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[SIZE=+2]UT-Ohio State chat: Answers from both sides
[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]03:06 PM CDT on Thursday, September 7, 2006
[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1] [/SIZE] DMN writer Chip Brown and Columbus Dispatch writer Ken Gordon answered questions on the UT-Ohio State game on Thursday, Sept. 7.
doggy: Question for the Columbus guy: What's your take on Tressel's strategy last year of rotating the quarterbacks?
Ken Gordon: To his credit, Tressel has consistently refused to second-guess himself for that. But plenty of others have, including me. My take is that once he put Troy Smith in and Ohio State clearly started moving and scoring better, I would not have gone back to Justin Zwick. But I don't get paid $2.4 million a year, either!
moderator: For Chip ... how do you expect Colt McCoy to perform on such a huge national stage so early in his career as the starting QB?
Chip Brown: For some reason, I think he's going to be OK. He said this week that he could read defense in sixth grade. He's a coach's son, so I think the game is slower for him than most redshirt freshman. Mack Brown described him as "Major Applewhite with legs," meaning a mobile Major. I refer to him as McCoy in the Middle because he looks like the kid on Malcolm in the Middle and sounds like a boy, too. He's gotten help from the receivers, namely Limas Sweed and Billy Pittman, in getting comfortable with the offense. I don't think Ohio State's defense is half as good as last year. If it was Hawk and Co. this season, McCoy would be in big trouble. But I think he can manage the game against this Buckeye D.
tinyperson: For Ken ... is Troy Smith a legit pro prospect?
Ken Gordon: No question, he has the arm and can make all the throws, from the timing patterns outside to the deep balls. More often than not now, he scrambles to buy time to throw, not to gain yards. Some will question his height (maybe 6-1), but if he puts up a 3,000-yard passing season, I think he's a first-round pick, maybe in the 10 to 20 overall pick range.
landau: Chip: Please assess the impact of the loss of T. Brown!
Chip Brown: If anything, I think the loss of Tarell Brown gave this team a sense of urgency it might have needed. Brown's a nice player and a physical player against the run for a corner. He also had a great Rose Bowl before having his right arm broken by his own teammate (Michael Griffin). But Texas has depth. Brandon Foster and Ryan Palmer are a few inches shorter than Brown, but they're fast and can cover. If anything, it focused the team in practice this week.
From e-mail: For Ken Gordon, what do you see as the biggest threat/concern for Ohio State?
JJ in Austin
Ken Gordon
Ken Gordon: Selvin Young and Jamaal Charles between that big, athletic offensive line. OSU's defensive front is very good, easily the best aspect of the Bucks' D. But their linebackers and safeties really struggled against Northern Illinois' back Garrett Wolfe last week. Wolfe may be good, but it's Northern Illinois, for pete's sake. Obviously, if Texas can get into a rhythm rushing and OSU's eyes get locked in the backfield, McCoy has more time to throw and then the Buckeyes are really in trouble.
Daniel in DC: Chip ... break down the matchup between the Texas receivers and the OSU secondary. Who has the advantage?
Chip Brown
Chip Brown: The experience advantage goes to Texas. Limas Sweed and Billy Pittman both had breakout games against Ohio State last year, so they should have confidence. Quan Cosby has been solid. Ohio State has some questions in the secondary, including corner Antonio Smith and free safety Nick Patterson. Those guys are green in terms of experience. Nowhere near the talent that Ohio State had last year with players like Whitner, Youboty and Salley.
ttom: For Ken....What kind of game do you see Troy Smith having Saturday?
Ken Gordon: A big one. It's weird how similar Smith's leadership and aura is to Vince Young and what he brought to the Longhorns last year. Smith has a thorough grasp of the offense, reads his progressions and avoids mistakes (just 4 INTs last year). He also still can run when he has to. I'm not predicting who wins, but if OSU loses, it won't be Smith's fault.
ttom: One more for Chip: What's the atmosphere like in Austin this week?
Chip Brown: It's about to be insane. Five different airlines are increasing the number of flights and size of aircraft for travel between Ohio and Austin to accommodate the anticipated 35,000 Ohio State fans. Let's hope they're not bringing their couches, lighter fluid and matches if the Buckeyes win. Matthew McConaughey, Lance Armstrong and the Wilson brothers (Owen and Luke) are expected to be here. They're unveiling a new statue of Earl Campbell, who will be introduced at halftime. The Buckeyes have rented out the Erwin Center for a pep rally. This is all stuff I've never experienced at a home game in 15 years of covering Texas.
Roy L.: Hey, Gordo, are you guys still whining about losing last year's game because you hadn't settled on a starting QB? You know, we really felt sorry about that down here.
