Rose Bowl: OSU v Oregon

Submitted by MrWoodson on

Last night I watched a replay of last year's Rose Bowl (or this year's, depending how you count them). I came away with two reactions. First, TP did not have that great a game. He gets all the praise but I cannot figure out why. Maybe it is because he has been so mediocre since he took over as starter at OSU that everyone was shocked he looked good at all. But he made maybe three good passes and the rest was a TP scramble here and there and the rest standard TP forgettable plays.

The OSU defense won that game (and it was a much better defense than I remember). They held Oregon to 17 points, an Oregon team that averaged more than double that amount. They also intercepted Masoli late in the first half to prevent a FG and got a FG themselves instead, which is a 6 point swing. TP managed a Tressel well-run team and did a good job managing, that is all.

Second, Oregon's spread gave OSU trouble the entire game. True, OSU won the game so I am not saying we are going to dominate and rip them a new one. But if UM can upgrade its defense over the next year or two to the level it used to be under LC and cut down on the turnovers, we will be very competitive with OSU.

Heisman212

August 22nd, 2010 at 9:24 AM ^

Maybe he deserves it maybe he doesn't. We will know after they play Miami. I just hope it's hype. I am somewhat jealous though. We haven't hade any GOOD hype since preseason 2007 and look what happened the very first game. "face plant"

PeterKlima

August 22nd, 2010 at 2:22 PM ^

"/sarcasm" at the end of your post.  Preseason hype can only do ONE good thing and that is allowing an undefeated season to put you in the NC game.  Other than that it is a detriment all around (see the 2007 game you reference).

Sporchek El Basha

August 22nd, 2010 at 9:32 AM ^

You say OSU's defense was very good--then you say Oregon's offense gave them trouble all day. Huh?

Second: Isn't a QB's job, in part, exactly to MANAGE the game? I figure if TP (who was a true soph BTW) can limit TO's and move his team, then with that defense, OSU would have had--exactly the kind of season they did. And that sounds familiar for our team--manage the game, watch TO's and tackle.

Lastly: if UM doesn't upgrade its defense NOW--another coach will be here next year. Rodriguez doesn't have "the next year or two."

MrWoodson

August 22nd, 2010 at 10:14 AM ^

Yes, OSU's defense was very good and Oregon's offense gave them all they could handle. Both can be true at the same time.

FWIW, TP and the OSU offense was not prolific as some would lead us to believe. OSU only scored 26 points and Oregon is not really known for its smothering defense.

uvadula

August 22nd, 2010 at 10:45 AM ^

Agreed, nothing spectacular. And while he managed the game well he's getting credit for much more with people saying that tressel "unleashed" pryor. I thought the defense was excellent and oregon looked like they were just happy to be there.

KickMe

August 22nd, 2010 at 11:59 AM ^

I agree, average game. He only outgained Oregon by himself by 60 or 70 yards, only had the 2nd highest total yardage for a Big Ten player in the history of the Rose Bowl , and continued to move the chains and eat clock the entire 4th qtr which enabled them to control possesion by a 42-18 margin.

He did exactly what the blueprint is this season for Denard if he gets the nod.  If Robinson has average games like that , Michigan is in pretty good shape. Move the chains, eat clock, be accurate enough, and Michigan won't lose the TOP by 15 minutes a game.

One game isn't a trend, but it was a hell of a game.

MrWoodson

August 22nd, 2010 at 12:34 PM ^

If Robinson has average games like that , Michigan is in pretty good shape.

I disagree (UM's problem is defense not offense), but even if you are correct, the Rose Bowl was hardly TP's average game last year. And I'm pretty sure TP has been hyped way more than Denard Robinson. About 50% of the fanbase never thought Dilithium would even make it as a QB.

Thus far, TP has been a disappointment. Like it, don't like it, doesn't matter. Facts are facts.

KickMe

August 22nd, 2010 at 12:55 PM ^

I didn't say it was his average game: I actually said the opposite. One game doesn't a trend make, but to act like it wasn't a great game is speaking foolish.  It wasn't Vince Young Rose Bowl great, but those occured during his 3rd and 4th seasons. It was amongthe Big Ten's greatest Rose Bowl games as an indiviidual player.

 

If you think Michigan is in trouble if Denard averages 340 total yards a game , you have little faith in your team. I think they will fare quite well if he does. It's true he doesn't have the luxury of Ohio State's defense, but it will still be a banner year for Michigan if he plays at that level.

Your facts are your facts. It's a team game. He's been far from great to this point, to label him a disappointment is again silly. He's played 2 years and the team has fared pretty well during that time. We'll see how this season develops. I think the Heisman hype is premature at this point, but trying to judge dual threat qb's by passing stats is problematic at times. This season Denard could be great if his runs are timely, his passing fairly accurate, and he limits his errors. They encompass so much of the offense that a 190/110 game is far superior to a QB who throws for 300 because they also control possesion.

 

 

M-Wolverine

August 22nd, 2010 at 4:30 PM ^

If he sucks so much as a QB, and their defense can't handle a spread (Even though just about everyone on this board was saying how Oregon was going to tear OSU a new one in the Rose Bowl), how about we beat them once, first, then tell them how bad they are? Just a thought.