Kneejerk: 2011 Allstate Sugar Bowl
January 5, 2011
It’s not how I saw it going down, but I’m extremely happy to be sitting here, at 4AM, writing about a Buckeye win as it re-airs on my TV. Such a beautiful thing.
FINAL STATS: 14/25 for 221 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INT ; 15 carries for 115 yards.
Oh and what about those apologies? Every time he was interviewed he apologized. Sad thing is that still won’t be enough for a portion of Buckeye Nation who have their minds made up. My suggestion to them is find a new team to root for. That is all.
“I don’t think I’m ready for the NFL,” the quarterback said. “I got a lot of learning to do and better decision-making to make, on and off the field.”
I still think TP returns, even before the above quote, but nothing’s official until he says it is…
This isn’t going to be a pure kneejerk post, just a bulleted list:
- The entire world saw Terrelle Pryor apologize more than twice tonight. Can we please start to move forward? Damn!
- Could have done without those 2 big special teams black eyes.
- Speaking of which, was that a botched punt or failed onside kick attempt? Whatever it was, it was ugly.
- Cameron Heyward is a man. Has NFL fans, all of the internet, salivating.
- Dane Sanzenbacher is going to be missed next year. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Think it might be the biggest loss.
- Did someone kidnap Evil Tressel at halftime and replace him with Scared Tressel?
- What a good day for Solomon Thomas to make a huge play? Biggest of his career? I think so.
- I cannot believe that was Boom’s first fumble in a Buckeye uniform. Talk about bad timing. But I’m still pissed that Tress didn’t call for a QB keeper on that. Your QB is 6’6″. USE HIM!
- Admit it, you all were freaking out when Bauserman came in the game too, weren’t you?
- Some of the young DBs got a baptism by fire with all the injuries. Thought they performed well. The future is bright. The 2011 Buckeyes will also have an elite defense.
- Heart goes out to Chimdi Chekwa. Gets to play his final game in his hometown, then gets injured, has to leave game, and is scheduled for surgery tomorrow. Tough break (no pun intended).
- Now that the SEC monkey is off Ohio State’s back, can we now talk about how Arkansas is 0-4 against Big Ten teams in their bowl games?
- So Buckeyes gave up another 100yd+ rusher. But did it matter? Nope.
- Gotta feel for Mallett a little (just a teeny/tiny bit). How many catchable passes did his receivers drop?
- Having said that, what a crybaby he is. I figured once he got hit a couple of times, his demeanor would change…
- Dudes were mugging Cam, and he fought back. Took it out on Mallett. Clearly he was still viewed as a Michigan QB.
- Did you freak out as much as me when Buchanon’s punt was blocked? Yea you did. Don’t front.
- To the rest of the Big Ten: you’re welcome. Even though we all know you were rooting against Ohio State. And that’s the problem w/ this conference. Just hating on OSU cuz they can’t beat them w/ any regularity. Don’t see that problem in the SEC. Just sayin’.
- WTF was with that safety call? Still shaking my head on that one. I heard the explanation, but I still don’t buy it. Sorry.
- I absolutely loved that huge pass to TE Reid Fragel. I like new wrinkles and that. Was. Awesome!
- How badass was Tress’ chest-bump with TP? Loved that!
- Nice to see TP get MVP, but probably should have gone to Cam…
- Hope TP’s injury isn’t too serious, but if there was a good time for this to happen, it’s now. Has off-season (and suspension) to get healthy…again!
- Bucks answered all questions on their focus with that red-hot first half. HOT DAMN!
- Take that, Mark May!
- So when’s the Spring Game? Let’s break that National Attendance record (that OSU currently holds) again Y’all with me?!
And as a closer, let us all pay homage to the wonderful quoteables (paraphrased) that former Buckeye Olineman Kirk Barton provided on ONN tonight:
The SEC is like six supermodels and six girls that are okay. And the other six all think they’re as hot as the supermodels.
