Game Thread BCS National Championship Game: tOSU 24, LSU 38 (final)

[Lockup]

Question: If it is true two of your DBs are suspended, what affect does that have on OSU ability to blitz the QB?

some may be better at answering this than me as they disect football games better than I do. anyway I don't see this has a huge problem. We did not do a lot of corner blitzes so it should be no big deal.

 

[jwinslow]

We did not do a lot of corner blitzes so it should be no big deal.

Disagree there, though I think Chekwa blitzed more often than Washington. Either way, DWash is a great security blanket to leave on an island.

 

[Zurp]

Question: If it is true two of your DBs are suspended, what affect does that have on OSU ability to blitz the QB?

First, one of the DBs was a back-up. Eugene Clifford is listed as the back-up to Jenkins, and I guess he played in 4 games this year. Second, losing Donald Washington is going to suck. He will be missed. But the guy who ought to replace him, Chimdi Chekwa, came in on nickle packages and replaced Jenkins, who moved to safety. I believe he played in all 12 games this year, and he played extensively in several games, where nickle was played more than "base" defense. I'm not too worried about Chekwa.

I think the concern that I have is when Ohio State needs to go to nickle defense. Who's #5? Jamario O'neal? I think there's your weak point.

As for your question, I'm just going to stab at the answer: my guess is that it doesn't affect Ohio State's ability to blitz. Although, on blitzes, they better get to the quarterback. I don't have quite as much faith in the defense, so do what you got to do to keep the play in front of the linebackers.

 

[COTiger]

LSU fans, I've heard there is a DT who was suspended all season (academics), but is cleared to play in this game. Who is he, what kind of player, and why was the suspension lifted now?

Here's an excerpt from the Baton Rouge paper last month:

LSU sophomore defensive lineman Ricky Jean-Francois, a first team freshman All-American by The Sporting News and a member of the All-Southeastern Conference team last season, will play Saturday in the SEC Campionship Game against Tennessee.

LSU?s Dean of Students Office cleared Jean-Francois this week. He had been suspended for the first 12 games of the season for an academic honesty issue.

?He will play,? LSU coach Les Miles said after practice Wednesday but declined to get into details. ?I don?t want to get specific there. I defer. I cannot confirm nor deny. But he?ll take some snaps in the game I promise you.?

Jean-Francois, a highly recruited signee out of Carol City High in Miami in 2005, made 27 tackles last season in a relief role with three sacks and 5.5 tackles for losses. He has played end and tackle at LSU, but Miles would not say which position he would play Saturday.

 

[Lockup]

Disagree there, though I think Chekwa blitzed more often than Washington. Either way, DWash is a great security blanket to leave on an island.

I thought about that after I posted and I think you are right. I seem to remember Chekwa blitzing quite a bit but was it out of Nickel most of the time? Either way I don't think it is a huge deal as far as blitzes go.

 

[BrutuStrength]

Question: If it is true two of your DBs are suspended, what affect does that have on OSU ability to blitz the QB?

1 of the DBs (Eugene Clifford) is a guy that would have likely only seen the field on special teams anyway, so that's not a huge loss, and wouldn't affect our blitzing plans anyway.

The other (Donald Washington) is a starting CB, and is a really solid player. 1 of the most underrated players in the country, IMO. He is a solid tackler and good in coverage as well.

The 2 players that are likely to see more time due to his being out are Chimdi Chekwa and Andre Amos. Amos was sidelined for the first half of the season due to injury. He played a good deal the year before as the 3rd CB. Chekwa stepped up this year as a result of Amos' injury, and proved himself to be very solid. I expect that Chekwa will get the start, and Amos will get on the field in Nickel situations.

In any case, I don't think our blitz schemes will be impacted. Both of these guys have played, and played well. I would have been much more concerned if the player were one of our safeties.

 

[buckeyeinfla]

tiger fan...what is the injury situation like for lsu? flynn hurt worse than expected? is your starting guard going to play? TIA

 

[Lockup]

Here's an excerpt from the Baton Rouge paper last month:

Not that it is a huge deal but if he was suspended for academic honesty why bring him back now? I am sure he may still had come back even if it was not the NCG but it kind of smells regardless. It should be a supesnsion for the season including the bowl game.

 

[BrutuStrength]

I think the concern that I have is when Ohio State needs to go to nickle defense. Who's #5? Jamario O'neal? I think there's your weak point.

I'm thinking this will likely be Amos coming into the game with Jenkins dropping back to S like he did all year.

 

[COTiger]

Not that it is a huge deal but if he was suspended for academic honesty why bring him back now? I am sure he may still had come back even if it was not the NCG but it kind of smells regardless. It should be a supesnsion for the season including the bowl game.

He was cleared to play in the SEC Championship game against the Vols. I don't know any more details other than what I've read on line.

He's #3 on our depth chart for the LT, RT, & RE positions.

 

[spotpass]

I'm thinking this will likely be Amos coming into the game with Jenkins dropping back to S like he did all year.

as long as it's not EJ Underwood, we'll be in good shape:tongue2:

 

[Tigertracker]

Not that it is a huge deal but if he was suspended for academic honesty why bring him back now? I am sure he may still had come back even if it was not the NCG but it kind of smells regardless. It should be a supesnsion for the season including the bowl game.

He was suspended for the regular season. He played in the SEC CG and he will play in this one. Nothing fishy about it, most teams probably would have given him a 2 or 3 game suspension. It is not a plot against OSU. :-)

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

OHIO STATE INSIDER
Ohio State has chance to repeat as BCS champ


Thursday, December 20, 2007 Doug Lesmerises
Plain Dealer Reporter
Columbus -- In the 10th year of the current setup of the Bowl Championship Series, the BCS is guaranteed to emerge with its first two-time champion.
Ohio State and LSU have each won a BCS title, along with Tennessee, Florida State, Miami, Oklahoma, Southern Cal, Texas and Florida. Florida State, Miami, Southern Cal and Oklahoma failed in their attempts to win No. 2, but now either the Buckeyes or Tigers have to do it.
OSU coach Jim Tressel will be coaching in his third BCS title game, joining Oklahoma's Bob Stoops and Florida State's Bobby Bowden as the only three-timers. But Tressel doesn't think the personal experience is any advantage.

Continued.....

 

[Lockup]

He was suspended for the regular season. He played in the SEC CG and he will play in this one. Nothing fishy about it, most teams probably would have given him a 2 or 3 game suspension. It is not a plot against OSU. :-)

I am not tring to imply it is a plot against OSU. I am just saying if you suspend a kid for the regular because for cheating (I am assuming that is what academic dishonesty means) then that should include the post season. I am not really tring to take a jab at LSU either. I assume this may be the norm in other schools too. regardless of what school does it, it stinks that you punish a kid for an entire season but then tell him it is ok to play in champonship or bowl games.

 

[LSUMastermind]

I come in peace. Good Luck to you Buckeye fans in the NC. I get a lil emotional sometimes so if i come on strong, never mind me attribute it to my tiger instincts.

So you lose 2 of your CBs, thats a pretty big deal considering the talent we have at WR.