National Championship

[cubuffsman78]

I thought for sure I'd come on here tonight and see a large post about the national championship game. I'm surprised to not find one.

Can you say absolute dominance? Florida defined that term tonight. They outgained Ohio St. by nearly 300 yards. I couldn't believe how great their defense played. Earl Everett had a fantastic game. He was all over the field. Derrick Harvey had to file for permanent residency because he was in Ohio St's backfield so often. I think Harvey has to be the top DE heading into the next year's season. I think he's the best pass rusher in the nation that's not going to the draft. Jarvis Moss really made his presence felt too. Brandon Siler was seen often as well. The only defender I don't remember seeing much of was Reggie Nelson, but it's not like the front-7 allowed Nelson any opportunity to make his presence felt either.

Who expected Ohio St. to just completely not show up for this game?! Troy Smith ended up with 6 yards of total offense. The OL was horrid. They really weren't being beat one on one. Instead, they simply let guys go unblocked. Laurinaitis made plenty of tackles for Ohio St., but unfortunately they were all well down the field. Quinn Pitcock was a complete non-factor.

I am seriously in a little bit of shock at the dominance Florida showed tonight. I thought it'd be a tough well played game and it was....by the Gators. That team is still scary next year too. Moss might come back next season. Harvey will be back. Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin make for a very frightening combination on offense. Florida will be ranked in the top 3 in next year's preseason poll.

[pitcherc10]

this game pissed me off so bad I cant sleep, here are some thoughts from the Buckeye side.

Lots of people are going to say Smith played his way out of the first round, I dont buy it, he had zero time to throw, and his main target Ginn never stepped on the field for an offensive series. On top of that, Tressel's offensive game plan was weird. They went pro-style, and only ran on one series (basically) and it worked, he never went back to it. It was a completly different offense. Gonzalez should have stepped in and ran Ginn's routes, instead they put Brian Hartline in to run them? What is Jim thinking? Troy Smith didnt have a chance to prove himself tonight.
I also wonder if his hand got hurt because it didnt seem like he was gripping the ball all that well, he threw all ducks and the ball didnt have his normal zip on it. THat might have been why Tressel went away from the deep ball throwing spread formation. If he was hurt its something we will never be told but I wouldnt be surprised. I still think he is going to be the steal of the NFL draft if he falls to the second round.

Quinn Pittcock. He was terrible, he looked out of shape and slow. I dont know why, and 50 days off is definantly not an excuse I'am buying. He played himself down a little bit in the draft. Im not sure where he was all night.

Alex Boone. This kid has some serious skill. But what was he thinking tonight. The D-End from Florida abused him. I didnt see the same Boone here that got the best of Lamar Woodley.

Doug Datish. Played the best of the O-Linemen. The pocket never really collapsed in the middle.

Steve Rehring, Tim Schafer, TJ Downing. All sucked. Especially Schafer, the pressure off of the ends was rediculous

Teddy Ginn. I feel bad for this kid, he got hurt because some moron jumped on top of him in the end zone after that kick return. Might have been a different game with him on the field, he would have been a deep threat for Florida to keep their eye on. I think him getting hurt led to more blitz packages.

Antonio Pittman. THe best kept secret on the OSU roster. When he was given the ball tonight he looked great. I think he is a late first early second round talent, the kid hits holes hard and makes quick moves. His TD run looked smooth and easy. I think he'll be productive in the NFL.

Laurinaitis and Malcolm Jenkins. THese two guys are first round picks in 2 years and both played well.

Antonio Smith. The worst starting OSU corner since Dustin Fox... and Smith might be worse than Fox, ouch, thats bad

I dont know what was going on with this team. The worst performance I have ever seen by an OSU line. It didnt look like they game planned at all, it just looked like they drew plays up in the sand on the sideline. Why did they go away from what worked all year? Spread the field, and run Pittman and Wells up the gut out of that formation.

[NYJets30]

I was completely stunned by this game. When Ginn returned that kick I said "here we go, OSU's starting already" then all of a sudden next thing I know Ginn is hurt. I was highly impressed by Florida's D especially Harvey it seemed like every play he was making something happen.

Pitcock was invisible this game, as was most of OSU's team. The only thing I can think of is that OSU thought they had this game won and wouldnt even have to try to win. Florida on the other hand was hungry. They wanted that title more than OSU and it showed. Yes, Ginn going out hurt, but that alone doesnt explain why Ohio State played so badly on both sides of the ball

[atl2louie]

Oh man, was I stunned too.

Leak is quite the quarterback, although I think he would've had a much more successful college career if he had been somewhere else other than UF.
But starting off the game with 8 or 9 straight completions for 99 yds?! I mean dizang! He was on fire and definitely upped his overall pick.
My girlfriend's dad did call the score though during the first half...41-14, haha, thought that was funny.

...I called for overtime.....whoopsie...

[cubuffsman78]

Originally Posted by atl2louie Oh man, was I stunned too. Leak is quite the quarterback, although I think he would've had a much more successful college career if he had been somewhere else other than UF. But starting off the game with 8 or 9 straight completions for 99 yds?! I mean dizang! He was on fire and definitely upped his overall pick. My girlfriend's dad did call the score though during the first half...41-14, haha, thought that was funny. ...I called for overtime.....whoopsie...

Leak did improve his stock. Actually, before the game, I think there was a good chance he wasn't going to be drafted at all. He really didn't look very good down the stretch of the season. He's a great leader though and will be a good backup for a team. I think he now warrants a Mid 2nd Day selection.

[porky88]

I think everyone is shocked. Those who thought Florida thought in a close game but not like this. Reggie Nelson impressed me all day long in pass converage but so did entire Florida Defense. Might've been the best Defensive peformance by one unit I've seen in the last 3 or 4 years in a BCS Bowl game. They deserve to be champs.

Jim Rome said it perfect. Wisconsin is thinking right now if Ohio State and Michigan were going to represent the Big Ten like that why not give us a shot.

[kevmvp]

I did say that it was going to be a close game because nobody was giving Florida a chance but i didnt think that Florida would win.

[cdobry1991]

I thought that Florida could beat us, but never that bad. I just don't get why Tressel went away from the Spread, which has worked all year. Yeah, we'd only have 4 wide receivers, but stick Stan White in to block.

[Kevman21]

The plays that beat Michigan was where they would spread the field and then hand the ball off to Chris Wells or Antoinio Pitman. I didn't see even one of those plays throughout the night. The offensive line was terrible. Florida has a good pass rush but Troy Smith's pocket would basically be nothing by the time the WR's got 7 yards up the field. Most of his incompletions were from having to trow the ball away because he just didn't have time. That shows that he actually has the presence to throw the ball away. He did have that one fumble but he was about to trow the ball I believe.

I was just one of those night for Florida though. Everything clicked and almsot everything worked. Ohio State looked lsuggish in the first half, and the defense picked it up some in the second half but the offense continue to feel the heat.

The Big Ten doesn't look so hot right now. USC would have a better resume than Wisconsin had it came down to the two of them to face Florida.

[postman_44]

In the battle of the top frosh... Precy Harvin dominated Chris Wells.