Added media: Big Ten Network highlights/interviews
Pregame Postage: 2011 Allstate Sugar Bowl
January 3, 2011
My prediction for this game is that I don’t really have a prediction. What I thought might have happened was before the distractions of the NCAA violations. I’m not privy to any information from inside the Buckeye locker room, so I have no idea how the team is functioning and how they’ll react on the field. I don’t think we know how that goes until mid-way through the 2nd quarter. The team seems bonded together, so they’ve got that going them. Gotta hope for the best!
From a purely football standpoint, I still feel that Ohio State is clearly the better team. And before tatgate, I would have posted a prediction similar to last year’s Rose Bowl game. Previously, the only concern I had was this team’s usual slow start coming down the stretch. I’m not sure what caused it, but it is still a concern. If Ohio State falls behind early (see Wisconsin game), then I don’t see a way that they claw their way back into this game and win. They’ll wear themselves out trying, and won’t have anything left to finish. In such a case, the final score could be 30-20 in favor of Arkansas.
Now provided the team comes out playing well, then I think they win. I know all the talk centers around Mallett and his passing game, but other than that, I don’t see the threats others do. Teams do not run crazy on the Silver Bullet defense. In the past 2 years, only 2 players have cracked 100 rushing yards. They will give up yards to the passing game, but not a ton of points. And defensively, I don’t see what the Arkansas defense is going to do to stop the Ohio State offense. Terrelle doesn’t run Auburn’s offense, so comparisons (like many have provided) are pretty much null and void. Arkansas will get their stops early, but after OSU knocks the rust off, it’s on!
But again, that all depends on the team’s mindset. We’ve all seen what happens when the team isn’t completely focused, and that wasn’t pretty.
So, I can’t really get a feel for what’s going to happen. I wouldn’t be surprised with a win or a loss. How they play will tell us all we need to know, but know this, the seniors on the team voted to let the suspended players play. They want them on the field. I think that says a lot. I still have doubts as to whether or not they all stay or even play tomorrow (specifically thinking about Boom here), but we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.
On the other side of the coin, if you’re an Arkansas fan, this is set up perfectly for you. First BCS game ever, no major injuries or distractions, and just happy to be there! They’ve got all the reason in the world to think they’re going to roll the Buckeyes. I would if I were on that side as well! I think the Razorbacks come out completely jacked up and it’s up to the Buckeyes to match their intensity.
BUCKEYE CHECKLIST:
- Play 4 complete quarters of football. Focus.
- No special teams meltdowns that turn into points. (See: Wisconsin game)
- Mix in Up-tempo offense every now and then.
- If Boom doesn’t play, the carries need to go to Hall/Berry. Period.
- No repeats of Penn St. game. Now, I know they had no film on McGloin, but the cushions the corners were giving the receivers was alarming. Gotta play a little closer. Jam them at the line. Stop making completions so easy!
- Pressure, pressure, pressure. I don’t care if the Buckeye Dline registers sacks, but they must get pressure on Mallett. Rushed passes lead to incompletions & and hopefully interceptions. He’s not a mobile QB, so if they get to him, he’s not going to get away. End of story.
- Stoney. He battled that high ankle sprain for most of the season. He needs to make an impact.
- Lastly, Terrelle needs to not think so much. When he just plays, he balls out and is virtually unstoppable. Coaches need to put him in the best situation in order to succeed. Hope they remember this.
As for everyone turning Terrelle (and none of the other guys who were involved) into a national punching bag, let me just say this: “I don’t give a fuck!” — This site was started to support him and I don’t see an end to this anytime soon. So he sold some of his stuff. Big fucking deal. He broke a rule and should be punished. Fine. But based on the reaction this story’s gotten, you’d think he was in cahoots with an agent, driving drunk, taking kickbacks from a booster, robbing someone at gunpoint, or beating up on his girlfriend; all things that players at other schools have done recently. I think those offenses are waaaaaaay worse, but some of those players only missed 1 game. Meanwhile Terrelle is the devil? GTFOH! It is what it is, but don’t make it into more than what it is. Sorry for the language, but people have really been pissing me off. Hoping Terrelle takes all that and play lights out!
