After a weekend of major upsets, including the shocker in Corvallis, how many of you are thinking about last year and how we backed into the National Championship game through the side door? Be honest. The thought has crossed my mind more than once. With USC getting handled, convincingly, by in-conference Oregon State, it’s likely that the Trojans won’t be back for consideration. Now we’ll have to watch how the drama unfolds in the SEC with Alabama and LSU, and whether Oklahoma, Texas or Missouri can go the distance. All of them could end up with one loss, and given their tough schedules it’s possible that many could have two. If Ohio State regains its balance and runs the table with fetching performances against Penn State, Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan, it’s possible we could be back in the hunt.
The thought would sends chills down the spines of ESPN commentators and SEC fans alike. In fact, if there were even the slightest possibility of the Buckeyes travelling to Miami, many sport fans around the country would become apoplectic. Some would quote apocalyptic scripture. And some would lobby Congress for emergency legislation banning the Buckeyes from a championship game, arguing passionately that it’s in the national interest. You can almost see the slogans: No Bailout! No War! No Buckeyes!!!
I’m not bringing this unlikely scenario up for cheap blog traffic (although I’m not above that). It could actually happen. The 2008 Buckeyes have played poorly, and clearly deserved to lose against USC. But they still have an abundance of talent and appear to be on the verge of figuring it all out. I played on a Buckeye team in 1982 that lost 3 in a row at home early and then, once we settled on Tomczak as our quarterback, proceeded to roll through the Big Ten. By year-end we were playing as well as anyone in the country, and pasted a pretty good BYU team in the Holiday Bowl to prove it. With guys like Tim Spenser and John Frank, it was never a question of talent. We just had to get in sync behind a new, untested quarterback.
I wouldn’t make any Florida travel plans just yet, but the point is that you can never count a talented team out. We have to take care of Wisconsin first and see whether we’re capable of getting better. But if we play well through the Penn State game, and if the other conferences consume themselves, we shouldn’t be shy about asking for another shot. Just don’t be surprised if you see C-SPAN covering the inevitable debate from the House floor.
Here’s the report card for the 2008 OSU - Minnesota game:
The Opponent - B. It didn’t take long for Tim Brewster to start the turnaround at Minnesota. Last year was a disaster, even by Gopher standards. This year, they’re at least respectable and maybe even better. We’ll have to see how they play through the rest of their Big Ten schedule. At the risk of sparking a football-geek debate, it’s my contention that the dink and dunk version of the spread is much easier to implement than a standard offense. It requires less overall talent, particularly up front, and it allows a team with modest resources to look good against a superior team. If I were taking over a struggling program, I know it’s the system I’d run until I could recruit better players. That said, there’s no denying that this Minnesota team had fire and pride. I really liked the demeanor of quarterback Adam Weber.
The Defense - B-. The Buckeyes made several changes up front to get lighter and quicker against spread defenses. It’s probably too early to tell whether the moves had a positive impact, as the Gophers couldn’t provide a true test. But it appeared that the defensive unit finally rebounded emotionally from the USC loss. They ran to the ball and looked a little more aggressive. There has to be disappointment, however, with Malcolm Jenkins. At times he looks like an all-star. Then he takes a few plays off and looks very average. In successive weeks, he’s had two pass interference calls against a running back and a tight end, both because he committed the common rookie mistake of not looking back. The draft is a long way away; Jenkins needs to step up and carry the secondary through the remainder of the season.
The Offense - B. The combination of Beanie Wells and Terrelle Pryor has the potential to redefine the Ohio State offense this year. A healthy Beanie will take pressure off the freshman quarterback by keeping defenses focused on his big play potential. We’ve been underwhelmed in recent weeks by the trio of running back replacements and, indeed, we’ve discovered that the difference in production between Beanie and the other backs is nothing short of startling. He has more speed and power but, like most great backs, the real reasons for his superior ability are patience and vision. Pryor still needs time to absorb the offense and adjust to the game, but once the tandem of Beanie and Pryor starts to click, defensive coordinators will be in for a few sleepless nights. A quick word on Boeckman: he’s still got it. I’d like to see him with a competent offensive line, or in a pro-type offense. There’s no denying the kid can throw the ball. Don’t be surprised if we see him suit up on Sundays next year.
