One area that’s concerning

[Scorpioncane]

Our offense has always been our weaker spot. Beck is our Achilles heel
Our skill position room, outside of Toney, is not elite. I hope Beck balls out and plays the game of his life, because I don’t think 10 points is winning this one.

You could say the same for osu! Outside of jj and tate...who they got? Also if taint didn't have those 2 there pedestrian....cis love to put us down to prop up the other team! a@m, now taint!...

 

[canesbaby]

I just dont see this offense scoring enough to win.

They would need a couple explosives to get some TD’s in the board. They aren’t going to be able to drive 10-15 plays methodically down the field for multiple TD’s against this defense.

Maybe Mali can return a punt or defense get some turnovers to give them short fields to help get some points. 17pts might be a stretch next week.

My exact concern also. The defense will play their hearts out but our offense concerns me.

 

[Dr. Citizen Cane]

I'm not scared of anyone named Patricia. Canes Roll

 

[SinisterCane]

Someone’s gotta be our Charlie Becker downfield to win it.

If we lose let’s play bal, 50/50 to Daniel’s, back shoulders to Moore. Marion or Jojo with a step on the corner in single high.

If our D plays like Indianas did (shut Ohio State out the last three quarters) it won’t take THAT much to get it done. Just 3-4 chunk plays and some creative red zone scheme imo

Most WR screen and trick plays coming our way

 

[skydogcane6]

For example in pre snap I see two high safeties and motion shows it’s zone I have an idea what it is but I won’t know for sure until the snap. Just like a single high look in pre snap. Then after the snap the picture can change. That’s why coaches preach processing being a huge part of the position. There’s also the schemes where they show as late as possible or change in pre snap. Brian Flores being one. But you need extremely smart players. Play design and route concepts are also a huge part of the result.

We need to be running relay races with our usage of motion this game

 

[jackedaround]

Im not worried about it. Beck can win this game. He knows what he is doing and it is indoors.

But the real reason im not worried is our line play is elite especially against elite competition. I dont think people get how elite it is this year. OSU hasnt played anyone. Don't start on IU. Their line play is no where near ours.

 

[stormsurge]

It's the sign of any quality team. Can you win with Plan A? Can you win with Plan B if a smart coordinator and talented team schemes to stop A? If you can then you're quality and title contenders. If you can't then you need to become that.

I like that we seem to compare well along both lines with OSU. I don't see us as outmatched there. Speaks well of a well planned program. Now, let's take it to the next level and fight them for 60+ minutes. Every play from the first play to the last play. Leave nothing behind.

 

[brcane1]

It's the sign of any quality team. Can you win with Plan A? Can you win with Plan B if a smart coordinator and talented team schemes to stop A? If you can then you're quality and title contenders. If you can't then you need to become that.

I like that we seem to compare well along both lines with OSU. I don't see us as outmatched there. Speaks well of a well planned program. Now, let's take it to the next level and fight them for 60+ minutes. Every play from the first play to the last play. Leave nothing behind.

At the end of the day its simple, if you see guys here then they aren't there, so you get the ball where they ain't.

 

[Cribby]

The next biggest question is can we get home with four and stop run with four? That allows the secondary to focus on those tools out wide.

 

[Colombie]

Run the ball. Run it with purpose and with an attitude. That will soften things up in the passing game.

 

[stormsurge]

They had given up 6 sacks all season long until Indiana had 5 in the last game.

 

[grover]

People are looking at the 2 losses to SMU and UL using them as this big separation between us when its really not..u can look at how each team play v their best opponents to realize they are very close. I think we can and will run the ball on them. Whatever problems they pose for us, we pose for them as well except they have Big body WRs who they may chuck the ball up to. May also be for Bryce to get more picks.

This. We matchup really well against this team.

 

[grover]

The next biggest question is can we get home with four and stop run with four? That allows the secondary to focus on those tools out wide.

The answer: yes.

