The OSU need for Style Points

[OblioCat]

I've often heard it's tough to win a B1G football game, and of course the championship game. Since the 'Cats will be loose and at their best, I'm hopeful and I believe.

I hope someone who has played this level of the game can describe the extra pressure and potential pitfalls when required to win big? What effect will it have on the game plan, players and execution after hearing that the Buckeyes "have to" work on points for style (as all the articles are saying) for a chance at the CFP?

I believe it will force OSU to make mistakes, and that the well-coached and disciplined 'Cats will shock those who do not look good in scarlet and gray.

The lyrics from Animal/Dogs come to mind:
And when you loose control, you'll reap the harvest you have sown.
And as the fear grows, the bad blood slows and turns to stone.
And it's too late to lose the weight you used to need to throw
around.
So have a good drown, as you go down, all alone,
Dragged down by the stone. Dogs (Waters, Gilmour)

 

[SmellyCat]

Dragged down by the stone.

Stone
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Stone

(etc. - I love this song)

 

[SmellyCat]

What I'd like to know is what it's like for players when everyone in the world is saying that the team has no chance to lose. I'm not talking about the normal confidence most big-time athletes have. I'm talking about the feeling that OSU is expected by everyone to wipe the floor with NU. How do players handle that? How much does it creep into their heads?

 

[Nati_Buck]

I've often heard it's tough to win a B1G football game, and of course the championship game. Since the 'Cats will be loose and at their best, I'm hopeful and I believe.

I hope someone who has played this level of the game can describe the extra pressure and potential pitfalls when required to win big? What effect will it have on the game plan, players and execution after hearing that the Buckeyes "have to" work on points for style (as all the articles are saying) for a chance at the CFP?

I believe it will force OSU to make mistakes, and that the well-coached and disciplined 'Cats will shock those who do not look good in scarlet and gray.

The lyrics from Animal/Dogs come to mind:
And when you loose control, you'll reap the harvest you have sown.
And as the fear grows, the bad blood slows and turns to stone.
And it's too late to lose the weight you used to need to throw
around.
So have a good drown, as you go down, all alone,
Dragged down by the stone. Dogs (Waters, Gilmour)

Think it goes either way. Either brings out extra focus for OSU or causes them the press. The interesting part is more that aoU plays at noon Saturday. So they will know what needs to be done. If OU loses, they play loose. If they win a close one, I think they play really focused. If OU bows out Texas, they likely press and make mistakes. Just my opinion.

On the other hand, Haskins hasn’t really pressed in any game this year, even when OSU was down at PSU and even at Purdue. He’s been so even keel, it’s almost been frustrating as a fan at times.

 

[Nati_Buck]

See: Michigan @ Ohio State, November 24th, 2018 lol

It’s a coaches job to convince them they aren’t invincible. The bad thing for NW: there isn’t another game for OSU to look forward to and it’s for a championship, even if you take the playoffs off the table.

 

[OblioCat]

With a new OG starting on the OSU line, the Cats DL can shake things up from the get go. I’m looking for a few early penalties or missed assignments and hopefully things snowball.

 

[Nati_Buck]

With a new OG starting on the OSU line, the Cats DL can shake things up from the get go. I’m looking for a few early penalties or missed assignments and hopefully things snowball.

That will definitely be interesting. The line was just starting to gel.

 

[Just Gary]

I think we all hope for a game like Purdue has against OSU versus the expectation of Michigan's efforts against them. We won't be foolish to try and play so much man-to-man against them so we have to be able to deceive them with coverage. That would be a daunting task for an experience secondary. We will hope to play error free in the secondary. I think we will play them well in the first half and the third quarter will tell us if we can disrupt them. On offense I saw what Purdue and Maryland did running the ball against that defense, so I think we can get the running game going and open up the pass. Will Thorson has an incredible game? I hope our guys go into it with the attitude that there is nothing to lose, so we will go all out.

 

[Alvious]

Stone
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(etc. - I love this song)

You gotta be crazy not to.

 

[TheC]

Related to this, I wonder what helps us more... an Oklahoma loss earlier in the day or an Oklahoma win? An Oklahoma loss means OSU is playing for a playoff berth. That may fire them up, or it may put pressure on them. A win by Oklahoma, especially a convincing one, may relieve all the pressure and cause OSU to come out on fire with nothing to lose, or it may cause them to come out defeated and down. Or, it may not make a damn bit of difference. But then, what fun is that to talk about?

 

[DaCat]

What I'd like to know is what it's like for players when everyone in the world is saying that the team has no chance to lose. I'm not talking about the normal confidence most big-time athletes have. I'm talking about the feeling that OSU is expected by everyone to wipe the floor with NU. How do players handle that? How much does it creep into their heads?

Are you kidding? The Cats live for these moments. The more disrespect, the more they write us off, the better we play. Especially on the road. Bring it on!

 

[OblioCat]

You gotta be crazy not to.

I’m an ‘85 grad and my McCulloch dormies believed Dogs lyrics perfectly described the pre-MBA classmates in our class. Both Men and Wonen.

 

[CatFanEd]

I think we all hope for a game like Purdue has against OSU versus the expectation of Michigan's efforts against them. We won't be foolish to try and play so much man-to-man against them so we have to be able to deceive them with coverage. That would be a daunting task for an experience secondary. We will hope to play error free in the secondary. I think we will play them well in the first half and the third quarter will tell us if we can disrupt them. On offense I saw what Purdue and Maryland did running the ball against that defense, so I think we can get the running game going and open up the pass. Will Thorson has an incredible game? I hope our guys go into it with the attitude that there is nothing to lose, so we will go all out.

Purdue made 3 incredible plays in the redzone holding Ohio State to field goals. Defense wins championships.

 

[SmellyCat]

Are you kidding? The Cats live for these moments. The more disrespect, the more they write us off, the better we play. Especially on the road. Bring it on!

Yeah, I know that the Cats are feeling that way. I just meant how does a team that is expected to roll over an opponent react?

 

[M1Buckeye]

With a new OG starting on the OSU line, the Cats DL can shake things up from the get go. I’m looking for a few early penalties or missed assignments and hopefully things snowball.

That new guard is a redshirt freshman and was the #1 rated guard in the country out of high school.

 

[ParisCat_rivals]

The Athletic's writers have just posted their predictions: Bruce Feldman, citing OSU's need for style points, goes with OSU 45, NU 7. Stewart Mandel shows a little more respect but says NU just doesn't have the athletes: OSU 41, NU 20. We've got them right where we want them.