Does this season's OSU feel like OSU 2002?
I've been thinking about this for a couple weeks now and wanted to get some other takes on the matter. This year's OSU season has a similar feel to 2002. For those who have tried to forget (believe me, I've tried), that was Tressel's second season. They went undefeted, but seemed to scate through their season on closely won games against not-so-great competition with a few bigger wins sprinkled in.
After the first month of the season and especially after last Saturday it just feels like they are just finding ways to win. The team even feels similar:
1. Great running back (Clarret was pretty good in college when he wasn't playing gangsta)
2. Great to elite defense.
3. Middling offense
2002 Results:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_Ohio_State_Buckeyes_football_team
2015 Results:
http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports/m-footbl/sched/osu-m-footbl-sch…
October 5th, 2015 at 11:36 AM ^
Feels exactly like 2015 Michigan OSU to me.
October 5th, 2015 at 11:36 AM ^
October 5th, 2015 at 3:41 PM ^
October 5th, 2015 at 11:36 AM ^
October 5th, 2015 at 11:37 AM ^
October 5th, 2015 at 11:39 AM ^
No. It feels like FSU's 2014.
October 5th, 2015 at 11:41 AM ^
October 5th, 2015 at 11:39 AM ^
we lost to OSU in 2002. That shit ain't happening this year.
Their "dynamic" offense is going to run into a brick wall.
October 5th, 2015 at 11:45 AM ^
We would have beaten them if the game had been played in Ann Arbor. That offensive PI call was ridiculous.
October 5th, 2015 at 1:48 PM ^
A steel reinforced concrete with brick over it wall...
October 5th, 2015 at 11:39 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 5th, 2015 at 11:39 AM ^
October 5th, 2015 at 11:39 AM ^
I think that there are some differences between 2002 and 2015. The biggest one being the gap between Craig Krenzel and Jones/Barrett/Miller. Any of the current QB's seems very capable of winning the Heisman under the right circumstances. Based on intangibles, Jones is expected to be a first round draft pick. Krenzel was never in that league. On top of all that, this version of OSU is the returning National Championship team. The 2001 Buckeyes were a little less impressive.
I totally understand the game-to-game results look similar to 2002. It's just that we know this team could explode at any minute.....like they did in the playoff run last year.
October 5th, 2015 at 11:43 AM ^
Virtually nobody --- and I mean "virtually nobody" --- thought the Buckeyes were a real credible threat to win the MNC until they actually got to the Fiesta Bowl. And even then, they were a huge underdog.
The 2015 Bucks have a lot of returning talent from a team that DID win the MNC. They can win every single game by 2 from here on out and people will still give them the benefit of the doubt. E.g., "well the talent is there, they just have to finally hit the proverbial on switch."
October 5th, 2015 at 11:44 AM ^
If anything they feel more like the 2002 Miami Hurricanes.
October 5th, 2015 at 11:50 AM ^
2002 Miami ROLLED a 6th-ranked Florida team in the Swamp in early September.
Florida turned out to be not-so-elite in 2002 (finished 8-5), but that game vs Florida was a rout and there really wasn't anyone asking questions like "is this Miami team clearly a step down from last year's national-title team?"
October 5th, 2015 at 11:54 AM ^
Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't consider it a "valid" comparison either, it just seems like the 2002 OSU comparison is so out of left field it makes no sense, certainly less sense than probably half a dozen comparisons you could come up with in the last decade or so.
October 5th, 2015 at 11:50 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 5th, 2015 at 11:53 AM ^
Mythical national championship.
October 5th, 2015 at 11:54 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 5th, 2015 at 11:42 AM ^
OSU has not lost a conference game in four years. They are slightly good.
October 5th, 2015 at 11:42 AM ^
Almost not at all, no.
October 5th, 2015 at 11:42 AM ^
October 5th, 2015 at 11:42 AM ^
This feels like the typical Meyer OSU team. They have their fair share of near clunkers every year against significantly less talented teams, but always them out and improve throughout the year.
