The Masterpiece That Is Ohio State

Is there a masterpiece in the making? This masterpiece is not just Ohio State vs. Oregon, or The Sugar Bowl, but also the restructuring of the college football landscape. What do I mean, you may say? Ohio State vs. Oregon is a tail of two programs that everyone talked about but never thought of us national championship material. Ohio State was seen as the King of the Big Ten, but nothing else and certainly not worthy of the Playoffs. Oregon was seen as the King of the Pac12 with the best player in college football, but certainly not worthy of beating the Seminoles or Crimson Tide. This National Title Game was supposed to be Florida State vs. Crimson Tide or Oregon vs. Crimson Tide. The perception of the SEC supercedes what is actually happening in college football, there are better teams outside the SEC.

The Sugar Bowl was supposed to be a brutal beating of the Big Ten by a superior conference, but instead the exact opposite took place. Does this effect recruiting? It could in the long run, maybe not now though. Urban Meyer put Ohio State with an Alabama defeat, which sent the SEC West into questioning the dominance of their existence. The Crimson Tide walked into the SuperDome with the entire force of the SEC behind them, and it still was not enough. However, the landscape changed in the manner of national perception. The entire ESPN network is one of the most televised sporting channels in the world. That being said, their facts and opinions mean the world to their viewers, for the most part. In an earlier post I mentioned that while ESPN and other media giants have a stake in the success of the SEC, their anchors and hosts may not. There are instances where hosts are homers, but it does not eally matter. Anyways, every person associated with ESPN chose Alabama as their
Sugar Bowl victor. We have a population that lead busy lives and therefore, depend on their news channels to provide ethical and factual information. Now, does everyone believe ESPN and the media, no, but do the majority? Probably. That being said, the Friday afterwards and the following days became a mixture of tucking their tail between their legs, and being respectful of the fact that Alabama was not the better team. This loss marked the second consevutive year, where the myth of the SEC was just that, a myth with the whole world watching.

I heard the debate today about who the best coach is, with an objective answer. From an objective stand point, Nick Saban is still that, but only because of his recent success. You cannot erase his National Titles because his record shows more than just flukes, but instead consistency and consistency gives birth to dynasties. Alabama is defined by their yearly championship runs, but since their short comings have begun to multiply the college football world is shaking their heads in disbelief. The best coach in the last seven years has been Nick Saban. However, the best coach the past 3 years has been Urban Meyer. How many coaches has lost 3 games in 3 years. How many coaches and coaching staffs could make three quarterbacks into game changing starters? Granted Braxton needed a little fine tuning, but J.T. Barrett and Cardale are lottery winning tickers. If Urban Meyer takes Ohio State to the Title Game every year, then he will than be a better coach over the long run, not short, which is more important.

Ohio State meets Oregon in Texas and the talk has began the same way it always has. Oregon is too fast for Ohio State to win. Oregon will run circles around Ohio State and tire them out. They are simply too much too handle. National punditary is already singing the praises of Oregon over Ohio State. Is this surprising? Ohio State can win this game. Do you really think Urban Meyer, Tom Herman, and the rest of the Ohio State coaching staff will not head into this game with a great plan in mind?

O-H!

Ohio State and Oregon - Can It Be Done?

The best two teams in the Nations, that nobody thought would get there and boy, were they wrong. Ohio State beat the SEC West in their own back yard. Oregon destroyed Florida State. The problem with Alabama was that their success was half talent, half hype. "Expert and anaylsts" said that Ohio State is most like Auburn and they beat them last year and came close this year. Alabama is too much of everything for Ohio State to compete. We saw how that played out. Florida State played poker like a millionaire. They played like they had no purpose until they realized that teams were giving them their best and it still wasn't enough, so they kicked into another gear and beat their opponent. Florida State gave the ball away with the understanding that their team was better then the other. Oregon proved that they were better then Florida State and basically the whole ACC.

The turnovers the Florida State committed showed their lack of dedication to the fundamentals. After all, Jameis basically through the ball to Oregon after falling down. How obvious could that have been? Oregon was stripping the ball and downright playing like a team that Florida State could not match up with. Ohio State gifted Alabama two touchdowns, and still won. When does that happen?

