Corso got it right again

 

GAME #11:  OHIO STATE 28 - PENN STATE 17

 

https://www.espn.com/college-football/matchup?gameId=401112256

https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-state-football/2019/11/109270/ohio-state-survives-its-first-close-game-of-the-season-to-defeat-penn-state-28-17

 

The Buckeyes dominated the first half, but only led 14-0 at halftime because of a Fields fumble going into the endzone that PSU recovered to negate a touchdown.  Two more OSU fumbles in the third quarter gave PSU short drives for 10 points and narrowed the Buckeye lead to 21-17.  But a Fields TD pass to Olave and an interception by the defense in the fourth quarter clinched the 28-17 win.  Which also clinches the Big Ten West and a trip to the B1G Championship Game.

 

The return of Chase Young helped and the Buckeye defense played well.  But it was a grind-it-out rushing attack of Dobbins with 36 carries(!) for 157 yards plus 2 rushing TD's and Fields' 21 carries plus a 16/22 and 2TD passing performance to seal this victory.

My nephew is like the fans are going nuts in front of St. Johns.  The fox people have security everywhere.  They are going in the opposite direction to get away from the crazy, granted it's everywhere.  The Buckeyes need a big win next week at ❌ichigan  (AKA TTUN)

 

 

6 minutes ago, MyTwoSense said:

My nephew is like the fans are going nuts in front of St. Johns.  The fox people have security everywhere.  They are going in the opposite direction to get away from the crazy, granted it's everywhere.  The Buckeyes need a big win next week at ❌ichigan  (AKA TTUN)

 

 

I am just so glad we won despite the turnovers(it was getting scary)and that Fields is apparently not hurt at all. Damn that was a terrible few moments...winning plus last home game plus senior day plus HUGE relief over Fields equals storming of field/crazed fans*.  Xichigan gets a thumbs up! lol.

 

*alcohol and all of course.

 

Now to find some games to RELAX!!! to and enjoy without any heartstopping moments.  *huge sigh of relief*

Edited November 23, 20195 yr by Toddguy

4 minutes ago, Toddguy said:

I am just so glad we won despite the turnovers(it was getting scary)and that Fields is apparently not hurt at all. Damn that was a terrible few moments...winning plus last home game plus senior day plus HUGE relief over Fields equals storming of field/crazed fans*.  Xichigan gets a thumbs up! lol.

 

*alcohol and all of course.

 

Now to find some games to RELAX!!! to and enjoy without any heartstopping moments.  *huge sigh of relief*

 

That is exactly why my nephew, niece, her boyfriend and my Cousins (multiple) kids are all trying to get back to the house.  Drunken college students.  They know they cannot be caught up in any of that.  

 

Happy for the WIN but wont be happy until we kick some wolverine ass.  Lets hope Indiana wins today!

I know that many Clevelanders went to Ohio State, but why Cleveland.com dedicate an entire third of the homepage to a college game every week is beyond me!  Ohio.com, Cincinnati Enquire does not dedicate that much real-estate to Ohio State.  Even look at the Columbus Dispatch and they are not even in the realm of with cleveland.com does for Ohio State.  Then I looked at the business section and there is an article that the Cleveland Hopkins monitoring systems are working again.  Cleveland deserves much better  

Edited November 24, 20195 yr by newyorker

27 minutes ago, newyorker said:

I know that many Clevelanders went to Ohio State, but why Cleveland.com dedicate an entire third of the homepage to a college game every week is beyond me!  Ohio.com, Cincinnati Enquire does not dedicate that much real-estate to Ohio State.  Even look at the Columbus Dispatch and they are not even in the realm of with cleveland.com does for Ohio State.  Then I looked at the business section and there is an article that the Cleveland Hopkins monitoring systems are working again.  That newspaper has gone to hell!

 

Because this is a football city.  As you state many of us are Alum and have family/friend that played sports at OSU. There is a huge pipeline from NEO to OSU. 

Saying that Cleveland.com/The Plain Dealer, "has gone to hell" in regards to covering THE OSU football program is wrong.  Flat out wrong, as the Browns and OSU Football have received major coverage every Saturday and Sunday since I was a child.  When the Browns were on "hiatus" I think OSU football was more prominently featured.

