Mike West

I thought Howard was more consistent than Gabriel. Dillon threw some absolutely beautiful passes tonight. If DG had just three more accurate throws and one proper read, we're talking another ten points on the board. DG faced more pressure over the duration of the game in my "super hack" opinion. Ohio State fans are going to blame Howard tonight. They couldn't be more (absolutely) wrong. Oklahoma and KSU sure made major mistakes going with potential instead of proven experience. Both teams would be undefeated this very moment, and KSU would be ahead by 14 as I write.

The little things...to be discussed after the game. Lessons. The things necessary to execute. No criticism of the players or coaches. This has been a good game. You should see what Ohio State's fan base is saying right now. They are incredulous at the moment. They actually can't believe OBD are this good.

But do I trust the FG kicker? Absolutely not

Yes, I would have punted the ball...,,

We match up physically with them. We have an advantage with the skill players on offense. This isn't about where the score is, it is about ability. Win or lose today, NOBODY is going to say Oregon is overrated. Nobody. Just like that nice touch pass to Tez Johnson. Just like the physicality shown running the ball. Stein deliberately ran the ball to kill the clock, showing HE KNOWS WE CAN POWER DOWN THE FIELD. The results won't matter today. It's about what we learn today that matters. The win would be nice. The lessons are more important.

Remember folks, we want to win. But you have to realize, no matter what, OBD have shown they are Natty contenders. The mistakes can be cleaned up. So far, OBD have outplayed tOSU. This is a game of a few key things. Self inflicted errors and definitely officiating have affected this game. The little things.... they really won't change the fact we are truly title worthy.

28-23 Ohio State 1 2 230 Though I believe OBD are talented enough to win this game, I don't believe the offense is running on all cylinders yet. I hope I'm wrong!

I wasn't surprised USC lost. It was a matchup problem for USC. Minnesota's loss to Iowa skewed expectations for the Gophers. They changed their philosophy on offense after that. They are far more balanced and they throw the ball much better than they did at the beginning of the season. That is USC's kryptonite - a balanced offense that can pass the ball. In addition, USC is not playing well on the road this year. They're in for a long season. The B1G only has 3 elite teams, but the middle of the pack can hurt you if you don't come ready to play. USC will not be excellent until they get an elite defense. That may not happen at all with Lincoln Riley.

Can't argue with last year's results. I didn't like the midterm results, but I expected the loss. I came away very impressed with that midterm. Told me all I needed to know about one Dan Lanning. The players have to execute their fundamental assignments first. To allow for them to execute overall. That's really all football is about. Coaches have different philosophies about what fundamental football is. I am more than satisfied with what DL considers fundamental football. I have not been satisfied with said execution of fundamental football from the players. Not that they're underperforming, they just don't lock down the simple things. That's why they lost last year. My opinion of course. And we know what I consider fundamental football. I've more than pointed it out. In my opinion, if the players do that, they'll go undefeated. They're definitely good enough if they take care of the little things.

Good observation. I'm wondering if DG is holding on to the ball too long because he's had the luxury to. Even against the two potato heads, he held the ball for long periods. I believe that's why his NFL eval was a surprise to him. You don't get that luxury against elite teams. I'll tell you this though. I've seen enough Oklahoma footage to grasp this guy is a gamer. He's pretty much the same QB. I'm not worried about this game. I'm concerned about what we learn from this game. What the team does with some of the fundamental things we're going to learn about the team against one of the best in the country. What kind of adjustments will be necessary whether OBD win or lose.

Folks, I believe it's important to look at this game as the first midterm of the year. This game will not define the season. This is much like the game in Seattle last year. Duck Nation went absolutely out of their minds and even national pundits started questioning DL. DeBoer is getting grilled just one week after a defining victory over Georgia. Kirby Smart is being judged by his record against Alabama. It's one game. Mistakes will be made. Nobody is going to die on Saturday. This game will truly be about how OBD play/coach and what they learn from it. This game will really be more about the process than the results because the ultimate results will come from what we gleam from Saturday's game. So please , do not overreact this week. I promise, I will not yell on screen at any player that looks at the QB instead of covering his area or man ( matchup zone is the definition) this week. I already know it's going to happen. I already know the Safeties and Linebackers will determine who wins this game. I already know the offense will not adjust the way I expect it to this week. It's what the coaches and players respond to that matters to me this week. Win or lose. Because you can bet your entire existence on the fact that every playoff caliber team will scour over every aspect of this game. This game is the first in a series of high caliber contests OBD will face this year. This game is a get to know you game. It is not going to be something you can take an iron brand, stick it in fire, and plant on your cow. Try to evaluate the game, not just any particular moment. Or any particular coach, or player. Let nature take it's course. We are in the conversation amongst the best in the business. Remember that. Savor that. 120 teams and their respective fan bases don't get that privilege. This is the first test of several. It's not the final exam by any means.

