🏈 Former Ohio State QB, analyst Kirk Herbstreit says Alabama could be trouble for new Buckeye QB

[BAMANEWSBOT]

Ohio State threw only 18 passes in the Big Ten title game, but there was an efficiency to the attack.

First-time starter Cardale Jones averaged 21.4 yards per completion while connecting on 12 of his 17 throws. The Buckeyes hit touchdown passes of 35-plus yards three times to stun Wisconsin 59-0 and earn a spot in the playoffs.

There he'll find Alabama on New Year's Day in the Sugar Bowl. Though Wisconsin led the Big Ten in pass defense entering the league championship, there will be a difference in the group Jones will meet in the Superdome.

"Cardale Jones got so much attention for the way he played in the Big Ten Championship Game, but he faced a ton of man coverage and they exploited that with a lot of deep balls," ESPN analyst and former Ohio State quarterback Kirk Herbstreit said in a phone interview. "Now they have to face a variety of coverages with Nick (Saban) having three weeks to get the defense ready. I'm sure they're going to try to confuse the offensive line and confuse Cardale because I think Ohio State's greatest strength is its offensive skill."

Alabama's out-scored the opposition 63-14 in the last two postseason games with national titles on the line and a month to prepare. The Tide shutout No. 1 LSU 21-0 in the 2012 BCS Championship Game while shutting down top-ranked Notre Dame 42-14 a year later in the same game.

Given time, Alabama likes to change personnel groupings and coverages to trouble opposing offenses. Ohio State has the ability to move with tempo, however, and were effective doing so against Wisconsin.

The Buckeyes have five different receivers who've caught 20-plus passes this season compared to Alabama's two.

Devin Smith averages 26.6 yards a catch with a team-high 799 total yards on 30 receptions. He had all three long touchdown passes against Wisconsin to finish with 137 yards on four receptions.

"Just a lot of guys that can stretch the field and a quarterback who has a live arm," Alabama cornerback Cyrus Jones said. "In the back of it, we've just got be in tip-top shape, just knowing what to expect in certain formations and stuff like that and what they like to, what routes they like to run the most. Just being read. It's pretty much self-explanatory."

Alabama's pass defense took a few lumps in the last two games. Auburn threw for 456 yards on big plays in the 55-44 Iron Bowl loss to the Tide. Missouri hit passes for 63, 47 and 32 yards in the SEC Championship Game but managed just one touchdown in the 42-13 loss.

"We got good pass rush up front and the quarterback got out of the pocket," Jones said. "But we've just got to do a better job of staying with our man once the play breaks down and the quarterback gets to improvise and stuff like that."

The Buckeyes effectively wore down the Badgers with the read-option game as Ezekiel Elliott ran 20 times for 220 yards. He's also a threat catching passes with 26 receptions for 208 yards.

"I think it will be the best collection of skill that Alabama's probably seen all year," Herbstreit said. "Will Cardale Jones, in just his second career start, could he be able to exploit that? Will he be able to make plays? Will he have the time? It's a very sophisticated and challenging scheme that he's going up against."

Continue reading...

 

[TerryP]

If I were to rank the important factors in this game, the point of them starting their third string quarterback doesn't top the list. I'm not sure it would fit at number two, to be honest.

I'll start a thread about this as soon as I compile a little info...let's just say, Miami in January of 2013 has something to do with my instincts.

 

[planomateo]

Urban has been the underdog 4 times while at Ohio State, Wisconsin twice, Michigan State twice. Neither of those teams hold a candle to Alabama in terms of coaching or athletes.

Some predict this will be a close game, I'm thinking Ohio State's going to get smoked. Only three bowl games have higher lines in Las Vegas than Alabama...what does that tell ya?

The game would definitely be different had their 1st or 2nd string QB's been in the game.

 

[bama alum]

He should try to make Joey Galloway understand this line of reasoning.