 

[FtLaudCaneFan]

Before I get into this, let me preface by saying I think our DL has an advantage and can cause chaos, especially if we keep OSU behind the chains. As for our OL vs. their DL, that’s a draw. Now, their secondary and scheme versus our QB/offense is where things get concerning. Matt Patricia is from the Belichick tree, so he’s going to take away your strength and force you to win with your weakness—like making a righty go left in basketball.

You won’t see nearly as much confusion or creativity with blitzing as A&M, but the confusion will be in the secondary. They’ll show Cover 8, Cover 6, Cover 4, and Cover 2, disguising one as another, and also use combo coverages. This is exactly what Beck struggles with: coming off the first read or not trusting what his eyes see. When the picture starts changing, Beck tends to get confused or throw picks.

Getting back to winning with your weakness—and being a Belichick protégé—I’d expect him to use a number-two corner on MT with some help over the top, maybe a bracket, then put the top cover guy on somebody like Daniels with no help. It makes things confusing for a DC trying to scheme around stopping a slot guy, since that player can be moved around, you never know where he’ll align, and he’s often off the LOS. That makes it harder to jam or disrupt the release.

The game will come down to Beck and the passing game, plain and simple. We won’t be able to line up and maul them like an undersized A&M defense. We just need to run enough to keep them off balance—at least get the attempts. Unlike @Hurricane23, I don’t like this matchup as much as the previous game, but I still see his point. There are enough areas where we have advantages, and IMO this game is very winnable. Just don’t beat ourselves—which is easier said than done.

It really will come down to Beck and his progressions.

 

[scrantoncane]

I’ve disagreed with cribby about this before: I don’t think Beck struggles with getting off his first receiver, with going through his progressions. Instead, to me, his issue lies with getting off platform in the pocket. As soon as he feels pressure and gets off platform, the play is basically dead. At that point, you hope it is merely an incompletion and not a turnover.

Flip side is that if you give him protection, he will pick you apart. Thats why he has a 75% completion rate and is 13th in the nation in qbr. You don’t amass those statistics by not being able to find your 2nd option on routes.

At the top of everyone’s mind is the performance last week in miserable conditions, but this kid has been lights out all season aside from the 2 losses. As I’ve made clear in other threads, what I don’t want to see is a ********-clenched, conservative gameplan that doesn’t let QB1 get into a groove. Let him cook. Live or die with the result.

Alas, I don’t expect that to happen. Instead, I expect our HC to call a tight, conservative game which, combined with Ohio st slow pace of play, means there is likely only going to be ~8-10 possessions per team. In my opinion, buckeyes are much more likely than us to score via an explosive. Where I’m concerned is whether we can methodically move it down the field vs this opponent. I have my doubts.

Cheap way out is to say we need to win the turnover battle. Duh. Outside of that, there is a reason we are a 10 point dog.

So yeah, I’d let him cook. I’d come out swinging and try to get an early lead, even if it means risking early turnovers and a possible blowout. Marion and Daniels have been lights out all season. Looks to me like Beck trusts them. If you start to feed them and they produce, maybe the coverage on 10 softens up a bit.

And once you take that early lead, then let your natural tendency of clinching your ******** take over. Ride that OL to the semifinals.

 

[FtLaudCaneFan]

You guys realize Beck’s 3,175 passing yards this season would rank 7th all-time on Ohio State’s single-season list, and his 74.5% completion rate would be 1st all-time, right? He needs the same autonomy and play calling he had at the last four games of the regular season. If so, he will be fine.

Beck is a very experienced college QB and extremely successful. I’m hoping he has the ability to change plays if he sees something.

 

[scrantoncane]

I’ve disagreed with cribby about this before: I don’t think Beck struggles with getting off his first receiver, with going through his progressions. Instead, to me, his issue lies with getting off platform in the pocket. As soon as he feels pressure and gets off platform, the play is basically dead. At that point, you hope it is merely an incompletion and not a turnover.

Flip side is that if you give him protection, he will pick you apart. Thats why he has a 75% completion rate and is 13th in the nation in qbr. You don’t amass those statistics by not being able to find your 2nd option on routes.