Todays game was a top 10 match-up and talked about nationally.  I expect as much next week as rivalry weeks kicks into high gear and the Bucks have the possibility for an undefeated season.

1 hour ago, newyorker said:

I know that many Clevelanders went to Ohio State, but why Cleveland.com dedicate an entire third of the homepage to a college game every week is beyond me!  Ohio.com, Cincinnati Enquire does not dedicate that much real-estate to Ohio State.  Even look at the Columbus Dispatch and they are not even in the realm of with cleveland.com does for Ohio State.  Then I looked at the business section and there is an article that the Cleveland Hopkins monitoring systems are working again.  Cleveland deserves much better  

 

You're not the only one who questions all this. I went to college in Ohio (Miami) and have lived in CLE more than 20 years .. but grew up in Indiana. In that state, IU, Purdue, Notre Dame all share fans in basketball/football. There is no "state" team that everyone lives and dies with as there seems to be in Ohio. And OSU fanatics in CLE don't seem limited to those who went to OSU (or even to college...). On game days all I see and hear in CLE is "Buckeyes" - from the media to endless logo wear...

 

We all have our thing, and OSU fans obviously have theirs - and good for them. But to no-sports-allegiance Hoosier me and my Ohio-born, non-OSU fan wife, it's total SMH stuff - even within her own family where no one went to OSU but everyone is now a rabid fan. We just don't understand... 

 

I agree, CLE deserves better, especially in a state already disproportionately skewed towards everything Columbus.  

Edited November 24, 20195 yr by eyehrtfood

From 1920 to 2000 all the rest of of Ohio was secondary to Cleveland.

29 minutes ago, eyehrtfood said:

 

You're not the only one who questions all this. I went to college in Ohio (Miami) and have lived in CLE more than 20 years .. but grew up in Indiana. In that state, IU, Purdue, Notre Dame all share fans in basketball/football. There is no "state" team that everyone lives and dies with as there seems to be in Ohio. And OSU fanatics in CLE don't seem limited to those who went to OSU (or even to college...). On game days all I see and hear in CLE is "Buckeyes" - from the media to endless logo wear...

 

We all have our thing, and OSU fans obviously have theirs - and good for them. But to no-sports-allegiance Hoosier me and my Ohio-born, non-OSU fan wife, it's total SMH stuff - even within her own family where no one went to OSU but everyone is now a rabid fan. We just don't understand... 

 

I agree, CLE deserves better, especially in a state already disproportionately skewed towards everything Columbus.  

 

3 hours ago, newyorker said:

I know that many Clevelanders went to Ohio State, but why Cleveland.com dedicate an entire third of the homepage to a college game every week is beyond me!  Ohio.com, Cincinnati Enquire does not dedicate that much real-estate to Ohio State.  Even look at the Columbus Dispatch and they are not even in the realm of with cleveland.com does for Ohio State.  Then I looked at the business section and there is an article that the Cleveland Hopkins monitoring systems are working again.  Cleveland deserves much better  

 

I totally agree with this and I've noticed it as well and was quite disgusted. I get it that people like sports, so if we were in Columbus--its the local team. But OSU is a college team---and this is Cleveland--we should be focused on more grown up things than a college football game. 

The Browns are playing today and they still have a third of Cleveland.com covering Ohio State.

2 hours ago, newyorker said:

The Browns are playing today and they still have a third of Cleveland.com covering Ohio State.

Maybe it is because OSU is undefeated and number 2 in the country...while the Browns..well...  ?

 

And if people want to bitch about Cleveland.com then maybe they should start a thread about that and leave it out of this thread. So typical of people from outside of Cbus to come into a thread about something based in/related to/etc. Cbus and start bitching. Take it elsewhere for Christ's sake.  If it is an issue it is a Cleveland issue...this is just an excuse to come into this thread and start trashing the Buckeyes and their fans...so transparent. Nobody on this site is willing to stand up to the Urban Ohio "Cleveland Mafia" which dominates every damn thing and God forbid anything good relates to anything outside of NE OHIO!  ?