Go Bucks! Silence the Doubters!
Kneejerk: Week 13, The Game
November 28, 2010
 |
I know, I know. It took me a minute to write this post. I was still basking in the glow that was another wonderful Buckeye victory over Michigan. And no, it doesn’t get old!
I said Ohio State would win, and it would be double figures, but no way did I think the explosive Wolverine offense would be held to just 1 touchdown. The Buckeyes went on to win 37-7.
TP’s FINAL STATS: 18/27 for 220 yds, 2 TDs, INT. Rushed 49 yds on 12 carries
I didn’t think Robinson would get knocked out of this game, but he did. In hindsight, that probably would have been a safe bet. I mean, exactly how many games has he completely finished for UM? Are there any?
And, true to form, Ohio State had a slow start out of the gate. I thought that if Michigan were to have any chance at competing in this game, they’d have to jump on the slow Buckeye start and take an easy lead. Well, they failed to do so. Even after the OSU offense went 3-and-out on their first 2 possessions, the Wolverines still couldn’t put any points of their own on the board. How embarrassing for them…
IN A NUTSHELL:
- Seven in a row. That is all.
- I wanted a kickoff/punt return and I got one. They were due, and what better game for it to happen than The Game?
- Speaking of the kickoff return TD, did everyone see Jaamal Berry’s block? Damn, son!
- Those refs sucked ass. No other team, w/ those Nike Pro Combat gloves, has gotten a penalty for showing them to the crowd. Including Oregon in the Rose Bowl & Bama in the National Championship.
- Not being in front of the TV, there were quite a few things that confused me. One being why the Michigan kicking game was non-existent. Didn’t learn, until I got home, that kicker was suspended. So, why wasn’t Forcier kicking all game? He’s serviceable, and if he’s kicking there’s no way he can throw an interception, right?
- As usual, TP is money on broken pass plays. When he doesn’t have to “think” and can, instead, just ball out, he’s lethal!
- I have to go back to those refs. I mean seriously. What were they smoking?
- Does Corey Brown have concentration problems? Whole lotta drops lately…
- Back to the refs again. Was their like a rule that they couldn’t call holding on Michigan?
- Hooray for Shugarts not registering a false start!
- I spent the entire first half wondering if Boom was hurt. He only had a couple of carries & the game plan seemed kinda weird and all over the place. It was working, so that was good, but lack of RB carries had me concerned, while I watched from the stands.
- I really liked the way the jerseys looked in the sun. The gray pants with the gray socks looked, well, odd. Someone on Twitter said it looked like the team were wearing leggings lol. Can’t argue with that! I liked the socks Jordan Hall had on, with the white stripes. Much better!
- Reading, after the game, that TP’s shoulder was really bothering him, made me respect him even more than I already did. TP just plays through all sorts of injuries that we don’t ever know about until after the fact.
- Was it me or weren’t there a few awkward center/QB snap exchanges?
- It was cold as hell in the ‘Shoe. Wasn’t so bad in the 1st half, when the sun was out, but the second half was quite chilly. I don’t know how many layers I had on, but soooo worth it!
- Really gonna miss these seniors. There are so many of them too! I wish them all the success in the world in all their endeavors! Hope to see quite a few of them in the league next year (barring a lockout, of course).
- Tate Forcier throws a pretty good ball; just not to the right people, and not on time.
- Very impressed with Shoelace in the 1st half. Knew he was good, and didn’t disappoint. His receivers didn’t help him out that much. Buckeye fans know what that’s like. It’s called last weekend in Iowa City.
- Another Big Ten Championship and probably another BCS Bowl. Seriously, Buckeye fans. Take a minute to step back & appreciate was Tressel has done for this program. Then look at what USC, Texas, and Florida are going through this year. That never happens to Ohio State. A “bad” year is 2-3 losses. Never have to worry about not being bowl eligible. Puts things in perspective, doesn’t it?
- The constant singing of “We Don’t Give A Damn for The Whole State of Michigan” was definitely a highlight. Loved it!
