Oregon State vs USC

Submitted by Farnn on

Anyone else watching the USC game?  Watching Oregon's small fast players tear apart USC's defense is making me excited about Michigan in the coming years. 

 

Additionally this is the same oregon state that Penn State dominated earlier in the season.

MGoBoard

ShockFX

September 25th, 2008 at 9:55 PM ^

As much as I hate to shit like this, I think USC totally underestimated Oregon State and came out really flat.  It's hard to overcome a team that's got an edge and once the crowd gets into it and adrenaline starts flowing, it can be game over.  See Braylonfest for an example.

Joined: 07/16/2008

MGoPoints: 4073

ShockFX

September 25th, 2008 at 10:03 PM ^

Yeah. but it's a heck of a turnaround from getting beat 55-7 or something to PSU then leading USC 14-0 and just rolling them in the trenches.  And I'm pretty sure he caught that and that was a fumble.  What a fucking terrible call.  Wow.  He caught that and turned.  WTF.

Joined: 07/16/2008

MGoPoints: 4073

ShockFX

September 25th, 2008 at 10:22 PM ^

I kind of hate that rule in a way.  It's not "conclusive" but it's highly, highly likely that the call was wrong.  I realize it has to be conclusive in order to avoid a grey area, but it still doesn't sit well with me when the outcome is "can't be overturned either way".

Joined: 07/16/2008

MGoPoints: 4073

ShockFX

September 25th, 2008 at 10:37 PM ^

It was just a throw that needed to be a bit more to the outside.  The call was excellent, as you can see the QB looking that way the whole time.  The throw was just not that good.  So while I agree they were lucky it wasn't picked, they put themselves in that spot with more than just luck.  Gotta separate process from outcome.

Joined: 07/16/2008

MGoPoints: 4073

Farnn

September 25th, 2008 at 10:50 PM ^

They definately were responsible for the situation they were in, however the risk of losing momentum going into the half and being withing 2 scores of USC may have outweighed the reward of the extra 4 points.

 

I guess in the end it is a matter of opinion and view of risk.

Joined: 07/07/2008

MGoPoints: 12788

ShockFX

September 25th, 2008 at 11:07 PM ^

I see where you're coming from, but I tend to always fall on the side of, "take your shots while you have them".  Yes it's possible they would end up with no points, but the optimal outcome was to take 1 or 2 shots at it while passing to the outside with the easy option to throw the ball away.  The QB got bailed out, but eh, fumbles are just as likely as interceptions most of the time, and people seem to think throwing is riskier than running.  Unless, of course, you're running to kill the clock, which tends to result in fewer fumbles because the RB has the ball locked down with 2 hands.

Joined: 07/16/2008

MGoPoints: 4073

MGoObes

September 25th, 2008 at 10:35 PM ^

that oregon state would lay down. it's the one weakness pete carroll coached teams have. they read too much of their own press clippings and get big-headed.

Joined: 07/05/2008

MGoPoints: 1122

Farnn

September 25th, 2008 at 10:48 PM ^

That can happen to any team though, its just the nature of being number one.  Look what happened in last years Super Bowl.  While the Giants played well, the Patriots were not playing their best football.  After going 18-0 its hard to put your all into it and Belichick made that a point the entire season.  I imagine Carroll is doing the same, but the players don't always get the message.

Joined: 07/07/2008

MGoPoints: 12788

mjv

September 25th, 2008 at 11:02 PM ^

Shock -- that throw was a bad decision.  the DB was considerably taller than the WR, making a successful throw near impossible.

USC is making a lot a bad mental errors.  big penalties.  mindless plays...

They are playing like they have a D-1AA from north carolina lined up across from them.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 3656

ShockFX

September 25th, 2008 at 11:09 PM ^

Right, the THROW was a bad decision, but the playcall was not.  If you watch the QB, he's locked in on that receiver the whole way.  It's clear he was only supposed to throw if there was good separation because you want to avoid a chance at an INT.  And there was sufficient separation, the throw was just really bad.