Ken Gordon: Hey Roy-O: Who is "you guys?" Not the writers, certainly. All we want is a good game and to get our stories filed by deadline.....And I haven't heard any whining from fans about that. If anything, they lament the dropped pass in the end zone that would have given OSU a 26-16 lead late in the third quarter. That was a tough one for Buckeye Nation to take.
TxHorns99: For Chip ... how careful will Mack be with the kicking game, in order to limit Ginn's chances at a game-breaker?
Chip Brown: Mack says he's going to be careful. He should. While Ginn and Santonio Holmes didn't hurt Texas on punts last season, they each had a big kick return. Holmes took one back 47 yards and Ginn took one back 46 yards. Look for directional pooch kicks to try to contain the run backs.
miketag98: For Ken ... what is your take on the Ohio State defense after one game?
Ken Gordon: They wear scarlet and gray, but the key color is GREEN. As I said earlier, the front line is very good. The defensive tackles, Pitcock and Patterson, are two of the best I've seen. And the four-man rotation at both end positions looked outstanding last week, as well. Remember the name Vernon Gholston, No. 50. The back seven is all new, and that's where I expect to see some struggles. They have speed and their pass coverage seemed solid, but the linebackers in particular missed some tackles and took some poor angles. They are a definite work in progress.
dtrizzle88: For Chip ... what are some insights on Brandon Foster and Ryan Palmer and can either one stop Ted Ginn or is Aaron Ross going to have him covered?
Chip Brown: Foster and Palmer can cover as long as they don't tighten up on the big stage, which I wouldn't expect. Chizik plays a cover two zone scheme, so you'll almost never see someone locked up on Ginn without safety help over the top. You'll probably see Michael Griffin play some corner in this game with Erick Jackson and Marcus Griffin back at safety. You might even see freshman safety Robert Joseph at safety with Michael Griffin at corner. Joseph is a playmaker with speed.
luigi: Ken ... Tressel has been very conservative in road games for a long time. Will he open it up till his defense becomes a OSU defense?
Ken Gordon: If the opener was any indication, Tressel is picking up where he left off at the end of last year with his play-calling. His team put up 617 yards of offense on Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl, the most against the Irish ever, pretty impressive. Most of the parts return, and it appears Tressel is comfortable with turning them loose. His plan of attack nowadays seems to be pass early and often to get a lead, then pound it on the ground to eat clock. Remember, too, unlike the past four years, he doesn't have a proven kicker, so he's more likely to go for the end zone than play it safe.
cantman: Chip ... how do you see the 'Horns attacking the OSU defense?
Chip Brown: I expect Greg Davis to come out throwing to loosen up the defense for the run. North Texas stuffed the run early last week. Now, Texas was very vanilla and should unleash some reverses (watch for Jordan Shipley on those) and some more misdirection for Jamaal Charles. Also look for the tight ends to be more involved. The Longhorns purposely ran a couple option plays last week just to make sure Ohio State had to spend time working on it. I doubt you'll see a whole lot of option Saturday night.
moderator: For Ken ... have you covered a game in Austin?
Ken Gordon: I actually have never been to Austin, so I'm really looking forward to this. The closest I've been was Houston back in my days covering the Cincinnati Bengals, and then San Antonio in December 2004 for the Alamo Bowl with OSU. Have any good restaurant tips??
Barry: Chip ... when did Texas and Ohio State schedule last year's and this years game ... and is there any rumblings about Texas scheduling any future games with Big 10 schools?
Chip Brown: It was scheduled before Mack Brown arrived, probably about 12 years ago. Don't look for Brown to schedule any more Big Ten opponents any time soon. While Mack is getting a lot of credit for playing a non-conference game like this, he doesn't like them. He thinks the BCS formula favors playing a non-conference slate of winnable games. The only big names on Texas' horizon are Arkansas and UCLA.
miketag98: For Ken ... does Ohio State have any legit receiving threats besides Ginn and Gonzalez?
Ken Gordon: Yes, several new names emerged last week. First of all, Roy Hall, scheduled to be the No. 3 guy this year, probably will sit out for a second straight week with a bum ankle. But two redshirt freshman and a true freshman all flashed against Northern Illinois: Brian Robiskie, Brian Hartline and Ray Small. Robiskie is the son of Cleveland Browns assistant coach Terry Robiskie, and he's solid, dependable, smart, nothing flashy. Small is the true freshman with speed to burn, they like to get him in space and they use him creatively, much like Ginn. Also, tight end Rory Nicol looks capable, thought he didn't get many chances last week.
doggy: For Chip, now that Brown won't be on Ginn, will UT do anything special to stop him?
Chip Brown: They won't move Aaron Ross all over the field to stop him. Texas will play a lot of nickel and some dime and cover him with man underneath and zone over the top.
TxHorns99: For Ken ... where was the weakness last week in the Buck's D with regards to Garrett Wolfe running wild ? in the line or in the linebackers, or both? Or neither?
