A few comments from a kid who grew up in SEC land, but went north to get and education... No, no, not again. The worst result of last year's mythical championship game was the growth and perpetuation of this absurd notion of superior "SEC speed," based not on the collective 40 times and shuttle drills of hundreds of players on a couple dozen teams that make up the SEC and Big Ten, but on a handful of plays in a single game that was decidedly outside the season-long patterns of both participants, and not demonstrably decided by "speed" (unless you're willing to suggest Tennessee and Arkansas were done in a week earlier by "speed," too, which was at least as plausible). These conferences need to play more often. By the way do the 3 starters on Ohio State defense from Georgia get alot slower because they play for Ohio State rather than Georgia ? Based on everything we know from both teams' performances this season, Ohio State and LSU should be a close, hard-hitting game between two of the few teams that still operate largely from traditional two-back sets on offense and do not hesitate to run old-fashioned isos, counters and traps into the line. It's an interesting collision of style and persona between loose cannon Les Miles and icy, understated Jim Tressel, and their emphases on emotion, "poise" (as Miles likes to repeat to his oft-flagged charges) and discipline. But it will be decided by the side that executes and catches the right breaks under the specific set of circumstances that unfold on Jan. 7, at which point, of course, that team will be instantly refashioned into gold-drenched superheroes with inherent abilities far beyond those of mortal men. Naturally: We are the champions! These are the myths we make. But the athletes, the speed, all of that is a given. LSU and Ohio State have both turned in top ten recruiting classes each of the last four seasons. They've all got the athletes. They've all got the speed. The differences in raw talent on this level are nil. This championship, like all championships, will be about combining management, strategy and execution in the moment, and probably a bounce or timely flag or two. Not as catchy as "SEC Speed," but anything more precise than wrongheaded, bumper sticker hubris rarely is. I have watched alot of SEC football and alot of OSU football and I think I can talk about both intelligently. I will visit yall alot more in the next month or so. Here's to a great game...
Welcome to the board! Great first post. You've obviously done your homework. Hope you stick around. That said...and no disrespect...there are at least four teams in the SEC (LSU, Georgia, Florida, and Auburn) who would've beaten OSU this year and put your defensive stats somewhere between LSU's and Florida's. Just an opinion, but it has nothing to do with speed -and everything to do with the excellence of the SEC. By the way, LSU beat two of those three and some of us think it'd be cool if we were actually playing Georgia for the crystal football. No smack - I take nothing for granted. Just my view of the data from the season.
Welcome, great first post. We've got a great month ahead of us, lot's to talk about. What do you think of tOSU's schedule compared to LSU?
You like frigid temperatures? Shoveling snow? pasty white, winter layer ladies? No, I don't think anyone thinks its JUST SPEED. But speed mismatches. The reason Ohio State got embarrassed last year, was an inability to make defensive adjustments. Couple that with your inability to get any offensive momentum and you got 41-14. While LSU does still base their offense on these old school principles, the addition of Gary Crowton as Offensive Coordinator has brought some changes. We run a lot of run designed shotgun formations, usually 5 wide ie spread. So while you will see some traditional, you will also see much more spread, especially with what Florida and Illinois were able to accomplish. Also, our second string QB is out of the doghouse finally and will bring an option based attack with him (he may be rotated in if Matt Flynn is healthy and can start or he may start). I think conservative would be a better description of Tressel's coaching style. But I agree with Les and your loose cannon description. No we are the teams that survived... as far as our two fan bases, I agree with your poignant statements. But as far as the rest of the nation is concerned, this is a battle of the non-deserving, but BCS blessed. Agreed
LSU had a much tougher schedule no doubt...I think that when we originally scheduled Washington & Syracuse some 10 years ago we thought "well there are 2 top 25 teams out of conference" (which they were at the time). Syracuse dropped us and Washington is getting better but not what they were in the early to mid 90's. Obviously a down year in the Big Ten and that will happen in all conferences... We also lost a ton of people this year and I think Tressel wisely said OK maybe taking a YSU or Akron would be good for our youth. That said we have ALWAYS played anybody ...anywhere... Our nonconference schedules of the past 10-15 years have included Notre Dame, BC, Texas, Missouri, WVU, NC State, UCLA, Arizona...we travel... in the next 10-15 years we have USC, Miami, VA Tech, Oklahoma... I don't think anybody can say we shrink from playing good teams out of conference.
GA, FL or Auburn... not sure ...where are we playing the game ?? LSU ...I guess we will find out. It would be nice to see Auburn or Georgia come calling up north in late November sometime... I guess that is why we play "the game".
Oh there are a few hundred hotties at OSU...trust me on that...when you have 46,000 undergrad students you are bound to have a few hotties. And the tanning salons do a killer business here in the winter months !!! In the case of the UF game last year... 1) Agree,Defensive gameplan was AWFUL. 2) We gave up on the running game much too early 2) Because of the former and turnovers we got down and that made their DEs look alot faster than they were because they knew we were throwing 3) we could not stretch the field with the FASTEST man in football, Ted Ginn jr. and that killed our short passing game. 4) it was 20-14 and we had the ball and driving and we give it up on a 4th and short call (that hurt us momentum wise the most) 5) Finally the reason we lost that game the way we did was our APPROACH...we were FAT & HAPPY and for 50+ days everybody told us we were going to win. It was the polar opposite of the 2002 game with Miami, when everybody told Miami the same and counted us out. We can handle the "read option" not to be confused with "the spread" ...two different offenses...Illinois DID NOT beat us running the ball ...they scored 28 and THREW FOUR td passes. They played a perfect game and ran 50 times for 180yds 3.6ypc if you remove an 80 yd run that should have been nullified by an obvious fumble. We have played the "read option" very well against very good teams (see VINCE YOUNG and Texas in 2005) and we have the DEs and the LBs to play that game with anybody. The last time Tressel matched wits with Les Miles he won 33-7 (that sole TD coming with seconds left vs the 4th string OSU defense) and Tressel played Ted Ginn Jr at QB for most of the second half due to Justin Zwick's injury (2nd string QB) and Troy Smith's suspension. Last thing...if you are any kind of football fan and think that the Buckeyes and Coach Tressel will not come to the Superdome ready to play in this game and atleast emotionally and psychologically be on the top of their game this time around you should consider delving into another sport ...
You might get an argument here on that one. You'll be seeing the fastest man in football in a month.:thumb: Anyway, welcome to the board. We are always appreciative of visiting fans that bring a knowledge of the game and a rational point of view. You'll fit in well. Hope you stick around even after the game has been played. You'll find plenty of other non-LSU posters.
