Richard Tongohan
Guest
The Cincinnati Bearcats (1-0) VS The Ohio State Buckeyes (1-0)
Richard Tongohan via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
After just a single week in the books, both Cincinnati and Ohio State are looking to add another win to their season record to begin the season 2-0. Both teams came off of impressive wins a week ago and they would like to add to the momentum in this collision course of two of Ohio’s best college teams. A lot is on the line with this matchup and this could be one of those hotly contested games that are sure to be packed full of dramatic twists and turns.
Luke’s Return Home
To start this bit, there is a lot of anticipation regarding the return of former player, former Defensive Coordinator, and former Interim Head Coach Luke Fickell. You could say that he inadvertently brought us Urban Meyer after a dreadful 6-6 season, but I think those wounds healed after both Coach Meyer and Coach Fickell brought reigned in the 2014 College Football Playoff Championship.
He remained Coach Meyer’s Co-Defensive Coordinator up until he took the Head Coaching job for the Cincinnat Bearcats in December of 2016. Now here we are, a face from the past who bled scarlet is has returned to face his old team, his alma mater and the new face of the team, Coach Ryan Day. Will Coach Fickell be able to pull off the in-state upset over another good Buckeye team? Or will he feel the wrath of the Buckeyes?
We all know that before he sets foot in the Shoe, he will have his team ready to go. The offense looked legit too, so hopefully, they can contain them. This will definitely be their first big test because the Ohio kids against Ohio State factor still always seems to haunt the Buckeyes. Will the Buckeyes shut them down and play their first complete game of the season? Or will they play with their heads on fire and go vanilla when they think the game is out of reach?
Ball Security Issue?
J.K. Dobbins may have played with aggression, but he did have a key giveaway that seemed to swing the momentum in FAU’s way in the second and third quarters. Sure, he is playing fast and he is being more decisive when running, but what use is that after giving up a turnover? Listen, I love the way he is running. He is running hard, but he is also being impatient and is running straight into defenders. He is running away from openings and being impatient–and that is what is the most frustrating part.
Dobbins is a beast, I will not deny that, but to be successful he needs to hit the holes fast after they have developed and most importantly, he should take better care of the ball. He racked up 21 carries for 91-yards, he had a catch that went for 14-yards and he had a rushing score, so it’s not like I hate his play. He goes up against a stout defensive unit that so happens to have a former coach. He needs to buckle up for war.
Under The Lights
Justin Fields has been impressive, but under the lights in the Shoe, he needs to show a little more consistency in his game. Like Dobbins, he has a bad exchange during an RPO play and it resulted in another turnover for the Buckeyes. He played lights out for the first 6 minutes of the game but after that barrage of points, the FAU defense forced a string of punts that negated the offensive attack and the overall flow of the game for the Buckeyes.
By simply executing a variety of blitz packages that both pressured the offensive line and Fields. Enter Coach Fickell and his band of Ohio kids that have a huge chip on their shoulder after being deemed as not good enough to don the scarlet and gray. This could spell disaster for the Buckeyes in an early tilt and Fields’ first big test against a stout and motivated defense. Can he overcome his inexperience? Will he be able to dissect the Bearcats defense and avoid the sacks and the turnovers that they routinely get? Malik Vann, a Cincinnati kid will be a player to watch and he will be looking to shut down the offense.
Defensive Struggle
The overall theme for this game revolves around the term “defense” and this could be one of those games where it is the key to winning. The Silver Bullets flashed in week 1 and they did so well they gave some reps to the younger players to build their confidence. There are a ton of talented reserve players, but I feel they need more to further develop because a few of there were getting worked in mop-up time.
Chase Young and company will be looking to control the trenches and they better play disciplined because one of those that got away so happens to be one of Cincinnati’s best playmakers. Michael Warren II, an Ohio kid who got away was one that I particularly wanted and he is a major weapon for the Bearcats. Desmond Ridder will attempt to confuse this potent Buckeye defense with his arms and his legs. Can the Buckeyes shut them down? Will it be another nail-biter?
Five Match-Ups To Watch
PREDICTION
Buckeyes def. Cincinnati 52-20
Continue reading...
