agreed on everything, right up until the last paragraph. i know utah’s o-line did a fine job protecting their QB, but i thought their d-line taking JPW completely out of the game was the biggest influence in stifling an alabama comeback.

1. Texas’ DT’s (undersized, quick and speedy) vs. Ohio State’s muscle and size at guard and center. If the DT’s are too quick for OSU’s OL, they will generate a middle pocket push, which will force Pryor out of his reads more quickly and force him to commit to scrambling earlier. Even though he is a terrific runner, this will be good because Melton and Rak will be able to rush straight upfield and contain the pocket rather than having to angle in and under the OSU offensive tackles, leaving Pryor clear lanes to the outside.

2. OSU’s TE’s have caught only 16 passes ALL YEAR. This will make backside contain by Kindle or Muckelroy much, much easier because they won’t have to go into deep drops.

Hi Guys,

Please correct me if I’m wrong on this one, but watching the Arz – Atl playoff game yesterday made me realize that we were looking at a blueprint of how to stop a team whose strengths and weaknesses are very similar to that of tOSU. Great running game (Turner and Wells) and a up and coming, dangerous and yet rookie QB (Ryan and Pryor).

This goes back to exactly what you were saying PB, ie, stop the run! Arizona did a great job of crowding the line of scrimmage, staying in their lanes and repeatedly meeting Michael Turner in the backfield. The result, Atlanta was forced to put the game in Ryan’s hands and he produced some very costly and ultimately fatal turnovers. After reading your thoughts PB, I knew you had to be right and watching Arizona execute your gameplan to perfection yesterday reaffrimed what I believed was the way to beat the Buckeyes.

Again I know I’m stating the obivous here but we have to find a way to put the game in Pryor’s hand… ie, make him throw the ball to win the game. I dare say that in a shootout, we have a significant advantage as I don’t think Tressel’s ball control offense has the firepower to keep up with us.

That said, we have to do what we do best on offense. Establish some sort of run game, preferably someone other than Colt gaining the yards on the ground, and kill their DBs by going into our 4 WR set with Shipley playing in the slot.

I for one am very pumped about this game. Btw, I will be in Waterloo, ON, Canada of all places (I have to travel there for work every week). If there are any Texas Alums in the area, please let me know. It would be great to watch the game with some fellow Horns as opposed to sitting in my hotel room by myself. Shouting at the TV by yourself isn’t as much fun as you might think.

Hook Em!

While it is true that that stuff goes out the window at kickoff, there’s no doubt it can affect how well a team prepares.

The whole “Bama didn’t want to be there” argument is BS. COMPLETE BS. Remember, this team barely made a bowl game last year. They weren’t expected to win more than 10 games this year. Beign let did not cause them to lose. They were just dominated from the left to the right side of the OL and DL on night long.

But because of that, I think the game will hinge more on whether or not Pryor makes us pay for it.

to build one team up as almost invincible or to make them seem equal. The push to this Fiesta Bowl seems to be to make them more equal.

5. Letdown factor. I don’t think Texas will suffer from this. During the season the Horns were good at letting go of both good games (Mizzou) and bad (Tech) and collecting their attention for the next game. Mack seems to have found a good balance of hitting, hard work and play to get them to the Fiesta Bowl with fresh legs, sharp minds and great attitude. This feels more like 2004-2006 Rose Bowls as far as attitude; plenty to prove, great need for fine play. This is a resilient team and that’s one of the best compliments you can pay a football team.

On the other hand, Tressel seems to have felt the pressure of bowl loses past and is working the Buckeyes hard, with very little fun or relief. Sounds to me like he’s holding the reins too tight, and his team will suffer if that’s the case.

4. Turnovers are always a worry. (Knock on wood.) The Horns have had some in their bowl games, but they’ve been able to overcome them, too. Their turnover margin this year is one of the lowlights, but one that I think will improve in ’09. tOSU was very good in this regard, going +15. If the Horns can minimize this factor, so much the better.

