Agree on the Quan on all fronts but I do like him on punts. The guy is tremendous at fielding punts and while we likely give something up on the return side, I believe the security factor is what the coaches want. Turnovers is one of the only things I could see derailing this team.

R.J.

I noticed Mizzou playing with their line splits as early as the third play of the first quarter. So I’m not sure a halftime adjustment was the decisive factor. I think much of their second half success was attributable to a mental letdown and their ability to exploit Coffman against our safeties and LBs. Any team with a great TE will always murder us when they have quality receiving threats outside.

As for Tech, Leach plays with his splits too and if you allow him to widen them with impunity he’ll keep pushing them out. They’ll also bring them in if you’re giving them more middle pressure than they can handle.

jones:

No debate there. If VY is the reason #1 we won the MNC, Huff is reason #2.

Bates:

I hear ya, but we don’t need to go all Jim Tressel either. I think you stay in your natural rhythm and play football rather than overthinking clock manipulation. When a defense sees what you’re doing, they can play off of that predictability.

You likely have already seen this, and it’s been a while since I looked at it, but you both might be interested in the methodology the guys at http://www.footballoutsiders.com/ use for their DVOA (NFL only). Methodology likely has far too many permutations to be employed by college analysts, and relies on play-by-play data that may be tough to consolidate. Interesting approach nonetheless.

Regarding the game – if OSU was a little smarter they could have won that game. I do think the post game perception would have been a little different if the refs hadn’t totally botched the 3rd and goal play at the end of the game. Replayed it numerous times on my DVR and OSU lined up offside, then jumped offsides before the ball was snapped. At a minimum offsides should have been called, and we could have taken a knee and run out the clock at the goaline. The penalty was not called, but Cody then scored and the ref spots him down at the one. Should have been a booth review, and at least mentioned by the announcers. I guess the argument from the refs would have been that his forward momentum was stopped…. But when was the last time a runner was ruled down on the goal line when he is clearly not down… and still struggling for yardage? Roy Miller pulls him into the end zone for what should have been a TD. Play reminded me of USC against ND a few years ago with Reggie Bush pushing Leinart across the goal.

Finishing the game in the Victory formation, or winning 35-24 would have felt a lot better.

This is not unique to us. Teams with leads do not, in my opinion, start running clock soon enough in the second half.