Nationally perceived as a philosophically conservative football program, Ohio State’s out-of-conference scheduling is far cry from the lack of excitement that critics and skeptics bemoan.
The Buckeyes don’t buy billboards in Times Square, do not have alternative uniforms, typically avoid night games, give conservative interviews, and have never had a touchdown celebration make Sportscenter. Seemingly pegged to the their steady head coach and his apparel selection of a sweater vest, Ohio State was deemed not exciting enough for ESPN’s core 18-35 market.
On the other side of the country, in the backdrop of America’s epicenter of pop culture, an upstart USC program started to emerge as college football’s pre-eminent program. Snoop Dog, Will Ferrell, and Johnny Knoxville all took their turns visiting practice and while some of us shook our heads at what seemed like a lack of seriousness and devotion to football, it was far from the truth.
Led by Pete Carroll, the Trojans have slain a diverse and impressive list of college football’s elite. While a couple of high profile surprising losses stand out, for the most part the Trojans have been consistently the best big game team in the county and now look to earn another high profile win in what’s been tabbed the “Collision at the Coliseum”.
The storylines are as dramatic and intriguing as we’ve seen in the Tressel era. Conference prestige is at an all-time low, OSU’s Heisman contender’s health is somewhat of a mystery, and Vegas has moved the Buckeyes to a double-digit underdog while both polls have elevated USC to the number one ranked team in the country.
In what will be the Buckeyes’ most-watched game in 2008, the program has a great opportunity to boost its confidence and image on the national level by silencing the critics and earning what could be a career-defining win for Jim Tressel.
The Week Ahead
This game has the magnitude to alter how you will feel waking up on Sunday morning. In the first seconds of consciousness, you will quickly recall the dramatic events from the night before which will either invigorate your mood and demeanor or alternatively dampen your spirits.
This isn’t news to you as you can recall both sides of the Texas series. This game has the clout and significance to propel a national championship campaign as well fully derail those championship aspirations.
Below, let’s look at my keys to victory so you have a good grip on what critical things to keep an eye out for in order to make your Sunday morning more enjoyable.
1) Game Changing Performance
By now you are well aware of the Pontiac Game Changing Performance that picks a big-time, momentum-swinging play in a hotly contested game. Often the chosen play is a trick play touchdown or special teams or defensive score, one that is unexpected and momentum shifting.
While we have seen our share of special teams and defensive scores, Tressel has been very prudent in not utilizing trick plays. Although the offense employs a lot of gadget plays, the Buckeyes have not been compelled to roll the dice with a trick play in quite a while.
Both the LSU and Florida games seemed like ideal opportunities to unveil a trick play with the extra preparation time and high stakes on the line. If the special teams and defensive units are unable to steal the momentum from the Trojans in front of their home crowd, look for the offense to steal their thunder with something unexpected.
Regardless if it comes from the defense, special teams units, or the offense, it’s absolutely imperative that the Buckeyes have one play that gives the team a second wind while also taking the air out of the Trojan faithful.
2) Third Down and Red Zone Passing
It’s pretty much a coin flip which quarterback will have a better game on Saturday. Going solely on what we have seen in 2008 you would have to give the nod to Mark Sanchez and his impressive performance against Virginia over Boeckman’s lackluster performances against Youngstown State and Ohio.
It’s going to be tough going for both teams to move the chains with superior talent on the defensive side of the ball. Sustaining possession by converting third downs as well as being passing in the red zone will be critical for both teams in order to ensure a victory.
Two games into the season, the Buckeyes have yet to have a red zone-passing touchdown and have seemed to be a little slow on finding continuity and consistency in the passing game. Statistically, Boeckman has seen has effectiveness slip greatly since the Wisconsin game last year. If the Buckeyes are to come away with an upset of the number one team in the country on the road, Boeckman needs to have a performance on par with his start against Penn State.
If Boeckman can convert on third down (through the air or on the ground) as well as keep USC’s defense honest in the red zone with some key completions, the Buckeye offense will do more than their part to bring home a win.
3) Winning in the Trenches
Some college football experts have tabbed the USC lines as being a weakness. While it is somewhat true that USC does not have as much talent on the lines compared to their wealth of talent at other positions, let’s put this into proper context: Regardless of the fact that there are some new faces on the lines, both lines will likely be near the top in terms of talent the Buckeyes will face all year.
The offensive line is going to have play their best game of the year to earn a win. Pete Carroll puts a premium in pressuring the quarterback and will look to attack Boeckman on passing downs. In addition, you can bet that slowing down the running game is priority number one for Trojans.
With the interior and the right side of the line struggling to find consistency early on, it’s absolutely imperative they consistently win the war of attrition in the trenches.
On the flip side, USC’s offense consistently puts up 40-plus points a game when their offensive line is not challenged. Similar to the ‘02 national championship game, the defensive line may be the difference maker in slowing down an explosive offense to a pace more conducive to the Buckeye style of play.
The Trojans have a complete offense, one that can pick you apart if their line can assert its will. The defensive line will have to outplay USC’s line in hopes of slowing down their stable of running backs from grinding out long drives.
While stops near the line of scrimmage will go a long way, clogging the holes enough where Joe McKnight and company can’t hit them with a full burst of speed will allow the back seven to limit the long gains that USC’s offense thrives on.
Early on, we’ve seen a slew of different pass rushing personnel packages, alignments, and tactics employed by the Buckeye defense. The Trojans passing game depends heavily on solid pass protection, with an emphasis on checking down to secondary targets when faced with pressure.
