Conference teams that played 10 P5 opponents in 2022...

[Kburjr]

Wisconsin catches us at a good time, the week after we play Penn State and its @ Wisconsin.

We could realistically have 2 losses going into that game though.

Faith, baby, faith.

 

[NewPhoneWhoDis]

This was exactly what they did in 2010 when they beat our 12-1 Pryor team.

It's ironic you say that about michigan, since that's exactly what you did against us in 2021 but was far from what happened this past season.

Nothing changed from 2021 to 2022 for Michigan -- 2021 OSU played straight up and UM ran them over. 2022 OSU sold out to stop the run, so Michigan beat them down the field, then busted runs late in the game.

If OSU didn't sell out to stop the run in 2022 -- UM would have ran the ball right at them again. I know you don't like to hear that, but I watched that exact defensive strategy for 4 years at Michigan under Don Brown. Works tremendously against vast majority of teams. Those aren't the teams OSU is worried about beating though. The teams who can exploit that defense are the teams OSU fans want OSU to beat.

 

[NewPhoneWhoDis]

To be fair, the new guys are getting a baptism by fire going up against our DL. If anything, this should have them ready to go up against the majority of the teams we play this year.

As someone else stated -- OSU looks good on paper with their star ratings, but that hasn't translated to on field performance. OSU lacks the game changer on the defensive line they had for so many years. Who led OSU in sacks last year? I can't even tell you and for about a decade, I'd be dreading having to face one of the Bosa brothers or Chase Young, etc.

 

[NewPhoneWhoDis]

Yep Wisconsin thrived on out bullying people, they knew how to get that special brand of player that fit exactly what they are doing.

Now they are chasing the brand of player that everyone else now a days is. They might get a few of them here and there, but they aren't going to be out recruiting Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State or most of the SEC teams on a regular basis.

I'm not overly optimistic at all this season from what I saw during spring, our Oline scares me, won't matter who the QB is if they look as bad as they did in spring during the season. Could be the year we finally drop 3 games for the first time since 2008.

Yeah -- It is going to be interesting to see how it works trying to convince the type of athletes you want to run a 4 or 5 wide type offense to come to Wisconsin. Who knows though?

As far as UM and OSU this year. This is the 1st time I feel confident in UM and really like our squad, as we had multiple OL who could have went pro, decide to return. Blake Corum could have went pro, but decided to return. We return everyone on offense but our Center and Ronnie Bell. We return much of our defense as well.

With that said -- I'm sure it means we will lose to OSU this year.

 

[Across The Field]

I mean our DL has not exactly lit the world on fire the last 2 seasons. They are talented on paper going by recruiting rankings, but the on field production has not been the highest level.

Big saving grace is not playing ND until game #4 those 3 games to settle in, even against crap, are huge.

There's a reason we have 3 guys projected to go first round. They've just been very young.

 

[Across The Field]

Nothing changed from 2021 to 2022 for Michigan -- 2021 OSU played straight up and UM ran them over. 2022 OSU sold out to stop the run, so Michigan beat them down the field, then busted runs late in the game.

If OSU didn't sell out to stop the run in 2022 -- UM would have ran the ball right at them again. I know you don't like to hear that, but I watched that exact defensive strategy for 4 years at Michigan under Don Brown. Works tremendously against vast majority of teams. Those aren't the teams OSU is worried about beating though. The teams who can exploit that defense are the teams OSU fans want OSU to beat.

Except the games were literally nothing alike. In 2021 you guys methodically went up and down the field. You had one sustained drive in 2022 and outside of the big plays largely didn't do anything on offense. Problem was our DBs last year were awful and didn't adjust well to the new scheme. Also you say "busted runs" like it was more than just two plays late in the game. 3.5 quarters into the game, Edwards had 20 carries for 66 yards. Also McCarthy had 3 good passes all game - 1 was entirely YAC and 2 others were to wide open receivers. Otherwise he went 9/21 for under 100 yards. The games couldn't have possibly been more different.

 

[Across The Field]

As someone else stated -- OSU looks good on paper with their star ratings, but that hasn't translated to on field performance. OSU lacks the game changer on the defensive line they had for so many years. Who led OSU in sacks last year? I can't even tell you and for about a decade, I'd be dreading having to face one of the Bosa brothers or Chase Young, etc.

You're also comparing 3 of the best DE's in college football for the last decade to our current DL. That's not very fair, and again, two very different defensive schemes in two years will do that. Larry Johnson obviously will get the benefit of the doubt being one of the best DL coaches in the nation.

