--First, I'll start with why OSU struggles so much in the BCS bowl games. Let me start by saying that the speed differential is a myth, for the most part. I do think the speed of the SEC defensive fronts in the two BCS title games took them by surprise, but they have since recruited differently and adjusted. Ok, no more about the speed because otherwise it is a push.
OSU recruits as well as any team in the country and actually has the most Florida blue-chippers than any non-Florida school. Heck, OSU is the only non-warm weather school that is a consistent national title contender (USC, Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, LSU and Alabama lately and Florida State, Miami, Tennessee and other SEC schools can be included over recent time). The problem is OSU regularly outrecruits the rest of the Big Ten on an annual basis. Sure, Penn State or Michigan may get a class here or there ranked higher, but the Buckeyes are always in the top 10 classes and don't fall off like the other schools.
This means OSU has more talent than its Big Ten foes and can play a very conservative, don't-turn-the-ball-over and field possession style. This allows them to win about nine out of 10 Big Ten games, which wins them conference titles, recent wins over Michigan and sends them to BCS bowls. Why would anyone want to rock that boat? I get why Jim Tressel coaches as he does. It accomplishes just about every goal every year.
Why change things when teams like Minnesota can't hang?
The problem comes when they face teams of equal or better talent who are used to playing other teams of that talent level. Those teams play more aggressive and more one-on-one, man-to-man styles. It creates a faster style of play, but also opens a team up to more mistakes and chances of losses. But it is a "playing to win" style. OSU plays "not to lose" during Big Ten play because it pays off. Purdue, with less talent than the Buckeyes, is only going to string together maybe two 12-play drives vs. the OSU defense and maybe scores 17 points, as long as OSU doesn't make turnovers. The problem is that eight-yard pass the Purdue receiver makes is a 25-yard gain by Percy Harvin. The top SEC schools and USC play other teams of equal talent several times a year and are better prepared for that style. Then OSU has to sit around after a long layoff and try to play a style they are not used to. The result is a BCS burnout.
The Buckeyes weren't ready for the pace of the SEC teams - photo UPI
Now, things started changing last year vs. Texas in the Fiesta Bowl. OSU came out aggressive because they had nothing to lose after being embarassed in the previous two BCS Championship games. As a result, it came down to a terrific drive by Colt McCoy and a late touchdown to scratch out the win. Then this season, as the newly-recruited speed on the defensive line resulted in the best D-line since the 2002 title team, they played an aggressive defense instead of their passive zone and it made all the difference and will continue to going forward.
2010 Rose Bowl:
--OSU really came to play against Oregon. First of all, Oregon was the first team the Buckeyes have played in four bowls they had more overall talent. Oregon plays a faster style and has fast players, but OSU is far deeper, especially on defense. The key was OSU played to win. Tressel turned Terrelle Pryor loose and it made all the difference in the world. This was a case of Oregon not playing defenses like OSU's during the year and they couldn't gear up for it. The shoe was a bit on the other foot. Hats off to OSU for learning their lesson. It should be an interesting 2010 season.
Oregon wasn't ready for the Silver Bullets - photo TheOregonian
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