Thoughts on USC at Ohio State

[Jim]

In 1963 USC battered Woody Hayes' Ohio State Buckeyes, 32-3, in Los Angeles. The following year the Buckeyes shut out USC, 17-0, in Columbus. The same USC team that crushed Oklahoma, 40-14, in Norman (I know, I was there) and upset undefeated Notre Dame in the finale to end Ara's inagural season and chance for a national championship.

So, will Ohio State have the speed to check USC's offense? Will the true freshman USC QB actually have the ability to take out a major, major opponent on their field. A team that wants to make up for that embarrassment in LA last year?

If USC wins they run the table and host the national championship game (Rose Bowl may be UCLA's turf but LA clearly belongs to USC). If Buckeyes win I say they still lose a game.

[Hail to the Victors Valiant]

Bold move talking about this game before we can USC's team that is laden with injuries and will start a true freshman at QB. I think OSU will win that game because OSU has much more to prove in this big game than USC does. Nobody has been questioning USC in big games of late as has been the case for OSU and the Buckeyes have more certainty and stability right now.

My thoughts might change after today's action, but these are my thoughts before 12 NOON on Saturday.

[ZOOMBAG]

In 1963 USC battered Woody Hayes' Ohio State Buckeyes, 32-3, in Los Angeles. The following year the Buckeyes shut out USC, 17-0, in Columbus. The same USC team that crushed Oklahoma, 40-14, in Norman (I know, I was there) and upset undefeated Notre Dame in the finale to end Ara's inagural season and chance for a national championship.

So, will Ohio State have the speed to check USC's offense? Will the true freshman USC QB actually have the ability to take out a major, major opponent on their field. A team that wants to make up for that embarrassment in LA last year?

If USC wins they run the table and host the national championship game (Rose Bowl may be UCLA's turf but LA clearly belongs to USC). If Buckeyes win I say they still lose a game.

Ohio St has to beat Navy, first.....

[Jim]

Ohio St has to beat Navy, first.....

and can't help but think that, in time, the Buckeyes will wear down the Navy line on both sides of the ball. I was truly impressed with Navy's long drive for a TD. Now that is going to have to wake up the Bucks' defensive coaches. This team came to play ball - you had better show up real quick Buckeyes. The Middies shouldn't have driven the length like they did. But, I must admit, I'm really, really pleased to see they did.

[TommyTrojan]

and can't help but think that, in time, the Buckeyes will wear down the Navy line on both sides of the ball. I was truly impressed with Navy's long drive for a TD. Now that is going to have to wake up the Bucks' defensive coaches. This team came to play ball - you had better show up real quick Buckeyes. The Middies shouldn't have driven the length like they did. But, I must admit, I'm really, really pleased to see they did.

They are going to wear them down no doubt, but I am curious to what the Buckeye fans think about the OSU Offensive Line....I see the same thing I saw last year from them. Navy is darting into the backfield a lot, and stuffing the run despite having such a huge size disadvantage. The OL has been the weak link for OSU in games vs USC, UF, and LSU.

[ZOOMBAG]

They are going to wear them down no doubt, but I am curious to what the Buckeye fans think about the OSU Offensive Line....I see the same thing I saw last year from them. Navy is darting into the backfield a lot, and stuffing the run despite having such a huge size disadvantage. The OL has been the weak link for OSU in games vs USC, UF, and LSU.

Navy wearing down, now. Ohio St defensive linemen are learning to deal with the cut blocks now and getting penetration disrupting the option timing. Navy defenders still getting into the backfield way to often, though.

[Jim]

Thoughts on this Navy vs. Ohio State game. The Buckeyes were not playing at 100% 100% of the time. They were burned by a wishbone offense through the air. The belly play is meat and potatoes to a triple option attack. It worked as their FB averaged 4.6 yards/carry. NAvy picked excellent angles on a few occasions outrunning the Buck corners and/or OLBs.

This type of nail biting game might be exactly what the doctor ordered prior to the USC arrival next week. It pointed out some soft spots. The Bucks will mask their coverages much better next week or die a miserable death. This will be a very cerebral week for the coaching staff. The Bucks will be a different team next week - count on it.

[jeff4bucks]

They are going to wear them down no doubt, but I am curious to what the Buckeye fans think about the OSU Offensive Line....I see the same thing I saw last year from them. Navy is darting into the backfield a lot, and stuffing the run despite having such a huge size disadvantage. The OL has been the weak link for OSU in games vs USC, UF, and LSU.


once again, OSU offensive line is soft. They average 40-45 lbs per man over Navy's D line, yet got pushed around. If OSU didn't have such a spectacular QB, they may have lost this game. Boeckman would've been sacked a half dozen times. Plus, the young RBs broke a lot of tackes for additional gains...

[jeff4bucks]

I hope your right Jim, sometimes the nail biters are blessings in disguise. I think they'll be better prepared for next week.

[Lincoln Tower]

Ya. Offensive lines looks about as poor as last year. Last year, they were all multi year starters. This year, they are a little greener, so theres a little excuse. But still bad. Like last year, OSU is only going to score when Pryor makes plays by himself.

The stuff that the defense screwed up today is (mostly) not the stuff that scares me versus USC. Stuff that hurt today was overruning plays, safeties playing out of position, and the general wackiness of Navy's offense.

Unfortunately, the secondary is very suspect. Of course, I am sure OSU was in man 90% of the time today, so maybe we can mix in some zones to hide some stuff.

Basically, it's the same Big ten and OSU as last year, save Michigan looks competent. Yipee...

[Blue Hen]

Navy would have a size disadvantage vs most DIII teams and some HS teams.