 

[osubuckeye89]

Except the games were literally nothing alike. In 2021 you guys methodically went up and down the field. You had one sustained drive in 2022 and outside of the big plays largely didn't do anything on offense. Problem was our DBs last year were awful and didn't adjust well to the new scheme. Also you say "busted runs" like it was more than just two plays late in the game. 3.5 quarters into the game, Edwards had 20 carries for 66 yards. Also McCarthy had 3 good passes all game - 1 was entirely YAC and 2 others were to wide open receivers. Otherwise he went 9/21 for under 100 yards. The games couldn't have possibly been more different.

“Beat down field” is also funny. Michigan’s WRs did nothing special our secondary was just that big of a mess. Constant confusion and blown coverages all season.

Hopefully the 2 guys in the secondary we added from the portal provide a big help and hopefully we don’t have a million injuries again.

 

[osubuckeye89]

There's a reason we have 3 guys projected to go first round. They've just been very young.

We are banking on a big leap in year 3 from Sawyer and JTT.

Kenyatta Jackson and Caden Curry both had strong spring but will that translate to fall? We will see

NFL draft status does not always = college production.

Rashan Gary was meh at Michigan and still managed to go mid round 1 based off measurables

Hell Zach Harrison never did dick for us and still managed to get drafted in the 3rd round because of his measurables

 

[Deep Creek]

I could be wrong, but to me, the last place you want to implement any type of spread, high tempo offense is in an area of the country where you lack those type of athletes. So who knows? I guess we will see. If I thought really hard, I'm sure i've been wrong once a long time ago.

When you couple a good offensive line that can create a good running game without lead RB blockers, that is the best friend an up tempo/air raid offense could ever ask for. Not all of them are the same. There was a significant difference in Leach’s and Briles’.

 

[Kburjr]

When you couple a good offensive line that can create a good running game without lead RB blockers, that is the best friend an up tempo/air raid offense could ever ask for. Not all of them are the same. There was a significant difference in Leach’s and Briles’.

Also, it takes a very good, if not elite, QB, to succeed in a pro-style offense. Not so much in a spread. Pro-style depends on tight windows to throw to, where spreads are about creating space.

 

[Across The Field]

We are banking on a big leap in year 3 from Sawyer and JTT.

Kenyatta Jackson and Caden Curry both had strong spring but will that translate to fall? We will see

NFL draft status does not always = college production.

Rashan Gary was meh at Michigan and still managed to go mid round 1 based off measurables

Hell Zach Harrison never did dick for us and still managed to get drafted in the 3rd round because of his measurables

Looking at the DEs and DTs at OSU, there aren't many schools I can say that are in a better spot this year. I also still trust in Larry Johnson given his track record.

As far as Harrison goes, you can't just go by sack's alone to determine how good a DE end is. He also had 4 pass deflections, 3 FF, an INT, and 8 TFL. He had a very high PFF grade last year because he was a disruptor, but part of the problem was our DBs sucked so bad the ball was out before he could get home. He had a real solid grade against UGA, as well, so it wasn't like he was just beating up on shitty teams. Atlanta might have gotten a massive steal in the 3rd.

 

[osubuckeye89]

Looking at the DEs and DTs at OSU, there aren't many schools I can say that are in a better spot this year. I also still trust in Larry Johnson given his track record.

As far as Harrison goes, you can't just go by sack's alone to determine how good a DE end is. He also had 4 pass deflections, 3 FF, an INT, and 8 TFL. He had a very high PFF grade last year because he was a disruptor, but part of the problem was our DBs sucked so bad the ball was out before he could get home. He had a real solid grade against UGA, as well, so it wasn't like he was just beating up on shitty teams. Atlanta might have gotten a massive steal in the 3rd.

If our DBs were even just average last year we win the title.

We legit just need them to be average instead of terrible and the Dline to get a little more pressure this year and we will be ok (LBs look fine)

 

[NewPhoneWhoDis]

You're also comparing 3 of the best DE's in college football for the last decade to our current DL. That's not very fair, and again, two very different defensive schemes in two years will do that. Larry Johnson obviously will get the benefit of the doubt being one of the best DL coaches in the nation.

It has nothing to do with defensive schemes -- that is simply making more excuses for them. I agree with giving LJ the benefit of the doubt, but OSU's defense is why Michigan has owned them the last two years. You have no one on the defense that is a game changer.