Ken Gordon: In some instances, Wolfe's big game was a credit to Northern Illinois' coaches. They made some adjustment to counter OSU's defensive overaggressiveness, and got some big plays on screens and draws. But there also were some simple, up-the-gut plays that netted 8 or 9 yards in there, and as I said earlier, from the naked eye it appeared the linebackers and safeties either were in the wrong gaps or didn't get off their blocks quick enough. Wolfe is a 5-7 scatback, so OSU will see a much different style of run game this week.
Daniel in DC: Chip: How much have the 'Horns simplified their offense this year moving from VY to McCoy in the Middle? Will this simplify things for the young OSU defense?
Chip Brown: Greg Davis said he's willing to throw it 40 times ? just like the Rose Bowl ? if that's what the defense dictates. The big difference is Young's running ability. The mere threat of it caused defenses to be out of position and uncomfortable at times last year. No defense is sweating Colt McCoy getting out on the prowl. So, yes, Ohio State's defense will have an easier time containing the quarterback. It will come down to Texas' offensive line dominating the line of scrimmage. If that happens, Texas' offense will move the ball. If not, McCoy could get rattled and make some mistakes.
miketag98: Ken ... any Texas players that "scare" the Ohio State coaches?
Ken Gordon: It's kind of weird, but the player I've heard mentioned by name several times this week as a concern is Brian Arakpo. Of course, they pay proper homage to Young, Charles, Sweed and Pittman on offense, and Okam and Griffin are two others on defense they talk about. I'm not privvy to their meeting rooms, I'm sure they mentioned many more concerns than those.
miketag98: For Chip ... do you expect the Texas coaches to unleash Jeremichael Finley this game?
Chip Brown: It's very possible. No one has film of Finley, so Ohio State doesn't realize what a down-the-field threat he is. I see Finley being a factor in this game.
FW jake: Ken, how do you see OS front seven vs UT ... how do you suspect the UT running game will go?
Ken Gordon: I've talked about OSU's run defense a lot already. I'll be watching players like middle backer James Laurinaitis and weak side backer John Kerr closely to see if they stepped up their games from week one to week two. I expect Texas to test the Buckeyes' defensive manhood early. Why go to Plan B if Plan A works? Remember, too, the Longhorns burned the Buckeyes last year on some flip passes to their backs, I expect to see some of that, as well.
moderator: Chip ... what were your thoughts on the Horseshoe last season? What is the best venue you've been to covering a UT game?
Chip Brown: I thought it was about as intense as I've seen. There were 100,000 fans in the stadium and 100,000 fans outside the stadium on High Street (?) just partying and soaking up the atmosphere. Hate to say it, but College Station is the loudest stadium I've been to all through the game. Big Ten fans have a tendency to get quiet at times. But the Horseshoe is an awesome stadium. Great, passionate fans.
landau: Ken ... many UT fans reported being treated very badly by OSU last year. Was this kind of bad behavior typical for OSU fans or prompted by the high profile nature of the game?
Ken Gordon: I'd have to say it's not typical. I've lived in central Ohio off and on for the past 30 years, and if anything, I always felt fans in this area were too polite. The Horsehoe doesn't have a real rowdy student section, and in fact many fans get upset because when they stand up, some older fans often ask them so sit down so they can see. I was not outside the stadium until hours after the game, so I can't testify to the atmosphere. I'm going to have to chalk it up to being a night game and the chance to do a few too many 12-ounce curls.
Striker: For Chip ... which team would have a better chance of competing for a national championship with a loss?
Chip Brown: Hard to say. I don't see either of these teams playing for the national title. Ohio State's defense has one too many questions, and Texas' quarterback situation will catch up to it at some point ? maybe Saturday.
Virginia: For Ken ... how much of a ruckus has Tressel's alleged vote for UT caused him in Columbus?
Ken Gordon: I thought he voted for Virginia? (ha ha). Telling everyone he voted for Texas was seen as a motivational ploy by his players and this reporter, as well. It didn't become a ruckus until it turned out that the staff member assigned to call in Tressel's vote made a mistake. That's their story, at least. But his logic for voting for UT was such: Defending champs, 21-game win streak. Until someone beats them, they're No. 1. Made sense to me.
chipper: Chip ... is this the toughest ticket ever for a game in Austin?
Chip Brown: Everyone who knows ? namely Texas historian Bill Little ? says yes. So I'll go with him. Tickets are going for upwards of $2,000. I'd rather watch it at home on my big screen.
ascott23: Chip ... will Sergio or Kelson play?
Chip Brown: Kelson will be back at weak side linebacker. No word on Sergio Kindle.
ascott23: Chip ... Ross has a chance to return a punt all the way, and do you think Charles is as good of a back as the kid at NIU?
