Old Dominion @ Georgia Southern Game Thread

[ODUalum11]

Time to Move on from the NSU-ODU thread. This game is gonna be a fun game to watch, both teams have great offenses. And I believe this will be the third time ODU will face the triple option offense (VMI in '09, Cal Poly last season).

I believe the match-ups to watch are obviously ODU's rush defense vs. Southern's rush offense and ODU's pass offense vs. Southern's pass defense. I believe ODU has the firepower to match GSU and obviously vice versa. I believe this game will be very high scoring. Very few opponents have been able to stop ODU so far this season.

However, I believe the biggest factor will be limiting whatever pass offense GSU has, I believe if the Monarchs can limit their pass offense they can crowd the line of scrimmage to try to stop the triple option. Last year when ODU played Cal Poly, the Mustangs proved they had a terrific passing game as well...something that is rare among triple option offenses. Special teams, like in every other ODU game so far this season, will obviously play a huge role in this game as well.

Some interesting rankings.....

Total offense....
ODU 17th, GSU 20th

Total defense....
GSU 30th, ODU 69th

Passing offense...
ODU 21st, GSU 118th

Rushing offense...
GSU 2nd, ODU 47th

Passing defense...
GSU 39th, ODU 108th

Rushing defense...
ODU 16th, GSU 37th

Time of Possession...
GSU 10th, ODU 96th

Turnover Margin....
ODU t-13th, GSU t-40th

Not at all, surprised in some of the rankings especially TOP. GSU with a triple option offense leads to long drives that are grinded out and ODU has a fast-tempo no-huddle offense that usually likes to get the ball snapped within 10-18 seconds. Also not surprised by GSU's pass offense ranking either. I think ODU has the firepower and quick strike offense to come back from any deficit while GSU doesn't so I think its key that ODU establishes some sort of lead first early in the game.

[93henfan]

This will be a high-scoring affair, with Georgia Southern winning by 10 points plus.

[DSUrocks07]

This game will hinge on how quickly ODU's defense can adapt to the option and try to confuse the QB as to which "option" he should take. ODU has speed but must stay disciplined. I expect the scoring to be in the mid-30s at least. It will be interesting to see how ODU handles a truly "hostile" environment.

[ODUalum11]

I think a lot of ODU fans are concerned with ODU vs. a triple option offense (where's razor and bilas ) with the last two performances against triple options teams (last year's loss vs. Cal Poly 50-37 and ODU's 42-35 win vs. VMI in 2009). However, I strongly believe this year's team is a lot better than those previous two teams.

[ODUalum11]

This game will hinge on how quickly ODU's defense can adapt to the option and try to confuse the QB as to which "option" he should take. ODU has speed but must stay disciplined. I expect the scoring to be in the mid-30s at least. It will be interesting to see how ODU handles a truly "hostile" environment.

I will definitely say this will be the first road game ODU will play in where the environment is truly "hostile". I completely agree, DSU. Everybody thought (Mostly ODU Fans) that Georgia State would have been a tough environment...it wasn't. EVerybody thought Delaware would have been a tough environment....it wasn't, they didn't even sell-out that game.

It gives me some confidence that ODU has a terrific rushing defense, however a triple option offense is completely different. ODU's linebackers will have to have a HUGE game...the defensive line can't do it all on Saturday like in past games where I've said it all starts and ends with the play of the defensive line.

[CAA Flagship]

ODU will need a big game from the middle LB's. But this is the weak point of our defense.
It will be interesting to see if the Eagles can stop our passing attack.

[ODUsmitty]

I think a lot of ODU fans are concerned with ODU vs. a triple option offense (where's razor and bilas ) with the last two performances against triple options teams (last year's loss vs. Cal Poly 50-37 and ODU's 42-35 win vs. VMI in 2009). However, I strongly believe this year's team is a lot better than those previous two teams.

I agree completely. Carry on........

[ODUalum11]

ODU will need a big game from the middle LB's. But this is the weak point of our defense.
It will be interesting to see if the Eagles can stop our passing attack.

I believe the secondary is the biggest weakness of ODU's defense. I like to believe ODU has a couple of good linebackers in Craig Wilkins (named All-CAA first team) and J.J. Williams, I believed Alex Arain was coming around but unfortunately he will be out for this game.

I also don't believe ODU will be phased by the hostile environment, something I forgot to state in my previous post. This team is EXTREMEMLY well coached along with the fact that the offense gets the play calls from the sideline by the use of different signals. I even believe that the offense actually might use a silent snap count as well, I could be wrong....

[State Line Liquors]

ODU will need a big game from the middle LB's. But this is the weak point of our defense.
It will be interesting to see if the Eagles can stop our passing attack.

I believe the secondary is the biggest weakness of ODU's defense. I like to believe ODU has a couple of good linebackers in Craig Wilkins (named All-CAA first team) and J.J. Williams, I believed Alex Arain was coming around but unfortunately he will be out for this game.

The most important thing to effectively defend the TO, IMO, is to have excellent tacklers in the secondary. If you have capable linebackers and D-Line, the A gap is already taken care of. But if your secondary can't make tackles, then your B gap is exposed, and the LB's and D-Line will have to cheat to the edges to defend that...which will in turn open up your A gaps. If you want to beat the TO, be great at defending the B gap and let your LBs stay home. If your defense can beat them on 1st and 2nd down, and 3rd will take care of itself. If it's 3rd & 3 or less with frequency, then you're in big trouble.

It's also real nice if you can get out to a 10-14 point lead...the TO takes time to run, and particularly challenged at mounting comebacks. Force a few turnovers, and get a 2 score lead in Q3 and you've got a terrific chance punch your ticket to the 3rd round.