The front four not only has to pressure Sanchez but ensure containment as last week’s effort saw a handful of large passing plays due to extra time when containment in the pocket failed.
4) Wrapping Up
I am sure by now your just as sick of hearing the media jam the lack of speed cliché down your throat. The truth is that USC, just like any other powerhouse program, has playmakers that can find the end zone when given some space.
Thought of as an offense that stretches the field consistently, the reality is that USC’s bread and butter is pounding the rock and throwing underneath and allowing both their backs and receivers to turn a solid gain into a big play.
Ohio State’s back seven may be one of the best in college football, but it will be counted on to make open field tackles in order to help out the Buckeye offense in terms of possession and field position.
USC will no doubt have some level of success moving the ball. However, if the Buckeye back seven can avoid long gains off of missed tackles and bad pursuit angles, they’ll potentially turn touchdown drives into field goals and punts which will dramatically lessen the burden on the offense needed to achieve a win.
5) Turnovers
The most cliché and obvious key to victory. On the road against a great team like USC, the Bucks can’t shoot themselves in the foot with turnovers and will be considerably aided by any takeaways on the defensive side of the ball.
In what should be a one-score game either way, a turnover has the potential to sway this game either way.
6) Play Calling
When I look at this match up, this is my largest concern. Both coaching staffs do a great job, but I have to give the edge to the Pete Carroll and his staff in terms of having optimal performances in big-time games due to superior play calling and in game adjustments.
OSU’s last three losses have been plagued from a lack of adjustments defensively and offensive inconsistency. It was just under two years ago when Brent Musburger anointed Jim Tressel as the best big game play caller in all of college football in the Buckeyes’ impressive 42-39 win against Michigan.
Since then, a trio of head scratching losses has college football fans and even Buckeye nation a little skeptical of the overarching strategies utilized in big games.
Come Saturday, both sidelines will have equal talent, although USC will have the home field advantage. In what may end up being the most decisive factor to the game’s outcome, Jim Tressel and staff will have their work cut out for them winning the chess game against Pete Carroll and his staff who have had two weeks to prepare for the Buckeyes.
National Scene
Before we look ahead to some of the interesting storylines in week three, let’s take a look at who were the big winners and losers in week two.
Five Winners
Vanderbilt- The Commodores notched their first win at home against a ranked opponent in more than 16 years by knocking off South Carolina. Vanderbilt now has the luxury of starting 1-0 in conference play as well as avoiding both LSU and Alabama on the schedule this year.
East Carolina- For the second straight week, the Pirates knock off a ranked team, but only this time it was a top ten team and it was absolute carnage. The Pirates limited West Virginia to only three points in what will likely knock West Virginia out of the national championship picture as well as Pat White from Heisman contention.
Penn State- The Nittany Lions were impressive in taking a 45-7 lead into the fourth quarter before taking the foot off the gas in their big win against Oregon State. Plagued of late by offensive woes, the Nittany Lion offense looked as good as ever in the post Michael Robinson area.
Cal- New rule, when you beat a conference foe by 63 points you automatically earn a spot on this list.
Georgia Tech- A big conference road win against Boston College gets you on this list this week when most of the other D-I teams are playing football sub division schools.
Five Losers
West Virginia- Take your pick of most embarrassing Mountaineer stat between 72 passing yards, 3-12 on third downs, two lost fumbles, or putting up a measly three points.
Washington State- New rule, when you get beat by a conference foe by 63 points you automatically earn a spot on this list.
Miami- The Hurricanes gained only 140 yards against the Florida Gators compared to 328 yards they racked up on punts.
Brandon Sullivan- The Aztecs were inches away from putting the game out of reach against the Irish when Sullivan fumbled in the fourth quarter, spearheading a late Irish rally.
Oregon State- Opening up the season with a loss against Stanford and a pummeling at the hands of Penn State is not the way the Beavers hoped to start in 2008.
Week 3 National Viewing Guide
Believe it or not there are actually other games of notice happening this week across the nation. Below are some intriguing games to keep an eye on as you count down to the Buckeyes’ showdown against USC.
Friday night surprisingly has a pretty big game when 13th ranked Kansas heads down to take on 19th ranked South Florida. With Rutgers, West Virginia, and Louisville already logging early season losses, it’s very possible that USF could run the table if the Jayhawks don’t stop them.
Buckeye fans (those especially in town for the game) will have the luxury of sleeping in Saturday morning, as the morning slate of games are some of the weakest in recent memory.
The 3:30 ET kickoffs have a handful of what should be entertaining games with Michigan and Notre Dame’s annual face-off sticking out as the most fascinating of the bunch. A win isn’t going to propel either squad to a big-time bowl but will instill confidence and momentum behind a program that is drawing a lot of criticism and ire from their alumni base and boosters.
Out west, UCLA will take on BYU for the third time in under a year. At this point it’s pretty difficult to judge how talented either team is, so this will be a great measuring stick and challenge for both teams despite their familiarity with each other.
Also of interest are the Oregon Ducks, who make their way to Big Ten country to take on Purdue, while the SEC and ACC get further into conference play with Georgia taking on South Carolina and Georgia Tech traveling to take on the Hokies. The Bulldogs have dropped their last two to South Carolina while the battle of the Techs could vault the winner into the top 25.
Just in case you find yourself wanting to watch another game during the Buckeye game, Wisconsin will also be making the trip to the West Coast to take on a very scrappy Fresno State team. The Bulldogs are a hidden gem in college football and will look to earn some respect and notoriety by defeating the 10th ranked Badgers.