Chip Brown: Ross has also fumbled the opening punt in each of the last two games. Don't forget that. (Texas has lost both of them, too). Charles is incredibly talented. He's not as much of a scat-back as Garrett Wolfe, but he's every bit as fast. If Ohio State's not ready for Texas' speed, it could be a shock to those new defenders.
moderator: Chip ... do you have a prediction on this game?
Chip Brown: I'm predicting Texas 24-14. Colt McCoy becomes a legend in his second game, and Gene Chizik shows why this is his last season in Austin.
moderator: Ken ... care to make a prediction on this game?
Ken Gordon: I really don't have a great feel for this one. I can see Texas having too much for a young Ohio State defense to handle. I can also see Ted Ginn making big plays and Troy Smith willing his team to win. So I'm not calling a score. I'll just pull a page from Mr. T of "A team" fame and say: "I see PAIN." It's been fun, Tejas. Be safe Saturday.
Roy L.: For Chip ... I thought Texas' biggest weakness in last year's game was in covering kick-off returns. Have they given emphasis to that in preparing for Saturday's game?
Chip Brown: Texas got torched on kickoff returns. Ohio State had 191 yards on six kickoff returns ? a staggering 31.8 yards per return average. Freshman K Hunter Lawrence was supposed to have a leg to kick it through the end zone. But he hasn't been able to win the job from senior P Greg Johnson. So if they have to kick off with directional pooches, Texas will give up some field position but maybe not the huge returns Texas gave up last year. Looks like that's all the time we have for today. Thanks for the questions and beware of burning couches.
[SIZE=+2]UT-Ohio State chat: Answers from both sides
[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]03:06 PM CDT on Thursday, September 7, 2006
[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1] [/SIZE] DMN writer Chip Brown and Columbus Dispatch writer Ken Gordon answered questions on the UT-Ohio State game on Thursday, Sept. 7.
doggy: Question for the Columbus guy: What's your take on Tressel's strategy last year of rotating the quarterbacks?
Ken Gordon: To his credit, Tressel has consistently refused to second-guess himself for that. But plenty of others have, including me. My take is that once he put Troy Smith in and Ohio State clearly started moving and scoring better, I would not have gone back to Justin Zwick. But I don't get paid $2.4 million a year, either!
moderator: For Chip ... how do you expect Colt McCoy to perform on such a huge national stage so early in his career as the starting QB?
Chip Brown: For some reason, I think he's going to be OK. He said this week that he could read defense in sixth grade. He's a coach's son, so I think the game is slower for him than most redshirt freshman. Mack Brown described him as "Major Applewhite with legs," meaning a mobile Major. I refer to him as McCoy in the Middle because he looks like the kid on Malcolm in the Middle and sounds like a boy, too. He's gotten help from the receivers, namely Limas Sweed and Billy Pittman, in getting comfortable with the offense. I don't think Ohio State's defense is half as good as last year. If it was Hawk and Co. this season, McCoy would be in big trouble. But I think he can manage the game against this Buckeye D.
tinyperson: For Ken ... is Troy Smith a legit pro prospect?
Ken Gordon: No question, he has the arm and can make all the throws, from the timing patterns outside to the deep balls. More often than not now, he scrambles to buy time to throw, not to gain yards. Some will question his height (maybe 6-1), but if he puts up a 3,000-yard passing season, I think he's a first-round pick, maybe in the 10 to 20 overall pick range.
landau: Chip: Please assess the impact of the loss of T. Brown!
Chip Brown: If anything, I think the loss of Tarell Brown gave this team a sense of urgency it might have needed. Brown's a nice player and a physical player against the run for a corner. He also had a great Rose Bowl before having his right arm broken by his own teammate (Michael Griffin). But Texas has depth. Brandon Foster and Ryan Palmer are a few inches shorter than Brown, but they're fast and can cover. If anything, it focused the team in practice this week.
From e-mail: For Ken Gordon, what do you see as the biggest threat/concern for Ohio State?
JJ in Austin
Ken Gordon
Ken Gordon: Selvin Young and Jamaal Charles between that big, athletic offensive line. OSU's defensive front is very good, easily the best aspect of the Bucks' D. But their linebackers and safeties really struggled against Northern Illinois' back Garrett Wolfe last week. Wolfe may be good, but it's Northern Illinois, for pete's sake. Obviously, if Texas can get into a rhythm rushing and OSU's eyes get locked in the backfield, McCoy has more time to throw and then the Buckeyes are really in trouble.
Daniel in DC: Chip ... break down the matchup between the Texas receivers and the OSU secondary. Who has the advantage?