- It didn’t dawn on me, until now, that I won’t be able to see the Buckeyes in the ‘Shoe again until April. There will be withdrawals. As usual.
IN CLOSING:
Pregame Postage: Week 13, The Game
November 27, 2010
Is there anything bigger? Don’t answer that. I don’t care if Michigan hasn’t been “Michigan” lately. It’s still The Game, and if you lived through the Cooper years (where the Buckeyes were on the losing end of the rivalry year after year), then you’re still enjoying the last Buckeye Saturday of the calendar year.
I’ve seen a whole lotta blowout score predictions? Really? I mean, I know it happened last time the Wolverines visited the ‘Shoe, but I don’t think tomorrow is going to be a repeat of that. Yes, the Buckeyes will win. I’m very confident in that, but it’s not going to be a walk in the park; especially not early on. And yes, I do recognize that Michigan’s not very good at a lot of stuff, like defense, but this is The Game, folks!
I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s noticed the Bucks getting off to extremely slow starts lately. I don’t know why that is, but if they come out of the gate slow tomorrow, they will find themselves in an early hole, because Michigan will score. This is doubly true if the Bucks come out in that porous zone defense. Shoelace will pick them apart if they show him that look!
On the other hand, it appears that the Ohio State defense is made to stop this kind of offense. While productive, Michigan wishes its offense was the well-oiled machine that Oregon puts on the field week in and week out. And we all saw what happened to the Ducks the last time they placed a good defense. The other problem is the Duck defense (no, not an oxymoron) is light years ahead of the Michigan defense. That’s going to be their big problem tomorrow. There is no Brandon Graham suiting up for the Maize & Blue this year. That dude was a 1 man wrecking crew, even when double & triple teamed. There is no one even remotely close to that dominant on the UM roster. As a result, provided TP & the offense don’t get careless w/ the ball, the Bucks will score often.
WHAT I WANT TO SEE:
- The continued trend of better Special Teams play. Michigan has some returners who could break one, so the coverage needs to continue to be solid.
- And damnit, can we get Hall or Berry a return for a TD of their own?
- Limit the turnovers. TP let one get away from him, that flipped field position. Can’t do that this week & give Michigan a short field.
- Defense can’t afford to start out slow. Michigan will be all too happy to take advantage and try to build a lead.
- I don’t want to see that stinking weak zone on defense. I know Heacock likes to feel out the opponent early in the game. I hate that and always have. Screw that. ATTACK!
- I still can’t believe Wisconsin only passed once in the 2nd half against Michigan last week. That’s insane. And they still scored at will! Could learn a lot from that…
- I want to see all the seniors play. That would require the Bucks get up by at least 3 scores, so Tress can clear the benches.
- People are wondering if Shoelace will make it through the entire game w/o getting dinged. I don’t see why he wouldn’t. This defense gets a lot of pressure, but not a lot of sacks. He’ll get hit (probably a lot) but I don’t think anything to knock him out of the game a la McGuffie in 2008. Luckily for him.
- Will I be witnessing the last game of the Rich Rodriguez Michigan era?
- A Buckeye win. I’ll be freezing my ass off, in the ‘Shoe, so I want a win, damnit!
WHAT WILL HAPPEN:
Ohio State is going to defeat Michigan again. It’s going to happen. Deal with it. The first half will be close, and I even think Michigan leads a couple of times. But, they don’t have enough for 4 quarters of defending this team and will be sent back to Ann Arbor with their tales between their legs. Just like Woody would want it. Double-digit victory.
IN CLOSING:
Kneejerk: Week 12, Iowa
November 21, 2010
*whew* Well, I knew it’d be close, but I didn’t think the Buckeyes would stress me out as much as they did! What a game! My 24-21 or 27-21 score prediction (saying Iowa would be in it to the end) was pretty spot on, huh?
What else did I say?
I think this one will be a battle for the entire 4 quarters, with multiple lead changes.
BINGO! I wanted to win big, but just knew that wasn’t going to happen. These are the Hawkeyes; must respect. The Bucks didn’t have their best showing (understatement of the year), but it was enough to pull out a 20-17 win in Iowa City.
