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Orange Blooded [4903]
TigerPulse: 100%
37
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Our rushing vs. Ohio State's rushing defense
Dec 21, 2016, 10:34 AM
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Since often the game is won in the trenches, I reviewed our rushing stats against the top rushing defenses that we faced. In 3 games (Troy, Louisville and BC) we exceeded the opponent's average rushing yards per attempt, with Louisville and BC being our best performances. In 3 games (Auburn, NC State and Pitt) we underperformed vs the opponents average rushing yards per attempt allowed, with Pitt being a terrible 2.0 yards per attempt for us and the others still being close. With the exception of the Pitt game we averaged 4.66 yds/carry vs 5 opponents who on average only allowed 3.31 yds/carry.
Looking at Ohio State's rushing defense:
4 of their top opponents (Ok, Penn St, Neb and Mich) rushed for less yds/carry against OSU than their regular average
2 of their top opponents (Wisc and Michigan St) rushed for more yds/carry against OSU than their regular average
If you treat Mich St as their outlier in the 5 games their opponents averaged 3.75 yds/carry against OSU when those same 5 teams season average was 4.66 yds/carry.
I know stats don't win games but I thought this was important for a few reasons:
* We play our best when we rush the ball well. Pittsburgh and NC State were our lowest average rushing per carry games by far
* We know we have the edge in the passing game
I am feeling good about our ability to run the ball against Ohio State. I know they have a good rushing defense but we have out performed many good rushing defenses this year. With the exception of Penn State (who went on to win the game), Ohio State's opponents with the best QB and passing game also had the best rushing against OSU.
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Standout [338]
TigerPulse: 91%
15
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Huge key to the game
Dec 21, 2016, 10:53 AM
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When the TV crew reviews their "Keys to the Game", Clemson's ability to run the ball will absolutely be one along with tOSU's ability to complete the down field pass. I think that Clemson will make their money on the edge and with misdirection. We won't line up and ram it down their throats, even though that sounds like a lot of fun for the OL.
We'll have to trap their DL and we'll have to get their LBs flowing the wrong way. We've also got to keep the safeties deep.
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Orange Blooded [4903]
TigerPulse: 100%
37
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Agree - esp on their safeties
Dec 21, 2016, 11:06 AM
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And that's where the threat of DW4's passing game is really going to be the biggest difference.
Need to review the Pitt game - bad play calling or weak o line performance?
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Top TigerNet [29893]
TigerPulse: 100%
55
Posts: 36614
Joined: 2000
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To be fair
Dec 21, 2016, 11:22 AM
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We put up 600 yards against Pitt.
Honestly, Turnovers and a porous defense are what lost us that game. I can't see the offensive production as a negative when we put up the numbers we did.
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Orange Blooded [4903]
TigerPulse: 100%
37
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We put up 580 in passing but only 50 on the ground
Dec 21, 2016, 11:33 AM
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I would make the case that this had a lot to do with us losing. Anytime you throw the ball that much your odds of an INT increase and if I remember correctly we also turned the ball over either on 4th down or a punt because we couldn't pick up a lousy yard.
I haven't re-watched the game but on average Pitt allowed 3.4 yds per carry but we could only muster 2 yds/carry. Either we gave up on the run too soon, were calling bad plays or our oline was sleep walking - or some combination.
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Top TigerNet [29893]
TigerPulse: 100%
55
Posts: 36614
Joined: 2000
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I'm not praising our running game that day
Dec 21, 2016, 11:40 AM
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But we also didn't force it. We were able to move the ball at will in the air. We simply made a number of poor plays that cost us the game.
That loss was a team loss, but I can't imagine faulting the offensive performance for it. Sure, some very poor TO's, but that wasn't a gameplan issue, that was simply mistakes piling up.
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Legend [6767]
TigerPulse: 96%
41
Posts: 13464
Joined: 2015
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Re: I'm not praising our running game that day
Dec 21, 2016, 12:41 PM
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Penalties on 3rd downs for the D is what really killed us. That late INT also. No point in running if it does not work IMO. We were throwing well so why would we not. If they are going to go man with Mike Williams I would never run the ball.
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Rival Killer [2790]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Pitt pretty much forced us to throw
Dec 21, 2016, 1:43 PM
[ in reply to We put up 580 in passing but only 50 on the ground ] |
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Their defense would not play anything but man coverage, and they loaded the box even when we were passing with impunity. So the lack of running game that day was really a case of "taking what the defense gives you", and was extremely successful (an ACC record for passing yardage).
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National Champion [7653]
TigerPulse: 100%
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It's not just "fair"...
Dec 21, 2016, 12:21 PM
[ in reply to To be fair ] |
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it's glaringly obvious. If the defense shows up in the first half of the Pitt game, the endzone interception late in the 4th quarter would have never happened, we would have won by 3 touchdowns or more, and Deshaun Watson is your Heisman winner.
In recent years we've seen how well this program prepares for the post-season. Defense will be ready come New Year's Eve.
Bring it buckeyes - you're just more Tiger meat.
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Legend [6767]
TigerPulse: 96%
41
Posts: 13464
Joined: 2015
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Re: It's not just "fair"...
Dec 21, 2016, 12:42 PM
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Oh yes. I think our D is going to be hungry and is going to bring the heat against the Buckeyes. Should be fun to watch! We just cannot get beat and have bust and we will be fine. I can see a lot of sacks and tfls
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Legend [15492]
TigerPulse: 100%
50
Posts: 18413
Joined: 2014
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Re: Our rushing vs. Ohio State's rushing defense
Dec 21, 2016, 1:08 PM
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Thanks for that analysis, good job. I agree, I think it's important information.
If I were calling the first play against OSU, I'd send Williams and Cain deep, Renfrow down and out to the flat and Legget down and in over the middle. DW4 hits Cain, Legget or Williams. As a result OSU can't afford to load the box....opens up the run game.
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