 

*I can just imagine the outrage if I went into The Browns thread and bitched about how much coverage they were getting/not getting in the(admittedly awful)Dispatch. smh.

 

 

*yeah I know I am being an @sshole and there really needs to be an @sshole emoji!   LOL!

Edited November 24, 20195 yr by Toddguy

10 hours ago, Pugu said:

 

I totally agree with this and I've noticed it as well and was quite disgusted. I get it that people like sports, so if we were in Columbus--its the local team. But OSU is a college team---and this is Cleveland--we should be focused on more grown up things than a college football game. 

Football is football-go bitch in the Browns thread about any coverage given to the Browns then. Yes PRO football is SOOO much more "grown up" than College ball. 

 

*watches Browns "Bottlegate" video*

 

And yeah I know I am going to be slaughtered in this thread and the Browns thread. Oh well. lol

Edited November 24, 20195 yr by Toddguy

40 minutes ago, Toddguy said:

Maybe it is because OSU is undefeated and number 2 in the country...while the Browns..well...  ?

 

And if people want to bitch about Cleveland.com then maybe they should start a thread about that and leave it out of this thread. So typical of people from outside of Cbus to come into a thread about something based in/related to/etc. Cbus and start bitching. Take it elsewhere for Christ's sake.  If it is an issue it is a Cleveland issue...this is just an excuse to come into this thread and start trashing the Buckeyes and their fans...so transparent. Nobody on this site is willing to stand up to the Urban Ohio "Cleveland Mafia" which dominates every damn thing and God forbid anything good relates to anything outside of NE OHIO!  ?

 

*I can just imagine the outrage if I went into The Browns thread and bitched about how much coverage they were getting/not getting in the(admittedly awful)Dispatch. smh.

 

 

*yeah I know I am being an @sshole and there really needs to be an @sshole emoji!   LOL!

 

I do not believe anyone is trashing Columbus.  There is no evidence of that whatsoever, in this situation.  NONE.

 

I do agree that the coverage of Buckeye Sports on Cleveland.bomb should be discussed here:  

 

 

 

26 minutes ago, MyTwoSense said:

 

I do not believe anyone is trashing Columbus.  There is no evidence of that whatsoever, in this situation.  NONE.

 

I do agree that the coverage of Buckeye Sports on Cleveland.bomb should be discussed here:  

 

 

 

I never said trashing Cbus...I said bitching about Cbus...and was referring mainly to this:

Quote

I agree, CLE deserves better, especially in a state already disproportionately skewed towards everything Columbus.  

But yeah, mainly I was just stirring some s#$t just to get something going until the games come on as I am bored this am lol.  I admit it.  

2 minutes ago, Toddguy said:

I never said trashing Cbus...I said bitching about Cbus...and was referring mainly to this:

But yeah, mainly I was just stirring some s#$t just to get something going until the games come on as I am bored this am lol.  I admit it.  

^^ lol I got it out of my system and am making myself busy until the pre-game stuff comes on.

So some Cleveland posters feel there is too much Buckeye Football coverage on Cleveland.com.

 

And today is the beginning of Beat Michigan week.

 

i remember when nd played home game in muni stadium and nd and osu used to get about equal coverage in cle. ohio nationalism with osu seems to have overtaken that over the years. or maybe its just that osu has been successful. probably, i dk.

https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-state-football/2019/11/109484/ohio-state-jumps-to-no-1-in-college-football-playoff-rankings-after-win-over-penn-state-overtaking-lsu

 

Ohio State jumps LSU to retake the top spot in the just-released College Football Playoff Rankings.  So the Buckeyes will be ranked #1 when they face 13th-ranked Michigan on Saturday.

Already nervous about the game with TTUN. Our being number 1 going into it just makes the spoiler possibility nerves start to jump. I think I will watch with my Dad-he is 91 and fill fight and quarrel over THE GAME just like he always has....good times!

Under 12 hrs away till kick off,.. Here's to another 365 days worth of bragging rights! Go Bucks!!!

