Tag Archives: Michael Thomas

INSIDE THE BUCKEYES – GOIN STREAKIN

The Buckeyes extended their winning streak this season to 9 games, their overall winning streak to 22 games and their regular season Big Ten winning streak to 29 games with their 28-14 victory over Minnesota in Big Ten play.

OSU Offense vs Oregon Defense In Game Action Shot Nati Championship Game 1-12-15

Ezekiel Elliott extended his 100 yard rushing yards streak to 14 consecutive games with 26 carries for 114 yards and 1 touchdown.

Ezekiel Elliott Media Day Podium Photo Nati Championship 1-10-15

Elliott now has 1,244 yards on the season with 14 rushing TD’s.  He is now 4th in school history with 3,384 career rushing yards and has scored 34 rushing touchdowns and 35 overall touchdowns in his career to this point at Ohio State.

 

Wide receiver Michael Thomas extended his consecutive games streak of catching at least  1 pass in a game to 25 straight games. His 6 yard touchdown catch in the game was his 16 scoring grab of his career at OSU.

 

Cardale Jones extended his unbeaten streak as the starting quarterback at Ohio State to 11 straight games. Jones was 3-0 last year and is now 8-0 this season. Jones threw for 187 yards and 1 touchdown in the win and also rushed for 65 yards and a score in the 14 point victory. That touchdown scamper  of 38 yards was the longest run of his career.

 

In his first 50 games at Ohio State, head coach Urban Meyer’s has a 47-3 record, the third greatest start for a coach at one school in FBS history. That’s a (.940) winning percentage.  Meyer’s career overall record improved to 151-26, that good for an (.853) winning percentage which is the highest among active coaches.

IS THERE A FORMULA ON HOW TO BEAT OREGON?

The Oregon Ducks have lost only four games over the last three years with 2014 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Marcus Mariota running the offense.

Marcus Mariota In Game Heisman Pose

Photo Courtesy – ESPN.Go.Com

So I went back and looked at those four losses, two against Stanford and two against Arizona to see if there were common denominators in all four losses. Here’s what I came up with:

In all four losses Oregon was held to less than 10 points at halftime.

In all four losses Oregon lost the “Time of Possession” battle by an average of 37:10 to 23:50.

In all four losses Oregon turned the ball over at least once on offense and totaled 8 turnovers in those four games for an average of 2 turnovers per contest.

In all four losses Oregon’s opponent ran more offensive plays than the Ducks did. On average Oregon ran 11 fewer plays per game in the losses (83.5 to 72.2).

In all four losses Oregon’s opponent ran for 200 yards or more as a team and averaged 58 carries for 246.5 yards per game on the ground.

In all four losses Oregon only had a 32% conversion rate on 3rd down on offense.

And in three out of the four losses Oregon was outgained in total yards by an average of 24 yards per game.

 So what should Ohio State take from this?

Urban Meyer Sugar Bowl

If I’m the Buckeyes I’m going back and watching all four losses to try and learn the recipe for success against Oregon from Stanford and Arizona. Then I’m  going to formulate part of my game plan on trying to run a ball control offense, an eat the clock offense with Ezekiel Elliott leading the way, but also using Jalin Marshall, Curtis Samuel, Cardale Jones and maybe Dontre Wilson if he’s healthy on the ground. By establishing the running game and chewing up time on the clock, it should in turn open up the passing game for quarterback Cardale Jones and receivers Devin Smith, Michael Thomas, Evan Spencer and more.

Putting pressure on Mariota was also a major factor in the four losses which helped lead to those 8 turnovers. Not just by sacking him, but forcing him to throw the ball before he wanted to. So that means the Buckeyes defensive line led by All American Joey Bosa, as well as Michael Bennett, Adolphus Washington and Steve Miller have to penetrate Oregon’s tough offensive line and get in Mariota’s face to hopefully sack him, at least hit him, or if not, force him to make early errant throws that could end up as interceptions. Also when Bosa or maybe linebacker Darron Lee get a chance, within the rules of the game, they need to hit Mariota as often as they can, as hard as they can, to make life miserable for him in all four quarters of the National Championship game. Just like the Buckeyes defense did to Miami’s Ken Dorsey in the 2002 National Championship contest.

That looks to be the formula on how to beat Marcus Mariota and the Oregon Ducks. Easier said than done of course, but the Buckeyes are a confident team and peaking at the right time, so let’s see if Urban Meyer’s troops can execute a game plan like that and if they do, they’ll have a good chance of winning the game and making history by being crowned National Champions in the first ever year of the College Football Playoff.

KENNY’S KEYS TO AN OHIO STATE WIN OVER ALABAMA

1) PROTECT THE PIGSKIN – In a game of this magnitude against a team the caliber of Alabama, turnovers become even more of a factor, especially for a quarterback in Cardale Jones who is only making his second career start. Jones has to realize it’s OK to throw the ball away, punt, let your defense get a stop and live to play another series. Jones can’t turn it over and give Bama a short field to work with.

Cardale Jones Backfield Photo

2) ZONE AMARI – 26% of Alabama’s offense comes from one player, wide receiver Amari Cooper. He eats up man-to-man defenses, so the Buckeyes need to either double team him or play some zone defense so Cooper doesn’t reach the end zone for the 15th time this season. He is a “Big Play Maker” and can’t be stopped one on one.

 

3) GO DEEP – Alabama’s secondary is very suspect against the deep ball. They’ve given up 17 touchdown passes and a number of them on the bomb. Michael Thomas, Devin Smith, Jalin Marshall and if he plays, Dontre Wilson will have a chance to get behind the Tide corners and safties if the Buckeyes O-Line can give Cardale Jones to go down field. If so, Ohio State should score on at least  the one deep pass, if not more.

 

4) PACE AND SPREAD – In a number of Bama’s losses or close games their defense has had trouble with teams that go no huddle and also spread the field. The Buckeyes should be able to do both. If so OSU’s offense will put points on the board.

 

5) DO THE BOSA-NOVA – Joey Bosa has to be the best defensive player on the field and reak havoc in the Tide backfield all game long. If Alabama decides to double team him, then Michael Bennett, Adolphus Washington and Steve Miller then have to win their one on one battles and put pressure on Blake Simms and get in the backfield.

Joey Bosa Big Hit vs Navy

6) BE SPECIAL ON SPECIAL TEAMS – Both teams kickers struggle with field goals, especially outside of 40 yards. Whichever team can get their kicker to split the uprights and also be solid in their return and coverage teams will have a HUGE advantage in the Sugar Bowl.

 

Prediction  –  OHIO STATE 34       ALABAMA 28

PODCAST “INSTANT ANALYSIS” OHIO STATE 52 MARYLAND 24

Here’s my breakdown of the Buckeyes 28 point win at Maryland today in their first Big Ten game of the 2014 season.


JT Barrett and O-Line vs Maryland Michael Thomas TD Catch OSU vs Maryland