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Tag Archives: Joey Bosa
KENNY’S KEYS TO BEATING OREGON
1) PROTECT THE PIGSKIN – Oregon has a bend but don’t break defense. They’ll
give up yards between the 20’s and maybe a couple of TD’s, but they also create
a lot of turnovers by stripping the ball or picking off a pass or two. They are
a plus 20 in the giveaway/take away category, so Cardale Jones and Ezekiel
Elliott who will handle the ball a lot on Monday night, need to take extra
special care of the football in this game, as both had turnovers in the win over
Alabama. Luckily the Buckeyes were able to overcome those mistakes in the Sugar
Bowl, but do that against the Ducks and you’re in trouble. Oregon’s offense
thrives on scoring, getting a turnover from their “D”, getting the ball back
quickly to get into a rhythm so they can score again and play from ahead. For
Zeke it’s tuck it high and tight. For Cardale it’s protect it on runs and in the
pocket and throw it away if necessary. All of the other Buckeye weapons must be
aware of this as well. Don’t give the Ducks a short field.
Photo courtesy of Cameron Roda
2) PRESSURE MARIOTA – I know he’s only thrown three picks all year, but he threw
one last week against F.S.U. Why? The Seminoles kept him in the pocket and
pressured him forcing the Heisman Trophy winner to throw the ball before he
wanted to. That’s what the Buckeyes defense line needs to do as well. You’d love
to get sacks of course, but if not, then Joey Bosa, Adolphus Washington, Michael
Bennett and Steve Miller need to control the line of scrimmage, contain the edge
so Mariota can’t roll out and throw as much as he likes to. Continually get in his face and
then when you get a chance, like the 2002 Buckeyes did to Miami’s Ken Dorsey,
hit him hard and hit him often. Make him pay the price for some throws so he’s
keeping an eye out for a defensive lineman and maybe not completely focusing on
his receivers. In a heavyweight title fight like this, body blows will add up in
the later rounds.
Photo courtesy of Cameron Roda
3) WIN T.O.P. – Against a fast paced, rhythm type offense, the best way to
disrupt their rhythm is by keeping the ball away from them. So Ohio State’s best
defense against Oregon may be their offense. In the Ducks four losses over the
last three years with Mariota at QB, they lost the “Time Of Possession” battle
in all four games. Arizona beat them twice and Stanford beat them twice. Both
teams did so by running the ball, controlling the clock and keeping the high
flying Ducks grounded on the sidelines. The Wildcats and Cardinal as a team
rushed for over 200 yards in all four of those games. Enter Ezekiel Elliott, he
of the 450 yards rushing and four touchdowns over the last two games for Ohio
State. Zeke needs to again have a big game on the ground to chew up that clock
and also help set up the play action passing game for Cardale Jones. A third
straight 200+ yard game on the ground by EZ and there is a very good chance the
Buckeyes will be National Champs.
Photo courtesy of Kenny Roda
4) SCORE 7 NOT 3 – Early in the win over Alabama the Buckeyes had two different
“First and Goal” opportunities and both times Urban Meyer’s offense had to settle for
field goals. O.S.U. was able to overcome that then, but they can ill afford to do that
against a potent Oregon offense. The Ducks are averaging 47 points a game, so
when you get in the redone against them you have to score 7. If Oregon holds you
to 3, they look at that as like creating a turnover because they feel their
offense will come down and put up 7 on you.
Photo courtesy of Cameron Roda
5) DUCK WRAP – Oregon is going to score some points against the Buckeyes. You
have to accept that. They’re that good. But you have to make them earn it. Don’t
give up the big play. In order to do that you must be fundamentally sound in
your tackling technique. You must hold up, wrap up and tackle the ball carrier
at first contact. Don’t go for the highlight hit, instead just do your job, be
where you’re supposed to be and make the tackle.
Prediction: OHIO STATE 45 OREGON 42
IS THERE A FORMULA ON HOW TO BEAT OREGON?
The Oregon Ducks have lost only four games over the last three years with 2014 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Marcus Mariota running the offense.
Photo Courtesy – ESPN.Go.Com
So I went back and looked at those four losses, two against Stanford and two against Arizona to see if there were common denominators in all four losses. Here’s what I came up with:
In all four losses Oregon was held to less than 10 points at halftime.
In all four losses Oregon lost the “Time of Possession” battle by an average of 37:10 to 23:50.
In all four losses Oregon turned the ball over at least once on offense and totaled 8 turnovers in those four games for an average of 2 turnovers per contest.
In all four losses Oregon’s opponent ran more offensive plays than the Ducks did. On average Oregon ran 11 fewer plays per game in the losses (83.5 to 72.2).
