ironman02;1880748 wrote:Coaching turnover could be part of the problem, as well as player turnover. Ohio State has lost a lot of guys early to the NFL recently.

That said, you still just can't lose by 31 to Iowa.

I can't imagine that it doesn't have an effect. In any organization, losing top people in key posts always carries this risk. For example, I think losing Fickell has been a huge factor this year. Just because it doesn't seem to be a factor at Alabama doesn't mean that it isn't. In my opinion, Alabama is an outlier.

I doubt it. But you never know.

It would take 4 incredible showings for OSU. Cover the spread and then some against Sparty, beat the piss out of Illinois (which they should anyway), a 2016 PSU style beat down of Michigan, and then a repeat of Urban's only B1G Championship against Wisky.

And I could definitely see them keeping Clemson in the top 4 even with 2 losses and no conf Champ. Bama, Clemson, Miami, and then a 4th.

The Big 12 is a cluster. I don't even know who would play for their championship if Ok State, Oklahoma, and TCU all have 2 losses. I would assume OU and TCU since they both beat Ok State.

If ND loses another game they are out. 2 losses and NO conference championship? Goodbye.

Spock;1880751 wrote:Bama and many other top programs arent losing by 30+ ever. THat is what should concern all of us. Big time programs with big time recruits should NEVER get blown out. If they do, its the coaching.

I️ think I️ saw where the last time Bama lost by 17+ it was to Nick Saban

I wonder if the problems on the D were ever fixed? I think Iowa was the first team to run basically the same type of offense as Oklahoma against the Bucks. Both teams used a pro style offense that exposed the linebackers and dbs.

wildcats20;1880772 wrote:I doubt it. But you never know.

It would take 4 incredible showings for OSU. Cover the spread and then some against Sparty, beat the piss out of Illinois (which they should anyway), a 2016 PSU style beat down of Michigan, and then a repeat of Urban's only B1G Championship against Wisky.

Yeah, good news for the Bucks is we have 3 tough games left. It’s a win-win. We’re more than likely out of the playoffs so who cares if we lose another game? But if we win out, and look good doing it, and a few things fall in place you never know.

MSU jumping 12 spots was the best thing that could've happened for OSU--it's almost as if the playoff committee was posturing the Buckeyes for a big jump should we win convincingly Saturday. We need to win BIG moving forward (obviously with a lot of help) to give us any chance at the CFP...but it's certainly not impossible.

Alabama is clearly the gold standard in college football right now. It's hard to compare to them.

However, since 2012 (using this year since that's when Urban arrived in Columbus), Bama is 73-7 while Ohio State is 68-8. During that span, Bama has won two titles to Ohio State's one. Ohio State is also recruiting near the same level as Alabama. So, while the Buckeyes aren't as successful as Alabama, they're not all that far behind.

However, losing 31-0 to Clemson, 31-16 to Oklahoma, and 55-24 to Iowa in the last 10 games is unacceptable. Yes, losing coaches hurts. The LB unit really misses Fickell, and guys like Herman and Ash were very good coaches. Yes, losing players early to the NFL hurts. The 2014, 2015, and 2016 teams had some serious overall talent on them, but the overall youth of the 2016 team hurt them. But Alabama has lost coaches. They lose players early as well. Saban has simply been better at making coaching hires, and also at developing young talent that can come in with little to no drop off. And he also doesn't get embarrassed by good teams, and especially not by inferior ones. Instead of closing the gap and gaining on Bama, Ohio State appears to be falling further behind recently. Like I said, it's hard to compare to Alabama right now, but that should be the goal. Hopefully the Buckeyes can get back on track, finish this season strong, and come back hungry next year.

As far as the playoffs go, I suppose getting in as a 2-loss Big Ten Champ is still possible, but I think it's highly unlikely. I just don't see the committee taking a two loss team that has been hammered in big games lately over any of the other potential teams with two losses.

ironman02;1880809 wrote:
Yes, losing players early to the NFL hurts. The 2014, 2015, and 2016 teams had some serious overall talent on them, but the overall youth of the 2016 team hurt them.

This is where a plethora of 4 & 5 star recruits can 'hurt' a program...it's a double edged sword. But, like you said, 'Bama loses players every year as well (however, it seems we lose them more often?).

ironman02;1880809 wrote:As far as the playoffs go, I suppose getting in as a 2-loss Big Ten Champ is still possible, but I think it's highly unlikely. I just don't see the committee taking a two loss team that has been hammered in big games lately over any of the other potential teams with two losses.

Part of me hopes they have no chance of getting in. I'd be afraid of another Clemson game.

Dr Winston O'Boogie;1880814 wrote:Part of me hopes they have no chance of getting in. I'd be afraid of another Clemson game.

I agree. This is not a playoff team. Win the Big Ten and hopefully get a bowl win over a top tier team. If that happens, I'll gladly take it at this point.

Dr Winston O'Boogie;1880814 wrote:Part of me hopes they have no chance of getting in. I'd be afraid of another Clemson game.

ironman02;1880819 wrote:I agree. This is not a playoff team. Win the Big Ten and hopefully get a bowl win over a top tier team. If that happens, I'll gladly take it at this point.

these

ironman02;1880819 wrote:I agree. This is not a playoff team. Win the Big Ten and hopefully get a bowl win over a top tier team. If that happens, I'll gladly take it at this point.