I believe Ohio State can win this game doing basically what Oregon did to Florida State. Up tempo offense running the ball, combined with short passing plays and quarterback options. Florida State did not know what hit them. Ohio State can win this game basically doing that. Cardale Jones is an absolute beast win running. He does not try to run around, but over. He likes to hit you. Elliott is a back that likes to hit you, bounce off tackles, then run for 230 yards in a game. I believe that Oregon is a physical team, but they have not faced an Urban Meyer Ohio State yet. A Jimbo Florida State is nothing compared to that. Under Jim Tressel, Ohio State stopped a high flying Masoli-Chip Kelly team. Why can't we do the same with another Hall of Fame coach? In the end, I see this game playing out for Ohio State. I see Ohio State putting up 42+ points on Oregon, while Oregon puts up 21.

The Buckeyes will be playing their hearts out. Not only have we stopped one Heisman contender, we stopped two! We were supposed to lose to Michigan State, Wisconsin, and Alabama, but won all three. Now we are supposed to lose to Oregon. Granted, Oregon has Mariota, but Alabama had Cooper, and Wisconsin has Gordon. I see our defense bringing to life the meaning of the silver bullets. Every time a team double teams Bosa, they allow the other 3 defensive linemen through, quite a trade off. Coupled with the play of our linebackers and their offensive line is going to have it tough. Oregon came into the Rose Bowl with Tressel and used a spread option. Tressel's defense played smart. Urban's defense will be the same. Our secondary proved worthy against one of the greatest wide recievers. Make no mistake, this game will be great and hard fought, I just feel Ohio State will win.

A Couple Questions For The Media........

I would love to ask the media a few questions, even though I will give my own answer. So here we go...
1.) Is there a such thing as SEC speed considering Ohio State brutalized Alabama's defense in the name of Ezekiel Elliott for 230 yards? (Elliott, by the way is from St. Louis, not the South)
   
Yes, there is a such thing as SEC speed still. Ohio States win was a fluke and means nothing. The SEC will be back in the playoffs next year. Roll Tide, Go Tigers, blah, blah, blah!

2.)Even with the speed and quickness of Darron Lee, also not from the south, but actually from Ohio, there is still a difference between SEC speed and the rest of the country?

Yes, like I said, Ohio State's win was a fluke and means nothing. The SEC will be back in the playoffs next year. Roll Tide, Geaux Tigers, blah, blah, blah!

3.)What do you think helped the Buckeyes win the game?

Yes, like I said, Ohio State's win was a fluke and means nothing. The SEC will be back in the playoffs next year. Roll Tide... Wait what? Hmmmm I don't know. Nick Saban does not lose...And he was coaching that evening..... Kirby Smart does not lose..... it's all Lane Kiffin's fault! Yeah, that's it. It's Kiffin's fault. Roll Tide????

4.)If SEC speed exists, then why was Ohio State faster than Alabama?

Urban Meyer and their coaches kidnap players from the south and bring them to the North....damn Yankees! Saban Tide? No wait, Roll Tide right?

5.)Who do you think wins the Title?

Alabama of course.

6.)Alabama's not playing, it's Ohio State and Oregon.

No its not.

7.)Final question before I lose my mind. Are you smarter than a 5th Grader?

I don't know, but I have watched the show.

*I have heard very few annoucers actually say that Ohio State and it's coaches deserve credit. The Tide after all were had on both sides of the ball. Ohio State physically and mentally beat the Tide in every sense.

O-H!

The Buckeyes and The Tide

It is easy to say Alabama is favored, it is easy to reiterate Nick Sabans record with time to prepare, and it is very easy to say Ohio State won't win. It's not easy to say Alabama has met its match. It's just not popular to say. However, a couple YouTube searches of past Alabama and Ohio State games and it's not hard to see why the winner of this game will be the winner because of one thing, who wants it more.