At the top of everyone’s mind is the performance last week in miserable conditions, but this kid has been lights out all season aside from the 2 losses. As I’ve made clear in other threads, what I don’t want to see is a ********-clenched, conservative gameplan that doesn’t let QB1 get into a groove. Let him cook. Live or die with the result.

Alas, I don’t expect that to happen. Instead, I expect our HC to call a tight, conservative game which, combined with Ohio st slow pace of play, means there is likely only going to be ~8-10 possessions per team. In my opinion, buckeyes are much more likely than us to score via an explosive. Where I’m concerned is whether we can methodically move it down the field vs this opponent. I have my doubts.

Cheap way out is to say we need to win the turnover battle. Duh. Outside of that, there is a reason we are a 10 point dog.

So yeah, I’d let him cook. I’d come out swinging and try to get an early lead, even if it means risking early turnovers and a possible blowout. Marion and Daniels have been lights out all season. Looks to me like Beck trusts them. If you start to feed them and they produce, maybe the coverage on 10 softens up a bit.

And once you take that early lead, then let your natural tendency of clinching your ******** take over. Ride that OL to the semifinals.

To follow up on this, A&M pass rush had Beck shook all day. He was anticipating pressure, and it sped up his clock. He always looks uncomfortable when that happens.

Dawson needs to get him in a groove early. Beck seems to need to see the ball go through the net a few times. When he does, he tends to cook. When he doesn’t, it snowballs.

Long-winded way of saying I’m less concerned about Beck than I am about the gameplan.

 

[FtLaudCaneFan]

I’ve disagreed with cribby about this before: I don’t think Beck struggles with getting off his first receiver, with going through his progressions. Instead, to me, his issue lies with getting off platform in the pocket. As soon as he feels pressure and gets off platform, the play is basically dead. At that point, you hope it is merely an incompletion and not a turnover.

Flip side is that if you give him protection, he will pick you apart. Thats why he has a 75% completion rate and is 13th in the nation in qbr. You don’t amass those statistics by not being able to find your 2nd option on routes.

At the top of everyone’s mind is the performance last week in miserable conditions, but this kid has been lights out all season aside from the 2 losses. As I’ve made clear in other threads, what I don’t want to see is a ********-clenched, conservative gameplan that doesn’t let QB1 get into a groove. Let him cook. Live or die with the result.

Alas, I don’t expect that to happen. Instead, I expect our HC to call a tight, conservative game which, combined with Ohio st slow pace of play, means there is likely only going to be ~8-10 possessions per team. In my opinion, buckeyes are much more likely than us to score via an explosive. Where I’m concerned is whether we can methodically move it down the field vs this opponent. I have my doubts.

Cheap way out is to say we need to win the turnover battle. Duh. Outside of that, there is a reason we are a 10 point dog.

So yeah, I’d let him cook. I’d come out swinging and try to get an early lead, even if it means risking early turnovers and a possible blowout. Marion and Daniels have been lights out all season. Looks to me like Beck trusts them. If you start to feed them and they produce, maybe the coverage on 10 softens up a bit.

And once you take that early lead, then let your natural tendency of clinching your ******** take over. Ride that OL to the semifinals.

If we play butt cheek clenched conservative we lose.

 

[FtLaudCaneFan]

Short to Intermediate Passing Game

I can’t stress this enough. If we can’t throw a forward pass for a 5-12 yard gain with any kind of consistency we are in trouble. I’m not talking about any bubble screens to Mali where everybody and their brother knows he’s getting the ball 4 yards behind the LOS and we get maybe 1 yard.

A bunch of 3 and outs where we can’t pass isn’t gonna cut it. We need Beck and the receivers to deliver 250+ yards in the passing game. We’ll need even more if we get stuck running between the guards for 1-3 yards a carry. Hopefully, after the aTm game, we’ve found a better way to use the oline the the RBs better

If we see multiple bubble screens I will vomit again.

 

[FtLaudCaneFan]

Your $4m six year senior QB has to win you a game

OUR