Buckeye Weaknesses
Having read some of the posts on here, I am wondering how many OSU games some of you have watched.
I don't think many of you TTUN fans understand just how bad our O and D lines are. This game will be close, I promise. I understand that none of you have ever had a season like what you have been forced to suffer this year, but even bad teams are able to run the ball on us, and even bad D-lines push our fat and slow lineman around. Ohio U did it, Purdue did it, Ill did it, USC surely did it, etc.
It is certainly conceivable that you guys can keep the ball for much of the time to shorten the game. The problem is that Wells and Pryor are always one snap from taking it the distance, and that should ultimately prove to be the difference.
I believe my Bucks will, especially being at home, but this game will not be a blowout ... this is a very average Bucks team here. And, as a product of the Cooper years, I don't take anything for granted
November 18th, 2008 at 10:20 AM ^
Bravo, sir. I still say it will be a blowout but I agree our DLine vs. your OLine will be the difference-maker if the game is close.
November 18th, 2008 at 10:27 AM ^
from the Buckeyes matchups with top 5 teams the last few years it's that Ohio State (and the rest of the Big Ten for that matter) is very average right now. Those last two OSU teams were not one of the two best teams in the country. That being said, with you thinking this game will be close...have you actually watched Michigan play this year?
November 18th, 2008 at 6:47 PM ^
If we've learned anything from the Buckeyes matchups with top 5 teams the last few years it's that Ohio State (and the rest of the Big Ten for that matter) is very average right now.
That's irrelevant. How has OSU done against bottom 5 teams?
November 18th, 2008 at 6:52 PM ^
that part of my post was responding to where he said that THIS Buckeye team is average. I was saying, it's possible the last couple Buckeye teams were average as well and made the NC game as the result of a weak Big Ten. 2nd, did you somehow just not read the part where i wrote "that being said, have you seen this years michigan team"
November 18th, 2008 at 8:07 PM ^
That is the most relevant part. And that was my point.
OSU may very well have been champions of a down, major conference the past several years. But still, champions of a major conference. Concurrently, this is the worse Michigan team in a half-century.
Not saying it wont happen, but...
November 18th, 2008 at 11:24 PM ^
i wasn't talking about Michigan at all in that part of my post. Just because I'm a Michigan fan doesn't mean I can't say things about other teams without having them compared to Michigan.
November 19th, 2008 at 4:21 PM ^
Michigan Wolverines: Lost to The Ohio State University 4 years in a row. Probably 5 years in a row after Saturday.
November 19th, 2008 at 9:50 PM ^
This reminds me. Why do Buckeyes say THE Ohio State University? The rest of us can tell the difference between the Ohio state university in Columbus, and the rest of 'em. (Hint: Count the teeth of the graduating class!) Do Buckeyes need some kind of reminder?
November 20th, 2008 at 4:30 PM ^
Why do buckeye fans join a Michigan blog. Can somebody explain that to me please?
November 20th, 2008 at 5:11 PM ^
Have you been to Ohio? Not a lot else going on.
November 18th, 2008 at 11:01 AM ^
While I will admit the OSU OL vs UM DL is a big mismatch, I have a feeling countering this will be Tressel's focus point for the week. I'm not sure how he sets up the gameplan to limit our DL play. I wouldn't be surprised if he started out with ISQDs (one of our historical weaknesses, although not so badly of late) or a ton of Wells (the proverbial "i'm throwing rock, and i'm going to beat you with rock."). I'm interested to see if we got with 4-3 for the majority of this game or otherwise.
Unfortunately for Michigan, we just have to many areas in need of focus. We have limited passing capabilities (which no matter how much focus we give it, sheridan's arm/pocket presence is what it is), our running game (while gaining consistency) is still a question mark, our pass defense is extremely suspect, and our linebacker play in general has been subpar.
Sure, maybe we get lucky and Wells gets another injury that takes him out of the game, we get lucky again and Pryor is just having an off day throwing, the game stays close, and who knows...
I think we'll cover the spread, but I don't think we come close to winning without an act of Allah.
November 18th, 2008 at 11:23 AM ^
Teams are pushing us around with much greater success than with you guys. Hell, your defense has had 1 bad game and that was against USC, which is understandable. Our defense gave up 48 to Purdue. Enough said. I expect a steady stream of ISO plays for Wells, with some bootlegs out of Pryor and some deep balls to Robiskie and Hartline. This game will not be close unless RRod and crew has been hiding something from us all year. Tressel will continue his dominance for another year. Thanks for trying to provide a false sense of security though.
November 18th, 2008 at 11:32 AM ^
I still say we fly in the USC team, put them in Michigan jerseys and send them to Ohio with Rich Rod on the sidelines. That would be our only hope at this point. . .
But thanks for trying to be positive.
November 18th, 2008 at 8:45 PM ^
well; maybe we could fly in App State and Toledo to play for the Scarlet & Gray, ha-ha
November 18th, 2008 at 12:09 PM ^
Sure, our D-line may outplay their O-line for the majority of the game. It will still come down to the fact that our linebackers and safeties will miss tackles that will give up big plays and we will lose. It's happened all year, why wouldn't it happen against great athletes like Pryor, Wells, Robiskie, and Hartline?
November 18th, 2008 at 12:36 PM ^
of Buckeye weaknesses.
1. Hygiene
2. Lack of a functional brain
3. A penchant for buggery
4. the ability to breath through the nose
5. inability to recognize the intended use of a cooler
I have to go. Maybe someone can help me out here with the rest.
November 18th, 2008 at 2:06 PM ^
love of wine coolers didnt make that list? or does that count as #2 or 5?
November 18th, 2008 at 2:24 PM ^
A love of Boone's Farm.
November 18th, 2008 at 2:26 PM ^
Whoa now. I love me some Boone's farm. Damn if that Melon Ball doesn't get me going.
November 18th, 2008 at 10:13 PM ^
Yeah, hey, wait a minute, let's keep Boone's Farm out of this. Several a memorable New Year's has been celebrated with this fine drink.
When it comes to Buckeye weaknesses, sofas top the list, or you'd think so given the all-out war they've declared on them.
In any case, Buckeye fans complain about their lines, but the fact is they're perfectly good lines for beating bad teams. OK, yes, Ohio, Illinois, and Purdue pushed the offensive line around. It didn't seem to help much.