GAME #12 (aka THE GAME):  OHIO STATE 56 - MICHIGAN 27

https://www.espn.com/college-football/matchup?gameId=401112228

https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-state-football/2019/11/109645/ohio-state-has-another-offensive-explosion-to-blow-out-michigan-56-27-for-eighth-straight-win-in-rivalry-game

 

Michigan played Ohio State pretty even in the first half.  The halftime total yardage was 318-285 in favor of the Buckeyes.  OSU had a balanced attack of 200 passing yards to 118 rushing yards versus an unbalanced 250 passing yards to 35 rushing yards for UM in the first half.  But because of a Michigan fumble in the red zone and a terrible offside penalty during a fourth-and-four to-go OSU punt that extended that drive and ended in an OSU TD - the Buckeyes led 28-16 at halftime.

 

The Buckeyes scored on the opening drive of the second half to go up 35-16.  And then the OSU defense begins to shut down the Michigan passing attack that was effective in the first half - holding UM QB Patterson to 4/24 for 55 yards with an INT in the second half(!)

 

Michigan had a tiny window of hope when OSU QB Justin Fields went down with initially serious looking knee injury when an OSU lineman fell on Fields left leg.  But after being down on the turf for a while, Fields walked unassisted to the sideline.  Backup QB Chugunov and backup RB Master Teague entered the game and grinded out two key first downs before Fields re-entered to game (wearing a knee brace) to throw a 30-yard TD pass that extended the lead 42-16.

 

Eventually the Buckeyes would win 56-27.  Fields went 14/25 for 302 passing yards and 4 passing TD's.  Dobbins had 31 carries for 211 yards and 4 rushing TD's.

 

The Buckeyes will play the winner of today's Minnesota-Wisconsin game in next Saturday's Big Ten Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indy.

https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-state-football/2019/11/109641/jim-harbaugh-is-the-only-coach-to-ever-go-0-5-in-the-game

 

In other bits of Michigan ignominy:

• This is the 8th straight win for OSU

• This is first time a team has won with 50+ points in consecutive meetings

• OSU has won 15 of the last 16 meetings

• OSU has won 17 of the last 19 meetings since Tressel's first UM/OSU game in 2001.

Home or away - it makes no difference anymore in The Game:

 

On 11/25/2019 at 1:53 PM, Columbo said:

So some Cleveland posters feel there is too much Buckeye Football coverage on Cleveland.com.

 

And today is the beginning of Beat Michigan week.

 

Well there was plenty of OSU coverage yesterday but I just checked and Cleveland.com is full of brand new post game Browns coverage...very harsh coverage.

BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP GAME:  OHIO STATE 34 - WISCONSIN 21

 

https://www.espn.com/college-football/matchup?gameId=401132983

 

This rematch with Wisconsin gave the Buckeyes their toughest test yet.  The Badgers built up a 21-7 lead at halftime.  But then the Buckeyes scored a TD on the opening drive of the second half and reeled off 27 unanswered points(!)

 

Fields was wearing a heavy knee brace and didn't factor in the rushing attack in this game.  Instead, Fields threw for 299 yards and 3 TD's with zero INT's.  J.K. Dobbins ran for 172 yards with one rushing TD.

 

Now the undefeated 13-0 Buckeyes will wait until Noon Sunday, when the final College Football Playoff rankings are announced.

The final College Football Playoff rankings are out:

So that means this is the next matchup:

 

I would rather us not be playing Clemson right off, but really I am just glad we are undefeated and in!

On 12/8/2019 at 2:39 PM, Toddguy said:

I would rather us not be playing Clemson right off, but really I am just glad we are undefeated and in!

 

I don't mind playing Clemson.  Gives us a chance to avenge that 31-0 loss and stick it to Dabo.  That would be the next best thing to beating Bama.  So think of Dabo as the Saban stand-in for this year(!)

 

Justin Fields and Chase Young were named finalists for this year's Heisman Trophy,  They'll get to go the NYC and watch Joe Burrow get the trophy.  Aw well, it's an honor to just be nominated, right?