I don't think people realize Vandy is a much better team than years past. This team is a lot like James Franklin's teams when they had Jay Cutler. You have to beat Vandy now. They don't self destruct like they used to, and they are pretty physical. The other thing, which was brought up in the NIL thread, is parity is coming to college football. I believe it will mostly come from elite players slacking more often because they're getting paid now. They're not going to be as motivated by titles or teamwork. This will allow teams like Arkansas and Vandy, even teams like Indiana and Cal to tarnish the blue bloods. I like the fact that the conferences did away with divisions. That allows teams like Rutgers and Kentucky a better shot at going 10-2. To me, that means you still have to focus on 12-0 and 11-1 because head to head matchups aren't always going to be the factor that earns teams a playoff spot. Georgia, Bama, and Tennessee are now on the chopping block. They have to go undefeated moving forward just to be in the playoff conversation. Despite this, I believe some players just won't earn their chops. That's what happens when you're too young to grasp the enormity of your responsibility to others. Happens in the NFL all the time. I just hope NIL stays private, and a collective bargaining agreement for the players only allows equal pay for all the players - in other words no individual contracts signed between the school and a player - more like employee driven contracts like the unions have with companies. I won't watch an NFL game unless it's two elite teams or the playoffs. I just don't subscribe to spoiled brats getting paid crazy money because NFL owners are stupid enough to drive the market higher than it should be ( in my opinion ). Though I do believe the owners should be paying two thirds of their expenses to players like every other business does ( it just doesn't get spread justly - you know- that market value thing). I don't want college football to resemble any aspect of the NFL.

Great observation Solar. Didn't think about that. Lots to look forward to next Saturday.

Offense has more upside. This game will help them determine what they'll need to work on for the playoffs. OBD have enough ability to go undefeated, but a loss during the season, and especially here, will give them information on what to work on for the playoffs. This team should go 11-1 at worst. It's all mental now. Execution will be absolutely necessary. So the penalties must end at this point. Tough to be perfect, but it is going to be absolutely necessary to be as close to perfect next Saturday and in the playoffs as possible That should be the new standard: less than three broken assignments, and/or three unforced errors. I see focus issues, but I see plenty of poise being demonstrated. Plenty of upside on the intangibles for OBD. That's how championships are won.

Well given that, you're probably correct. He was clearly going for the ball. If he wanted to, he could have really hurt Ferguson. As in helmet to helmet, or even using his shoulder pads. It totally looked like he refused to take that kind of shot, and he definitely had the opportunity to. That was a Jack Tatum moment if I ever saw one- like the one where he paralyzed Daryl Stingley ( during a preseason game at that). It probably would have cost him the season, and a fight may have ended the game. I wasn't aware the rules didn't take intent into consideration. So many of the calls it is clear the defender is reacting to how the player he tackles behaves. Sometimes the defenseless player is defenseless after making a split second decision to be defenseless, and the tackler can't change his decision or momentum because he doesn't have time to change his tackling angle once he's off the ground.

35-13 2 2 260

I think you're right. We're taking things seriously. I think the main concern is do the players have the ability to turn on the juice when it's time to? Habits are stubborn things. Lots of bad habits so far. The funny thing is, all the contenders have had a least a bad quarter or two. They seem to look better at it than we do though.