[dbackjon]

GSU 45, ODU 28

[ODUalum11]

I believe the secondary is the biggest weakness of ODU's defense. I like to believe ODU has a couple of good linebackers in Craig Wilkins (named All-CAA first team) and J.J. Williams, I believed Alex Arain was coming around but unfortunately he will be out for this game.

The most important thing to effectively defend the TO, IMO, is to have excellent tacklers in the secondary. If you have capable linebackers and D-Line, the A gap is already taken care of. But if your secondary can't make tackles, then your B gap is exposed, and the LB's and D-Line will have to cheat to the edges to defend that...which will in turn open up your A gaps. If you want to beat the TO, be great at defending the B gap and let your LBs stay home. If your defense can beat them on 1st and 2nd down, and 3rd will take care of itself. If it's 3rd & 3 or less with frequency, then you're in big trouble.

It's also real nice if you can get out to a 10-14 point lead...the TO takes time to run, and particularly challenged at mounting comebacks. Force a few turnovers, and get a 2 score lead in Q3 and you've got a terrific chance punch your ticket to the 3rd round

Even thought it was only high school, I played in a triple option offense so I completely agree with everything you said STL. Excellent points.

I'll also add to your post that ODU will need to limit the amount of big plays by GSU, something it was not able to do last year vs. Cal Poly.

[ODUalum11]

GSU 45, ODU 28

I could see GSU having a lot of success against ODU's defense, what I don't see happening is ODU losing by that big of a margin.

EDIT: regardless of who wins, I don't see the margin of victory being the wide.

[blueballs]

The "X factor" is GSU's special teams. GSU has Laron Scott returning kickoffs and Darrieon Robinson running back punts. Both are among the very best in the country. Charlie Edwards is an elite punter (though seldom used) and Adrian Mora has only missed one place kick (blocked FG vs. Bama) all year. I haven't seen a team all year that I thought could come close to matching GSU's weapons in the kicking game.

GSU's offense has been humming on all cylinders (against two darned good defenses in Wofford and Alabama) since moving Swope into the starting B-back and moving Maxwell to center. I highly doubt ODU will have an answer for GSU's offense.

I can see ODU getting some yards and points, but GSU is going to be hard to beat at Paulson and I think this is a good matchup for GSU and a bad one for ODU- but you never know...

[Pwns]

ODU has a chance if they can get some turnovers and hold GSU to field goals when we get into the red zone. Otherwise, forget about it, because the way our offense is playing I think we'll move the ball without many problems, especially considering GSU's top A-back should be back after being out since the App. game.

And beware, GSU's defense is better than it appears on paper. The Alabama game and some games early in the season where the backups played a good bit deflated our numbers. GSU's secondary is so-so and sort of clumsy but we may have the best pass rush in the FCS.

[TheDancinMonarch]

The "X factor" is GSU's special teams. GSU has Laron Scott returning kickoffs and Darrieon Robinson running back punts.

The single weakest part of the ODU team, in my opinion, is defending against kickoff returns. If only we didn't score so much.

[ODUalum11]

I think the X-factor is gonna be special teams for both sides. While GSU claims they have great special teams, so does ODU who has Jonathan Plisco who is one of the best punters in the FCS and then Jarrod Brown who's also a pretty good kicker. Also, in a game like this where ODU will be the underdog look for some possible trick plays as well. ODU is known to attempt on-side kicks very often.

We've also been saying all along don't be surprised if you see Back-up, once starter and still face of the ODU program Thomas Demarco in the game at some point that isn't on 4th down or holding snaps for potential PAT's.

[93henfan]

Would the GSU people please stop smooching new-guy ass and start treating these ODU people like the jackwagons that they are?

This is very disappointing.

[BDKJMU]

5dimes ODU +13.5

[CAA Flagship]

Would the GSU people please stop smooching new-guy ass and start treating these ODU people like the jackwagons that they are?

This is very disappointing.

Jackwagons?

[93henfan]

Would the GSU people please stop smooching new-guy ass and start treating these ODU people like the jackwagons that they are?

This is very disappointing.

Jackwagons?

I'm trying to be nice, only because of you and the other one or two decent ODU fans. The rest of you are slime. Slime I tell ya!

[93henfan]

5dimes ODU +13.5

Sounds about right. I said 10 plus, but I could easily see GSU running away bigtime if ODU can't figure out the TO quickly.

[∞∞∞]

Honestly, I'm more worried about the natural grass field that might slow us down instead of the crowd. Even at home, we run the offense silently, from the play-calling to the audibles to the snap, so noise shouldn't be an issue.

As for in-depth analysis, it's Monday...I don't care yet.

[MadMaxMonarch]

Would the GSU people please stop smooching new-guy ass and start treating these ODU people like the jackwagons that they are?

This is very disappointing.

93henfan has bitter bird face. It's OK, there's always next year.

[Ivytalk]

Honestly, I'm more worried about the natural grass field that might slow us down instead of the crowd. Even at home, we run the offense silently, from the play-calling to the audibles to the snap, so noise shouldn't be an issue.
As for in-depth analysis, it's Monday...I don't care yet.

That's what they say at Gallaudet, too!

[93henfan]

Honestly, I'm more worried about the natural grass field that might slow us down instead of the crowd. Even at home, we run the offense silently, from the play-calling to the audibles to the snap, so noise shouldn't be an issue.
As for in-depth analysis, it's Monday...I don't care yet.

That's what they say at Gallaudet, too!

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