FSU vs. Oregon: Rose Bowl 2015 Schedule and X-Factors to Watch
You know the storylines already for the 2015 Rose Bowl.
The College Football Playoff showdown pits last season’s Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback in Florida State’s Jameis Winston against this season’s winner in Oregon’s Marcus Mariota. Not only are they arguably the top two players in college football, they could be the top two picks in the upcoming draft.
There is also the fact that Oregon is attempting to finally get over the mountaintop as an elite college football program. It has been one of the marquee teams across the country in recent years, but it has fallen short with the national title on the line.
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Finally, the Seminoles are still battling for respect even after winning the national title a season ago. They sneaked past a number of overmatched opponents this season at the very end, which caused some commentators and fans to forget the fact that they haven’t lost a game since the 2012 campaign.
Still, there are bound to be some under-the-radar X-factors that will determine such a marquee showdown. With that in mind, here is a look at the schedule and a couple of X-factors to watch for Thursday’s clash.
2015 Rose Bowl: No. 2 Oregon vs. No. 3 Florida State
When: Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015
Where: Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, California
Start Time (ET): 5 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Oregon’s Ability to Slow Down Tight End Nick O’Leary
Everyone is worried about Oregon’s ability to contain wide receiver Rashad Greene in the Rose Bowl without injured cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, but the X-factor will be the Ducks’ ability—or inability—to contain tight end Nick O’Leary.
O’Leary finished the season with 614 receiving yards and six touchdowns and was the second-leading receiver on the team outside of Greene. He was a consensus All-American and also won the John Mackey Award as the best tight end in the country.
O’Leary is something of a security blanket for Winston on critical third downs and is as sure-handed as pass-catching options come.
Oregon’s pass defense is not exactly built to stop O’Leary either considering it finished an abysmal 105th in the nation. Granted, some of that is a result of the Ducks always being ahead, which forces the other team to throw the ball more, or the fact that Oregon’s offense runs a no-huddle attack and scores so quickly that the defense is on the field for longer than normal.
Still, 105th in the country is an alarming number for a playoff team.
If the Ducks let O’Leary run free up the middle and can’t get the Seminoles off the field on third downs, Mariota will have fewer opportunities to make plays. That will also allow Florida State to control the tempo and give its defense some much-needed breathers against the fast-paced Oregon offense.
Florida State receivers coach Lawrence Dawsey discussed O’Leary, via Gary Smits of Jacksonville.com: “Nick has the best ball skills on the team. He’s not the fastest guy but understands where he needs to be by route-running and positioning his body.”
If he uses those ball skills at the Rose Bowl to pick up critical third downs, it could be a long day for the Ducks.
Health of Eddie Goldman
Florida State finished 58th in the country against the run this season, and it really struggled down the stretch. The Seminoles allowed 331 rushing yards against Georgia Tech, 240 to Boston College and 176 to Miami in three of the final four games and looked vulnerable heading into the postseason.
That type of production is going to be a major problem against Oregon’s offense that was third in the nation in points per game and 22nd in rushing yards per game.
It will be an even bigger problem if defensive lineman Eddie Goldman is limited after leaving the victory over Georgia Tech with an injury. Safid Deen of the Tallahassee Democrat had some good news for Florida State fans along those lines:
Goldman is a first-round prospect who brings immense talent to the table, and Florida State is going to need him at full strength to counter Mariota and running back Royce Freeman. Freeman tallied 1,299 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground this year, while Mariota added 669 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns.
For as much as Oregon’s offense gets credit for being a high-flying attack, the bread and butter is still the read-option.
The Seminoles need a strong middle along the defensive line to shut that down and allow the linebackers and safeties to make plays in space if the quarterback keeps it. If Goldman and the interior of the Florida State line can’t contain Freeman from attacking the middle, it will force the safeties and linebackers to crowd the box, which will open up seam routes for Mariota to hit with his arm or openings on the outside for Mariota to exploit with his legs.
Oregon’s offense is almost impossible to stop for any collegiate defense. The only way Florida State is going to be able to do so in the Rose Bowl is with a healthy Goldman plugging the middle.
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