For example, if one were to watch video of Auburn, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Arkansas or any other close game Alabama has had, it is easy to see what's going on. The Tide, as dominant as they are, are filled with humans and not robots, meaning, if a team can use a running and passing game to get first downs consistently, The Tide get tired. A defense can only grind for so long before they give up a TD. The Tide are no different. Those videos also show a stout defense (as they have been called) being run through and ran around by running quarterbacks and running backs. Second, those videos show a secondary that can be exploited with an efficient receiver core and QB with a cannon for an arm. Third, Alabama is no different from any other team that is pinned deep in their own territory. Finally, their offensive line can be collapsed with a fast defense, meaning the tackles and interior line create a need for a running QB. As good as Saban is, his team is not perfect and has shown that time and time again

Now for Ohio State. As much as Saban is successful with time to prepare, it still has to be a nightmare considering the options Ohio State possesses. For example, Alabama has a stout running defense. Ohio State has 5 players who can run from the line of scrimmage. Have fun stopping all of them. Saban has a great defense in general. Ohio State has 5 wide receivers and 2 tight ends that are dangerous. No matter what blitz package is dialed up, the Buckeyes, regardless of their play can simply run away from the pressure.

One of the major advantages for the Buckeyes is there no huddle and offensive scheme. The offense gets into position quickly, then looks to the side line in case of an audible. Getting to the line quickly means the defense has to be set quicker. Therefore, if Alabama shows a linebacker blitz up the middle, our backs can simply run to the side or for a cornerback blitz, a run up the middle will suffice as well. The same could be said about our throwing game, in which Cardale will have receivers, tide ends, hybrid backs, and running backs to throw too. There is no reason Cardale should be sacked considering we have a full loaded arsenal of young and proven talent. An added bonus, Dontre Wilson, which brings a whole other problem. Not only is Dontre fast, but he can explode into the open field seconds are reaching the second level of defenders or catching a ball. Jalin and Cardale are the final piece of our offensive onslaught. Both can throw the football accurately, both have the ability to get into space and pick up yards, and both can make defenders miss.

The biggest enemy of the Buckeyes are themselves. Fickell, Johnson, and Ash proved that they can provide a shutout with their play calling. Their biggest test will be Kirby Smart, Lane Kiffin, and Nick Saban.

Hello Committee, Is Anyone Home?

I am perplexed to say the least by the newest rankings. I understand your job is to put the best teams in the top 4, but we are down to the finish line and your latest rankings have me scratching my head. Why is TCU #3? I understand that Ohio State will be judged after the Big Ten Championship, as will the rest of the Conference Championships. However, why put TCU at #3 for one week? What sense does that make considering their loss is to Baylor? At what point does a head to head match up mean something? It's like the Committee is playing with the emotions of the Big 12 by doing this. It is safe to say Florida State should not be where they are, but then again they have not lost a game in nearly two years.

Here is what I think......the committee put TCU at #3 to show Florida State they are willing to drop them if they do not act as a defending national championship. Therefore, the way they are playing is deserving of the #4 spot. That way, if they lose to Georgia Tech then they rightfully drop from the #4 and the ACC is shown to be the weak conference they are. If Ohio State wins the Big Ten Championship, they will be in the playoff at #3 or #4. If Florida State wins, TCU will be jumped by both teams. The way I see it, the final rankings will be #1 Alabama, #2 Oregon, #3 Florida State, and #4 Ohio State (Florida and Ohio State are interchangeable). What better way to start the Semi Finals then two have two national powerhouses go at each other. The only thing better, would be the same match up in the Final.  As much as TCU is a good team, their conference is screwing them by not having a conference championship naming one champion. The Commissioner of the Big 12 released a statement saying, if at the end of season, both teams, Baylor and TCU, have identical records, they will be named co-champions, which directly contradicts the mission of the Committee and the Playoffs. The threat of having two SEC teams in the Playoffs has been put to rest, considering there will be an outright Champion.

TCU will not stay in the Playoffs unless Florida State loses, otherwise they will receive one week of glory. There is simply no way that, an ACC Champion (granted it is Florida State), a Big Ten Champion (granted its Ohio State), a PAC 12 Champion (granted its Oregon), and the SEC Champion (granted its Alabama) will not be granted a spot. TCU is simply out of its league simply because of their lack of Championship game. If these championship games go as they are stated above, there is no room for a co or non championship game.  TCU should not take this to mean they are for sure in, if they win their next game. Consider this, each week the Committee judges teams based upon the game they just played, then decides their rankings among the nation. In this aspect alone, TCU and Iowa State have no weight against Conference Championships of the Power 5.

If TCU wins and Florida State wins, then the fans of the Big 12 will be as disappointed in the Committee as Florida State fans are after dropping to the bottom of the todempole. Next Tuesday will be the final rankings, which will decide everything.