Ask a Buckeye!
by Jon Ross on Dec 6, 2011 3:30 AM EST
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PrintMy name is Jon Ross, I'm an alcoho-- uh, I mean, a college football addict. Um, yeah, that's it. Anyway, I go to Ohio State and am offering you, the good folks here at Alligator Army, the chance to ask me some questions about your Gator Bowl opponent so you don't go into game-day completely blind on your OSU trivia(l) facts! Before we start, I'll answer a few softballs I know will be asked 1) yes, 2006/2007 was my lowest year as a human 2) the wounds haven't healed 3) I cry a lot 4) No, we aren't slow, I promise. Ok, well, fire away, I'll do my best to be helpful.
Please be kind and use good grammar.
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What was the cruelest part of the 2006 title game?
From the opposite side, I’d say it would be the opening TD by Ginn, followed by 60 minutes of beatdown.
However, I could easily see why you’d go with the whole “literally everyone said tOSU would win” angle.
Oh, come on. Don't leave your uncle T-bag hangin'.
And yes, all my questions will be about 2006.
I’d rather not think about anything that’s happened in past two years or so.
Oh, come on. Don't leave your uncle T-bag hangin'.
It was probably the sad realization that Troy Smith was never playing another game in that uniform.
Or the mind numbing stubbornness of our defense playing its linebackers 11 yards deep on 3rd and 5 EVERY SINGLE TIME. Or the fact that we stopped running the damn ball when that WAS THE ONLY DRIVE WHERE OUR OFFENSE LOOKED LIKE AN OFFENSE.
/So much pain.
//Like the Brantley era compressed into 60 minutes.
"You might as well appeal against the thunderstorm."
-William T. Sherman, the Battle of Atlanta
How’s your OL in pass protection?
Editor at Alligator Army, a place that doesn't, you know, glorify concussions.
GoGators82 said it best: "Dollar Store cheap!"
Not great.
Not pathetic, like 2006, but not anything to write home about either. The line has given up a lot of sacks—something like 18% of pass attempts ended in a sacks—which looks worse than it really was, mostly because 1) Braxton Miller never, ever, threw the ball away and 2) for some unexplained reason our offensive coordinator insists on play-action on 3rd and 12, and also insists on our WRs running routes that take 6 seconds to develop. The amount of times I sat there and watched Miller get sacked because his receivers hadn’t even turned around was staggering. For a veteran line (seniors at C, LT and RT) they have really underperformed, the only stud is Adams at LT, Shugarts at RT is a false start machine, and can be turnstiled occasionally, but is irreplaceable because his backup (Underwood) is an overwhelmed underclassman. Our C (Brewster) was supposed to be a Rimmington finalist, but, much like his shotgun snaps, that never really got off the ground. They can be had, but when Miller is flushed—which is often—he is usually most dangerous. Double edged sword and whatnot.
"You might as well appeal against the thunderstorm."
-William T. Sherman, the Battle of Atlanta
Ahhh, okay. Yeah, I was asking because I was looking at some numbers and some things (just based on numbers) didn’t add up. But if the WR’s are taking that long in their routes, play-action calls at the wrong time … etc., that makes sense then.
But, our best defensive linemen (Easley) is out with a torn ACL … which of course further lead to my question.
Another running QB … great. Though we do better with a running QB, than a pocket-passer, mostly because we’ve got speed on defense and our corners are young. That combination has allowed us to do fairly well against a running QB if he is scrambling, vs. a guy who is just going to sit in the pocket and pick apart a secondary.
Editor at Alligator Army, a place that doesn't, you know, glorify concussions.
GoGators82 said it best: "Dollar Store cheap!"
You know more than us.
"You might as well appeal against the thunderstorm."
-William T. Sherman, the Battle of Atlanta
by Jon Ross on Dec 6, 2011 12:35 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Can you foresee a set of circumstances
that would allow another team to surpass Michigan as your most-hated rival? We have a generational rift in our fanbase: pre-1990 fans view Georgia as our biggest rival, while most post-1990 Gators reserve their fiercest hatred for FSU. Could OSU ever go on a run against Michigan that would take some of the spite out of the Big Game?