Chip Brown
Chip Brown: The experience advantage goes to Texas. Limas Sweed and Billy Pittman both had breakout games against Ohio State last year, so they should have confidence. Quan Cosby has been solid. Ohio State has some questions in the secondary, including corner Antonio Smith and free safety Nick Patterson. Those guys are green in terms of experience. Nowhere near the talent that Ohio State had last year with players like Whitner, Youboty and Salley.
ttom: For Ken....What kind of game do you see Troy Smith having Saturday?
Ken Gordon: A big one. It's weird how similar Smith's leadership and aura is to Vince Young and what he brought to the Longhorns last year. Smith has a thorough grasp of the offense, reads his progressions and avoids mistakes (just 4 INTs last year). He also still can run when he has to. I'm not predicting who wins, but if OSU loses, it won't be Smith's fault.
ttom: One more for Chip: What's the atmosphere like in Austin this week?
Chip Brown: It's about to be insane. Five different airlines are increasing the number of flights and size of aircraft for travel between Ohio and Austin to accommodate the anticipated 35,000 Ohio State fans. Let's hope they're not bringing their couches, lighter fluid and matches if the Buckeyes win. Matthew McConaughey, Lance Armstrong and the Wilson brothers (Owen and Luke) are expected to be here. They're unveiling a new statue of Earl Campbell, who will be introduced at halftime. The Buckeyes have rented out the Erwin Center for a pep rally. This is all stuff I've never experienced at a home game in 15 years of covering Texas.
Roy L.: Hey, Gordo, are you guys still whining about losing last year's game because you hadn't settled on a starting QB? You know, we really felt sorry about that down here.
Ken Gordon: Hey Roy-O: Who is "you guys?" Not the writers, certainly. All we want is a good game and to get our stories filed by deadline.....And I haven't heard any whining from fans about that. If anything, they lament the dropped pass in the end zone that would have given OSU a 26-16 lead late in the third quarter. That was a tough one for Buckeye Nation to take.
TxHorns99: For Chip ... how careful will Mack be with the kicking game, in order to limit Ginn's chances at a game-breaker?
Chip Brown: Mack says he's going to be careful. He should. While Ginn and Santonio Holmes didn't hurt Texas on punts last season, they each had a big kick return. Holmes took one back 47 yards and Ginn took one back 46 yards. Look for directional pooch kicks to try to contain the run backs.
miketag98: For Ken ... what is your take on the Ohio State defense after one game?
Ken Gordon: They wear scarlet and gray, but the key color is GREEN. As I said earlier, the front line is very good. The defensive tackles, Pitcock and Patterson, are two of the best I've seen. And the four-man rotation at both end positions looked outstanding last week, as well. Remember the name Vernon Gholston, No. 50. The back seven is all new, and that's where I expect to see some struggles. They have speed and their pass coverage seemed solid, but the linebackers in particular missed some tackles and took some poor angles. They are a definite work in progress.
dtrizzle88: For Chip ... what are some insights on Brandon Foster and Ryan Palmer and can either one stop Ted Ginn or is Aaron Ross going to have him covered?
Chip Brown: Foster and Palmer can cover as long as they don't tighten up on the big stage, which I wouldn't expect. Chizik plays a cover two zone scheme, so you'll almost never see someone locked up on Ginn without safety help over the top. You'll probably see Michael Griffin play some corner in this game with Erick Jackson and Marcus Griffin back at safety. You might even see freshman safety Robert Joseph at safety with Michael Griffin at corner. Joseph is a playmaker with speed.
luigi: Ken ... Tressel has been very conservative in road games for a long time. Will he open it up till his defense becomes a OSU defense?
Ken Gordon: If the opener was any indication, Tressel is picking up where he left off at the end of last year with his play-calling. His team put up 617 yards of offense on Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl, the most against the Irish ever, pretty impressive. Most of the parts return, and it appears Tressel is comfortable with turning them loose. His plan of attack nowadays seems to be pass early and often to get a lead, then pound it on the ground to eat clock. Remember, too, unlike the past four years, he doesn't have a proven kicker, so he's more likely to go for the end zone than play it safe.
cantman: Chip ... how do you see the 'Horns attacking the OSU defense?
Chip Brown: I expect Greg Davis to come out throwing to loosen up the defense for the run. North Texas stuffed the run early last week. Now, Texas was very vanilla and should unleash some reverses (watch for Jordan Shipley on those) and some more misdirection for Jamaal Charles. Also look for the tight ends to be more involved. The Longhorns purposely ran a couple option plays last week just to make sure Ohio State had to spend time working on it. I doubt you'll see a whole lot of option Saturday night.
moderator: For Ken ... have you covered a game in Austin?
Ken Gordon: I actually have never been to Austin, so I'm really looking forward to this. The closest I've been was Houston back in my days covering the Cincinnati Bengals, and then San Antonio in December 2004 for the Alamo Bowl with OSU. Have any good restaurant tips??
