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| Round 2 |
OSU vs Miami (Fl). This is a game that matches two of the great names in college football. A rematch of the classic 2002 National Championship game. A return game from last years early season Top 25 matchup in the ‘Shoe. Oh yeah it is also a matchup of two teams that have had extremely bad off-seasons. Putting all of that aside, this is also a matchup of two teams with plenty of talent. These are two teams that could and should compete for conference championships and big time bowl appearances (unless the NCAA nixes those ideas).
This is a matchup of two teams with new coaches, the highly respected Al Golden (who brought Temple to respectability) at Miami and the lessor known, but not lessor respected, Ohio High School Legend and Ohio State great Luke Fickell with the Buckeyes.
Outside of all the turmoil and controversy this should be a highly competitive game. I am looking for a lot from the Buckeyes. First of all I want to know if we can compete with the big boys? I know we have skill, I know we have great players, we will compete with the Big Ten but can we compete with the speed of the South? Against Akron the Buckeyes looked like world beaters. Bauserman could have been confused with Rex Kern. He was great, he did everything right. Then came Toledo. He looked a bit dazed and confused. He was more like, well like the Joe Bauserman we have come to expect. I know this comes from playing a better team. Make no mistake, Toledo will not compete for a BCS birth, but they are not a bad team. I predict they will win both the MAC and a bowl game (at least I hope so, that will make OSU look better). To look good Bauserman needs his receivers to play well. Our most seasoned receiver Philly Brown (who is not suspended or a tight end) got hurt.
The question is, if Stoneburner is covered who will he throw too? Verlon Reed perhaps? I also want to see how our running backs will perform. There is a mixed bag here. First of all both Smith and Hyde have played adequately, but neither has been a total game breaker and Smith has serious fumble problems, which should result in less carries for him this week in a bigger game (you can always hope he emulates another former OSU running back who began his career being considered fumble prone, one Mr. Eddie “Heisman” George). I am wondering how will the offensive line perform. They were not exactly stellar last week. Bauserman was frequently under duress and as athletic as he may be he is not the most nimble of players. I am also wondering why is that Braxton “The Future” Miller did not get in the Toledo game at all. There are a few schools of thought here. 1. Maybe he is just not ready. Remember he is only a true freshman, grasping the speed and nuances of the college game is not very easy. 2. Maybe in a tight game, Fickell wanted to go with the experienced (though not very experienced) upper classman to guide us through mighty Toledo? or 3. Maybe just maybe he is so good, and Fickell and Bollman have some super secret package that they are keeping secret for Miami with Miller (I can hope can’t I)?
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| Can Hall have the same success as last year? |
Now on to the defense. I am wondering if they can handle the speed of Miami. If Miami decides to run a form of the spread against OSU that could spell trouble for the Buckeyes. As Toledo showed last week OSU has trouble defending this type of offense. We can stop straight ahead runners, we can stop a more pro style attack, but the spread has consistently caused problems for the Buckeyes. Our DBs need to be ready. Miami will throw the ball, and they will most likely launch it deep. I want to know if our young corners can cover the speed the Hurricane receivers and specialists will bring to the field? Can we consistently put pressure on the QB? If as predicted Jacory Harris is the starter for the ‘Canes, constant pressure seems to fluster him, which results in him throwing interceptions.
Finally, the suspended players. Will they be back or not? I believe the three players should be back. For some reason it seems to this laymen, the NCAA is treating the Buckeye 3 harsher then the Miami players who committed seemingly much worse violations. I would love to see the Buckeyes at the strength they were predicted to be at (minus the Tattoo 5) in this game. One final comment/question. This is a bit off topic, but I am going to ask it all the same. Since the 2010-2011 season was vacated, which technically means the Buckeyes never played last season (except against Wisconsin) doesn’t that mean the Buckeyes were actually suspended for 12 games last year and should be eligible to play this year? Well that is just my simple question.
