A Sugar Bowl preview: Ohio State players of note: RB Elliot Ezekiel 217 runs 1402yds. 6.5 ypc 12 TD 107.8 ypg WR Michael Thomas 43 rec. 680yds. 8TD 57.3ypg WR Devin Smith 30 rec. 799yds. 11TD 61.5ypg • Devon Smith consistently beats defenders on deep routes, • Thomas is Ohio State’s go-to guy on slant routes who is capable of making one defender miss and racing the rest of the way for a touchdown, • Spencer is an excellent blocker who can also make plays underneath, and • Marshall and Wilson are the speedsters from the slot who can take shovel passes or reverses and break them for long touchdowns. WR Jalin Marshall 28 rec. 392yds. 6TD 30.2ypg --- Punt Returns 12.7avg. ---- Marshall can also play some Wildcat quarterback and may even be the second-stringer during the playoff game behind QB Cardale Jones. RB Elliot Ezekial 26 rec. 208yds. 0TD 16ypg THE SECONDARY & D LINE: OSU had the country’s 17th-ranked passing defense, which also finished fourth in the nation with 21 interceptions. Don’t be surprised if the Buckeyes apply bracket coverage with a safety over the top on Cooper in an effort to force the other receivers to win the game. CB Von Bell 5 int. --- Vonn Bell was the quintessential Alabama recruit 2 years ago, that five-star talent from the South who had offers from every powerhouse in the country destined to thrive in SEC but got away. CB Doran Grant 5 int. -- Doran Grant is the best cornerback in a talented secondary and will be tasked with the nearly impossible job of at least slowing down Alabama’s all-world wide receiver, Amari Cooper. Despite his height (5’11”), Grant has the athletic ability and ball skills to hang with any receiver in man coverage. He posted a 41.2 inch vertical. Grant does not defend the run as well as others but he has improved. Grant has made drastic improvements in man coverage after getting toasted last year in the Big Ten Championship Game and Orange Bowl. Grant is the lone returning starter from an Ohio State secondary. FS Tyvis Powell 3 int. D LINE: DE Joey Bosa, the Big 10 DPOY, leads the Big Ten in tackles-for-loss (20 for 114 yards in losses) and sacks (13.5). He ranks fifth nationally in sacks and 11th in TFLs. DT Michael Bennett was also named as a second team All-American. O LINE v. D LINE: Ohio State was seventh in the nation with 40 sacks, while Alabama was 11th in the nation with only 13 sacks allowed. Special Teams has .... inexperience folk on returns due to recent injury. PATs 100% 79/79, 11/16 FGs 61%
Posted on: Sun, 21 Dec 2014 10:34:35 +0000
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