Barry: Chip ... when did Texas and Ohio State schedule last year's and this years game ... and is there any rumblings about Texas scheduling any future games with Big 10 schools?
Chip Brown: It was scheduled before Mack Brown arrived, probably about 12 years ago. Don't look for Brown to schedule any more Big Ten opponents any time soon. While Mack is getting a lot of credit for playing a non-conference game like this, he doesn't like them. He thinks the BCS formula favors playing a non-conference slate of winnable games. The only big names on Texas' horizon are Arkansas and UCLA.
miketag98: For Ken ... does Ohio State have any legit receiving threats besides Ginn and Gonzalez?
Ken Gordon: Yes, several new names emerged last week. First of all, Roy Hall, scheduled to be the No. 3 guy this year, probably will sit out for a second straight week with a bum ankle. But two redshirt freshman and a true freshman all flashed against Northern Illinois: Brian Robiskie, Brian Hartline and Ray Small. Robiskie is the son of Cleveland Browns assistant coach Terry Robiskie, and he's solid, dependable, smart, nothing flashy. Small is the true freshman with speed to burn, they like to get him in space and they use him creatively, much like Ginn. Also, tight end Rory Nicol looks capable, thought he didn't get many chances last week.
doggy: For Chip, now that Brown won't be on Ginn, will UT do anything special to stop him?
Chip Brown: They won't move Aaron Ross all over the field to stop him. Texas will play a lot of nickel and some dime and cover him with man underneath and zone over the top.
TxHorns99: For Ken ... where was the weakness last week in the Buck's D with regards to Garrett Wolfe running wild ? in the line or in the linebackers, or both? Or neither?
Ken Gordon: In some instances, Wolfe's big game was a credit to Northern Illinois' coaches. They made some adjustment to counter OSU's defensive overaggressiveness, and got some big plays on screens and draws. But there also were some simple, up-the-gut plays that netted 8 or 9 yards in there, and as I said earlier, from the naked eye it appeared the linebackers and safeties either were in the wrong gaps or didn't get off their blocks quick enough. Wolfe is a 5-7 scatback, so OSU will see a much different style of run game this week.
Daniel in DC: Chip: How much have the 'Horns simplified their offense this year moving from VY to McCoy in the Middle? Will this simplify things for the young OSU defense?
Chip Brown: Greg Davis said he's willing to throw it 40 times ? just like the Rose Bowl ? if that's what the defense dictates. The big difference is Young's running ability. The mere threat of it caused defenses to be out of position and uncomfortable at times last year. No defense is sweating Colt McCoy getting out on the prowl. So, yes, Ohio State's defense will have an easier time containing the quarterback. It will come down to Texas' offensive line dominating the line of scrimmage. If that happens, Texas' offense will move the ball. If not, McCoy could get rattled and make some mistakes.
miketag98: Ken ... any Texas players that "scare" the Ohio State coaches?
Ken Gordon: It's kind of weird, but the player I've heard mentioned by name several times this week as a concern is Brian Arakpo. Of course, they pay proper homage to Young, Charles, Sweed and Pittman on offense, and Okam and Griffin are two others on defense they talk about. I'm not privvy to their meeting rooms, I'm sure they mentioned many more concerns than those.
miketag98: For Chip ... do you expect the Texas coaches to unleash Jeremichael Finley this game?
Chip Brown: It's very possible. No one has film of Finley, so Ohio State doesn't realize what a down-the-field threat he is. I see Finley being a factor in this game.
FW jake: Ken, how do you see OS front seven vs UT ... how do you suspect the UT running game will go?
Ken Gordon: I've talked about OSU's run defense a lot already. I'll be watching players like middle backer James Laurinaitis and weak side backer John Kerr closely to see if they stepped up their games from week one to week two. I expect Texas to test the Buckeyes' defensive manhood early. Why go to Plan B if Plan A works? Remember, too, the Longhorns burned the Buckeyes last year on some flip passes to their backs, I expect to see some of that, as well.
moderator: Chip ... what were your thoughts on the Horseshoe last season? What is the best venue you've been to covering a UT game?
Chip Brown: I thought it was about as intense as I've seen. There were 100,000 fans in the stadium and 100,000 fans outside the stadium on High Street (?) just partying and soaking up the atmosphere. Hate to say it, but College Station is the loudest stadium I've been to all through the game. Big Ten fans have a tendency to get quiet at times. But the Horseshoe is an awesome stadium. Great, passionate fans.
landau: Ken ... many UT fans reported being treated very badly by OSU last year. Was this kind of bad behavior typical for OSU fans or prompted by the high profile nature of the game?
