.. Ohio State's SIZE. I've been following the Advocate's daily position-by-position matchup of the two teams and it seems that for every one, the Ohio State player is bigger than the LSU player. All of their DLs seem to be 6'5", 300 pounds, all their LBs are 6'4", 250, all their receivers are 6'3", 210, etc. Two days ago, they compared right guards, and i was sure ours would be bigger, but OSU's RG is 6'8", 355 pounds! We MIGHT be faster, but they SURELY are bigger, and i must admit to being concerned by that ...
I know the "speed of the SEC" thing is overused...but here's MY take on it. People misuse this theory, assuming the "speed of the SEC" is the skill positions. IMHO, the "speed of the SEC" is DL and LB speed...see UF/OSU last year. No doubt they are HUGE, especially their OL...but THAT is where the "speed of the SEC" comes into play. Not disregarding your concern at all...as the size could certainly play in their favor...wearing our DL down. I just think it was a given that they were big...and we'll deal with it.
The size factor would be a bigger issue if LSU had played several games in a row going into this game, but the Tigers are fresh and rested. Pressure and coverage will win this game. tOSU does not have much of a deep passing game. If the LSU DL and linebackers have a good game, :lsup: WINS. Pelini will not change all that much about what LSU has done all year. Highsmith just needs to fire the group up and go out and crush some nuts. (aka Buckeyes)
Did you watch the Oklahoma/ WV game? OU was bigger at every position, but WV was quicker, and was much more inspired. When recruiting O Linemen (and any other position), most of your BCS schools operate under the theory that bigger is better. A guy 6'6 and 320 pounds will get every opportunity to start at the OU's, tOSU's, Georgia, etc. Just because they are taller, and bigger doesn't mean that they have good technique, footwork, quickness or game smarts. The battle in the trenches for this game will be huge, I believe. Our ability to stay away from the 10 play 75+ yard drives that chew up 7 minutes of the clock should be a serious objective for this game. I feel like this will be huge for tOSU's game plan. Our offense is explosive, and their running game is stout. I think they will try to pound it, pound it, pound it down our throats in order to control the tempo, keep our O off the field, and wear down our Defense. I will be VERY surprised if tOSU comes out with 3 or 4 WRs and tries to throw the ball all over the place. That's not their style. So we need to get some early 3 and out's, and a first quarter TD. :crystal: :champs: :crystal: :champs: :crystal:
Just what I was thinking. In the pre-game, the announcers were lovin' on OU's size advantage, particularly the OU O line being so much bigger than the WVa D line. Didn't seem to matter. Ask the OU QB how many popknots they put on his noggin.
Given the pro scouts are drooling over Barton and Boone, I doubt if their technique... and all the other things listed through smarts... will be an issue. The issue is how they will handle Dorsey in the middle... and how well they handle the pressure. OSU's success, imho, will rest on their QB's ability to maintain his league-leading passing efficiency stats and convert 3rd downs. There's not much flash to the guy, but he is not mistake-prone.... and he will lumber down the field when need be. LSU is 3rd in the nation with a +18 turnover margin. OSU is 68th at -1. If some breaks go LSU's way early, OSU may have trouble getting back in it with the way they like to play the game.
IMHO, I am concerned about tOSU's motivation/determination for this game. They will come into this game with an enormous chip on their shoulder, and us against the world attitude. As I said in previous posts, 2 weeks ago I was convinced that LSU would win this game by 10+ points for all the 100% healthy and well-rested reasons we've all mentioned on here numerous times, plus the fact that I wasn't impressed with tOSU. Now that I've watched WV beat OU, Kansas beat Va Tech, and taken a long look at our season, I have lost a lot of that confidence. Which LSU team will show up? The team that destroyed Va Tech 48-7? The team that played that terrific second half against UF, the 4th quarter team against Auburn?? The solid D that showed up for the SEC Championship game or .... The team that we sent to Alabama? We had an open week to rest and prepare for that game - 13 or 14 penalties, 3 turnovers, punt return for a TD, blocked FG.... What about the LSU team that lost a 13 point lead against Kentucky? That same team let R-Kansas hang around, and then beat us at home on senior day. Does anyone remember the first half against Tulane??? I'm not trying to create any chaos on this forum. I am merely stepping away from the tasty Purple and Gold kool-aid and trying to take a realistic approach to this match-up. I am confident it will be a tough, physical ballgame with the outcome decided late in the 4th quarter. :crystal: :geaux: :crystal: :geaux: :crystal:
Size and quickness do not go hand in hand. That 6-8, 355 pound lineman may protect his quarterback well, but he is not going to be pulling on the run and getting to the outside ahead of our linebackers
Turnovers and third down conversions are what it usually comes down to. I just hope LSU doesn't try to pound Hester up the middle. We need to attack the edges and throw the ball downfield on O and sell out against the run on D.