October 5th, 2015 at 11:43 AM ^
October 5th, 2015 at 11:43 AM ^
Their defense did not look so great against Indiana. They have very good talent but I don't believe the defensive coaching is elite.
October 5th, 2015 at 12:30 PM ^
Let's put it this way, I'm significantly more worried about the offensive rhythm and penchant for turning the ball over every three drives than I am about the defense.
October 5th, 2015 at 1:59 PM ^
You forgot to mention that Indiana was without their starting QB and RB for virtually the entire second half.
October 5th, 2015 at 2:05 PM ^
Did you watch the game? Indiana's back-up RB was much more successful than the starter. Howard was doing nothing. And their backup QB was able to make plays with his feet, I would have preferred Sudfeld to keep playing.
October 5th, 2015 at 2:11 PM ^
IU's starting RB had a bad ankle going into the game and wasn't close to 100%.
October 5th, 2015 at 11:43 AM ^
No, this doesn't feel like OSU 2002 to me at all. Unless something drastically changes, there's no way OSU wins out this year. Starting WR Corey Smith is out for the year for OSU. They already are struggling in the passing game, and now they will be even more tested. It seems extremely unlikely given their QB situation and their WR situation that OSU is going to improve significantly. With our secondary playing lights out, Michigan is going to key on Zeke Elliot big time. I certainly didn't think so at the beginning of the season, but I believe Michigan is going to beat OSU, and significantly. Harbaugh and Drevno and Durkin are already game planning for OSU. It will be a beautiful thing.
October 5th, 2015 at 12:47 PM ^
October 5th, 2015 at 11:49 AM ^
Huh.
All I've been thinking about is how this current Wolverines team reminds me of an amalgamation of the 1997, 2003, 2006 and 2011 teams that when merged together will result in a 10 to 11-win season and BCS/NY6 bowl appearance. I also see parallels with 2013 Auburn and MSU both of whom ended up in Pasadena.
I have no idea nor care about Ohio State.
October 5th, 2015 at 11:49 AM ^
It feels like we need to beat NW this week.
October 5th, 2015 at 11:56 AM ^
Let's focus on Northwestern and not worry about the O$U suckeyes
October 5th, 2015 at 12:17 PM ^
October 5th, 2015 at 12:48 PM ^
October 5th, 2015 at 11:51 AM ^
Ha. If we don't get it together we are going to drop both games against the mitten state teams in Nov.
October 5th, 2015 at 12:16 PM ^
you'll probably beat MSU, they're really overrated this year. There will be many buckeye tears shed in Ann Arbor this year though.
October 5th, 2015 at 4:12 PM ^
till this article by Ramzy.
http://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio/2014/08/39051/the-crying-man
I just knew it as a picture (and spectacular post for opposing message boards) from the 98 MSU game.
October 5th, 2015 at 11:53 AM ^
2002 OSU played shutdown D and was very conservative and not explosive on offense -- I think 2015 Michigan is closer to that team than 2015 Ohio State is.
This OSU team reminds me more of the 2012 team.
October 5th, 2015 at 11:56 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 5th, 2015 at 11:59 AM ^
feels like 2014 Florida State to me
October 5th, 2015 at 12:02 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 5th, 2015 at 12:00 PM ^
Their game against Miami remains one of the most shocking national title outcomes I've ever seen.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 5th, 2015 at 12:04 PM ^
No. There is something significantly different about it this year.
October 5th, 2015 at 12:02 PM ^
care enough about Ohio State to discuss this topic. Ohio State is whatever, that is what they are and always will be.
October 5th, 2015 at 12:03 PM ^
2015 OSU is a shit-ton better than 2002 OSU. Especially as I run through my memory of their position groups in 2002.
October 5th, 2015 at 4:15 PM ^
Though that front seven from the 02 team was criminally underrated. They were spectacular.
October 5th, 2015 at 12:03 PM ^