OSU vs. USC

[Former Wildcat]

I like your take on the game. I think the Vegas line is very curious because they are obviously trying to get people to take USC. I wouldn't be surprised if that line moved in the next few days.

I agree with what you say about Pryor. I especially think he could take advantage of an undisciplined defense. OSU also needs to get pressure on Barkley. USC's o-line was basically unchallenged by OSU last year, but OSU's d-line is much better.

I referred to the Miami game because I see some parallels. That Miami team had more talent than this USC team and many thought they would dominate OSU. That OSU team had a much better defense, but they did not have a dynamic offensive player (unless you call Clarett dynamic).

[vman]

anyone like the over in this contest :?:

[budman22]

anyone like the over in this contest :?:

i like the over 45 1/2..it was 35-3 last year. I think it should be a more competitive game this year with Pryor 1 year older and Barkley starting as freshman...I think both teams will put up some points, predicting USC-28 Ohio State-24

[abpk2903]

Just about the time I thought that it was a done deal and USC was winning, a FRESHMAN QB decides challenge one of the most hostile set of fans in the country to "bring it on." Listen this has nothing to do what the fans will do to react to his comments, but he is a freshman and the first time a microphone was put in his face he decided to go too far with his comments.

Here are major issues with this:

1. You are a freshmen and by making comments like that in your first game worth a dang makes me question your maturity.

2. You are playing a team that has seemed to lack motivation in big games over the last few years. What do you do? Make comments that may give them some motivation.

3. Listen dumb ****. The noise won't effect you as much as your poor Tackles and Tight Ends that will get blown off the ball all day because they can't hear you. Don't **** when you get blasted from the blind side early in the game. Whenever your digging yourself out of the dirt don't say a word to your tackle.

[The Ancient Enemy]

Wildcat, who is starting: Herron or Sane, and is the other one getting a lot of reps?

[Former Wildcat]

Reflections on a VERY frustrating game:

1. Tressel must bear a lot of blame. On third and goal from the 1/2 yard line, why hand the ball off? Herron loses a yard and they kick a field goal. What did USC do on every 4th and short? QB sneak for the first down. Pryor is a bigger, stronger QB than Barkley. He would have scored in two plays from that distance. I don't get it because Tressel used to run a sneak on that play with Krenzel. Krenzel was not the athlete that Pryor is. Tressel also attempted a pass from the 32 on third and 4. Why not run and get a few yards? If you don't get the first down, Pettrey has a makeable field goal to put them up by 8. Instead, they lose 4 yards on a sack, elect not to kick, and give USC the ball for the winning drive.

2. OSU cannot make offensive adjustments. This has been a theme for the past few years. OSU had twice as many yards in the first half as the second. They has at least 3 second half drives start in USC territory and ended up with one field goal. Shouldn't offense get easier as the game goes on because you can see what the defense is doing? Not at OSU. (Incidentally, the same thing happened against LSU in the championship game.)

3. OSU's defense is awesome and almost won the game for them. On the drive to my parents house to watch the game, all I heard about was the PSU defense and how great they were. Granted, they have yet to be tested, but I cannot see how anyone could watch the USC game and say OSU doesn't have the best defense in the conference. This OSU defense might be better than last years. Chukwa did a great job taking away Damien Williams. Brian Rolle was great in the middle. OSU's d-line dominated for over three quarters against the "best o-line in the nation". The offense kept giving USC back the ball and the defense kept responding. Before that last drive, they had limited USC to 225 yards of offense.

Bottom line: that loss was bad for the conference and for OSU. Penn State probably cannot win the national championship because they do not have the possibility at a really big win. Ohio State now must beat PSU to have credibility as an elite team. The sad part is that OSU actually played well enough to win. They just could not close the deal. It is probably time for Tressel to make some staff changes on offense, but I'm not sure if he will do that.

[The Ancient Enemy]

He's not going to do that until he feels heat from above, and he only has heat from the fanbase. Tressel is insanely stubborn. I am not even an OSU fan and even I get irritated by him.

1. The misuse of Pryor is not only baffling, it is borderline remarkable.

2. Pryor has a tremendous amount of talent, but needs to mature as a person and especially as a QB. He'll get there.

3. The OSU defense did a wonderful job, but that defense played the best game they are going to play all season. They won't play like that each week, Wildcat.

I am very curious to see where the OSU team goes from here. I am wondering if that roster is starting to get a little beaten-down, and I highly doubt they will continue to overcome all the criticism and play as well as they did Saturday night. Does the OSU staff have enough to hold morale together?

The Big Ten this season is even worse than the critics think. Penn State at 5 is a stretch. They're lucky if their the 8th or 9th best team.

[Former Wildcat]

The thing to remember is that this is a very young OSU team. Almost everyone that you saw Saturday night will be back next year, including all of the major players (except Kurt Coleman). I think this team is building toward next year and Saturday night was a major step. I know they won't play that way every week, but they probably don't need to.