Duck Tape: The 2025 Rose Bowl

[u/hythloday1]

https://www.addictedtoquack.com/football/2025/1/4/24335401/duck-tape-the-2025-rose-bowl-oregon-ducks-ohio-state-buckeyes-college-football-playoff-2025

[u/B345ST1N]

Motion, and it looks like we were playing Cover 2 zone the entire game

[u/dstanton → u/B345ST1N]

Doesn't seem that way

"The most indefensible decision made by Oregon’s staff during this game was their insistence on playing tight coverage against the Buckeyes’ receivers. The previous game aptly demonstrated that the Ducks veteran 3-star defenders could not run stride-for-stride with Ohio State’s elite athletes. The rational approach would be to back out the coverage and play with soft cushions to give a position advantage against deep routes. This would surrender easy 8-15 yard completions, but increase the number of plays needed to drive the field and increase the chances the offense would make a mistake or the pass rush would get home"

Sounds like they played man on Smith and Egbuka and got burned for it.

[u/scottneelan → u/dstanton]

Bingo. Everyone called Smith cocky/arrogant for basically saying in pre-game interviews that if we played man coverage, they'd take shots and burn us. Guess what? We played man, they took shots and burned us. Say what you will about Chip Kelly, but the guy was smart enough to watch what our defense did all year and fill their playbook with plays that would work against us.

[u/pthorpe11 → u/scottneelan]

What I saw was a complete coaching masterclass from Ohio state. I get that we have young coaches, but I would like to see Lanning hire more veteran coaches when we have some departures. Personally, I’m kinda tired of these elite recruiters that can’t make in game adjustments. Or maybe I’m just being impatient.