TP’s Final Stats: 18/33 for 195 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs; 15 carries for 78 yds
IN A NUTSHELL:
- How ’bout Devin Barclay? He was really the difference in this game. He made a clutch FB and Iowa’s kicker failed to do the same. 3-pt win. Same deal as last year.
- Shoutout to Special Teams for another solid effort. Have they turned the corner? Hope so!
- The staff forgot to bring the Super Glue for the WRs today. Never seen so many drops. I’m in the camp that feels if you get your hands on a ball, you better find a way to catch it. End of story.
- Posey’s drop made my jaw drop. He’s always good for 1, but I wish it’d come at a different time. Looking back, Iowa probably wishes he caught that. Would give them far more time to score…
- Is Stoney still sort of injured? I know high ankle sprains linger, but I figured he’d be the primary TE by now. Fragel appears to be the main one, with a sprinkling of Stoney.
- Corey Brown being out there, and not performing well, can’t help but make me think of how glaring a loss Duron Carter is to this team.
- This team doesn’t really have an offensive identity. I’ve seen others touch on this, but it’s very odd 11 games into the season, isn’t it?
- Hines and Homan didn’t have good games. Hines got better in the 2nd half, due to adjustments, but it seemed like there was a whole lot of missed tackles and poor coverage.
- After Barclay’s field goal, the play of the game was TP’s 4th down conversion run.
- The hurry-up worked great; but only when the Buckeyes were actually ready to execute plays…
- You know who was money? The entire game? The birthday boy, Brian Rolle. His play was HUGE all 4 quarters!
- Every time Hankins is in, on the Dline, he gets held. And every time, it never gets called.
- Whole lotta questionable officiating during this game. That’s all I’m gonna say about that. Suspect, for sure.
- There needs to be some kind of extra punishment for every time Shugarts false starts. Like, for every one, he has to cut an inch of his hair. SOMETHING! This has to stop!
- Even though the option mostly worked today, I’d still like for it to disappear from the OSU play book. No play makes me more nervous than that one.
- This was the first game that TP didn’t wear his knee brace. Had a respectable running/mobility performance. I’d have him put it back on for Michigan. Don’t trust ‘em…
- As discussed before, TP usually has that one dumb INT per game. Not only did he have 2, but the second of them finally put the defense in a bad position. Within 2 plays, the Hawkeyes were in the endzone.
- It wasn’t pretty, but it doesn’t have to be. The Buckeyes beat a ranked team, at their place, and on Senior Night. Major!
- Miami also lost today, so the 2 Buckeye opponents who were ranked when OSU played them will likely fall out of the rankings, and the Natl Media will throw a hissy fit. Understand the idea of the argument, but the ranking at the time of play should matter too IMO.
- TP took a hit to his throwing shoulder on one of his runs. Favored it the rest of the game & in postgame interviews. Hope he’s fine. It’ll probably hurt tomorrow…
- Mike Adams has done an amazing job this season! He’s had to face Clayborn, Watt, & Kerrigan, and only been beaten a couple of times. Impressive!
- Loved seeing Z. Boren get in Heyward’s face before that final defensive stand. Whatever he said worked. Heyward’s sack was so money!
- Someone needs to hide TP’s phone and keep him from tweeting immediately after games. Waaaaayyy too emotional. That is all.
- IT’S MICHIGAN WEEK! I’ll be in the ‘Shoe for that game and cannot wait!
EXTRA POINTS:
Pregame Postage: Week 12, Iowa
November 20, 2010
Here we go, yo! Here we go, yo!
This game is going to be a good one! I can just feel it! Moreso than even last year! That game was really only super exciting in the last part of the game. I think this one will be a battle for the entire 4 quarters, with multiple lead changes.
Iowa may have looked suspect the past 2 weeks, but make no mistake, this game is their final shot to make a statement before the calendar turns to 2011. It’s senior day, and the Hawks have nothing to lose. They are a different team at home (and I know lots of people write that about teams, but it really rings true for Iowa) and will leave it all on the field.
