It felt like Fickell was holding back against Toledo ( not showing much of the playbook) but maybe it wasn't in anticipation for the Miami game. Maybe he just calls a conservative game when the going is tough like Tress. did. I sure hope he opens it up against the Canes.

rightfield;893157 wrote:It felt like Fickell was holding back against Toledo ( not showing much of the playbook) but maybe it wasn't in anticipation for the Miami game. Maybe he just calls a conservative game when the going is tough like Tress. did. I sure hope he opens it up against the Canes.

Fickell has as much to do with the offensive play calling as I do, which is zero. He does make the call to go for 2, as that is the head coaches responsibility.

Fickell's biggest problem right now is they are missing their top 3 RB's, their top two receivers (if Philly Brown is out), their stud left tackle, their top cornerback, and they are trying to break in a new QB. It is simply going to be survive and advance all year for OSU. Style points mean nothing, and I doubt they rack up any either.

Zoltan;893288 wrote:Fickell has as much to do with the offensive play calling as I do, which is zero. He does make the call to go for 2, as that is the head coaches responsibility.

Fickell's biggest problem right now is they are missing their top 3 RB's, their top two receivers (if Philly Brown is out), their stud left tackle, their top cornerback, and they are trying to break in a new QB. It is simply going to be survive and advance all year for OSU. Style points mean nothing, and I doubt they rack up any either.

Well said. I think we are starting to see how much Herron means to this team, and I expect to see alot of Berry in the backfield this weekend.

I think we'll see OSU go back to an attacking defense against a more traditional Miami team. Blitzing a 3 step drop isn't something you do, especially with a young team against a tricky offense.

Zoltan;893288 wrote: ... (if Philly Brown is out )....

any update on his condition?

Ohio State by 20.

It's being reported elsewhere that Philly Brown will be back for Miami. I don't believe it, unless it was not a high ankle sprain as we were told.

I see a loss in this game by at least 10 points.

We have a QB who is slow and indecisive, a coach afraid to play a guy who can actually turn a broken play into a TD, no FG kicker and a punter who is likely to either have his kick blocked or run back for a TD.

Factor these in with all the missing starters...and I'm not counting on getting any of the 3 back yet...and it could easily become a blowout.

ccrunner609;892484 wrote:when Bauserman is exposed as slow and white vs. Miami and their speed........Miller will be in.

If Bauserman hasn't been exposed as white yet, he's doing too good of a job maintaining his disguise for DA U to get to the bottom of things.

Cut Bauserman some slack?

http://www.coshoctontribune.com/article/20110912/SPORTS/109120313/-1/NLETTER01/Let-s-cut-Bauserman-a-little-slack?source=nletter-news

rightfield;893157 wrote:It felt like Fickell was holding back against Toledo ( not showing much of the playbook) but maybe it wasn't in anticipation for the Miami game. Maybe he just calls a conservative game when the going is tough like Tress. did. I sure hope he opens it up against the Canes.

Could we please not use the same old excuses that were used for Tressel calling a bad game?

Just a few points.

Jon Spencer wrote:Once touted as a Heisman candidate, Harris wasn't exactly the second coming of Gino Torretta or Vinny Testaverde in 2010 in Ohio Stadium, throwing four interceptions the Buckeyes converted into 16 points en route to a 36-24 victory.
That performance stands in stark contrast to the way Bauserman has managed the offense in his two starts -- both wins, by the way -- and makes criticism of the fifth-year senior seem sort of harsh.

Comparing Jacory Harris' performance last season against Ohio State's defense to Bauserman's performances against Akron and Toledo, and then trying to subtly give him props by mentioning that he managed to avoid losing to a pair of MAC teams in what would have been the first loss to an in-state opponent in 90 years? Fail.

Also, when your strongest argument for the guy is that he 'managed the offense' rather than being able to point out examples of him actually making plays you're already fighting a losing battle.