 

[alabama mike]

KH usually is very accurate with his analysis of teams. In fact, one of the reasons he moved from Upper Arlington, just west of the OSU campus, was because of all the flack he got when he criticized the Buckeyes.

 

[252BAMA]

If I were to rank the important factors in this game, the point of them starting their third string quarterback doesn't top the list. I'm not sure it would fit at number two, to be honest.

I'll start a thread about this as soon as I compile a little info...let's just say, Miami in January of 2013 has something to do with my instincts.

Miami AND January 1, 1993 has something to do with mine. With 9:38 left in the THIRD quarter in New Orleans, Gino Torretta called his THIRD and FINAL timeout. Went to the bench and asked for toilet paper and glasses because he didn't know whether to shit or go blind. A similar fate awaits Cardale Jones.

 

[bamaledge]

Miami AND January 1, 1993 has something to do with mine. With 9:38 left in the THIRD quarter in New Orleans, Gino Torretta called his THIRD and FINAL timeout. Went to the bench and asked for toilet paper and glasses because he didn't know whether to shit or go blind. A similar fate awaits Cardale Jones.

MUD HOLE

 

[TerryP]

Miami AND January 1, 1993 has something to do with mine. With 9:38 left in the THIRD quarter in New Orleans, Gino Torretta called his THIRD and FINAL timeout. Went to the bench and asked for toilet paper and glasses because he didn't know whether to shit or go blind. A similar fate awaits Cardale Jones.

Think back to our discussions about Notre Dame going into the BCSNC game. Some of the highpoints included they'd beaten a Michigan State team that was ranked in the top ten when they played, but Sparty finished 7-6. We were careful to give them their due with their win against Oklahoma UNTIL we saw what Texas A&M did to the Sooners in the bowl game.

The team needed a late-second drive by a backup quarterback to beat a losing Purdue team. It only won by three points to a BYU program that lost to an unranked Utah and only scored six points against Boise State earlier in the year.

That also doesn't include needing three overtimes to beat a Pittsburgh squad that lost to Youngstown State in the season opener. Even the most recent game against Boston College wasn't a convincing victory, as a 21-6 win wasn’t the blowout you would expect from a national championship-caliber program. Of course, there was a lot of talk about whether or not the ref had the right call against Stanford.

Fast forward to Ohio State...

Their schedule has two wins against ranked opponents. Michigan State, one of those ranked opponents, has three games against ranked teams—their win coming against Nebraska. Wisconsin had three games against teams ranked in the top 25; their only win coming against Nebraska.

Like Notre Dame, OSU had a game go to multiple overtimes—a win against a 6-6 Penn State team. See Purdue, 2012.

Look over the Ohio State schedule and you'll see it's very, very similar to that of Notre Dame in every aspect. They struggled against weaker opponents but have one game that makes people say, "this is a good team; on Alabama's level."

Earlier in this thread I mentioned I didn't think Jones starting would be in the number two slot as to the reasons I believe Ohio State is way overmatched. In that slot I have to put experience.

It's true if you look at the recruiting rankings you'll see they've have a team comprised of athletes that are ranked as high as we've seen our classes ranked. However, those players are mostly underclassmen. On the other hand, when you start looking over the Bama roster you're finding guys who were here in 2012. There's no comparison between the experience levels.

I don't know if it will end up being as much of a "men against boys" ball game like that BCSNC game against ND was...but I do think it's safe to say it's going to be "men against teens."

 

[TerryP]

Earlier in this thread I mentioned I didn't think Jones starting would be in the number two slot as to the reasons I believe Ohio State is way overmatched. In that slot I have to put experience.