Richard Tongohan via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
After just a single week in the books, both Cincinnati and Ohio State are looking to add another win to their season record to begin the season 2-0. Both teams came off of impressive wins a week ago and they would like to add to the momentum in this collision course of two of Ohio’s best college teams. A lot is on the line with this matchup and this could be one of those hotly contested games that are sure to be packed full of dramatic twists and turns.
To start this bit, there is a lot of anticipation regarding the return of former player, former Defensive Coordinator, and former Interim Head Coach Luke Fickell. You could say that he inadvertently brought us Urban Meyer after a dreadful 6-6 season, but I think those wounds healed after both Coach Meyer and Coach Fickell brought reigned in the 2014 College Football Playoff Championship.
He remained Coach Meyer’s Co-Defensive Coordinator up until he took the Head Coaching job for the Cincinnat Bearcats in December of 2016. Now here we are, a face from the past who bled scarlet is has returned to face his old team, his alma mater and the new face of the team, Coach Ryan Day. Will Coach Fickell be able to pull off the in-state upset over another good Buckeye team? Or will he feel the wrath of the Buckeyes?
We all know that before he sets foot in the Shoe, he will have his team ready to go. The offense looked legit too, so hopefully, they can contain them. This will definitely be their first big test because the Ohio kids against Ohio State factor still always seems to haunt the Buckeyes. Will the Buckeyes shut them down and play their first complete game of the season? Or will they play with their heads on fire and go vanilla when they think the game is out of reach?
J.K. Dobbins may have played with aggression, but he did have a key giveaway that seemed to swing the momentum in FAU’s way in the second and third quarters. Sure, he is playing fast and he is being more decisive when running, but what use is that after giving up a turnover? Listen, I love the way he is running. He is running hard, but he is also being impatient and is running straight into defenders. He is running away from openings and being impatient–and that is what is the most frustrating part.
Dobbins is a beast, I will not deny that, but to be successful he needs to hit the holes fast after they have developed and most importantly, he should take better care of the ball. He racked up 21 carries for 91-yards, he had a catch that went for 14-yards and he had a rushing score, so it’s not like I hate his play. He goes up against a stout defensive unit that so happens to have a former coach. He needs to buckle up for war.
Justin Fields has been impressive, but under the lights in the Shoe, he needs to show a little more consistency in his game. Like Dobbins, he has a bad exchange during an RPO play and it resulted in another turnover for the Buckeyes. He played lights out for the first 6 minutes of the game but after that barrage of points, the FAU defense forced a string of punts that negated the offensive attack and the overall flow of the game for the Buckeyes.
By simply executing a variety of blitz packages that both pressured the offensive line and Fields. Enter Coach Fickell and his band of Ohio kids that have a huge chip on their shoulder after being deemed as not good enough to don the scarlet and gray. This could spell disaster for the Buckeyes in an early tilt and Fields’ first big test against a stout and motivated defense. Can he overcome his inexperience? Will he be able to dissect the Bearcats defense and avoid the sacks and the turnovers that they routinely get? Malik Vann, a Cincinnati kid will be a player to watch and he will be looking to shut down the offense.
The overall theme for this game revolves around the term “defense” and this could be one of those games where it is the key to winning. The Silver Bullets flashed in week 1 and they did so well they gave some reps to the younger players to build their confidence. There are a ton of talented reserve players, but I feel they need more to further develop because a few of there were getting worked in mop-up time.
Chase Young and company will be looking to control the trenches and they better play disciplined because one of those that got away so happens to be one of Cincinnati’s best playmakers. Michael Warren II, an Ohio kid who got away was one that I particularly wanted and he is a major weapon for the Bearcats. Desmond Ridder will attempt to confuse this potent Buckeye defense with his arms and his legs. Can the Buckeyes shut them down? Will it be another nail-biter?
Five Match-Ups To Watch
- Fields vs Cincinnati DB’s
- Dobbins vs Cincinnati Front Seven
- Harrison/Borland/Werner vs Warren/Cincinnati TE’s in the seam
- Arnette/Okudah/Wade vs Cincinnati WR’s
- Slobs vs Cincinnati Front/Bliztes
PREDICTION
Buckeyes def. Cincinnati 52-20
- Fields: 19-26, 287 passing yards, 3 TD’s/10 carries, 68 yards, 1 TD
- Dobbins: 22 carries, 102 yards, 1 TD
- Defense: 3 sacks, 1 INT, 1 defensive TD (still want that!)
Continue reading...