 

15 hours ago, Columbo said:

 

I don't mind playing Clemson.  Gives us a chance to avenge that 31-0 loss and stick it to Dabo.  That would be the next best thing to beating Bama.  So think of Dabo as the Saban stand-in for this year(!)

 

Yes I am hoping we can pull off the upset(we are the damn underdog.)  And with Bama? I despise that devil-led team and will actually be pulling for TTUN!

Chase Young won't win the Heisman - but he was given the Bronko Nagurski Trophy - awarded to college football's best defensive player:

 

https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-state-football/2019/12/110249/ohio-state-defensive-end-chase-young-wins-bronko-nagurski-trophy

10 hours ago, Toddguy said:

Yes I am hoping we can pull off the upset(we are the damn underdog.)  And with Bama? I despise that devil-led team and will actually be pulling for TTUN!

Cant they just both lose???? We can only wish!!  

 

I'm actually pretty content w the Clemson matchup... though I think Clemson and Oklahoma are the 2 lesser opponents of the 3, though I feel all 4 of these teams are able to take it all.  Oklahoma is due for a playoff win, and I could see Hurts carving n slicing up lsu and getting one for the Sooners!  Hoping atleast one of the midwest O dynasty teams can take it all this year! GO BUCKS!

15 hours ago, Columbo said:

Chase Young won't win the Heisman - but he was given the Bronko Nagurski Trophy - awarded to college football's best defensive player:

 

https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-state-football/2019/12/110249/ohio-state-defensive-end-chase-young-wins-bronko-nagurski-trophy

 

/has flashbacks to the 2006 "award season" and what came after...

10 hours ago, TwoStickney419 said:

Cant they just both lose???? We can only wish!!  

 

I'm actually pretty content w the Clemson matchup... though I think Clemson and Oklahoma are the 2 lesser opponents of the 3, though I feel all 4 of these teams are able to take it all.  Oklahoma is due for a playoff win, and I could see Hurts carving n slicing up lsu and getting one for the Sooners!  Hoping atleast one of the midwest O dynasty teams can take it all this year! GO BUCKS!

 

Clemson has been scary good since their UNC scare - of course, they've played basically nobody.  But Lawrence/Etienne rivals Fields/Dobbins for best backfield in America, imo.  And our D hasn't been great the last 3-4 weeks.  Clemson is also just a team that always has our number.

 

Ohio State is the only program since 2005 outside of the southeast to win a national title.  The list since '05 is striking:

-Ohio State: 1 ('14)

-LSU: 1 ('07)

-Florida: 2 ('06, '08)

-Florida State: 1 ('13)

-Auburn: 1 ('10)

-Alabama: 5 ('09, '11, '12, '15, '17)

-Clemson: 2 ('16, '18)

 

Junior DE Chase Young, junior CB Jeff Okudah and sophomore guard Wyatt Davis were named to the First-Team AP All-American Team.  Sophomore QB Justin Fields and junior RB J.K.Dobbins were named to the AP Second-Team.  While senior guard Jonah Jackson and senior LB Malik Harrison were named to the Third-Team.

 

The full AP All-American Teams are listed at https://apnews.com/09ff7f4dba45126d077bf440e4046f8b

 

The three Buckeyes on the first-team matches LSU.  But Ohio State led all teams with seven players selected to the three All-America teams.  Alabama had five players combined on the second and third teams.  Oklahoma, Utah also had five selections on the three teams, while LSU and Clemson each had four.

 

https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-state-football/2019/12/110494/chase-young-jeff-okudah-and-wyatt-davis-named-first-team-all-americans-as-seven-total-buckeyes-earn-all-american

 

In other news, Buckeyes’ co-defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley will be leaving OSU after one season to be the next head coach of Boston College.  However, he will be staying with the Buckeyes throughout the playoffs:  https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-state-football/2019/12/110489/jeff-hafley-felt-like-he-couldnt-pass-up-opportunity-at-boston-college-but-still-focused-on-helping-ohio-state-win

 

And tomorrow is the beginning of early signing for the 2020 recruiting class.  Apparently this year it will be a three-day early signing period, which begins at 7 a.m. Wednesday and ends at 11:59 p.m Friday.  So I'd expect a lot of coverage tomorrow if most players sign commitments Wednesday, with some rolling updates if players get added on Thursday or Friday.

