Posted on 01/08/2021 10:06:10 AM PST by blam
Happy Friday, everyone. The only problem with being in the national championship is having to wait through the weekend for a Monday night game. Alas, we push through. It sounds like the game will go on, and that’s a good thing.
Ohio State coach Ryan Day said Thursday that his team is on track to play in the College Football Playoff National Championship against No. 1 Alabama on Monday, despite ongoing coronavirus issues.
In his first comments since reports earlier in the week that there were discussions about possibly delaying the game, Day said the Buckeyes would have “plenty of players” available without providing specific numbers or player updates.
He did say that the COVID issues were a “gut punch.” Guess we will see what that means.
CBS examines how Ohio State can hurt Alabama’s defense.
Tempo is Ohio State’s best chance to beat Alabama. The Buckeyes offense has the quarterback, offensive line and skill positions to go with any team in college football. The tools are there. Tempo is how to use them correctly. It’s what catches the defense in a bad position and takes advantage of it. It doesn’t always mean running plays every 10 seconds, but it can mean moving quickly after substitutions. Combined with pre-snap movement, it can leave the defense bewildered.
There are a few clips embedded in there. Clemson’s defense was all out of sorts for whatever reason. Perhaps it was just a matter of Skalski getting tossed for targeting since he is the leader.
Eleven Warriors is understandably looking for Buckeye paths to victory.
The Crimson Tide have averaged 48.2 points and 535 yards per game this season, and they’ve already faced three opponents (Notre Dame, Georgia and Texas A&M) with statistically better defenses than Ohio State. Even when their defense has been at its worst, their offense has still put them over the top, scoring 62 points against Ole Miss and 52 points against Florida.
Ohio State’s defense is better than those teams’ defenses, though, and if it can even provide some resistance to the Crimson Tide’s offense, that could be enough for the Buckeyes to win the national championship if their offense can click it did in the College Football Playoff semifinals and have a kind of day like the Rebels and Gators did.
Well, he says that Ohio State’s defense is better, but they did allow nearly 500 passing yards and 35 points to Indiana, and Clemson threw for 400 last week. Neither of those offenses is in the same stratosphere as the one they will be facing. Also, the flaw in his logic is that Alabama trashed those three defenses he cited as better than Ohio State just the same.
In any case, the premise of the article isn’t wrong. Alabama will need to make some stops along the way to allow its own offense to win the shootout.
Dennis Dodd put out a great piece on the adversity faced by a young Najee Harris
(snip)
I’m a Buckeye fan. I expected the Bucks to get rolled once again by Clemson. Much to my delight, the early season Justin Fields showed up. Add to that, the defense was flying around all game, unlike they had all year.
Was it just one of those games, or was it the Bucks getting their legs? I’m not sure.
I do know Alabama is like the Death Star. Always there, and always powerful, but it is possible to defeat them.
Since I was so wrong about OSU vs. Clemson, I’ll let my observations stand and say I have no business making a pick.
...going to be a tough game eight for the Bucks...RTR
Fields needs to learn to slide.
Plenty probably isn’t going to be enough.
The country is about to explode and all the jock-sniffers care about is “the game”.
god I hate the buckeyes. The CFB world and B1G loves to rig the system to help them out.
“god I hate the buckeyes. “
That’s when you know you’re good. You inspire hate from other fans. I live in Ohio, didn’t attend, but I love the Buckeyes.
What they did in 2014 is absolutely amazing.
Couldn’t care less, and I’d even say that if the Gators were playing. I’m over it.
classless and trash program
“classless and trash program”
That’s cute. Hate winners do you?
Enjoy that.
I am a Bama fan and it is hard to believe that with a near civil war in our country this game feels like an after thought. I still can’t figure out which team is more WOKE.
The country is about to explode and all the jock-sniffers care about is “the game”.
By watching the game you are contributing to two of the most filthy anti-American institutions in the country, television networks and colleges and universities.
I don’t bandwagon teams because they win. Those aren’t true fans. You’re probably just a bandwagon fan.
“You’re probably just a bandwagon fan.”
It’s amazing that you can make that accusation with no evidence.
In the interest of making you look like a fool, I’m a lifelong Ohioan, and a lifelong OSU fan. From Woody Hayes, Earle Bruce, John (I can’t beat that team up north), Cooper, Tressel, Fickel, Myer and now Day.
Go Bucks.
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