Game Thread BCS Championship Game, tOSU vs. Florida - Jan 8th

[Oh8ch]

Do we spread them out and pick them apart like scUM? I don't see any way their offense can keep up with us if JT lets the boys open it up and we score like we did first half of scUM.

Florida has tremendous defensive speed and a banged up DL (not sure how much they recover in four weeks). Football 101 says you run at speed and away from strength.

We go up the gut with Pittman and Beanie until they sell out on the run. Florida has been solid against the run, but only one runner in the SEC averages over 83 yards per game - the Big Ten boasts 5. Only one team in the SEC averages over 160 yards per game rushing - the Big Ten has four. Troy could see a few carries as well.

Florida has no power running game. The key IMO will be to put pressure on Leak from the front four and play disciplined assignment football in the back seven - don't fall for the gimmicks. I think that defines our defensive strengths. I don't see the Tim Tebow running plays as achieving much success (he is their second leading rusher with over 400 yards on the season).

Harvin is a wild card and will have some big plays.

Florida may not have a Jarrett or Manningham, but they have as solid a group of four receivers as you will see. If we have to blitz to apply pressure we could be in trouble - but I don't think we will.

I like the way we match up, but Urban Meyer is no slouch. He played two Bowl games at Utah and won 35-7 over Pitt and 17-0 over So Miss. Last year he beat Iowa 31-24. Florida also has a lot of Frosh playing. That extra month at the end of the year can work wonders for first year players.

And they have Taz.

One other interesting footnote to this game - DeShawn Wynn is the Ohio running back who would have been a Buckeye if we had not signed one of the premier backs in the country in 2002. Go figure.

 

[BucksinFL]

Florida's offense is laughable. Did you see the game last night? They ran every gimmick trick play in the world.

... I can't wait to see them run their super secret toss to the WR, who pitches back to the RB, hands off to the RT, and then throws downfield to the open QB who punts it through the uprights for an extra point!

 

[TresselOwnsCarr]

I'm just mad the game will be on Fox... My local Fox affiliate doesn't broadcast in high def :(

I'll have to susbscribe to my cable company's overpriced high def service for that month.

 

[Tom288]

How do you think Ohio State matches up with UF

Gator here and dont worry, Im not here to bring up "SEC speed"

How do yall think you match up with UF, Ill definitely give you the nod on offense although if Mullen can somehow learn to call a game without throwing in stupid option plays at the wrong time or QB draws with Leak I think we can put some points up.

As far as defense, honestly I only saw you play in the Michigan game so Im not that knowledgeable. But, from what I saw I think we line up pretty evenly with you defensively. I might give us the nod but that might just be bias talking. Either way both teams have athletes with speed that can tackle, not to mention some playmakers.

Heres to a great, clean game in January-looking forward to going up against you

 

[PrincetonBuckeye]

Floridas D will not be able to keep up with our offense....If we spread it out and UF figures out a different scheme we will just pound it up the middle...our O line averages like 6'4" 320....there is no way they can stop our run......we have 3 threats on the outside now with Robskie, Ginn and Gonzo...I alos think our D line is really quick and Leak (IMO) holds onto the ball to long when he drops back that will give us a chance to get to him and make him think too much...hopefully to cause some TO's...

But I do think it is going to be a good game...a close one...

 

[Tom288]

Im not sure its a guarantee that you can pound the ball up the middle on us, we have one of the best defensive fronts in football. Look what we did to Mcfadden and Jones. I do agree on Leak, although I think its not as much him holding onto the ball too long as our OL is not very good this year. Theyre young, but a lot of times they dont protect Leak well at all and that hurts him. Theyre gonna have to step up big to keep your DL from breaking through.

Ryan Smith is a good corner, but were lacking in that position. Im worried that we'll have to bring in Nelson on a lot of plays that will open up lanes for your WR's, or at the very least make it a lot easier on them. Our DL is gonna have to do a good enough job of pressuring Smith so Nelson can stay in the backfield and make plays to keep your WR's from breaking for big gains.

 

[Flocka]

Im not sure its a guarantee that you can pound the ball up the middle on us, we have one of the best defensive fronts in football. Look what we did to Mcfadden and Jones. I do agree on Leak, although I think its not as much him holding onto the ball too long as our OL is not very good this year. Theyre young, but a lot of times they dont protect Leak well at all and that hurts him. Theyre gonna have to step up big to keep your DL from breaking through.

Ryan Smith is a good corner, but were lacking in that position. Im worried that we'll have to bring in Nelson on a lot of plays that will open up lanes for your WR's, or at the very least make it a lot easier on them. Our DL is gonna have to do a good enough job of pressuring Smith so Nelson can stay in the backfield and make plays to keep your WR's from breaking for big gains.

The gators stopped mcfadden and jones because everyone knew that was their only threat. Arkansas completing a pass is as rare as the gators getting a field goal.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

The question will be if you guys have enough athletes to cover ours. That is where we hurt Michigan was when we spread them out.

I know you have Nelson(future top 15 pick IMO) and the corner(name escapes me at the moment) but not sure what else you have back there. I am also not just talking fill-ins you are going to need guys that can cover furture nfl receivers and very smart ones at that.