We won a national championship being an average team up until the last 3 games lol

If urban somehow gets them to turn it on late, I’ll take it! If a few pieces fall into place that’ll just be gravy on top.

In no scenario does OSU make the final four. Plenty of other two loss teams would stay ahead of them

slingshot4ever;1880839 wrote:In no scenario does OSU make the final four. Plenty of other two loss teams would stay ahead of them

That’s just stupid. There are plenty of scenarios where osu would make the final four if they win by 50+ in each of their last 4 games.

Now are the odds in our favor? Absolutely not. Will it happen? Absolutely not. Can it happen? Yes.

SportsAndLady;1880826 wrote:We won a national championship being an average team up until the last 3 games lol

If urban somehow gets them to turn it on late, I’ll take it! If a few pieces fall into place that’ll just be gravy on top.

What game did the 2014 team lose by 31 points?

They lost early in the season with a brand new starting QB to Virginia Tech. That game was 28-21 until a late pick six. Not once did the 2014 team get their ass beat off by 30+ points.

I'm completely hoping that Ohio State wins out, but I have to disagree with you on this one. Can they improve over the next few weeks? Absolutely. Are they capable of winning a national title? Absolutely not. I'd love to be wrong, but I'm not.

ironman02;1880848 wrote:What game did the 2014 team lose by 31 points?

They lost early in the season with a brand new starting QB to Virginia Tech. That game was 28-21 until a late pick six. Not once did the 2014 team get their ass beat off by 30+ points.

I'm completely hoping that Ohio State wins out, but I have to disagree with you on this one. Can they improve over the next few weeks? Absolutely. Are they capable of winning a national title? Absolutely not. I'd love to be wrong, but I'm not.

I️ am not saying the two teams are comparable. Just that that 2014 team lost early to a bad va tech team, and then looked pretty average until the last three games. My only comment was that if OSU pulls their head out of their ass and wins by 30+ from here on out and a few teams we need to finish with 2 losses actually do, we’d probably get in.

Now will we pull our heads out of our ass and actually do that? I️ am not betting on it.

Beat Michigan and get a bowl game win.

SportsAndLady;1880841 wrote:That’s just stupid. There are plenty of scenarios where osu would make the final four if they win by 50+ in each of their last 4 games.

Now are the odds in our favor? Absolutely not. Will it happen? Absolutely not. Can it happen? Yes.

give me 1

This is my take. Urban Meyer's teams play "smart football" to a fault sometimes. The shotgun spread option game changed the game by making the numbers equal again in the running game as with traditional option and the single wing while integrating dynamic passing a la the run and shoot out of the shotgun. However, as others have pointed out in this thread, at some point the reading and reacting almost gets too cute and the defense can understand what the proper read should be and bait the offense into taking the defense's preferred read e.g. QB keeping the ball, RPO's with baiting safeties, etc.

When Urban's teams have struggled, this has been a contributing factor. It's almost as if the only backs he's had that he has been willing to run the ball when he didn't have the numbers were Zeke Elliot and Percy Harvin.

I recall Tress saying at a coaches clinic back when I coached that all of the reading is well and good but that yOU was going to run the power even when they don't have the numbers because you have to believe in your backs to make a play at some point.

Indeed, I am sure we can all remember how many times everybody in the stadium knew the power was coming on third/fourth and short and sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn't. While I believe in smart football I think Urban's teams could use a little more tressellball from time to time.

Don't care what look Iowa gives you. You are Ohio State and didn't offer anyone on their defense. Call a run play with no checks on the first play of the game. The RPO stuff on near every run play call is getting out of hand. It's like asking the QB to be a point guard on every single play when they never have the option of dribbling out and starting over like you can do in basketball.

JT made some stupid ass throws but with the way the game was called on offense, it's almost like asking a point guard to make zero bad reads and have no turnovers.

slingshot4ever;1880869 wrote:give me 1

If shit went crazy like in 2007 when the Buckeyes wound,up laying LSU. Add in the fact that the committee can be a complete wild card and decide the Iowa game was a fluke in the same sort of way they gave Clemson the benefit of the doubt because Bryant got injured.

I'm not confident that OSU, specifically the coaching staff, can turn anything up. They could lose on Saturday.

Automatik;1880883 wrote:I'm not confident that OSU, specifically the coaching staff, can turn anything up. They could lose on Saturday.

They very well could, but they won't...embarrassment's a great motivator, and they were thoroughly embarrassed Saturday. OSU by 14.

BoatShoes;1880874 wrote:If shit went crazy like in 2007 when the Buckeyes wound,up laying LSU. Add in the fact that the committee can be a complete wild card and decide the Iowa game was a fluke in the same sort of way they gave Clemson the benefit of the doubt because Bryant got injured.

lay out what actually happens to move them to 4

slingshot4ever;1880927 wrote:lay out what actually happens to move them to 4

No one is saying it’s likely to happen, but can you honestly not see how it’s POSSIBLE for OSU to jump back in if they win out and the other top 10 teams start dropping games?