tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post8088392392436969600..comments2024-03-22T05:48:26.129-05:00Comments on Braves & Birds: Not Faster, Just BetterMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08365733949431139562noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-28841447285213886912008-01-08T22:39:00.000-05:002008-01-08T22:39:00.000-05:00I meant to add that OSU had only five *total* seni...I meant to add that OSU had only five *total* seniors on its roster this year. That's unbelievable.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-28771041219268101332008-01-08T22:37:00.000-05:002008-01-08T22:37:00.000-05:00Chg, you act like LSU's players were born a bunch ...Chg, you act like LSU's players were born a bunch of freaks and that it was all down to the immutable laws of nature. Could it be possible that maybe the difference had something to do with LSU being considerably more experienced? OSU started only two seniors on its *entire team* this past season. LSU had how many - 20 seniors?<BR/><BR/>You expect players to be at their best in their senior year. A major problem for OSU in recent years has been early departures. And because the Big Ten does not allow for oversigning of recruiting classes, Big Ten teams often field less than 85 scholarship players. Michigan and OSU both fielded something like 75-77 this year. When SEC teams suffer attrition, they just oversign and plug in the gaps. When Big Ten teams suffer it, it can seriously set back the program.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-32454725627288160212008-01-08T14:23:00.000-05:002008-01-08T14:23:00.000-05:00The true argument is that the SEC has better athle...The true argument is that the SEC has better athletes. It changed to "speed" in the MSM because that was the component of athleticism that Florida used to dominate the OSU line. Last night, LSU relied on strength to manhandle the OSU line.<BR/><BR/>Speed and strength are fundamental aspects of basic athletic ability, and in consecutive high profile games, Ohio State was unable to matchup along the lines with a top line from the SEC.chghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08299359954137090528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-88754388413262649802008-01-08T14:20:00.000-05:002008-01-08T14:20:00.000-05:00uhhhh,maybe because you had 4 times as many men, a...uhhhh,<BR/><BR/>maybe because you had 4 times as many men, and 10 times the industrial capacity to construct armaments?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10082266765073329362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-47052649226785968922008-01-08T13:39:00.001-05:002008-01-08T13:39:00.001-05:00Andrew, square Gettysburg and Grant's Western Camp...Andrew, square Gettysburg and Grant's Western Campaign with your theory, please.<BR/><BR/>Dawg, I agree on your analysis of what LSU was able to do to the Ohio State passing game. OSU's pass routes were a little vanilla. Way too many fly routes as opposed to deep middle routes that would have put more pressure on the LSU corners to do something other than run fast. OSU really could have used a legitimate TE threat. As for the next CRT, I need to look at what each team has returning.<BR/><BR/>CHG, LSU's success on the DL was a factor in the win, but I don't see how that supports the speed theory. Michigan whipped Florida up front; does that mean that Florida is slow?Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08365733949431139562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-17875674321674553172008-01-08T13:39:00.000-05:002008-01-08T13:39:00.000-05:00Andrew, square Gettysburg and Grant's Western Camp...Andrew, square Gettysburg and Grant's Western Campaign with your theory, please.<BR/><BR/>Dawg, I agree on your analysis of what LSU was able to do to the Ohio State passing game. OSU's pass routes were a little vanilla. Way too many fly routes as opposed to deep middle routes that would have put more pressure on the LSU corners to do something other than run fast. OSU really could have used a legitimate TE threat. As for the next CRT, I need to look at what each team has returning.<BR/><BR/>CHG, LSU's success on the DL was a factor in the win, but I don't see how that supports the speed theory. Michigan whipped Florida up front; does that mean that Florida is slow?Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08365733949431139562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-44558738145543823792008-01-08T13:20:00.000-05:002008-01-08T13:20:00.000-05:00Everything I've read that disclaims the SEC speed ...Everything I've read that disclaims the SEC speed "myth" goes on to somehow acknowledge it later in the post or column, including your's.