Around the Big Ten

[Paul L]

Of course; forgot that the only thing that matters to these folks is Michigan.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Entropy and Wiz will be relieved to know this game is meaningless.

[Paul L]

Nebraska's season isn't meaningless, osu's is.

You know, because of the whole probation thing, lack of bowl game, B1G title, etc.

Those things.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Yep, we're playing for nothing. Imagine how good Coach Meyer can have this team looking once our games matter!

[THE_WIZARD_]

Congrats DSL. You kicked NU's ass every way imaginable. I also thank you because maybe NU will actually spend the money now to get a real head coach.

[Wild Hoss]

We are spending the money for a real coach...we just don't have the coach to show for it.

[Rob F]

Maybe the real reason Tom Osborne's stepping down as AD is that so he can follow Bill Snyder's lead and make a triumphant return as Head Coach.

Then again, would that mean he has to return the parting gifts he was given in '97 when he retired last time? I mean, like a certain piece of crystal?

[Rob F]

On second thought, you guys could instead bring back Frank Solich or Bill Callahan

:::ducks:::

[THE_WIZARD_]

Either would be an improvement right now. At least Frankie could coach and Billy could recruit...Bo can't do either.

[Hannibal]

Miller is way better than Martinez. In addition to being the most elusive quarterback that I have ever seen in my life, he has made fewer dumb throws over the course of this season than Denard typically makes in one game. His career TD/INT ratio is 22/7, which is especially saying a lot since he is surrounded by arguably the worst crop of skill players OSU has had in our lifetimes. Nebraska's defense is also pretty bad. With that said, OSU still has some huge questions on defense. They were shredded for most of the time that Nebraska was running their base offense.

[iam416]

It's hard to argue with any of that. Ohio State scored 49 offensive points on Saturday. I like Guiton a lot as a backup. I really do. I think he'd be right around competent, which is something like a bazillion fucking levels above Bauserman. That said, without Miller they don't score 24.

On defense, losing Sabino really, really hurts. OSU doesn't have speed at LB, IMO, to really get after good spread offenses (and UNL is a good spread offense). Michigan State happened to play right into OSU's strength. Indiana will put up points this week. Purdue will probably do ok. Illinois, barring a resurrection, will not because they're total dogshit. Penn State and Wisky play more into OSU's strength. And M is somewhere in between, IMO. If Denard throws the ball like he did last year against OSU, M will put up an easy 30. If he throws the ball more erractically, OSU will win comfortably.

[Jeff Buchanan]

....... And M is somewhere in between, IMO. If Denard throws the ball like he did last year against OSU, M will put up an easy 30. If he throws the ball more erractically, OSU will win comfortably.

A reasonable post.

Depending on what goes down during the remaining B10 schedule for both teams, this is going to be an interesting contest in c-bus this year. Lots of good side stories.

I do worry about Denard taking too much on his shoulders in The Game. He did that at ND and it killed any chance M had for winning that contest. He can't do that and the coaching staff should be working on ways to NOT let that happen right now.

You're right, spread teams are going to put up points against a suspect osu defense, one of the worst in a while and hurting more with the loss of sabino. Teams in osu's other match-ups aren't going to contain miller. No one has so far and as miller improves, he's going to dangerous for even the best defenses osu will face .... unless he gets dinged. ufm will have the offense dialed in to keep pace with any of the teams osu will face. I don't like him but you have to like what he's doing iwth the offensive tools he has.

I hope, as has been the case, Borges doesn't try to be cute. He just needs to run a good deal of read option and work the perimeter against osu's D. I even think he could have some inside success but only with the read option and only with the ball in Denard's hands. Fitz sucks behind zone blocking.

You are right, if M tries to run a power game and counts on the big play off the PA, doom. We'll just have to see how well Borges adapts what he's got to what he wants to do. Still a work in progress but at least there's progress.

[hack]

Miller may be the most elusive, yeah. Denard takes an inch and gets a mile. Miller makes something from nothing. Denard needs his blockers more.

[entropy]

TM cannot hold it together on the road... Neither can the team.

[iam416]

In reverse order:

1. The home/away discrepancy wrt UNL's performance is stunning. They're a pretty good team at home and, for whatever reason, really not on the road.

2. I've said a couple weeks ago, I think, Miller is best runner between the tackles in the B10 bar none. He is remarkably elusive in a box. Robinson has gads more big play capability.

3. Against OSU, M needs to play in space. Gallon and, obviously, Robinson, have the speed to put a ton of pressure on OSU's LBs/safeties. Touissant will need to run really hard and get the extra yards, but he doesn't have great speed. Fortunately, M doesn't have a ton of gamebreakers. A team like Oregon would score 100 against this shitass defense. And Sabino is out for at least a month. Meh.