My anti-drug is football, because sometimes it is a better hallucinogen than anything you can get at Burning Man. - Spencer Hall 9/28/11
by car.full.of.midgets on Dec 6, 2011 11:33 AM EST reply actions
No, never in a million years.
If the last 8 years didn’t do it, I can’t see a scenario where it happens. Penn State fans hate us so much, in part, because we’ve played our biggest conference games against them since 2005, and still look at them as just another team, whereas they look at us as MOST HATED RIVAL EVAR. So I can’t see a situation where UM is overtaken, unless Al Queda joins the B1G.
"You might as well appeal against the thunderstorm."
-William T. Sherman, the Battle of Atlanta
Sounds like you guys have a relationship with Penn State
that mirrors ours with South Carolina: late to the conference party, has been the most serious divisional foe more than a few times of late, they deeply hate us because we’ve been where they’ve wanted to be for most of their time in the conference, but still elicits only lukewarm hate-levels from our side.
Of Ohio’s smaller in-state programs, who has the worst case of Little Brother Syndrome? Are the Cincy fans all uppity because they’re the only other AQ conference team?
My anti-drug is football, because sometimes it is a better hallucinogen than anything you can get at Burning Man. - Spencer Hall 9/28/11
by car.full.of.midgets on Dec 6, 2011 1:25 PM EST up reply actions
Cincy has fans??
But seriously, outside of the year Cincy got their teeth kicked in during the Sugar Bowl (thanks, btw) they have always accepted their role as little brother and didn’t even try to fight it. However, right after OSU lost to Purdue that season, Cincy came out with these shirts that said BUCkeye State and they kept trying to act like they had the best football team in Ohio, then in a span of 100 days, we won the Rose Bowl, they got obliterated in the Sugar Bowl, and Brian Kelly left for Notre Dame thus relegating our good old friends in Kentucky, er, I mean Cincinnati back to second-tier status. Fun while it lasted though, right?
"You might as well appeal against the thunderstorm."
-William T. Sherman, the Battle of Atlanta
by Jon Ross on Dec 7, 2011 12:02 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Living in Tampa,
I think I saw shots of “UC fans” in the stands last time the Bearcats came down to play USF, but I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that they were really local hobos given team swag, tickets, and copious amounts of Natty in a futile effort to pass off the Big East as a viable football conference.
My anti-drug is football, because sometimes it is a better hallucinogen than anything you can get at Burning Man. - Spencer Hall 9/28/11
by car.full.of.midgets on Dec 7, 2011 8:01 AM EST up reply actions
How in the world are you the underdogs?
Florida is god awful this year. How can OSU be worse?*
*I will be putting my life savings on OSU to win.
October 28th, 2011-- a date which will live in infamy--
OTTOTD.com
Betting on bowl games is always a bad idea.
What with the layoffs and all, but I agree with you. No chance in this or any dimension that UF should be favored.
Oh, come on. Don't leave your uncle T-bag hangin'.
Idk.
Watch our offense for a series or two and you’ll get it haha. Play-action on 3rd and long? Brilliant! Deep sideline outs on 1st down with a QB who is limited, best case? Yes! No screen passes? No quick slants? No hitch routes? False starts like clock work? Running the wildcat with our POWER RUNNING BACK, instead of our QB when, 1) our QB is far and away the best runner (of any position) on the team, and maybe the best running QB in the nation and 2) He’s the QB, thus meaning he is a threat to pass! Our goddamn base offense is the freaking wildcat AND YOU ARE TELLING ME YOU ARE GOING TO TAKE OUT THE THREAT OF A PASS BY SPLITTING MILLER OUT WIDE? WHY? IF YOU JUST WANT TO RUN THE BALL HAVE HIM DO IT! HE’S THE BEST RUNNER ON THE TEAM ALREADY??!! HE’S BUILT TO RUN THE WILDCAT AND YOU WANT TO RUN IT WITH CARLOS FREAKING HYDE? ???? AAAAAAGGHHHHHHHHHHHH ADHAFHWJHBRF CBKAISHDFW AFKJGSBFILDGSBGLDBSAKL.
"You might as well appeal against the thunderstorm."
-William T. Sherman, the Battle of Atlanta
Thank you for that most coherent response.
