Well the 1-AA weekend is over. Ohio State gets the win over YSU but the Maize and Blue gets beat by Appalachian St. Moutaineers. OOPs!

The Buckeyes didn’t quite rack up 500 yards and the Penguins did gain over 150 yards but overall a pretty decent first game for the Bucks. On the positive, Brain Robiskie emerged as the go to receiver. Todd Boeckman has solidified himself as the #1 QB and he will get better with more game experience. Eight freshmen stepped up and saw action: Brandon Saine ran the ball well and Dane Sanzenbacher’s first catch was for a touchdown. The D looked good and even more importantly, very deep with speed and talent. Kicking game pretty solid even with the new kickoff distance.

On the downside, the loss of Lawrence Wilson with a broken leg is drag but we are deep on the D line; Beanie Wells never really got going; the O line was not nearly as impressive as I thought they would be. They should easily have punched the ball in on the goal line against D 1-AA size and there should have been no sacks.

Enough about YSU. How does this team continue to get better going into the game with another powerhouse in Akron?

Offensively, you have to start with the O line. Maybe they weren’t quite in sync but they need to get there and flex their muscles. The left side of the line averages 6’8” 330 lbs. and if they need 3 yards JT needs to know he can go there and get the yards. The running game and Beanie need to get going earlier in the game. It opens the game plan for the coaches and takes some early pressure off the QB. The passing game look like it is coming along minus a sack. Boechman will continue to spread the ball around a little more and we will see the other two QBs get some valuable reps against the Zips.

Defensively, the Bucks look young but deep. I like the speed all over the place but would like to see more pressure on the QB. The frosh Heyward should see more action with Wilson down and I think that will help with the line push. The DB’s need to continue to improve because they will be running into much more savvy passing attacks as the season progresses. I think we have to find a way to get Austin Spitler and Thaddeus Gibson on the field a little more. I seemed to hear their names on special teams and late in the game.

There is always a big improvement from the first to second game so I expect to see the Bucks get going early against Akron and hopefully put some solid numbers up.

GO BUCKS!

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