Jon Spencer wrote:he's shaken off the corrosive effects of sitting the bench for four years by completing 61 percent of his passes.

He only completed 53% of his passes against Toledo. He only completed 13 of 27 passes (48%) after the first drive of the game. Throwing the Akron stats in makes no sense because nobody was complaining about his performance in the Akron game. If he put up the same numbers against Toledo people would have been thrilled.

Joe Bauserman wrote:I'm going to throw the ball away, and if that's what they want to do, that's up to them. Maybe I could have squeezed (in a few passes), but the most important thing is no turnovers."

The fact that you're afraid to take a risk and make a play against MAC opponents is exactly why you have no business as a starting quarterback at a big time school. But to Joe's credit it is impossible for the defense to intercept a pass that's thrown 20 yards out of bounds.

Jon Spencer wrote:Only 5 of 16 first-down plays were passes despite the fact Toledo was putting nine guys in the box, daring Ohio State to throw

There's a reason Toledo was doing that and a reason Ohio State still wasn't throwing it despite Toledo doing that. Not the best defense of him as a quarterback, because it indicates that the coaching staff distrusts either his decision-making ability or his play-making ability (although clearly not as much as they distrust Braxton).

When you can't move the ball, you struggle to complete passes, and you're in jeopardy of losing to an 18 point underdog at home with a highly touted freshman QB who is clearly the future sitting on the bench fans are going to get disgruntled. People will cut him slack if he plays better.

Bauserman looked like the Bauserman we know (minus the int's) this past week. I'd rather see Miller trying to run himself out of a pinch, than watch JB throw it into the stands because running is not an option. If that means losing with Miller than so be it. I'd be more upset losing with JB, not knowing if the duel threat Miller offers could have made a difference.
We'll be alright the next couple of weeks, but just getting by aint gonna cut it on down the road.

I won't cut Bauserman slack because he proved to be terrible at progressing through reads.

That's not something that shows up in stats, so stats be damned. I don't want my stinking QB to be unable to progress through reads. TP was better at doing it than Bauserman for heaven's sake.

If Fickell doesn't have the confidence to play Miller against Toledo, why would he play him against Miami on the road?

thedynasty1998;893628 wrote:If Fickell doesn't have the confidence to play Miller against Toledo, why would he play him against Miami on the road?

He likely won't, unless OSU gets some points behind and he's desperate for a change in hopes of coming back.

Writerbuckeye;893656 wrote:He likely won't, unless OSU gets some points behind and he's desperate for a change in hopes of coming back.

So who does he play against?

The thing with Miller is he was likely recruited with the expectation of sitting his freshman year. I just wonder what his mindset is now that Pryor is gone and his head coach named him a co-starter.

My own theory is that Fickell got cold feet Saturday because he's hoping to win as many games as possible so OSU will keep him. Bauserman was the "safe" pick in this instance. He wouldn't turn the ball over and the defense could win the game.

Turns out, he was right...barely.

Unless it's 0-0 and OSU has decent field position against Miami, I don't see Braxton getting in. If OSU is able to move the ball and stay in the game, Bauserman will be on the field. Same reason as above.

Fickell will play Miller only when he has to, judging by the Toledo game. If that's true, then he's already lost the OSU job because I bet the football loving powers that be are wanting Miller to play. They realize he's the future.

lhslep134;893574 wrote:I won't cut Bauserman slack because he proved to be terrible at progressing through reads.

That's not something that shows up in stats, so stats be damned. I don't want my stinking QB to be unable to progress through reads. TP was better at doing it than Bauserman for heaven's sake.

Yeah I can't get behind that article. Its not hating, its reality. He doesn't have it.

Writerbuckeye;893780 wrote:My own theory is that Fickell got cold feet Saturday because he's hoping to win as many games as possible so OSU will keep him. Bauserman was the "safe" pick in this instance. He wouldn't turn the ball over and the defense could win the game.

Turns out, he was right...barely.