The question is, will the Buckeyes come out matching that effort, from the opening kick, or will they show up like the 1st halves of the PSU and Wisky games? Because if they come out lethargic and out of sorts, the day will be very long out in Iowa City.
What this game will come down to, IMO, is how both Buckeye lines react. Adam Robinson is not running for 100 yds. (Yea, I said it) Stanzi has seen the tape of how the OSU secondary is suspect. That’s where they will try to win the game. And the Hawkeye wideouts may be the best in the Big Ten. Respect. But how they handle the air attack is also dependent upon whether or not the Dline gets any pressure. For the love of all things Scarlet & Gray, if 4 can’t bring pressure, Heacock MUST dial up some blitzes and get some help in that department. Ricky Stanzi, with plenty of time to throw, will pick this defense apart. End of story.
On the offensive side of things, I’m not as concerned about the Hawkeye Dline as others. Yes, Clayborn is beastly, but for the most part, I thought last year’s Buckeye Oline did well against what was a better Iowa Dline. And the Buckeye Oline, in my opinion, is better this year. Yes, TP will probably get sacked a time or two, but I don’t think it’s the biggest factor in determining who wins. What goes on between TP’s ears is. If he stays within himself and is patient, without making any huge errors, the Buckeye offense should be ok. I don’t think they need to be stellar, just efficient.
So, having said that, here’s WHAT I WANT TO SEE:
- As tired you are of reading this, I’m tired of writing it, but there cannot be any Special Teams breakdowns. Hopefully we see them attack more like last week.
- On that note, Iowa was the beneficiary of a kickoff return for a TD. This Buckeye squad is due for one of their own. What would be better than this game? Food for thought…
- I am praying that the secondary steps up. When Stanzi’s hot, he’s virtually unstoppable. The corners cannot allow themselves to be picked on like Torrence was in the 1st half of last week’s game.
- Pressure, pressure, pressure. I don’t need sacks (although they’re nice) but Stanzi needs to be rushed and/or confused. He’s a vet so that’s a tall task…
- A healthy Buckeye running game. Boom doesn’t need to go for 100 yds (he probably won’t against this D anyway). He needs the help from TP’s legs, though. Hopefully this comes in the form of scrambles because called runs have been less than effective thus far.
- I don’t know what changed, but Basil’s kickoffs looked much improved last week. Maybe the bye week gave the staff a chance to tweak his form. Whatever it was, I hope he’s just as productive in Iowa City.
- Win the turnover battle. TP’s thrown a stinker these past 2 games, but they were essentially at the goal line. While I’d like to see him not do that today, he absolutely cannot flip the field and put the defense in a bad position.
- Hearing how Coach Tress laid into the team during halftime last week made me want to be a fly on the wall. I hope such a speech isn’t needed this week. The Buckeyes should know what’s on the line by now. If they don’t, then they really don’t deserve to win, now do they?
- Clean game with no injuries. The injury bug has been crazy this year (at both the college and pro level)! Here’s to a game without injuries!
WHAT WILL HAPPEN:
This all depends on which Buckeye squad shows up; the 1st half one or the 2nd half one. If the 1st half one shows up, and falls behind early, I don’t think they’ll be able to make up the difference and leave Iowa City with a loss. I don’t predict losses for the Buckeyes very often, but it could happen if they don’t storm out of the gates. Now, if they bring the heat all 4 quarters, then I honestly think it’s a comfortable win. (No, not a blowout). I’m think 24-21 or 27-21 with Iowa in striking distance until the very end.
REMEMBER THE TIME:
Go Bucks!
Kneejerk: Week 11, Penn State
November 14, 2010
Ahhhhh, what a game! I’m not gonna lie, I was having Camp Randall flashbacks all throughout that first half, but whatever magic happened at halftime was just what the doctor ordered! The key to that? The 4th down stop in the 2nd quarter, and Coach Tress laying into the team in the locker room. The crowd woke up, as well, and everything just started clicking.