Ken Gordon: I'd have to say it's not typical. I've lived in central Ohio off and on for the past 30 years, and if anything, I always felt fans in this area were too polite. The Horsehoe doesn't have a real rowdy student section, and in fact many fans get upset because when they stand up, some older fans often ask them so sit down so they can see. I was not outside the stadium until hours after the game, so I can't testify to the atmosphere. I'm going to have to chalk it up to being a night game and the chance to do a few too many 12-ounce curls.
Striker: For Chip ... which team would have a better chance of competing for a national championship with a loss?
Chip Brown: Hard to say. I don't see either of these teams playing for the national title. Ohio State's defense has one too many questions, and Texas' quarterback situation will catch up to it at some point ? maybe Saturday.
Virginia: For Ken ... how much of a ruckus has Tressel's alleged vote for UT caused him in Columbus?
Ken Gordon: I thought he voted for Virginia? (ha ha). Telling everyone he voted for Texas was seen as a motivational ploy by his players and this reporter, as well. It didn't become a ruckus until it turned out that the staff member assigned to call in Tressel's vote made a mistake. That's their story, at least. But his logic for voting for UT was such: Defending champs, 21-game win streak. Until someone beats them, they're No. 1. Made sense to me.
chipper: Chip ... is this the toughest ticket ever for a game in Austin?
Chip Brown: Everyone who knows ? namely Texas historian Bill Little ? says yes. So I'll go with him. Tickets are going for upwards of $2,000. I'd rather watch it at home on my big screen.
ascott23: Chip ... will Sergio or Kelson play?
Chip Brown: Kelson will be back at weak side linebacker. No word on Sergio Kindle.
ascott23: Chip ... Ross has a chance to return a punt all the way, and do you think Charles is as good of a back as the kid at NIU?
Chip Brown: Ross has also fumbled the opening punt in each of the last two games. Don't forget that. (Texas has lost both of them, too). Charles is incredibly talented. He's not as much of a scat-back as Garrett Wolfe, but he's every bit as fast. If Ohio State's not ready for Texas' speed, it could be a shock to those new defenders.
moderator: Chip ... do you have a prediction on this game?
Chip Brown: I'm predicting Texas 24-14. Colt McCoy becomes a legend in his second game, and Gene Chizik shows why this is his last season in Austin.
moderator: Ken ... care to make a prediction on this game?
Ken Gordon: I really don't have a great feel for this one. I can see Texas having too much for a young Ohio State defense to handle. I can also see Ted Ginn making big plays and Troy Smith willing his team to win. So I'm not calling a score. I'll just pull a page from Mr. T of "A team" fame and say: "I see PAIN." It's been fun, Tejas. Be safe Saturday.
Roy L.: For Chip ... I thought Texas' biggest weakness in last year's game was in covering kick-off returns. Have they given emphasis to that in preparing for Saturday's game?
Chip Brown: Texas got torched on kickoff returns. Ohio State had 191 yards on six kickoff returns ? a staggering 31.8 yards per return average. Freshman K Hunter Lawrence was supposed to have a leg to kick it through the end zone. But he hasn't been able to win the job from senior P Greg Johnson. So if they have to kick off with directional pooches, Texas will give up some field position but maybe not the huge returns Texas gave up last year. Looks like that's all the time we have for today. Thanks for the questions and beware of burning couches.
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bchorn
Longhorn fan
osugrad21 said:
Chip is not the only saying this about Colt. Every person I've read who covers the Horns says they are not concerned at all about Colt's performance/nerves in this weekend's game. That's why I've been saying for weeks now that I think Colt is going to surprise most Buckeye fans in this game.
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bkochmc
Assistant Coach
Just because it is fun to bring up the weather again... 
National Weather Service forecast for kickoff:
Saturday, September 9 at 8pm
Temperature: 85F
Relative Humidity: 52%
Rain: Slight Chance (10%-20%)
NWS Hourly Forecast for Austin/San Antonio, TX
Man, the Buckeyes have never practiced or played in those conditions before!
National Weather Service forecast for kickoff:
Saturday, September 9 at 8pm
Temperature: 85F
Relative Humidity: 52%
Rain: Slight Chance (10%-20%)
NWS Hourly Forecast for Austin/San Antonio, TX
Man, the Buckeyes have never practiced or played in those conditions before!
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I don't expect him to be inept, but I don't care how many people offer their analysis, he's either the most aloof person to walk the planet (and he's not, I am) or he's going to have jitters.
Like I said, that doesn't translate in to him looking like he shouldn't even be starting for East Northern Nobody State, it means that I don't care how "mature" a Freshman is... he's still a Freshman. And Freshman make Freshman mistakes. Colt's job will be to limit those.
Like I said, that doesn't translate in to him looking like he shouldn't even be starting for East Northern Nobody State, it means that I don't care how "mature" a Freshman is... he's still a Freshman. And Freshman make Freshman mistakes. Colt's job will be to limit those.