Unless it's 0-0 and OSU has decent field position against Miami, I don't see Braxton getting in. If OSU is able to move the ball and stay in the game, Bauserman will be on the field. Same reason as above.

Fickell will play Miller only when he has to, judging by the Toledo game. If that's true, then he's already lost the OSU job because I bet the football loving powers that be are wanting Miller to play. They realize he's the future.

When he has to? When is that? They barely beat Toledo in a game where the offense looked mediocre. If that doesn't fit the criteria nothing does.

Writerbuckeye;893780 wrote:My own theory is that Fickell got cold feet Saturday because he's hoping to win as many games as possible so OSU will keep him.

Fickell's job is to win as many games as possible this year. Try telling seniors like Mike Brewster any different. I think it was a mistake to not get Braxton in against Miami but he was waiting for the right time and never found it. One turnover could have swung that game and he trusted Bauserman not to make it.

I think Braxton will play vs. Miami and more than people think. You can't beat Miami by your QB just doing the minimal. Especially when you consider OSU's offense is basically in shambles because of suspensions and injuries. Getting Jordan Hall back would be a HUGE boost.

se-alum;892395 wrote:Miami isn't as good offensively as Toledo.

I've heard that on a national program.

Zoltan;893884 wrote:Fickell's job is to win as many games as possible this year. Try telling seniors like Mike Brewster any different. I think it was a mistake to not get Braxton in against Miami but he was waiting for the right time and never found it. One turnover could have swung that game and he trusted Bauserman not to make it.

I think Braxton will play vs. Miami and more than people think. You can't beat Miami by your QB just doing the minimal. Especially when you consider OSU's offense is basically in shambles because of suspensions and injuries. Getting Jordan Hall back would be a HUGE boost.

Most coaches have a view that extends beyond the year they're coaching; that's part of the reason younger players get into games in situations other than the end of a blowout win or certain loss.

Yes, it's a coach's job to win now, but usually he has to think beyond now and balance the two. Fickell really has no guarantee he'll be back next year if he doesn't win enough games this season. Ironically, if Miller plays more this season and Fickell gets to stay, he'd have a very experienced team coming back to challenge for BCS honors.

OSU can't win against good teams (Nebraska, Wisconsin) with Bauserman playing QB, the guy screams mediocrity. By not playing Miller against these lesser teams, Fickell is depriving him of the experience that he will need to be a significant factor later on when his skills will be needed. To say that Bauserman manages the game is ridiculous, he can't make plays. Both Hyde and Smith have so far been disappointments (no ability to hit the hole or make a cut) that's where having a more physically talented QB like Miller could help out with his running. Fickell is a fool if he puts his potential future in the hands of Bohlman calling the plays (a proven idiot) both he (because all those 5 star o-linemen recruits never improve under his coaching) and Dick Tressel (running backs for the same reason) need to be gone after this year. With all the suspensions I'll admit OSU has it's back against the wall, but with a little better coaching and decision making and getting the best players that are left on the field, they still have a good chance to win most of their games. I think Toledo was better than Miami and for that reason I'll pick OSU to win 28-17. But if Bauserman continues to be the QB, OSU will lose at least 4 games this year and probably a bowl game as well. (he's a good guy but he just does not have it)

By playing against Akron, did Miller burn his redshirt? Other than screwing up big time during practice the week before the Toledo game, I can't think of a reason why Fickell wouldn't have played him, at least for a couple of series. It just doesn't add up.

http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/osu/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2011-12/release/release_20110912aaa.pdf

Depth Chart.

JB and Braxton still listed as OR. Hyde and Smith only RBs listed. No Jammal Berry SMH. LEO is JT Moore OR Nathan Williams (Still injured?). WR Chris Fields OR Cory Brown (Still hurt).

The Bucks are coming into this game with one hand tied behind their back. Hard to see coming away with a victory this Sat. I can't remember a time when their roster was so decimated.