What beers/alcoholic beverages from Ohio should a Gator fan elect to purchase to dull the pain of this upcoming bowl game (hello, upcoming dive play with Rainey/horrific INT!) and the memory of Corch Urbz? We will need something with which to drink it off our collective mind. Related to the above question:what aspect of your team should we fear the most?
Go gata!
Reply fail, see below.
"You might as well appeal against the thunderstorm."
-William T. Sherman, the Battle of Atlanta
Sounds similar to Florida
We shall formally call this the No-O Urban Suck Bowl. Which will somehow still be higher rated than the 80% of the other bowl games.
Tim Brando: Let's head to Gainesville with Coach Will Muschamp who's live on the scene with an exclusive. Coach Boom?
Boom: Gator Watch. The mood is tense; I have been on some serious, serious reports but nothing quite like this. I uh... Whiz... Weis is inside right now. I tried to set up an offense with him, but they said you can't do that he's a live walrus, he will literally rip your face off.
[to the walrus]
Coach Boom: Hey, you're making me look stupid. Get out here, Walrus Weis!
Tim Brando: Great story. Compelling, and rich.
Well, Ohio State graduates invented Four Loko, so that's a winner. Also, Great Lakes beer has several flavors and most of them are pretty decent.
But if you really want to feel like an Ohioan crush a Natty or 11, that usually helped after every Saturday afternoon this year. Braxton Miller is the only thing that remotely makes this offense look like an offense. And he has three things working against him, 1) He’s a true freshman 2) His accuracy is inconsistent—he missed three TD passes against Michigan, if he hits them, the game is a laugher and 3) His own offensive coordinator game plans to screw him whenever possible (see above) and his own center manages to snap every 3rd down shotgun snap into his ankles. And despite all that he was magical this year. I haven’t seen a player make cuts or jukes like that, and get to top gear since Reggie Bush, and that’s not even hyperbole. He doesn’t turn the ball over, but he does take a lot of sacks because no one is ever open and he’s allergic to throwing the ball away. Just watch this video. If you can stop him from improvising and running around, our offense is fucked. But no one since his first start, against MSU, as come close. Other than that our offense isn’t good.
"You might as well appeal against the thunderstorm."
-William T. Sherman, the Battle of Atlanta
His own offensive coordinator game plans to screw him whenever possible
We know that feeling.
Editor at Alligator Army, a place that doesn't, you know, glorify concussions.
GoGators82 said it best: "Dollar Store cheap!"
It was the curse of Johnny III
Please let it end
Tim Brando: Let's head to Gainesville with Coach Will Muschamp who's live on the scene with an exclusive. Coach Boom?
Boom: Gator Watch. The mood is tense; I have been on some serious, serious reports but nothing quite like this. I uh... Whiz... Weis is inside right now. I tried to set up an offense with him, but they said you can't do that he's a live walrus, he will literally rip your face off.
[to the walrus]
Coach Boom: Hey, you're making me look stupid. Get out here, Walrus Weis!
Tim Brando: Great story. Compelling, and rich.
Which was more painful 2006 or 2007?
I would assume 2006 being the bigger beatdown, and would numb some of the pain of 2007 with the ‘here we go again’ aspect, but 2007 could have that budding hope of ‘THIS TIME WILL BE DIFFERENT’…
How do you feel about Tressel? Still think he did nothing wrong? Think he’s a moron for not taking the four game suspension at the beginning of the year? Think there was a pattern of him covering up players?
How glad are you that your coach just hid selling memorabilia and taking free tattoos, rather than… being Miami…
And, I guess I’ll throw in some relevant Bowl questions:
Who do you think has the better defense?
The less worse offense?
How do you feel about undergoing a complete change of offense for next year?
Are you hopeful that technically, this would be your first win over an SEC team in a bowl game?
His name was Nick Bloomfield.
Also Not You
by The Commenter Formerly Known as Not You on Dec 7, 2011 11:11 AM EST reply actions
2006 by far. The 2007 team shouldn't have even been there.
I will love Tressel ‘til the day I die, but what he did was wrong. Granted, I’d rather win now and vacate later, and let’s not pretend like our transgressions were that bad. They didn’t help our players play better, they didn’t affect our play on the field, as far as I’m concerned, last year we were 12-1, won the Big Ten and won the Sugar Bowl. He deserved to get fired, but I don;t blame him for covering that shit up, I blame the dumbass attorney who told him in the first place. Nothing good could have came from that.