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bkochmc said:Just because it is fun to bring up the weather again...
National Weather Service forecast for kickoff:
Saturday, September 9 at 8pm
Temperature: 85?F
Relative Humidity: 52%
Rain: Slight Chance (10%-20%)
NWS Hourly Forecast for Austin/San Antonio, TX
Man, the Buckeyes have never practiced or played in those conditions before!
No kidding. Hardly could get to work today with all the snow. I hope they don't close Port Columbus.
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bkochmc
Assistant Coach
FWIW, I think Colt plays comparable to last week but throws an INT or two and not as many touchdowns (I'm thinking a 1:1 ratio of TD's to INT's). He'll make good decisions but will also make some very bad ones... part of the learning process of a college quarterback. One of the keys in this game will be if the Ohio State secondary can tackle better than they did last week. If their tackling improves that will keep Texas's big plays to a minimum.bchorn said:
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Zurp said:
At least he said "IF" we aren't ready for Texasssssss'ss spead. Of course we have plenty of team speed and see it in practice every day.
I am confident that our defense will play better. We should see the rotation cut down from 22 guys to about 15 or so. I see us rotating the D line. Homan and Kerr will rotate a lot and I think Jam-O and Grant will get in a little. Rotating 22 guys on on defense against Northern Illinois really hurt us I think. It is hard to get everyone on the same page when there are so many changes.
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BrianO
OSU Grad in FL
bchorn said:
Texas will not stop Troy Smith.
I think the Texas? game plan is to contain Smith & Ginn, play bend don?t break defense, try to make a few plays with the D-line, and finally make tOSU kick more field goals than extra points.
In contrast, I expect Troy to have a big day while getting the ball to multiple receivers. Texas will try and take away Ginn. Gonzalez should be licking his lips. Troy will punish Texas with his feet on undisciplined pass rushes that do not collapse the pocket.
My hope from tOSU defense is that they stop the run and make McCoy try to match the output of Smith.
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bchorn said:
It's cool. If I were in your shoes, I'd be saying the same things you are, and I'm pretty sure if the shoes were reversed, you'd be saying similar things as to what I'm saying. McCoy might well be the exception, but I'm going with "the Rule" He makes some mistakes.
And, in that respect, as great as everyone thinks he perfromed last week (And don't misunderstand, he was fine) better athletes pick off some of those balls he threw. UNT didn't have the athletes, plain and simple. That's, again, not to say that McCoy was out there chucking the ball around with wild abandon. I'm simply saying that his mistakes were not as noticable against UNT... or at least not as costly.
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daddyphatsacs
Let the cards fall...
I've got to be honest here, I've been reading a lot of big articles about how Colt McCoy is the next Major Applewhite ect. The media is setting up that kid for a monster letdown this weekend. They are raising the expectations of him to an unfair level, and all this publicity is somewhat bad for him. If I was Mack Brown I would have the kid out of the spotlight concentrating on the game, instead of giving interviews. Eventually he (Colt) will realize what it is that this game means, and I think it will be from him buying into the hype. He says that last week he wasn't nervous, and he treated it like a normal game. When he walks out tomorrow night in front of the whole nation, with 1 start under his belt.......there is no way that he won't be nervous. OSU is going to test him tomorrow right away. They are going to come out blitzing, and stacking 8 in the box daring him to throw it. If they get to him early, and get out to an early lead tomorrow..........I really like our chances here.
Not to overplay the Colt McCoy situation here..........but he is the key to Texas tomorrow. If OSU gets up on Texas early, then the pressure is on Colt to be the gunslinger that the media has hyped him to be. That Texas heat :p will get awfully hot for Colt if he is forced to be the man. Will he rise up to the challenge.....?
If I'm a betting man, I'd say no...
A quick little sidepoint to my thoughts here. OSU has a young defense, and if they are able to get to Colt early........they will build confidence, and start to play with a swagger. There is a chance that we could see our defense mature into midseason form tomorrow night if they come out playing well. Young kids need confidence, and if they can gain some early tomorrow.......they will start to show their ability, and play that much faster.
Not to overplay the Colt McCoy situation here..........but he is the key to Texas tomorrow. If OSU gets up on Texas early, then the pressure is on Colt to be the gunslinger that the media has hyped him to be. That Texas heat :p will get awfully hot for Colt if he is forced to be the man. Will he rise up to the challenge.....?
If I'm a betting man, I'd say no...
A quick little sidepoint to my thoughts here. OSU has a young defense, and if they are able to get to Colt early........they will build confidence, and start to play with a swagger. There is a chance that we could see our defense mature into midseason form tomorrow night if they come out playing well. Young kids need confidence, and if they can gain some early tomorrow.......they will start to show their ability, and play that much faster.
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