The Special Teams - B-. Not a bad day for Trepasso, but Pretorius missed again. Small appears to be on a Tressel work-release program, but he played with little emotion as a returner. He has to get his head back into the game and play a big role in the special teams effort. What’s the slogan of the Ohio Lottery? Something like, “You can’t win if you don’t play.” Same with punt returns. You can’t score if you fair catch a punt. Since when does Ray Small fair catch a punt?
My Favorite Play. The long ball came back a little against Minnesota. In a play that reminded us of their success last year, Boeckman and Robiskie hooked up for a spectacular touchdown to start the 4th quarter. Robiskie showed a nice burst to get around the defensive back and then ran through the route to get his hands on the ball. He made a terrific catch and held onto the ball because of great body control. How many times have we’ve seen a receiver make a great grab but lose possession on the way down or on contact? Let’s hope this catch is a sign that Robiskie is ready to start contributing again.
Before I get into the Buckeye’s match up with the Minnesota Golden Gophers, I need to clear the air about some of my past comments that stem from Oregon State’s win against the USC Trojans.
I have always disliked zone blocking and blamed some of it in the loss to USC.But the Beavers zoned blocked all night long and the freshman running back ran for 117 in the first half and 186 overall.I thought when the Bucks played a team with big, strong and fast D lineman, zone block would be ineffective.But watching Oregon St. dismantle the Trojans using this technique, I realized that it may just be a personnel issue.The Beaver’s linemen are obviously not any better than our guys but they executed and had a 5’7” shifty running back making good reads and great cuts to pick up 7 plus yards on first down.Our problem may be that when Beanie is out, Herron/Saine don’t have the same kind of quick feet or experience to execute the running game.So I’m going to lighten up on zone blocking because obviously it can work against a good D like USC with the right combination of execution between thee O line and running back.
As far as the Buckeyes and the Gophers, I read that Coach Tress mentioned that he thought that the O line and the rest off the starters were playing tentatively and were afraid to make mistakes.They need to let loose and even if they make mistakes they need to do it at a fierce pace.I completely agree but it also starts with the coaches and the leaders harping on mistakes and missed assignments.
The Gophers have solid wins against some second level, but decent, teams in N. Illinois, Bowling Green, Montana St. and Florida Atlantic.So they come in 4-0 and have some confidence coming into Ohio Stadium.They have a second year QB who broke many Minnesota passing records as a frosh and has the ability to run.They like to spread the field and distribute the ball around to the playmakers but will be without their starting TB Duane Bennett.The biggest concern for the Gophers will be the injuries in the O line and the lack of depth.An even bigger concern will be the angry Ohio State D that has been taking shots around the country for their mediocre performance so far this year.I expect the Bucks to come after the QB and fly all over the field to get some of that rep they had coming into the season.
Ohio State’s offense needs to attack, period.Even though it looks like Minnesota’s defense has played well, I don’t expect them to be able to keep up if the Buckeyes play the way they are capable.I think the offense should keep it pretty simple and let the players let off some steam.I always believe that you have to get the running game going early but I think in this case, Coach Tress should get the receivers involved early.Let them stretch their legs and throw it down field.I know there is the fear that Pryor is still young and he may make some mistakes but he needs to learn from those mistakes because he’s going to have to do it eventually.If he does start to get shaky, you’ve got an excellent guy on the bench that had already learned those lessons.The O line needs to get a lot more physical and play with speed.They need to move their feet and really take the line of scrimmage by force.I know Beanie is back but how much he will play is unknown and Herron/Saine/Mo Wells need to get some confidence back for the tough Big Ten schedule.Play fast, play hard, convert on third down and score touchdowns should be the mantra for the day.
Just a note #19 for the Gophers is Mike Maciejowski, back up QB is the son of Buckeye Legend Ron Maciejowski (1968-1970) of Upper Arlington.
I watched the first half of the USC - Orgeon State game last night. Like most of you, I’m stunned by the outcome, and I’m at a loss to explain the difference in performances for the two OSU’s.;
Here’s what I’ve come up with so far:
1. Aggressiveness and Emotion. Where we played tight, Oregon State played with controlled aggressiveness and emotion. It seems like the more we lose big games, the tighter we get, which makes us more likely to lose big games. We really need to take the governor off the offensive and defensive engines.