The Buckeyes scored 35 unanswered points in the second half, dominating the trenches en route to a 38-14 victory to keep Ohio State in the Big Ten hunt.
IN A NUTSHELL:
- Seeing this team come back and fight for a win was gratifying. Stressful, but gratifying!
- Not TP’s best game. But when the team came out, refocused in the 2nd half, he did what he needed to do to get the W. That’s all you can ask from your starting QB.
- I questioned the offensive game plan at halftime. I thought it was too all over the place, and not what OSU football was about. Very happy to see them get back to what they do well after halftime.
- Did everyone see how great the kicking game was today? I noticed! I don’t think it was wind aided, so I’m not sure what changed. All I know is I like it!
- Special Teams coverage looked improved. Was the difference Dorian Bell? He looked great out there!
- Shoutout to Boom! He’s been so money this past month. He gets better as the season progresses, so the situation looks great for the remained of the Big Ten slate!
- The Oline dominated in the second half. They just took over and paved the way for Boom’s big day.
- I don’t like how the PSU staff pulled McGloin at the end. They rode him all game. Should have just let him finish the game. What difference does an another 1 or 2 series make? Not like they were going to come back and win. Was he hurt?
- And speaking of McGloin, I’m ok with QBs being confident, but no QB should be as mouthy and cocky as he was on the field today. He’s never been in this particular situation before, so hopefully he learns from it. But that sh*t really pissed me off. Stop talking/gesturing to the opposing bench and fans, and just play the game. Act like you’ve been there, even if you haven’t.
- I am NOT a fan of people booing their own team. I don’t boo at all when I have the privilege to attend games in the ‘Shoe; not even towards the other team. But I find it disgusting that people were booing the Bucks before halftime. I understand that they were probably directed to Tress & the play calls, but it doesn’t come across that way and it hurts the players and any recruits who may be on hand. This isn’t pro sports. Don’t boo your Buckeyes!
- Nice to see that Penn St. could bring their band here. Must be nice. It’s not safe for TBDBITL to make the trip to Happy Valley anymore…
- Loved the switch from Cover 3 to Cover 2 after halftime. Made a huge difference! Click here for other halftime adjustments.
- The postgame references to Anthony Morelli were absolutely hilarious. He threw a couple of TD passes to Ohio State players too, right?
- How crazy was Sanzenbacher’s TD reception?! He’s always in the right place at the right time! Insane!!
- Loved the return of TP’s stiff arm. I’d missed it.
- Those pick 6′s were so money, especially Devon Torrence’s. It was redemption for him and a huge boost for the team at the same time.
- TP’s INT made me want to throw things. He seems to give one away, like that, every game. But at least it didn’t give PSU good field position.
- Now, what was the problem with PSU being 18 pt. dogs to OSU? Final score showed the betting line was actually quite generous…
Terrelle’s final stats: 8/13 for 139 yds, 2 TDs, INT. TP also picked up 49 yds on 9 carries. Wish that long run, that was called back for holding, would have stood…
EXTRA POINTS:
Postgame interview w/ Erin Andrews
On to Iowa City!
Pregame Postage: Week 11, Penn State
November 13, 2010
Game day is upon us! The annual meeting between Ohio State and Penn State kicks off in the ‘Shoe at 3:30 this afternoon. All I can say, besides “Thank God, this isn’t a night game!”, is bring it!
I said most of what I want to in the post following Terrelle’s Wednesday night media session. But since then, I’ve tried to think about how I think this game plays out. The overly optimistic, homer in me says this is gonna be a blowout, but my head brings me back to reality. It says, “simma down, now. This is Penn St.” And that, right there, should tell you the amount of respect I have for the program.
I think back to last year and TP was mostly a game manager. It was his first game back after his injury (although no one knew how badly he was injured at the time), so he didn’t run much. The game plan to run it down everyone’s throats worked very well. The OSU offense tends to struggle when the plan is for TP to do too much. I hope that isn’t the strategy for today. I’m all for balance, but the Bucks must start with the run game, to open up the pass. They should also keep the called runs for TP to a minimum. His legs are best used when a pass play breaks down and he takes off.