If tOSU gets out of their basic mode – they rush two out of three plays – and passes more, then they may be more at risk of turnovers. They’ll be tempted to go to the tight end for the reason you noted, they haven’t done it much and it won’t be expected. However, their game is predicated on conservative coaching and I wonder if we’ll counter with conservative defense.

3. Trumpet this from the roof tops:

When Greg Davis plays to win, we do.

This raises the question: Has GD ever been too aggressive?

At any rate, I think Mack’s hunger translates well to this team.

2. I worry about the rushing. I think we’ll need to pass to open it up and I suspect tOSU is set up for exactly that scenario, with some of the soft zone style Ole Miss used against TT. That I think we can handle; if they try to shut off the short/middle game, it’s just a matter if Colt has time to go long. Plus Fozzy becomes more of a threat to break it. Buckner may be more of a key, depending on who they put their AA corner on (you would expect on Quan). I wouldn’t be surprised to see the trips formation we used against OU.

1. Can the Horns disrupt the backfield? Can they afford to play straight up in the 4-3 and stop Beanie? Our D is not really set up for rushing teams like tOSU, so I have some concerns. But getting Pryor to thinking instead of reacting is one of the keys, no doubt. His freelance ability is one of the most dangerous aspects the Horns face. This is where the Horns speed and sure tackling can limit that problem – and beat him up, to boot.

I like the match. I like the attitude going in. I like how I feel about this, sorta like OU.

Makes me think, challenges me, gets my game face on. Thoughts point by point:

1. I think the key stopping ANY team is neutralizing the QB. Wells could run for 150 and it wouldn’t concern me a lot if Pryor is confused in his pass reads, indecisive or running for his life. QBs account for 400 yards when they’re on, RBs half that much. And, there’s no evidence that Texas CAN or CANNOT stop a runner like that because they haven’t seen one.

2. If the Horns rush for what you predict, it’ll be because they get far enough ahead (probably by passing) that the LBers and safeties play soft. And, of course, because Mack won’t keep passing if the lead is safe.

3. Early signs: offense like the OU and Missouri games. Big plays in the kicking game. Lotsa Ohio State punts (it’s OK to dream, right?)

4. Biggest dangers: A slow start on offense. Pryor hitting some big passes early.

5. The head case: Most of the time, the psychological issue is a media creation. I don’t think Texas will be flat or down; if they don’t play well, that will be blamed. It’ll probably be wrong. Losses by Oklahoma State and TT and Mizzou’s scare should have the Horns plenty focused.

I would also like to add that our rugby style punts could be HUGE, should our offense falter. Minimizing punt returns and forcing their offense to go the entire length of the field should be of great advantage for our defense!

Wishing you guys the best of games against OSU. I’m pretty sure y’all won’t get miserably out-coached like Tech was.

im expecting Texas to win, much in the way the national title game vs LSU went last year…….

Ohio States offensive line just is not very good-

just watch the Penn State game, the oline was getting beat on almost every play, Chris Wells cant do it all by himself

LSU and Florida games as well, good quick dlines just kill our oline

unless the oline plays out of their minds, Pryor is going to be running for life all night, and Wells is going to be stuffed much like the Penn State game

Ohio States Linebackers in coverage-

they are going to have to cover in this game, and Freeman and Laurinaitis really are not good in coverage, im sure Texas will exploit this with their excellent passing attack and target throws toward the linebackers instead of going after our secondary (which is very good)

Playcalling-

will Tressel finally turn Pryor loose? he kept pounding away with Wells against Penn State, even though it clearly wasnt working, over conservative and predictable play calling is not going to work in this game either………

Defensive Scheme-

Florida game- Soft Zone

LSU game- Soft Zone

USC game- Soft Zone

Texas game-????

nothing drives me more nuts then when our defense drops back into a soft zone scheme for almost the whole game

it got us killed vs Florida, killed vs LSU, and killed vs USC

and it will do the same if it is done vs Texas

my prediction: Texas 31 Ohio State 17

GOOOO HORNS!!!!