2. Offensive Line. The Beavers’ offensive line doesn’t have any more talent than ours. But they played with better technique and discipline.
3. Running Backs. Freshman (!!) Jacquizz Rodgers ran with confidence through the USC defense. I like quick, elusive backs, not just as a complement to Beanie Wells, but as a featured component of a diverse, high-octane offensive. We were hoping that Mo Wells would develop into that kind of back, but it just hasn’t happened.
4. Offensive Game Plan. Clearly the Beavers saw something in the film that allowed the offense to put together a brilliant game plan. But more importantly, the offense executed and adapted. As the second drive suggested, our initial game plan was probably sufficient. But then we stopped executing and failed to adapt as the game progressed.
5. Defensive Game Plan. I’m sure we have more talent in our defensive unit than Oregon State. So the difference must have been in preparation, adaptation and execution. The Beavers made plays on defense, and kept arguably the best offense in the country in check for most of the game. We can and will play better this year. Unfortunately, we just couldn’t do it when we were in the spotlight.
The Trenches: Ohio State must get better play from the trenches as the big ten season starts.
OSU Offensive Line: OSU must get better play out of their offensive line. 170 yards last week is not bad but still only a 4 yd average. Terrelle Pryor is going to be able to make them look a little better in pass protection but he will not be able to make all the plays, especially as the Big Ten schedule gets tougher each week. They must start the progress Sat. against Minnesota .
OSU Defensive Line: The defensive line needs to be more aggressive as well. Now that we will see bigger stronger offensive lines, beginning with Minnesota , the D-Line must do a better job of preventing opposing o-lineman from getting clean to the second level (a la USC). This will allow the talented linebacker corp to consistently make plays and be more aggressive. The movement of Cam Heyward to tackle will hopefully help in this arena.
OSU Receivers: I’m not sure what happened to the receivers this year, but the veteran group isn’t playing as well as expected. I know it’s difficult to run a sophisticated passing game when your quarterback is running for his life. But now, especially with a freshman at the helm, the receivers need to step up and contribute. They need to run good routes, get separation and catch the football.
Terrelle Pryor: Pryor impressed in his debut, but he still doesn’t know the offense. Athletic ability will only carry him so far, so he needs to play within himself. He can’t expect to carry the team with his feet and arm. Instead he has to distribute the ball into the hands of Ohio State’s capable skill players. Be worried if you see him with more than 10 carries.
OSU Defense:In my Troy blog I mentioned that the defense needs to regain some of its aggressiveness. I know spreads can force defenses to sit back on their heels a little. But this is no time to be cautious. Let it rip. Don’t worry about making a mistake - as long as it’s made with emotion and destructive intent. Sure we’ll get burned once and a while, but hasn’t that already happened with a more conservative approach?
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In 2006, I was a senior Defensive Lineman (#98) for the Ohio State Buckeyes. In the midst of our undefeated year, several of my teammates and I decided to hold a large event in St. John Arena to show all the fans how much we appreciated them by sharing our personal life stories. Members of the band, cheerleaders, and Jim Tressel joined us for our display of gratitude. We had no idea how many people would come to “The Main Event,” but when all was said and done, more than 13,000 fans packed out St. John Arena. Everyone had a great time and we left with the feeling that we had truly given back to the fans that had given us so much.
This year, the team approached me about helping them organize “The Main Event 2008.” We quickly reserved St. John for Monday, Oct. 27th at 7pm, and for months things have been falling into place for another great event. However, after Saturday’s crushing loss to USC, some may feel that this year isn’t the best time to hold another Main Event. We have heard that maybe fans won’t be interested in attending a event because the team isn’t undefeated. As a current fan, I feel the need to speak up. Now is the time when we most need something like “The Main Event.” The country is looking at us to see how we will respond. Will OSU fans finally shut up about the Buckeyes, or will we cheer even louder? It is when we are cut that we find out if we truly bleed scarlet and gray. With that in mind, we are moving forward with our plans for “The Main Event 2008.” On Oct. 27th at 7pm in St. John Arena, members of the team, band, cheerleaders, and Jim Tressel will again show the fans how much they appreciate us. As fans , lets overflow the arena on Oct. 27th to show our Buckeyes how much we appreciate them.