You have to have the better defense. I haven’t watched many Florida games this year, but you have to. This isn’t the standard OSU defense by a long shot. Safetys take bad angles in run support, linebackers are mediocre, too many communication breakdowns in the secondary, idk, this isn’t a “good” defense.
We have the less worse offense strictly because Miller is so dangerous, Boom Herron is the best running back in the conference not named Montee Ball and Devier Posey is finally back. Our offense has improved significantly from the Miami and Michigan State debacles. It’s still shitty, but at least it’s not pathetic.
Sign, me up for the offensive change. I don’t give a fuck what we run, as long as we win with it. Plus, Miller is suited to run the spread, not USC’s offense. Saban or Meyer are the only two coaches I’d rather have than Tressel, pre- or post tat-gate, so I’ll take it.
"You might as well appeal against the thunderstorm."
-William T. Sherman, the Battle of Atlanta
D'oh, reply fail. See below.
/hangs head in shame
His name was Nick Bloomfield.
Also Not You
by The Commenter Formerly Known as Not You on Dec 7, 2011 3:03 PM EST up reply actions
Granted, I’d rather win now and vacate later
Well. Considering who you guys played, you would have won three of the four if you had to only field your walk-ons… which was more to the point of the question, I guess. 1 possible early loss, versus vacated season.
Still, yeah, Miami being Miami… that certainly helped take the focus off you guys.
Thanks for the info on your defense, I saw your inconsistent but promising offense when I watched the few games I caught, but was channel flipping too much to pick up the D.
Make me think this might actually be a decent game, if your secondary is as spotty as you imply… how’s your pass rush?
Also, be patient with Meyer. You might as well write next year off. Between the total offense change (which almost always means a short term step backwards), you’re also getting a guy who is going to have to relearn how to coach… so don’t expect anything ’til 2013 at the earliest. And hey, if there is success, pleasant surprise, eh?
(Feel free to ask any questions in return, if you’re curious for the other side’s view :-)
His name was Nick Bloomfield.
Also Not You
by The Commenter Formerly Known as Not You on Dec 7, 2011 3:02 PM EST reply actions
Pass rush is ok, John SImon is an animal, and Jonathan Hankins is a space eater. Other than them the pass rush is young and inconsistent.
Our best “pure” pass rusher, Nate Williams, got hurt in the 2nd game and missed the rest of the season, so that really hurt the d-line.
Okay, here’s a few questions for you guys:
1. Is Muschamp the long term answer?
2. What is the strength of your defense?
3. Why was the offense so bad, wasn’t Brantley a “better passer than Tebow” and supposed to be like, really good?
"You might as well appeal against the thunderstorm."
-William T. Sherman, the Battle of Atlanta
1. Too soon to tell. Meyer left a disaster.
2. Defensive line, but with Easley out … who knows. LB’s are very good. Secondary is talented but young. Matt Elam is the best player on defense. He plays the a rolling safety type of position.
3. Brantley isn’t all that good, but he was hampered by terrible OL play, no real north-south RB, and WR’s that can’t consistently get open.
Editor at Alligator Army, a place that doesn't, you know, glorify concussions.
GoGators82 said it best: "Dollar Store cheap!"
and WR’s that can’t consistently get open
or catch the ball on the rare occasion when they do get open!
In all kinds of weather...
They were open more than you think
Brantley was just always looking for the TE or Rainey. Saw multiple times where guy on the opposite of the field he threw to was wide open or open enough to let him make a play on the ball.
Which was what made me realize Brantley doesn’t trust his receivers to make a play to get the ball. He only throws the ball when he believes the ball will be either right to the guy, or he can run under it. none of those he can jump for it or dive for it or any of that. I’ll admit he did it a few times this year but those are the exception not the rule.
Tim Brando: Let's head to Gainesville with Coach Will Muschamp who's live on the scene with an exclusive. Coach Boom?
Boom: Gator Watch. The mood is tense; I have been on some serious, serious reports but nothing quite like this. I uh... Whiz... Weis is inside right now. I tried to set up an offense with him, but they said you can't do that he's a live walrus, he will literally rip your face off.