 

I really wish the NCAA would've kept the signing day after the season ends.  It was better for the teams preparing for the playoffs, better for programs who just hired new head coaches, and it just made more sense to have it after all the bowl games ended.  But the signing starts tomorrow.  And because it's such an important part of the overall program, we'll cover the results.

2020 RECRUITING RANKINGS

 

Ohio State finished #3 across the board in the three main rankings services (247, Rivals & ESPN).  It was a strong showing for Ryan Day in his first full recruiting class of his head coaching tenure.  Day only had a 14th ranked class in 2019.  But with Day transitioning into the head coaching position during that recruiting period, it was a smaller than normal class (17 players vs. 25 players in this 2020 class).  And the team recruiting rankings add up all the recruits - so a smaller number of total recruits negatively affects that final score/ranking.  On a per recruit basis, Day's 2019 class was in the top 5.

 

With 25 recruits in this 2020 class, that was not an issue this time.  Of the 25 recruits, 2 were five-star rated, 14 were four-star rated, and 9 were three-star rated.  Only Clemson and Alabama had more five-star recruits than the Buckeyes.  And only Clemson and Alabama were ranked higher than the Buckeyes recruiting class.  The closest Big Ten schools were Michigan at #12 and Penn State at #13 in the 247 composite rankings.  Nebraska at #20 and Wisconsin at #26 were next closest.

 

The Buckeye's 2020 recruiting class is headlined by its two five-star recruits:

• Five-star recruit Julian Fleming is a 6'-2" WR from Pennsylvania who was an early commitment to Penn State, but changed his commitment to the Buckeyes in May 2019.  Fleming is the #1 ranked receiver in the entire 2020 national class.  Fleming heads up a four-player WR class in 2020 for the Buckeyes - with the other three being four-star rated.  On the strength of this incoming WR class, OSU's WR coach Brian Hartline was ranked as the nation's top recruiter in the 247 rankings.

• Five-star recruit Paris Johnson Jr. is 6'-7" 290 lb OT from Cincinnati who committed to the Buckeyes back in June 2018 before making it official on Wednesday.  Johnson is the #1 ranked OT in the entire 2020 national class.  Johnson played for St. Xavier high school in Cincinnati before transferring to Cincinnati Princeton high school for his senior year.

Two other prominent recruits were at the QB position:

• 6'-4" QB Jack Miller from Arizona was originally offered a spot in this 2020 class by then-QB coach Ryan Day way back in 2017 before he committed to the Buckeyes in July 2018.  Miller is the 14th-ranked pro-style quarterback in the 2020 national class.  He was higher ranked earlier in his recruiting cycle, but has been plagued by injuries over the past two years.  His junior high school season was shortened by a knee injury, he was limited at the Elite 11 quarterback competition this summer due to a back injury and missed time during his senior season with a shoulder injury.

• 6'-2" QB C.J. Stroud from California is a late addition to OSU's 2020 class.  Stroud was uncommitted until this week's Signing Day.  He was said to be down to Ohio State and Georgia until he signed his official letter of intent with the Buckeyes on Wednesday.  Stroud is the 2nd-ranked pro-style quarterback in the 2020 national class.  Getting Stroud is a big help to the QB depth chart for next season.  Now Stroud can compete with Miller for the backup spot behind Justin Fields in 2020.

 

---

11W has a complete 2020 recruiting list along with individual player links at https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-state-football/2019/12/110573/updated-list-of-ohio-states-early-signees

 

247sports has their complete 2020 team rankings at https://247sports.com/Season/2020-Football/CompositeTeamRankings/

BACK TO SATURDAY'S SEMI-FINAL PLAYOFF GAME:

 

Normally, the pre-game pressers are a bunch of useless sound that fills time and gives content for the hundreds of hours of sports radio and TV until the actual game begins.  But QB Justin Fields said something that might chill the blood of Buckeye Nation just before Christmas:

 

https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-state-football/2019/12/110767/justin-fields-to-wear-small-knee-brace-against-clemson-saying-injury-progress-is-probably-not-where-i-want-it-to-be

 

Fields originally suffered an MCL sprain at the end of the Buckeyes' win over Penn State and reaggravated that injury in the second half against Michigan, forcing him to wear a knee brace for the remainder of that game and during of the Big Ten Championship game against Wisconsin.