It's true if you look at the recruiting rankings you'll see they've have a team comprised of athletes that are ranked as high as we've seen our classes ranked. However, those players are mostly underclassmen. On the other hand, when you start looking over the Bama roster you're finding guys who were here in 2012. There's no comparison between the experience levels.

http://www.rolltidebama.com/forum/i...ent-depth-advantage-it-usually-enjoys.304668/

 

[UAgrad93]

When I looked at their schedule, I tried to make comparisons to ours. For example, tOSU played against 6 opponents averaged right around 27pts a game. BAMA played 10 teams that hit that same number. When I looked at the defenses faced, scoring wise, tOSU faced 7 teams as opposed to 10 teams for BAMA that gave up 26 a game. When I looked at the offenses both teams faced. tOSU faced 10 teams that were ranked 103 or HIGHER in gaining yards! BAMA meanwhile, faced 1 team ranked at 101. By the way, that was Mizzou. Looking at defenses, tOSU faced 2 teams ranked 100 or worse. BAMA faced 3. Both teams faced defenses ranked 24th or better. Look at those teams though. tOSU faced Va Tech([HASHTAG]#17[/HASHTAG] defensively and lost), Penn State(#2) and struggled mightily, Michigan State (7),Michigan (10) and struggled, and Wisconsin (4) who seemed to be the last team of Franchione reincarnated. BAMA faced UF(9) and smoked them, Arky(24) struggled in the cold and rain with a backup at center and no Kenyan Drake one week after the Ole Miss loss, Ole Miss(13) a loss that saw us lose 3 starters (Drake, Kelly, and Devall) all in the first half, LSU(8) on the road with 102,000 haters plus we know Miles can flat out recruit and Chavis is still a top notch DC, and Mizzou(23) that we lit up like your Christmas tree in your den!
While CUM has recruited on a better level than tOSU has been accustomed to. CNS has been running this MACHINE with monster recruiting classes since he stepped on campus in 07. I know 07 was a patch work class and didn't hit the Top 5 nationwide, but he set the tone with that group and put the kids on notice that BAMA was going to be kicking ass like it was supposed to and like it did under Coach Bryant. I think this game plays out similar to the Mizzou game. Close for awhile and then tOSU gets blusgeoned!

 

[Rolltide24]

I agree that they should be overmatched and have struggled more than they should this year. I think the outcome hinges on how well we execute, just like several of our games this year. They aren't going to roll over. They have a decent defense that I think will have some level of success against us. I think they hold us to 24-27. But we should force them to be one demensionst and make the QB beat us with his arm. Now, if he pulls a Nick Marshall on us, and our DBs play like the Iron Bowl, we will be in trouble. I don't expect our guys to play like that though. QBs rolling out and passing now gives me nightmares...

But I don't see us scoring 35+ on their D unless they make several mistakes or we come out and play better than we have all year.

 

[RollllTide!]

I believe Marshall would have played a harder game than OS.

 

[TerryP]

@uagrad93 One thing I looked at a week or so ago was the offenses both teams faced. As you would suspect, both teams held the opposing offenses to less than their normal output. As I recall, OSU held their opponents to about 85/86% of their norm, Bama around 75%.

Now, earlier I made a comment about the quality of opponent. Here's one of the reasons I put that out here...


Total Offense top 50- FBS
Yellow: teams Bama played.
Green: teams OSU played.

Of note: OSU allowed Michigan State 536 total yards of offense. More than their average.

• When I highlighted these, I listed Nebraska as a team OSU played—mistake on my part.

 

[UAgrad93]

Thanks @TerryP for putting my gibberish into a chart that puts it in clearer view. The gist of what I was trying to get across was we have faced better competition as a whole.

 

[TerryP]

Thanks @TerryP for putting my gibberish into a chart that puts it in clearer view. The gist of what I was trying to get across was we have faced better competition as a whole.

The thing about that one chart is I could make a dozen if I wanted to do so.

I'm seeing more and more instances where people are taking this season, taking specific stats, and then trying to spin a narrative. Look at the "Tale of the Tape" thread just posted via the RSS feed. I saw Bosa's name jump out and had to look to see what Austin Ward was pushing this time.

You'll see what I mean when you read the thread...I made one point and stop reading. I might get back to it later just to see what else he's throwing out there...

 

[UAgrad93]

I saw it! I responded as well. There were a couple of things that jumped at me as well on that thread.