Joined: 07/16/2008

MGoPoints: 4073

mjv

September 25th, 2008 at 11:05 PM ^

The end of the first half was very annoying with the ESPM talking heads effectively saying "just kick the FG".  How many shots is OSU really going to have?  And when USC gets the chance to make some adjustments at half, the whole game could change.

 

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 3656

mjv

September 25th, 2008 at 11:10 PM ^

I agree that they had to take a shot at the endzone.  They may not get that close again.

My comment was only that the pass he threw had almost no chance of getting into that spot.  He should have thrown it out of the endzone.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 3656

mjv

September 25th, 2008 at 11:12 PM ^

I thought that the throw could have been made if it was attempted earlier.  the WR had a step on the DB.  If the throw was earlier, it would have left room for the pass to get dropped in the corner.  at that point, the WR and DB were too close to the sideline to be able to drop it in.

My worthless prediction.  If they don't score on this drive.  USC wins.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 3656

ShockFX

September 25th, 2008 at 11:15 PM ^

Yeah, the QB has to err on the side of impossible for the WR to catch there.  It's gotta be high and outside where you hope your WR makes the play.  It's the same kind of call Les Miles used against Auburn last year with the throw to the outside with very little time left.  The throw should have been high and outside like LSU's, /shrug.

Joined: 07/16/2008

MGoPoints: 4073

mjv

September 25th, 2008 at 11:39 PM ^

yeah, i missed that one. 

That was a decent throw by sanchez on 2nd and 9.  That WR needs to angle back towards the LOS to keep the DB away from the ball. But the WR doesn't and it damn near gets picked.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 3656

mjv

September 25th, 2008 at 11:44 PM ^

Did you catch the Dr. Lou segment at half?  The "call" from Urban Meyer hit a little too close to AA.  Lou saying how you have to let bad coaches go and replace them with good coaches.  I couldn't get the names Moeller, DeBord and Gittleson out of my head for about 5 minutes after that.

By the way, I'm getting really sick of ESPN spewing the SEC bible everywhere.  I know that ESPN has the big contract with the SEC, but get over it.  The SEC is good, but it has a lot of holes.  The Auburn-MSU game wasn't great defense, it was terrible offense.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 3656

ShockFX

September 25th, 2008 at 11:50 PM ^

I'm not going to predict anything past if OSU can keep up pressure it'll be difficult for USC to win.  However, I think USC can cause turnovers in a hurry.

Joined: 07/16/2008

MGoPoints: 4073

mjv

September 25th, 2008 at 11:52 PM ^

I'll give OSU some credit.  They took the hit from USC and now are regrouping.  I still think USC has this one, but it may be more interesting than I had anticipated.

I find it interesting how often USC rolls Sanchez.  For a team that has only given up one sack, this season, it seems like they do a lot to take the pressure off of their OL.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 3656

ShockFX

September 25th, 2008 at 11:57 PM ^

Wow.  I do think they need to run that there.  Not because of some stupid aversion to passing, but because their RB has been getting 2 yards without issue.

Joined: 07/16/2008

MGoPoints: 4073

ShockFX

September 26th, 2008 at 12:03 AM ^

I kind of get that call.  You figure you'll have a shot at McKnight breaking it, otherwise it's picking up 10 yards of field position at least.

Joined: 07/16/2008

MGoPoints: 4073

WolvinLA

September 26th, 2008 at 12:04 AM ^

For as much hype as Pete Carroll gets for being such an amazing coach, almost every year he has those games that his team should win and they just give up.  At least when OSU loses it's to good teams, like LSU, Florida, USC, even Illinois last year was pretty good.  USC loses to bad teams, like Stanford last year, Oregon State in previous years, and maybe again this year.  Sure the Trojans do well in the huge games, but you have to win the little ones too. 

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 875