aaron Corp as quarterback in this game?

[alpo]

Originally Posted by Buckeyefrankmp

Will we see Mitch Mustain or Aaron Corp as quarterback in this game?

It seems for now, most of the local LA radioheads are saying Corp. I don't know, Mustain was a solid top10 if not even number1 overall, if I remember correctly.

[bukIpower]

They have 4 starters returning on the oline, and all their running backs. A new QB, and they also lose Patrick Turner. Hmmmm I wonder what they're going to try and do Sept 12th.

I swear if we dont' come out and stack the box with 8 people I will lose all hope for our Dcoordinator (pending it is still Heacock of course). We stop the run, we win.

If Herron was finding room to run against that defense this past year (and he was), he will find holes this upcoming year. You add a more explosive offense with a brand new defense and we should be able to put up points. THe question for that game is can we stop the run?

Considering we have 3-4 dlineman returning (if you count Wilson) we should be able to hold our ground better against the run than we did last September. Mcknight on a toss sweep though makes me cringe. I'm really surprised more teams didn't try and do that to us because I thought we were very very vulnerable on that play.

[Buckeneye]

Originally Posted by bukIpower

We stop the run, we win.

I'm sure Penn State said the same thing.


USC: 61 Yards Rushing
419 Yards Passing

[methomps]

Originally Posted by bukIpower

They have 4 starters returning on the oline, and all their running backs. A new QB, and they also lose Patrick Turner. Hmmmm I wonder what they're going to try and do Sept 12th.

I swear if we dont' come out and stack the box with 8 people I will lose all hope for our Dcoordinator (pending it is still Heacock of course). We stop the run, we win.

If Herron was finding room to run against that defense this past year (and he was), he will find holes this upcoming year. You add a more explosive offense with a brand new defense and we should be able to put up points. THe question for that game is can we stop the run?

Considering we have 3-4 dlineman returning (if you count Wilson) we should be able to hold our ground better against the run than we did last September. Mcknight on a toss sweep though makes me cringe. I'm really surprised more teams didn't try and do that to us because I thought we were very very vulnerable on that play.

SC returns all five starters on the oline.

[PatMicMac]

Originally Posted by Buckeneye

I'm sure Penn State said the same thing.


USC: 61 Yards Rushing
419 Yards Passing

As long as we don't run a weak zone defense even when we're getting completely raped, we should be fine.

[jwinslow]

Originally Posted by PatMicMac

As long as we don't run a weak zone defense even when we're getting completely raped, we should be fine.

like the Td to havili?

[23Skidoo]

Originally Posted by Buckeneye

I'm sure Penn State said the same thing.


USC: 61 Yards Rushing
419 Yards Passing

Didn't you kind of ignore the part where their QB and "star" receiver are out the door while the OLine and RBs will still be there?
We all know USC "reloads"... but I doubt they'd reload 400pass yards that early on with a fresh QB.

[bukIpower]

I don't mean to pretend like I know more about USC football but it does appear that Jeff Byars is/was a senior. So USC has 4 returning starters on the offensive line as far as I can see from this years depth chart.

Regaurdless USC's running game should be POWERFUL. We'd be completely STUPID to not either play the standard 4-3 with a saftey playing in the box or to play a nickle formation with Hines up near the line of scrimmage at all times. We need to have more hats than they do at the point of attack. We stop them and i'm confident in our dline to put pressure on USC and pressure the VERY VERY green QB into some mistakes.



On a side not the first game of the year for OSU I bet is gonna leave a lot of us buck funs worried about the year. Navy is a tricky tricky team for a first game IMO.

By the way I just checked the Depth chart from this year and I guess although we do lose a defensive lineman. He didn't start most of the time so I guess we apparently have all 4 starters back

[billmac91]

while risky, Petey might run the hardest/most realistic game practices of any program in the country. He hasn't been burned by it yet, at least major any major injuries, but those guys get after it 1's vs. 1's.

Most teams don't go full contact in practice, and if they do, it is generally vs practice team or the two's.

There is a reason in big games USC always shows up. They practice harder and are more prepared physically. Their practice habits give them an advantage come game day 99% of the time.

[JXC]

Originally Posted by billmac91

while risky, Petey might run the hardest/most realistic game practices of any program in the country. He hasn't been burned by it yet, at least major any major injuries, but those guys get after it 1's vs. 1's.

Most teams don't go full contact in practice, and if they do, it is generally vs practice team or the two's.

There is a reason in big games USC always shows up. They practice harder and are more prepared physically. Their practice habits give them an advantage come game day 99% of the time.

This game is over way before it even starts.

Ohio State is going to roll big...not even close.

Ohio State 44
USC 20

[generaladm]

The #1 reason I have a good feeling about this game...TP already has it circled on his calendar. That guy hates to lose, and even though he wasn't expected to win that game for us, he wants to make up for it, and he's a hard worker. I think, at this point, even though we will lose a lot of talent from this year, USC is losing more. You need not look much past the QB position. USC will be starting a QB with little (Mustain), or no (Corps) starting experience. We will be starting a once in a generation talent, with nearly a whole season's experience under his belt, and (as I mentioned) an unquenchable desire to be the best. Both teams lose some key players on D, and both will reload with quality players, but USC will not be able to move the ball (or count on god field position) like they did in 08. TP with 9 months to prepare? I wouldn't want to be the team that has to deal with that.

[mercer_buckeye]

Originally Posted by billmac91

There is a reason in big games USC always shows up. They practice harder and are more prepared physically.

Having arguably the best talent in the country helps alot too.

Originally Posted by JXC

Ohio State is going to roll big...not even close.

Ohio State 44
USC 20

I'm a homer too, but let's be realistic.