How Ohio State turned the Championship's battle of speed into a battle of power
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Posted By: How May I Help You NC on January 16, 2015 By Ian Boyd @Ian_A_Boyd Oregon's one of the fastest and strongest teams in the country. The Buckeyes are just as fast ... and also stronger. Even though Ohio State had just beaten what was arguably the most talented team in the playoffs, the Buckeyes weren't receiving a great deal of credit heading into the title game against the Ducks. Oregon was giving six and a half points on game day, and while Ohio State had its share of believers, the common perception was that Oregon was going to at last win a national title thanks to its Heisman-winning QB. If Ohio State won, it would be close. The stage was not set for the dominant victory Ohio State put on. Perhaps the most telling stat was that Ohio State turned the ball over four times, yet outscored what had been perhaps the country's best offense, 42-20, and held the ball for 37 minutes and 29 seconds. As most were quick to note, despite Marcus Mariota's status as a Heisman quarterback, both teams are built around powerful rushing attacks. Oregon had rushed all over plenty of talented defenses over the years, including a 6.69-yard average against Florida State 11 days prior. The Buckeye coaching staff clearly understood this, as well as the fact that Mariota's explosiveness on the ground was a potential back-breaker. Ohio State was able to outrush Oregon, 296 to 132, almost half Oregon's season average. Mariota ran for only 39 yards after putting up a total of 199 against tough Stanford and Utah defenses. The Buckeyes back, Ezekiel Elliot, dropped a Championship record 246 yards, more by himself than Oregon had allowed to 13 of the other 14 teams it played this season. Ohio State's thorough domination in the trenches made all the difference. So how was this feat accomplished? Continued: http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2... If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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How May I Help You NC
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