Has Pat Fitzgerald ever faced off against a passing attack this good?

[BigNUFan51]

Missouri in the 2008 Alamo Bowl is the only one I could think of. This is probably the most talented team we faced since UT in 2015, but that was a different type of offense with Josh Dobbs, Jalen Hurd, and Alvin Kamara.

 

[NUAlum2010]

Missouri in the 2008 Alamo Bowl is the only one I could think of. This is probably the most talented team we faced since UT in 2015, but that was a different type of offense with Josh Dobbs, Jalen Hurd, and Alvin Kamara.

Ohio State's passing attack this season isn't appreciably better than Texas Tech in 2010 (2011 Ticket City Bowl), Cal in 2014 or Purdue this season. Both Taylor Potts and Jared Goff put up absurd numbers in the seasons they played NU and Blough did the same this season after Brohm's experiment with Sindelar ended. We've dealt with more traditional air raids in the past.

But..... Ohio State as a team is clearly capable of playing at a level appreciably better than 2010 Texas Tech, 2014 Cal and 2018 Purdue (I know, OSU lost head to head by 29 points). Texas Tech and Cal were one dimensional. Ohio State is not. Ironically, Ohio State is probably most comparable to this year's Purdue. That said, they are more athletic at almost every position (exception: Rondale Moore).

The Purdue comparison gives me a lot of reason for optimism, so hopefully it's not totally outrageous. Plenty of pundits are looking at OSU's dominance this past Saturday and just assume that same OSU team will show up this week. Maybe they will, but where was that team for the other 11 games this season? As noted, they lost by 29 to a less athletic version of their team. Let's not forget this Buckeyes squad also hung on for dear life while giving up 51 points at 5-7 Maryland and fumbled their way to a 5 point victory against 4-8 Nebraska. It's not like they were beating top 5 teams by 20+ points every week of the season. They are very beatable.

If OSU pulls a Michigan performance out of their hat, then we're toast. We can't beat that on our best day. On the other hand, if OSU pulls one of their more typical Minnesota, Nebraska, Maryland or Purdue performances out of their hat, then NU will probably win.

 

[BigNUFan51]

Ohio State's passing attack this season isn't appreciably better than Texas Tech in 2010 (2011 Ticket City Bowl), Cal in 2014 or Purdue this season. Both Taylor Potts and Jared Goff put up absurd numbers in the seasons they played NU and Blough did the same this season after Brohm's experiment with Sindelar ended. We've dealt with more traditional air raids in the past.

But..... Ohio State as a team is clearly capable of playing at a level appreciably better than 2010 Texas Tech, 2014 Cal and 2018 Purdue (I know, OSU lost head to head by 29 points). Texas Tech and Cal were one dimensional. Ohio State is not. Ironically, Ohio State is probably most comparable to this year's Purdue. That said, they are more athletic at almost every position (exception: Rondale Moore).

The Purdue comparison gives me a lot of reason for optimism, so hopefully it's not totally outrageous. Plenty of pundits are looking at OSU's dominance this past Saturday and just assume that same OSU team will show up this week. Maybe they will, but where was that team for the other 11 games this season? As noted, they lost by 29 to a less athletic version of their team. Let's not forget this Buckeyes squad also hung on for dear life while giving up 51 points at 5-7 Maryland and fumbled their way to a 5 point victory against 4-8 Nebraska. It's not like they were beating top 5 teams by 20+ points every week of the season. They are very beatable.

If OSU pulls a Michigan performance out of their hat, then we're toast. We can't beat that on our best day. On the other hand, if OSU pulls one of their more typical Minnesota, Nebraska, Maryland or Purdue performances out of their hat, then NU will probably win.

Can we score 30pts against them? Nebraska, MD, and Purdue have better offenses.

Our issue is lack of speed at skill position

 

[NUAlum2010]

Can we score 30pts against them? Nebraska, MD, and Purdue have better offenses.

Our issue is lack of speed at skill position

Fair point. Though Maryland was not exactly an offensive powerhouse this year. They averaged 19 more yards per game than we did (371 to 352) and had absolutely no passing threat. On top of that, they played Ohio State after their QB, Kasim Hill, tore his ACL yet again. They scored 51 with their backup (Pigrome) at QB.

 

[Wrestlerneverdiesasacatfan]

Purdue was better earlier this year!

 

[wolve1972]

Their running attack isn't exactly chopped liver. NU can win this game though. Problem is which OSU team shows up - the one that rolled Michigan or got thumped by Purdue ? Very hard team to figure out and lay money for or against.

 

[RevCat]

Can we score 30pts against them? Nebraska, MD, and Purdue have better offenses.

Our issue is lack of speed at skill position

Yes we can. Not likely but....OSU is vulnerable on the edges. They have had trouble with contain. And they have trouble once a back gets to the second level untouched. Not sure whether this is because they are having trouble keeping discipline with assignments or they are getting out-schemed. But they are vulnerable.

 

[d'son d]

Yes we can. Not likely but....OSU is vulnerable on the edges. They have had trouble with contain. And they have trouble once a back gets to the second level untouched. Not sure whether this is because they are having trouble keeping discipline with assignments or they are getting out-schemed. But they are vulnerable.

It's getting to the second level that's key. And matching the crossing routes as ell. The OSU/M game was just on and the number of penalties was striking. Prior to that, earlier in the day the '95 season tape played, as a preview. We have to show up and play our best game for 60 minutes; elite Thorson has to show up also, the one from Nebraska game; and our defensive backs have to come off IR!!

 

[sloopdog]

Yes we can. Not likely but....OSU is vulnerable on the edges. They have had trouble with contain. And they have trouble once a back gets to the second level untouched. Not sure whether this is because they are having trouble keeping discipline with assignments or they are getting out-schemed. But they are vulnerable.

Rev, the problem with our defense has basically been with our linebackers. They've taken long stretches of time off this year. Contain, gap integrity, assignment football, etc. has driven us crazy. It's as though we played with 8 guys against the teams listed above. We used 11 against Michigan and things went better.

 

[RevCat]

Rev, the problem with our defense has basically been with our linebackers. They've taken long stretches of time off this year. Contain, gap integrity, assignment football, etc. has driven us crazy. It's as though we played with 8 guys against the teams listed above. We used 11 against Michigan and things went better.

You nailed it. Coaching issue? Player issue? It's not like they aren't talented.

 

[sloopdog]

You nailed it. Coaching issue? Player issue? It's not like they aren't talented.

Coaching issue vs. player execution is the age old question. While watching from the stands or on TV you can't easily determine whose "fault" it is because we don't know what was called, who was supposed to do what, etc. on any particular play.

Brian Peters is my nephew. After each game I came to we had one relative who wanted to know whose fault it was after every big play or scoring play between the player, the DC or the DB coach. Brian would tell us what defense was called and it wasn't that easy to assign blame. There are a lot of moving parts & variables that take place after the ball is snapped.