 

Fields said the injury has not caused him to miss any practice time during Ohio State game preparation, but that the injury hinders his mobility.  Plus Fields added: "I definitely thought I would be closer to 100 percent.  If I had to give a percentage, I think I'm at 80 or 85 right now. I'm just going to hope and pray I feel better by game day, really."

https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-state-football/2019/12/110800/ohio-state-practice-observations-ryan-day-energizes-loose-team-justin-fields-wears-bulky-brace-cj-saunders-and

 

The team looks to be practicing with purpose but staying loose during the run-up to the semi against Clemson.  But on Christmas Day, head coach Ryan Day grabbed a pad and had every player or coach hit it and then run through a tackling dummy as they took the field.  As they went, each player got some commentary over the speakers.  Which went as planned until the entire group of offensive linemen decided to rush Coach Day en masse:

 

Tonight's the night:  Ohio State vs Clemson in the CFP Semi-Final at the Fiesta Bowl (aka "The Duel in the Desert")

 

https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-state-football/2019-fiesta-bowl/2019/12/110797/whos-got-the-edge-breaking-down-ohio-state-and-clemsons-position-groups-and-which-units-stand-out

 

11W has the complete round-up of the tonight's game with position-by-position analysis of both teams (Spoiler Alert: Both OSU and Clemson are great at all positions)

 

As for how I see it.  I think OSU will need to have a strong running game to win.  Normally that would include Dobbins and Fields.  But with Fields limited with a knee injury, it might fall on Dobbins alone.  If Fields can't run on either designed plays or improvised runs from the pocket, that takes away a significant part of the potent Buckeye offense.  And that concerns me.

 

On the defensive side, the talented Buckeye CB's will face their toughest test of the season against Trevor Lawrence and Clemson's talented (and tall) WR's.  They can't stop Clemson from taking shots downfield and sometimes succeeding.  But they've got to try and blunt Clemson's passing attack enough for OSU's offense to keep up.  Forcing a turnover or two would also be helpful.

 

Another X-factor for tonight's game could be the coaching.  Ryan Day and his staff have been nothing short of amazing with their game planning and halftime adjustments this season.  But this is their first time in the CFP spotlight.  On the other sideline, Dabo has been through two title runs and the rest of his staff have been through at least one.  With both teams so equally matched, it could be a deciding factor.

 

But I'm still hoping for a Buckeye victory tonight and that LSU wins in the early game to set up an OSU/LSU final.  GO BUCKS!

6 hours ago, Columbo said:

Tonight's the night:  Ohio State vs Clemson in the CFP Semi-Final at the Fiesta Bowl (aka "The Duel in the Desert")

 

https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-state-football/2019-fiesta-bowl/2019/12/110797/whos-got-the-edge-breaking-down-ohio-state-and-clemsons-position-groups-and-which-units-stand-out

 

11W has the complete round-up of the tonight's game with position-by-position analysis of both teams (Spoiler Alert: Both OSU and Clemson are great at all positions)

 

As for how I see it.  I think OSU will need to have a strong running game to win.  Normally that would include Dobbins and Fields.  But with Fields limited with a knee injury, it might fall on Dobbins alone.  If Fields can't run on either designed plays or improvised runs from the pocket, that takes away a significant part of the potent Buckeye offense.  And that concerns me.

 

On the defensive side, the talented Buckeye CB's will face their toughest test of the season against Trevor Lawrence and Clemson's talented (and tall) WR's.  They can't stop Clemson from taking shots downfield and sometimes succeeding.  But they've got to try and blunt Clemson's passing attack enough for OSU's offense to keep up.  Forcing a turnover or two would also be helpful.