Check out this video promo for the event by CLICKING HERE.
Please forward this on to everyone you know who bleeds scarlet and gray.
P.S. If you are part of a ministry that would like to be involved in “The Main Event” please reply to this email or CLICK HERE for more info.
This information was passed on to BuckeyeLegends and is not necessarily endorsed or supported by Buckeye Legends, but it was deemed interesting and worthy of passing on.
Ohio State senior offensive tackle Alex Boone stated the other day that Buckeye fans shouldn’t have booed quarterback Todd Boeckman when he threw an incomplete pass against Troy.
“I thought it was very rude and disrespectful,” Boone said. “For somebody to boo a player who took us to a championship, that shows no respect for that player.”
I agree completely. Fans should have been booing Boone and his overweight, sluggish cohorts on the offensive line instead for leaving Boeckman as a sitting duck in the L.A. Coliseum during the 35-3 debacle to USC.
Seriously, no fan at Ohio State should boo anyone in the scarlet and gray, especially since this team has lost two regular season games in three seasons.
I mean, fans at Syracuse and Tennessee may have a right to boo right now, but certainly not at Ohio State.
But my point is this: The Buckeyes’ offensive line and their blocking system is as much to blame for the 41-14 embarrassment to Florida in the 2006 BCS Championship Game, the 38-24 loss to LSU in the 2007 BCS Championship Game and the 32-point loss to the Trojans.
Since the 1970s, Ohio State has favored bigger, powerful offensive linemen to accommodate an effective running game, which in turn can lead to Big Ten championships due to many games played in poor weather and heavy wind in October and November. Woody Hayes, Earle Bruce, John Cooper and now Jim Tressel have recruited along those lines.
That is fine and dandy.
But big, powerful (slower) offensive linemen cannot always (pass)block smaller, quicker defensive linemen (Florida, LSU, USC), especially when they are complimented by skilled, even-quicker blitzing linebackers aiming at an immobile drop-back passer.
This, I conclude, is the main reason this program enjoys unparalleled success inside the Big Ten and utter and complete failure against the top competition outside of it.
It’s a conundrum, a catch-22, if you will
Good thing there is a certain No. 2 who could be the answer to this problem over the next three and a half seasons.
Former Buckeyes are found throughout the NFL……Here are some stats for the second week of NFL action by our beloved Buckeyes. This information came from a variety of sources, and most of it from OhioStateBuckeyes.com. My apologies if any information is inadvertently forgotten.
Baltmore Ravens - 28 , vs. Cleveland Browns - 10
Smith, Troy (QB): Not Active
Denver Broncos - 34 , vs. New Orleans Saints - 32
Peterson, Kenny (DE): Substitute Defensive End
Indianapolis Colts - 21 , vs. Jacksonville Jaguars - 23
Gonzales, Anthony (WR): Substitute Wide Recevier, 2 Rec., 37 Yds.
Hall, Roy (WR): Not Active
Miami Dolphins - 38 , at New England Patriots - 13
Ginn, Jr., Ted (WR): 5 Rec., 49 Yds.
Barton, Kirk (OL): Not Active
New England Patriots - 13 , vs. Miami Dolphins - 38
Vrabel, Mike (LB): 3 Tkl., 3 Ast.
New York Jets - , at San Diego Chargers -
Golston, Vernon (DE): Substitute Linebacker, 1 Tkl.
Mangold, Nick (C): Starting Center
Nugent, Mike (PK): Not Active
Pittsburgh Steelers - 6 , at Philadelphia Eagles - 15
Holmes, Santonio (WR): 3 Rec., 32 Yds.
San Diego Chargers - , vs. New York Jets -
Wilhelm, Matt (LB): 4 Tkl., 1 Ast.
Tennessee Titans - 31 , vs. Houston Texans - 12
Nickey, Donnie (DB): Substitute Safety, Special Teams: 4 Tkl.
Atlanta Falcons - 38 , vs. Kansas City Chiefs - 14
Fraser, Simon (DE): Not Active
Hartsock, Ben (TE): Starting Tight End
Jenkins, Michael (WR): 2 Rec., 19 Yds.
Stepanovich, Alex (C): Not Active
Filed under: Football by Mike Lanese
Mike Lanese has written 41 posts. Read other posts by Mike Lanese.
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