If this game is even close to the spread, let alone closer as @Temp430 suggests, I'll be highly disappointed and I'll have to substantially recalibrate my season expectations for the Buckeyes.
I think that tOSU has a NC caliber team this year and I'm only barely old enough to remember a time when ND was a difficult game for a NC caliber team. I expect the home team to win in a laugher.
All due respect Medina- but I don’t know where your getting your confidence from. I’m not saying that you may not turn out to be correct, I’m just curious as hell how you’re there already.
The Buckeyes we’re horrible last season on 3rd down conversions on BOTH sides of the ball.
on defense the issue was pretty obvious and that is because they ran the same exact formation on virtually every third down it was super easy for good teams like Oregon and Michigan to manipulate them, and outmanned them at the point of attack on running plays, or no well ahead of time before the snap where the openings were for a quick pass place success.
so enter the new defensive coordinator who has a reputation for doing extremely well at disguising the defense and running multiple different defenses from the same look. Yes I think eventually that should improve it but I’m not buying it until I actually see it in production.
On offense, Ohio State was incredibly predictable. I’ve been watching a lot of film study and it’s actually kind of sad. In the pistol formation they didn’t throw a single pass so the other team knew it was a run. Just look at the Michigan in Oregon games and all the critical third downs where it was third and two or third and one, and the buckeyes got stuffed. And it wasn’t just those two games, Penn State in Nebraska and other teams as well
so enter Justin Fry, new office of line coach who has a reputation of creative blocking schemes and physicality on the office of line. Also this season we’re going to have two guards and two tackles as opposed to four tackles, so I do expect improvement there as well but I won’t believe it until I see it on the field.
we don’t know a lot about Notre Dame but what we do know is that they are extremely talented and both the office of line and defensive line. We also know they’re going to run a traditional bend but don’t break the fence which is designed to prevent big plays, and make the Aufense patiently work its way down the field without making mistakes. On offense we know they’re going to milk the clock, try to use the power run game with a new very excellent mobile quarterback, and take advantage of their all world tight end who can get open for quick passes against any defensive set up.
Lastly, it’s not uncommon for Ohio State to take several games to get into a rhythm on both sides of the ball. Rarely do they look super good in the early games.
To say that they’re an NC caliber team in my opinion is very premature. Certainly you could say they have the potential to be there but until I see something with my own eyes I won’t actually believe it. Therefore I expect a close game. I would love to be wrong about all of this.