 

Another X-factor for tonight's game could be the coaching.  Ryan Day and his staff have been nothing short of amazing with their game planning and halftime adjustments this season.  But this is their first time in the CFP spotlight.  On the other sideline, Dabo has been through two title runs and the rest of his staff have been through at least one.  With both teams so equally matched, it could be a deciding factor.

 

But I'm still hoping for a Buckeye victory tonight and that LSU wins in the early game to set up an OSU/LSU final.  GO BUCKS!

 

Well, you're getting the LSU win.  OU is crapping the bed, but not entirely unexpected.  A conspiracy theory mind might think that OSU/Clemson were put together to tire each other out for the inevitable LSU game and an easier SEC win, because OU doesn't look like they should've been there at all.

The Buckeyes dominated the first half - taking a 16-0 lead and having a 288 to 86 total yardage advantage at one point.  But the Buckeyes got held to 3 FG's in the red zone or it would have been an LSU-type blowout.  Not converting TD's allowed Clemson to make a late second quarter comeback with 2 TD's and narrow the lead to 16-14 at halftime.

Well, it was not to be.  The second half was a back and forth battle with Clemson taking the lead early in the third quarter.  Then the Buckeyes regained the lead until Clemson got a TD with just until 2 minutes remaining to take a 29-23 lead.  OSU had a final drive that got to the 23-yard line with 37 seconds left.  But a miscommunication between Fields and his receiver lead to an interception that clinched the game for the Tigers.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/28386496/range-emotions-replay-calls

 

I wish the Buckeyes had won last night - but I was still proud of the way they played.  They sure didn't go out like Oklahoma did(!)  And the Buckeyes had three tough replay overturn calls go against them.

 

1) A diving Dobbins TD catch in the second quarter was overturned on replay and OSU had to kick a FG.  A proper call, but it took 4 points away from the Buckeyes.

2) A targeting call on cornerback Shaun Wade when he sacked Trevor Lawrence that was made in the replay booth later in the second quarter.  A proper call by the rules of college football, but a tough call because Wade was ejected from the game.  Whether coincidence or not, the Clemson passing game got on track after OSU lost one of its starters in the secondary.

3) An Ohio State scoop-and-score fumble that was overturned in the booth in the third quarter.  This was the most controversial overturn, as it looked like you could argue either a catch-and-fumble or an incomplete pass from the replay.  The six points taken away via that overturn would have been enough to give Ohio State the win (with an extra point of course).

 

I kinda fell the same way that Ryan Day did in that ESPN story.  I don't blame the replay calls for the 29-23 loss to Clemson - but I'm not happy about those calls.  Sometimes these calls go your way, sometimes they don't.  And the Buckeyes still had a chance to win the game in the last minute.  They just fell short.

That loss was hard to take. Feel they played the better game.

 

Refs, boo. 

I tuned in last night and thought it was a great game. But this is my problem with college football, there was literally one good game all year.  That’s a lot of time for people to invest in beating teams by 50 every week and knowing you are going to beat them by 50.  Then the first sign of quality and just like that it’s over.  I just can’t get into college until the CFP.  I really wish recruiting would just take a relaxer so there wasn’t only 3-5 good teams and there was more parity.  The 2002 buckeyes team was fun, it was mostly Ohio guys and they played close games all year and slayed Goliath.
 

the overturned  Scoop and score was a joke and I’m an unbiased sports fan(not a buckeye fan).  Thought by rule the targeting call was unfortunate but appropriate.  That’s not the refs fault...they should change the rule so that guys doesn’t get disqualified for that play.  He did nothing to get kicked out.

 

however, I saw the buckeyes drop three touchdown passes and that error at the end by the WR leaves only the blame on Ohio state.  In a game like that, you can’t make 1 massive mistake, let alone 4.

No one knows what targeting is.  No one knows what a catch is.

 

Still, the offense crapped the bed in four red zone trips.  That's (mostly) not on the refs.  Brutal schedule to finish - four top 15 teams and the Bucks lose with some questionable officiating to the defending champs.

 

I'll feel better if LSU beats the living tar out of fake *** Dabo next week.  After watching them scorch teams, I'm not sure Ohio State could have kept pace.

 

Also, where did Chase Young go these last 3-4 games?