And last year -- the defensive coordinator flat out showed OSU fans how confident he was with OSU's defensive front holding up against Michigan's OL, as he had his LB's shooting the gaps on any down that wasn't an obvious passing down. It is a great strategy if it was 4-5 years ago and OSU had lock down corners, but they don't. He knew the defensive front would struggle against UM's OL and paid for the desperate strategy. I've been in the same shoes as OSU fans, as Don Brown did the same thing for us quite a few times against OSU, among others.

 

[Illustrious Potentate]

Looking at the DEs and DTs at OSU, there aren't many schools I can say that are in a better spot this year. I also still trust in Larry Johnson given his track record.

As far as Harrison goes, you can't just go by sack's alone to determine how good a DE end is. He also had 4 pass deflections, 3 FF, an INT, and 8 TFL. He had a very high PFF grade last year because he was a disruptor, but part of the problem was our DBs sucked so bad the ball was out before he could get home. He had a real solid grade against UGA, as well, so it wasn't like he was just beating up on shitty teams. Atlanta might have gotten a massive steal in the 3rd.

By far the best pick they made the entire draft IMO

 

[NewPhoneWhoDis]

Looking at the DEs and DTs at OSU, there aren't many schools I can say that are in a better spot this year. I also still trust in Larry Johnson given his track record.

As far as Harrison goes, you can't just go by sack's alone to determine how good a DE end is. He also had 4 pass deflections, 3 FF, an INT, and 8 TFL. He had a very high PFF grade last year because he was a disruptor, but part of the problem was our DBs sucked so bad the ball was out before he could get home. He had a real solid grade against UGA, as well, so it wasn't like he was just beating up on shitty teams. Atlanta might have gotten a massive steal in the 3rd.

Harrison was a major flop in college -- he was a top 5 nationally recruit. I was pissed when he went to OSU instead of Michigan, but after watching him over the years -- I'm glad he didn't go to Michigan because he plays way too stiff and is non-existent in so many games. The guy only had 10 sacks in 4 years.

Your issue is -- you are simply looking at recruiting rankings and trying to say the DE's and DT's are elite because of those rankings. At some point you have to produce on the field.

 

[NewPhoneWhoDis]

By far the best pick they made the entire draft IMO

You haven't had a chance to really watch Harrison. He will get eaten alive by NFL tackles. He plays way too stiff. Atlanta will have to figure out how to unlock something in him that Ohio State wasn't able to.

 

[Illustrious Potentate]

You haven't had a chance to really watch Harrison. He will get eaten alive by NFL tackles. He plays way too stiff. Atlanta will have to figure out how to unlock something in him that Ohio State wasn't able to.

That was more of a knock on the Falcons draft than praise for Harrison

 

[NewPhoneWhoDis]

Except the games were literally nothing alike. In 2021 you guys methodically went up and down the field. You had one sustained drive in 2022 and outside of the big plays largely didn't do anything on offense. Problem was our DBs last year were awful and didn't adjust well to the new scheme. Also you say "busted runs" like it was more than just two plays late in the game. 3.5 quarters into the game, Edwards had 20 carries for 66 yards. Also McCarthy had 3 good passes all game - 1 was entirely YAC and 2 others were to wide open receivers. Otherwise he went 9/21 for under 100 yards. The games couldn't have possibly been more different.

The games were nothing alike because of Ohio State's defensive strategy -- do you not get that?. You stacked the box, had your linebackers fill the gaps, which leaves your secondary all on an island. That is why you saw all the big plays passing. That is why you saw WR's running by themselves.

You know those big runs -- why do you think once Edwards broke thru the line THERE WAS NO ONE THERE. Not once, but twice. Because OSU sold out to try and stop the run and guess what happens when they don't stop it? Those guys in man coverage are now having to peel off and try to make the tackle and Edwards was too fast.

And your DB's were awful because you sold out to stop the run and left them all alone across the board. It isn't too difficult to grasp. It wasn't like OSU was just leaving one man in single coverage. They were in single coverage almost across the board much of the game. When a team does that -- you take shots downfield, which Michigan did often.

 

[Deep Creek]

Also, it takes a very good, if not elite, QB, to succeed in a pro-style offense. Not so much in a spread. Pro-style depends on tight windows to throw to, where spreads are about creating space.

Pro style offenses are starting to adopt a lot of college strategies and have been for a while. What’s weird is some of those sling it all over the yard offenses in college are adapting the other direction. Riley was big time running game at OU.

But those windows are going to be tighter in the pros no matter what the offenses are doing.