Anyone watch the PSU-Wis game?

[buckeyeabroad]

pabarlag99 said:

...allowing MSU back into the game is a good thing for the bucks this week. it should help us keep the focus.

we need to finish as strong as we start.

i always get awfully nervous when we score on our first poss....

Man, the only time I'm nervous when we score is when we're still losing! Scoring on the first possession with our D, nervous? How can that make you nervous?

Really though pabarlag99, I see your point about the MSU late scores.That could should add focus. The focus to add is how to work through pressure like MSU applied for a mere 10 minutes (and FLA applied for 60 minutes last January). I love Tress to death, but this is THE area tOSU needs to work. It's a special problem in '07 because Boeckman is essentially a 23-year old freshman and the O line is relatively new together with a true frosh at center calling the calling the blocks. Combine those three things and we struggle to go 12-0. The big test comes against good D lines and strong LB corps (=PSU, for one).

[pabarlag99]

buckeyeabroad said:

pabarlag99 said:

...allowing MSU back into the game is a good thing for the bucks this week. it should help us keep the focus.

we need to finish as strong as we start.

i always get awfully nervous when we score on our first poss....

Man, the only time I'm nervous when we score is when we're still losing! Scoring on the first possession with our D, nervous? How can that make you nervous?

Really though pabarlag99, I see your point about the MSU late scores.That could should add focus. The focus to add is how to work through pressure like MSU applied for a mere 10 minutes (and FLA applied for 60 minutes last January). I love Tress to death, but this is THE area tOSU needs to work. It's a special problem in '07 because Boeckman is essentially a 23-year old freshman and the O line is relatively new together with a true frosh at center calling the calling the blocks. Combine those three things and we struggle to go 12-0. The big test comes against good D lines and strong LB corps (=PSU, for one).

because i worry that the team loses focus. momentum can be a screwy thing - once you lose it - sometimes it's awfully hard to get it back (see MSU - 1998). not that i think scoring on your first touch is a bad omen, just that the team might think they're a much better team than the other and relax accordingly.

that's all....

[pabarlag99]

and that doesnt mean i don't WANT them to score on their first possession....

[buckeyeabroad]

pabarlag99 said:

and that doesnt mean i don't WANT them to score on their first possession....

I see your point completely. With this team though, especially our D, I think the best thing we can do is score early. The O can add to the defensive pressure.

When teams are down against this D, they going to leave their plan, press too hard, and play beyond their capability. That's a huge danger for any QB. Tress had to reign it in with Troy before he became the great college QB that he was during '07.

With our remaining schedule, the only QB who won't press when his team is down is Henne. He's experienced and, as a QB, he's well coached. All the rest will press, probably press badly, and throw bad balls. Morelli may be the most susceptible to this.