Also you are going to have to be able to switch to a base formation and stop the run when we go big. Our left side of the line is huge and they will just maul that side of the line and Pittman and Wells are very good at busting it.

Also you have to worry about keeping Smith in the pocket and not letting him escape the rush which he is very good at.

When we are on defense we have one very good corner in Jenkins. I am guessing he will match up with Baker. Harvin is the one that scares me, but we have a very good nickel back in Smith that will stop the run and covers fairly well and Washington who has struggled down the stretch but has shown signs of being very good himself. I am guessing with the shotgun formation you guys will show to us you will see us in a lot of nickel with Animal Jr. and Freeman at the lb spots. Both very good against the pass.

I think you guys will be able to move the ball on us, but I don't think the gimmick stuff will be that successful on us, as we are more of a bend but dont break defense and we always keep everythign in front of us. The question is if we get a couple scores on you guys will you guys stay patient enough to continue to the move the ball and will you be able to put it in the endzone instead of settling for fgs...

I am really excited to see what how we do against Tebow...

I also think we have an advantage in the coaching department...

 

[Welsh0913]

I think the kicking woes that Florida has experienced this year will come back and play a role in the game before all is said and done...

Hetland has only made one kick past 30 yards all season long. When you pit two great teams like Ohio State and Florida together for the national championship game, having a kicker like that is just asking for trouble.

 

[Best Buckeye]

I am going to say that Fla's D matches up as well or even better than tsun's did. We may even have to win the game with the running game and tiring out their D.
Our D is their problem. I think they will have trouble scoring as the game goes on.
Their season has pretty much been like 2002 was for us. Don't make the mistake of thinking that this is not a very good football team.
It is.
They have a very good coach who has won at 3 straight schools. Their team has tremendous speed.
One disadvantage they have is youth. This team is not used to playing in games of this stature. We also have a very nice edge in special teams.
Overall, we win if we stay focused and hungry.
Troy and this team play best in the big ones.

 

[Tom288]

I defintely agree with the gimmick stuff, if we cut that out and have a decent FG kicker we score a lot more points this year. Every time we HAVE to move the ball down the field we do, and its usually on drives where Mullen, our OC, calls plays which work for Leaks strengths, which is a drop back passing game. Leak is gonna have to have a great game and we have to get the ball to our playmakers, like Harvin. I think we have a really good chance, offensively, if we would just play straight up pro-style offense, but more than likely it will be this hybrid weve had all season.

Defensively, Nelson and Smith are gonna have to make some big plays and our secondary is gonna have to step up. I am worried about that because our D's main strength is stopping the run, which is a problem when we come up with an O like yours who has a great passing game with horses for WR's. All in all I think in the end we're gonna match up and play a lot better than anyone will think. We have a tough team who finds ways to win. Against a great team like Ohio it may not be enough, unless we put a complete game together and play well all 4 quarters, but I dont think there will be a blowout.

As far as coaching, I think Meyer is gonna turn out to be a great one with more and more experience and surpass Spurrier with what he does here. Mullen, our OC, Im not sold on. He has flashes of brilliance and then does some really bonehead things. Ill hold off on the Spread offense until we see Tebow and Meyers players there next year, but Im not certain on how it will hold up.

All in all I think were gonna match up pretty well and at the very least make a game of it, possibly pulling off an upset. Either way I expect a really good game from both parties.

 

[SMJ2617]

Tom288 Im not sure its a guarantee that you can pound the ball up the middle on us, we have one of the best defensive fronts in football.

Thats exactly what scUM thought as well. In fact they were not deemed one of the best but THE best front 7 in college football. Ohio State was still able to rip off two runs of 50+ yards and end with a total of 187 rush yards against them.

 

[PrincetonBuckeye]

I think the kicking woes that Florida has experienced this year will come back and play a role in the game before all is said and done...

Hetland has only made one kick past 30 yards all season long. When you pit two great teams like Ohio State and Florida together for the national championship game, having a kicker like that is just asking for trouble.

lol...I posted the same thing on the "Florida Speed" thread...that is one thing I haven't heard anyone talk about yet and I thought it was important since their kicker is absolutely horrible!!!!

 

[Flocka]

I don't think Florida is a bad team, but I just don't think they match up well. We are going to score, no matter what. You can't stop 7/11 and company when we spread the field out, and Pittman and Wells will also have good runs. I just don't thinkg UF can go score for score with us, which is what you have to do to beat us IMO. That is why TSUN and the Trojans were more of a threat. Not trying to bash, but just what I think.

 

[Tom288]

I agree our kicker has been horrible this year. Hoepfully making one in the SEC champ game pulled him out of the slump. It would be nice if he could turn it around and end his season and career with a great day in the MNC. I do think we have great special teams, comparable to Ohio, be it blocking punts or FG's, returns with Brandon James, we have a great unit. As far as rushing, everyone also said Mcfadden would run all over us and have some big ones. Thankfully we'll get to see how it works out on the field, where all things should be settled. Sure would be nice to have Marcus Thomas for this game, but he had his chances.