[to the walrus]
Coach Boom: Hey, you're making me look stupid. Get out here, Walrus Weis!
Tim Brando: Great story. Compelling, and rich.
He was horrible with that in his first season.
Last season he actually looked at the entire field. Who knows if he was actually looking to throw the ball, but he didn’t stare down one receiver like the year before.
"When you argue correctly, you're never wrong."-Nick Naylor
Yes
He was definitely better at scanning the field this season compared to the prior one.
Tim Brando: Let's head to Gainesville with Coach Will Muschamp who's live on the scene with an exclusive. Coach Boom?
Boom: Gator Watch. The mood is tense; I have been on some serious, serious reports but nothing quite like this. I uh... Whiz... Weis is inside right now. I tried to set up an offense with him, but they said you can't do that he's a live walrus, he will literally rip your face off.
[to the walrus]
Coach Boom: Hey, you're making me look stupid. Get out here, Walrus Weis!
Tim Brando: Great story. Compelling, and rich.
We have similar problems! Philly Brown manages to get behind the defense and drop a bigge once a game!
"You might as well appeal against the thunderstorm."
-William T. Sherman, the Battle of Atlanta
Thanks
My answers:
1) I would say probably, but our offensive line is in such shambles, and you can’t win games without offense…
2) D Line, no question. Elam was a monster, but secondary was spotty. Miles ahead of the 2007 version, but still occasionally gave up big plays. Jelani Jenkins is solid at linebacker, but he has missed a good bit of time due to injury.
3) I’m a lot higher on Brantley than most… he was a square peg in round hole last year, and this year he was behind an offensive line that was in the same situation…. spread option O line play is quite different from pro style O line play. Back him up with two spread option RBs who can’t break arm tackles, a good pro style RB who only gets limited touches, and surround him with WRs who are as likely to drop a perfect pass as catch it… that said, after Bama, the entire QB corp looked shell shocked… Brantley was hobbling, Driskel became hesitant… Brissett fared better, but seems to need time adjusting to the speed of the college game. Once a solid line is in place, we can fairly judge Weis, but… he’s tried to get creative, but we just don’t have the pieces for a coherent system at this point.
His name was Nick Bloomfield.
Also Not You
by The Commenter Formerly Known as Not You on Dec 8, 2011 12:24 AM EST up reply actions
My stab
1. Yes. And I hope Gator fans will give more than 4 years to prove it.
2. Matt Elam, basically he makes the rest of the defense better by plugging the holes. after that it’s the d-line.
3. Brantley is a practice QB, but once the lights come on and the crowd is there and the opposing defense lines up, he sucks, and become check down man or throw it into multiple coverage-man. So basically he sucks on game day but is amazing for your scout team …
Tim Brando: Let's head to Gainesville with Coach Will Muschamp who's live on the scene with an exclusive. Coach Boom?
Boom: Gator Watch. The mood is tense; I have been on some serious, serious reports but nothing quite like this. I uh... Whiz... Weis is inside right now. I tried to set up an offense with him, but they said you can't do that he's a live walrus, he will literally rip your face off.
[to the walrus]
Coach Boom: Hey, you're making me look stupid. Get out here, Walrus Weis!
Tim Brando: Great story. Compelling, and rich.
my take:
1. Depends on who he hires as next year’s OC. If he whiffs on this hire he’ll be gone by this time 2013.
2. Overall I would say the strength is in its balance. Each unit has strengths and weakness: D Line best unit but doesn’t get enough pass rush off the edge, Linebackers lack size but cover well, great play from safeties but corners lack talent after Roberson who’s injured. So even though they have deficiencies, their strengths cover them well enough.
3. Worst offensive line I’ve ever seen in my 20+ years of watching Gator football.
my stab
1) i hope so…this and next years recruiting classes will cement his UF legacy
2) Matt Elam w/o a doubt since Easly is out
3) as other stated, he wouldn’t look at WRs…I still have no clue where Omarious Hines went this year…I was hoping for big things from him…
I really want to ask a total troll question now
but I won’t. Good luck with Urban.
by ParadigmShift35 on Jan 23, 2012 8:29 PM EST reply actions
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