In all four losses Oregon’s opponent ran for 200 yards or more as a team and averaged 58 carries for 246.5 yards per game on the ground.
In all four losses Oregon only had a 32% conversion rate on 3rd down on offense.
And in three out of the four losses Oregon was outgained in total yards by an average of 24 yards per game.
So what should Ohio State take from this?
If I’m the Buckeyes I’m going back and watching all four losses to try and learn the recipe for success against Oregon from Stanford and Arizona. Then I’m going to formulate part of my game plan on trying to run a ball control offense, an eat the clock offense with Ezekiel Elliott leading the way, but also using Jalin Marshall, Curtis Samuel, Cardale Jones and maybe Dontre Wilson if he’s healthy on the ground. By establishing the running game and chewing up time on the clock, it should in turn open up the passing game for quarterback Cardale Jones and receivers Devin Smith, Michael Thomas, Evan Spencer and more.
Putting pressure on Mariota was also a major factor in the four losses which helped lead to those 8 turnovers. Not just by sacking him, but forcing him to throw the ball before he wanted to. So that means the Buckeyes defensive line led by All American Joey Bosa, as well as Michael Bennett, Adolphus Washington and Steve Miller have to penetrate Oregon’s tough offensive line and get in Mariota’s face to hopefully sack him, at least hit him, or if not, force him to make early errant throws that could end up as interceptions. Also when Bosa or maybe linebacker Darron Lee get a chance, within the rules of the game, they need to hit Mariota as often as they can, as hard as they can, to make life miserable for him in all four quarters of the National Championship game. Just like the Buckeyes defense did to Miami’s Ken Dorsey in the 2002 National Championship contest.
That looks to be the formula on how to beat Marcus Mariota and the Oregon Ducks. Easier said than done of course, but the Buckeyes are a confident team and peaking at the right time, so let’s see if Urban Meyer’s troops can execute a game plan like that and if they do, they’ll have a good chance of winning the game and making history by being crowned National Champions in the first ever year of the College Football Playoff.
KENNY’S KEYS TO AN OHIO STATE WIN OVER ALABAMA
1) PROTECT THE PIGSKIN – In a game of this magnitude against a team the caliber of Alabama, turnovers become even more of a factor, especially for a quarterback in Cardale Jones who is only making his second career start. Jones has to realize it’s OK to throw the ball away, punt, let your defense get a stop and live to play another series. Jones can’t turn it over and give Bama a short field to work with.
2) ZONE AMARI – 26% of Alabama’s offense comes from one player, wide receiver Amari Cooper. He eats up man-to-man defenses, so the Buckeyes need to either double team him or play some zone defense so Cooper doesn’t reach the end zone for the 15th time this season. He is a “Big Play Maker” and can’t be stopped one on one.
3) GO DEEP – Alabama’s secondary is very suspect against the deep ball. They’ve given up 17 touchdown passes and a number of them on the bomb. Michael Thomas, Devin Smith, Jalin Marshall and if he plays, Dontre Wilson will have a chance to get behind the Tide corners and safties if the Buckeyes O-Line can give Cardale Jones to go down field. If so, Ohio State should score on at least the one deep pass, if not more.
4) PACE AND SPREAD – In a number of Bama’s losses or close games their defense has had trouble with teams that go no huddle and also spread the field. The Buckeyes should be able to do both. If so OSU’s offense will put points on the board.
5) DO THE BOSA-NOVA – Joey Bosa has to be the best defensive player on the field and reak havoc in the Tide backfield all game long. If Alabama decides to double team him, then Michael Bennett, Adolphus Washington and Steve Miller then have to win their one on one battles and put pressure on Blake Simms and get in the backfield.
6) BE SPECIAL ON SPECIAL TEAMS – Both teams kickers struggle with field goals, especially outside of 40 yards. Whichever team can get their kicker to split the uprights and also be solid in their return and coverage teams will have a HUGE advantage in the Sugar Bowl.
Prediction – OHIO STATE 34 ALABAMA 28
PODCAST – BUCKEYES INSTANT ANALYSIS – OHIO ST. 34 NAVY 17
Here’s my “Instant Analysis” of Ohio State’s 34-17 season opening win over Navy at M & T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland.
Ohio State redshirt freshman quarterback J.T. Barrett threw for 226 yards and 2 touchdowns in his debut for the Buckeyes.
Buckeyes wide receiver Devin Smith caught one of Barrett’s 2 touchdown passes, an 80 yarder in the third quarter that was the big play of the game for OSU and propelled them to the 34-17 win over Navy.