<BR/><BR/>The true argument isn't that there is a supreme difference between the elite of each conference (though there is a slight edge to the SEC, especially in depth), but that there is an advantage that becomes more acute the deeper one goes in the conference standings. <BR/>That is the basis of the "SEC has better athletes" claim.<BR/><BR/>As you say, SEC staffs have to produce good schemes because they face supremely talented teams week in and week out. OSU does not, and can win merely by outathleting all but a couple of conference foes.<BR/><BR/>However, the Buckeye's continuing athletic deficiencies at one key position were the difference in the game. LSU asserted their athletic dominance of OSU's line by tossing them around like rag dolls. Florida chose to run past them as if the Buckeyes were standing still. Both d-lines demonstrated a vast advantage in a key component of athleticism (strength or speed) that was directly responsible for comfortable wins.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-2474586630881588042008-01-08T12:24:00.000-05:002008-01-08T12:24:00.000-05:00Great analysis on the title game. One thing I wou...Great analysis on the title game. One thing I would add: LSU's ability to play man on the outside made OSU no dimensional. OSU couldn't get the big downfield pass play to force LSU to back off and that pretty much ended the game. Load up on Beanie, give up a few ground yards, win a ballgame.<BR/><BR/>I think Charles Rogers Theorem was completely true about Georgia in the summer. UGA wasn't a good team at the beginning of the year. However, I think the change was 1/3 Celebration, 1/3 O-line becoming men, and 1/3 Knowshon. <BR/><BR/>Charles Rogers Theorem for next year: USC?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-26017197951232801082008-01-08T10:49:00.000-05:002008-01-08T10:49:00.000-05:00"that's an indication that there's something speci..."that's an indication that there's something special about football in the state of Ohio"<BR/><BR/>Ha! Nice attempt to salvage something from this huge embarrassment for the Big 10.<BR/><BR/>LSU is faster, bigger and better. People from the south are just more physically gifted than people from the north. And they're smarter as well. That is scientific fact.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10082266765073329362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-89443039400446434272008-01-08T09:12:00.000-05:002008-01-08T09:12:00.000-05:00Nice analysis. I hate to be the one to point this ...Nice analysis. I hate to be the one to point this out but you and Mandel agree on the core point--that LSU didn't win because it was faster. Sorry about that.Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05040111079726286477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-71739038163062616582008-01-08T09:07:00.000-05:002008-01-08T09:07:00.000-05:00Oh, the other thing: regarding "home field". I th...Oh, the other thing: regarding "home field". I think it helps to play bowls in one's "back yard". I do not think it's the same as playing at home, though. And OSU travels well. That isn't to say they got proportionate representation, but it wasn't like a normal away game either.<BR/><BR/>Having said that, some of the crowing from certain blogs about some sort of systemic bias against (the big ten?) in bowls is mostly absurd.peacedoghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15474788565660706482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-82574735421681902612008-01-08T09:05:00.000-05:002008-01-08T09:05:00.000-05:00The discussion of coaching has reached the next le...The discussion of coaching has reached the next level from a few years ago - where people are now looking at the conference-wide coaching landscape to help try and gauge a given coach (some people, anyway). Now don't we need to start paying more attention to the assistants? LSU's guys certainly seemed to be getting it done last night. OSU? Maybe not so much. . .<BR/><BR/>As for the fist pumping. . .<BR/><BR/>You know, Richt was being uncharacteristically animated in the Florida game, perhaps. The thing is, this was merely a small sign, and it was one that was already present. He was pretty animated in the Vandy game, albeit not in a good way (and hence his getting on his guys at the end of the game, for celebrating like this was a big when when we nearly blew the game). And, it wasn't just about how animated he was. UGA, from the playcalling dwon to how they were practicing, was doing things a little bit different.<BR/><BR/>It paid off. I guess I'm wondering if Tressel made some changes for this game - getting more rah rah because "it's a championship game". I'm not sure that's a worthwhile tactic, though I don't know that I've properly grasped the situation here. If I'm right, the change needs to be all-encompassing (if that makes sense).<BR/><BR/>OSU certainly didn't call plays like it was taking a fresh approach to the game.peacedoghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15474788565660706482noreply@blogger.com