Recent Comments
I'll tell ya what we need. We need someone to knock the .... out of him/them over and over again. I'm wondering how vastly other indifferent our game plan will be this year other than to try and punish those who believe they are unpunishable.
You rang?
Only a majority? The ending was the best part!
That's my concern as well. IF he's as good as advertised, I have no idea how we're gonna defend play action featuring some sort of leak route by the H-back to the wide side of the field. Because just as soon as we position someone to better defend that, it pulls one more guy away from defending Zeke Elliott. The only thing I can come up with is leaning heavily on Dadi and Ekanem to hit the quarterback early and often to disrupt the passing motion. Then again, that's why Bud gets paid lots of money while I sit on my couch and talk to you guys.
Just remember that 13 months ago Braxton was the season favorite for the Heisman. This kid is a gamer who has performed on big stages. True this is a new position but I'm sure Meyer will find ways to easily get the ball in his hands and let him do what he does - hitch, screen, sweeps, etc.
I'm concerned he is bigger than all of our secondary and a few LB's and could break a dump pass into a big play. Gotta gang tackle this guy quickly.
One of the funniest damn videos around!
After watching the majority of the video, all I can say is good god, Sept 7 needs to hurry up!!!
I also wondered about a spy and asked French about it a while back. He pretty much ruled it out.
I think a big key to keeping jet sweeps at bay is upfield penetration by DTs. I believe that is one of Foster's goals generally, and it screws up all kinds of things - timing, angle of attack by the offense, etc. I know OSU has a vastly improved line, but I think we have a good shot at being effective in that department due to the quality/depth of personel, in combination with Foster's gap defense.
see I can agree but i don't see Braxton in the game that much and when he is would it really hurt to put a spy on him just to make sure he doesn't go the distance? If Braxton is an every down player then I would play it straight up for sure. Just think its more of a game for OSU, Cat & Mouse..
Imagine a 40-60 yard td for Braxton OSU will be so pumped and the momentum will be huge..
No doubt he is an incredible runner. Of course you also need to factor that on designed h-back runs he won't have the same numbers advantage he used to have as a QB. This is a big factor. There is a reason why QB runs are far more deadly than our h-back runs. And honestly its not like Curtis Samuel is any less dangerous in the open field. Braxton has better juke moves, but top end speed is the same. And I don't know if I would worry about it, but I would at least be prepared for Braxton to throw the ball. Sure his shoulder isn't 100%, but he can probably throw a couple 20 yarders without much difficulty. Agree on the mirroring aspect. I'm sure that is what Urban is hoping will happen, but I don't think Foster will bite. He isn't going to pay special attention to anyone until we prove that our offense actually has some firepower.
I think a spy is the wrong move because it's reaction based. You play assignment football, just like GT. If it were me, I would have my ends a little wider than normal playing edge contain, my Mike and Backer plugging gaps between the tackles and ends, and my Whip/Nickel either following the man in motion if there is one or covering the field side flat. But that's just what I'd do in NCAA Football and means absolutely nothing.
Before I got to the edit, I was so confused reading the OP
agree, i'm thinking more of a spy. if OSU is going to run sweep with miller I'm not super concerned, we stopped it last year big time, its the PA and him sneaking out the other side.
I agree that JT will start, but the playing time breakdown will be fascinating to watch. Furthermore, if JT starts and OSU is down 21-7 at the half, does Meyer start Cardale for the 2nd half? After all, that would be 6 quarters in a row JT has struggled against Foster. And if you're Meyer wouldn't it bother you not knowing how cardale might perform against this team that has baffled you?
I think teams were 1-8 after playing Navy last year. Really a horrible team to schedule.
No one knows except OSU players and coaches, but if I were BF, I wouldn't spend a second worrying about Braxton throwing off of jet sweep action (or any other action). I don't think he can throw at this point. I would worry about him getting the ball on that jet sweep action via handoff or push-pass, on screens, and any other way. Braxton Miller is one of the best I have ever seen at breaking off runs when he is surrounded. He is a freak, and one of the most difficult guys to tackle... ever. I have serious doubts about whether he can be good at the finer points of being a receiver (beating man coverage, reading coverage, using his hands, footwork, timing, etc.). I think you have to assume that catching the ball downfield won't be a major part of the problem he poses.
I will say it again - the biggest problem he poses for the VT defense is just accounting for him on every play. BF can choose to have him mirrored, or he can just let the defense react when he comes into their zone. I think it's important for Foster to pick one of those and stick with it. Regardless, if he is mirrored, that will make him a very effective decoy on plays where he isn't going to get the ball, and if he is not specifically accounted for, it constitutes a serious risk if Urban has designed ways to get the ball to him in space in that situation.
I wouldn't orient my defense to stop him as the top priority (RB and QB run is where I would go), and I would take the tact that OSU needs to prove they can hurt me with H-back offense. However, I would also want to have Plan B if the H is hurting me.
The problem is that anOSU doesn't take as many snaps directly under center so you can't just get the quick jump between the linemen and hit the QB. You've got a few more yards to go and so doing that removes one defender from the play right away.
I'm imagining Bud using someone like fuller vs GT.. that absolutely crushed GT early on.
Which is why he will mainly be a decoy. Braxton also had a chronic fumble problem that I seriously doubt will be alleviated by taking even more hits. Honestly, I would be more worried about Curtis Samuel at h-back. He has the same moves/speed but is built like a running back and has trained for the position. Maybe by the end of the year Braxton will be making an impact, but it is going to take time. I don't think Foster is going to lose sleep over him.
We need someone that shoots through the hole and hangs on waiting for help. That's it. Don't need to be superman.
Being indecisive and waiting, even if making tackles, is going to spell gloom and doom, death by a thousand cuts.
I'm generally in the camp that thinks if you have 2 QBS you don't have 1. If anyone could pull off a 2 qb rotation it's Urban Meyer but too often they end up going the way of UNC where the change is made randomly, I guess to change things up, and neither qb can find a rhythm.
If I had to guess I think Cardale will be used similar to how we used Motley last year, though I'd imagine he would get more passing attempts than Motley. A full series each quarter seems a tad too much for me but then I'm not an offensive genius like Urban Meyer.
Now if you'll excuse me I have to go wash my mouth out for that last sentence.....
Was just about to make a similar argument. Teams that don't care probably aren't trying to violate their way into taking that next step.
LOL, every time.
I would say, "Love me some Hitler" or "Can't get enough Hitler", but...
Most of these comments are in line with how I was thinking. I know Miller is a great athlete, but how are his hands when he's covered by a guy who means it? How does he deal with press coverage? Does he have the body control to go up and get catches? For me, there's far too many question marks around him for me to really pay him much attention. But, as most have noted here, and I've said elsewhere, Elliott is THE key to this game. I don't care who's handing him the ball when they aren't passing it to our secondary, If he breaks 100 yards rushing, we lose. That is the facet of this game I believe Foster is most concerned with (because if we all know it, he sure as shit knows it). To me, the Braxton hype train seems to be little more than something for ESPN to talk about, and it seems like most here agree.
The punisher.