As noted very well in the comments, OBD just don't look like top three material. Not one freshman is playing for OBD. There are several from the cream of the crop playing for the current top three Now that wouldn't be as much a concern if our starters were playing like Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Tennessee and Ohio State. They're not. We lack the intensity, and I'm not quite sure we would look that good if we did match their intensity. The Oregon State game was the best we've seen, and that was at 75% capacity. We looked more choppy in Pasadena, even when we're were running on all cylinders. I also believe Penn State is playing better football. What really gets me is players like Jeffery Bassa jaw jacking like he's been tearing it up. Frankly, Boetcher and Jackson are playing better. Mouthing off never wins titles. That tells me where this team is at. All huff and puff, but they can't blow the house down. They're not mentally willing to put the pieces together. Or they just don't believe they can. Or both. Whatever it is, they are not focused. They are not intense. They are not performing anywhere near what it takes to win a title. The wild thing about it is, I think they are a notch below the cream ability wise, but the coaches have them in position to play above their capabilities. Sometimes you have to get humiliated to realize there really is no tomorrow. I'm seeing a seven to ten points loss to Ohio State. I feel there will be enough mistakes to wake this team up. Make them realize thinking you can do it isn't the same as dedicating yourself to doing it. None of the teams they played, especially Boise State, should have been in the game after the first quarter. That lack of killer instinct is telling.

I thought the same thing at the time. I actually don't think it was intentional at all. He could have just laid Ferguson out, and he surely could have. Shrugging his shoulders at a former teammate is lame. Ferguson was clearly injured, and he walked away like it was nothing. The zoom replay is a better look. He clearly was trying to break the pass up. The one FishDuck posted looks more intentional.

USC is playoff material this very moment. They have a good chance of reaching the playoffs. They are pulling high level recruits. Yet we just flipped a four star OL from Tennessee (payback). Georgia has won the most recent Nattys, one from Alabama. Bama just lost the GOAT. Bama is still a top five recruiting powerhouse Texas and Tennessee are recruiting very well. Hasn't affected Georgia, Bama, or Ohio State. We are neck and neck with Ohio State for several recruits. Isn't stopping them one bit. UW and USC could go undefeated next year. It will not affect us anymore. We are damn near a recruiting Superpower. We're certainly top ten. UW and USC will not stop us. Would winning the Big Ten title help any of the three of us? Yep. Still won't stop Ohio State. Or OBD. We are a better program than USC and UW. We were when DeBoer was there. We were on par when Peterson was there. Oregon isn't ' that cute team out West' anymore.

Yes, The streak is nice. Fitting in fact. They get a taste of what it's like to "be average". That's poetic justice. They hate us now. Fear us in fact. And frankly, they got caught cheating. Or at least, like USC, they were told they weren't allowed to do what teams in the South have been doing 'our entire lives" ( I believe we're close in age). So I completely understand where you're coming from. It's nice giving them a dose of their own medicine. I realize I have a different mentality than most. I really want them to realize they're never going to dominate us again, not be the premier team on the West Coast again. It is nice seeing them suffer now though. And if we keep playing like we have the past two weeks, even if they play better than they've been playing, we will bury them like we have the past two decades. Ain't it cool?

Did you see the end of the game? Surreal. I'll tell you this, .never go to sleep on Georgia. No lead is safe. Yeah, DeBoer just proved he is no fluke, and he elevates his talent to the very best. No matter what people think of said talent.

What have I said about pass coverage? What ticks me off more than any unforced errors? Thirty yards of passing because the linebackers are looking at the QB while receivers run past them. Both instances, all the backer had to do is locate the receiver in his area of responsibility, and take away the QBs option by covering the damn target. Like I said, I will write this ONE HUNDRED TIMES this year!!! We will have the best damn pass defense correcting that one mistake. NUMBER ONE!!! Why did Boetcher intercept that pass? Because he went and covered the receiver. Just like I said.

Well, I'll always root for both USC and UW because it helps OBD. And I do believe its fear, because in my mind, I want the challenge of them being as good as us. Because I relish the thought of stabbing them in the heart when we take a game from them. And there's nothing like inflicting pain in a program that used to own us, and now we own them. My hate is directed to rising to the challenge of being awesome against awesome, and burying the programs formally known as great. I want their best, not their worst. Because I want them to know their best is never good enough. I'm willing to risk loss in order to be GREAT. I don't want wimpy. I don't want their fan base to cry about why we're better than them like they have the past few years. I want to stick a dagger into their very best to show them they can't beat the best on the field - where it matter the most.