But, even with a much healthier TP, I think the game plays out a lot like last year in that the teams play pretty evenly for a quarter/quarter and a half. I wouldn’t even be surprised if Penn State scored first. By then, the defense will have made the necessary adjustments to pretty much shut the Nittany Lions down. McGloin will have early success in the passing game, but it won’t last as long as they need to win this game. And while their Oline has improved throughout the season, there will be no 100 yd rusher in this contest. The PSU Oline is not to be confused with the Wiscy line.
Here’s what I want to see:
- No Special Teams breakdowns. It’s sad that we’re in week 11 and I still have to hold my breath every time there’s a punt or kickoff. PSU has a talented return man. Giving him a lane could prove deadly for the Bucks.
- Smart play from TP. The endzone INT he threw in Minny was terrible; not because it affected the flow of the game, but because trying to do too much (2008 PSU game anyone?) doesn’t tend to end well in big games. And this is a big game.
- Pass rush. The degree to which the Dline can disrupt the former walk-on QB making his 1st road start is the key to this game. He needs to be rushed and/or confused.
- Secondary has been picked on this season, and rightly so. The injuries have decimated the unit, so look for PSU to try and exploit this. They’ve got to play the ball.
- The return of Homan and Bell couldn’t come at a better time. Let’s hope they can pick things right back up where they left off. Bell, in particular, has got to help the maligned special teams coverage unit, right?
- Hoping TE Jake Stoneburner is finally back to 100%. The offense has been missing him, although Reid Fragel has really come on in his absense. Passes to the TE isn’t something OSU has done much in recent years. Stoney could have a big impact on this game.
- Cameron Heyward. He was an absolute terror and dominated last year’s game in Happy Valley. He hasn’t had the same type of impact this season since he’s the one being doubled, but someone on the Dline needs to take over. I think Big Hank could have a big game…
- Looking forward to the opportunity to post a solid win with a big audience on the big stage. Still think it’s weird that Gameday is here, but it’s the stage this team needs to take advantage of.
- November is for contenders. Get ‘er done, Buckeyes!
WHAT WILL HAPPEN:
Now having said all that, I still think the Buckeyes win; as do almost all of the Penn State media. (Don’t ask their fans. They don’t seem to have the biggest grasp on the reality of this year’s PSU team; which isn’t as good as last year’s.) Even if it does start to get out of hand, Tress will absolutely not run the score up on PSU. He has too much respect for Joe Pa (who doesn’t?). I tend to think a 10-17 point margin of victory sounds about right. I don’t really do score predictions, but I’m thinking 27-17 ish.
In closing, remember this?
Kneejerk: Week 9, Minnesota
October 30, 2010
That’s what I’m talking about!
Now, I’m not gonna lie. After Minny immediately answered OSU’s opening drive, I was thinking “ruh-roh”, but that seemed to be a mirror image of the beginning of the road game at Illinois when they threw the kitchen sink at the D (who wasn’t settled in yet) and got in a rather effortless score. Thankfully, much like Illinois, that opening drive was the only time the Gophers got in the endzone en route to the Buckeyes 52-10 win.
Other than TP’s boneheaded INT at the goal line, I thought he played very well! I’m sure he’d like to have that back, but it happens. It didn’t change the flow or outcome of the game, so I just chalk it up to being “one of those things”.
TP finished 18/22 for 222 yards, 2 TDs, INT. On the ground he racked up 55 yds on just 5 carries & 1 TD.
IN A NUTSHELL:
- Special teams continue to stress the hell outta me, but at least they did some good today in Hall’s massive punt return & Newsome’s punt block.
- Love seeing defensive scores! That never gets old and it’s been a while since this team has had one, no?
- Did TP get touched today at all? The line performed very well!
- Really like what I’m seeing from Carlos Hyde. Might be that big, quick 3rd down back that Tressel loves…
- Boom continues to produce. Glad to see him finally get over the 100 yd mark tonight.
- The injury situation on the defense is scary! I was scared to death when B. Rolle initally went down. That’s one player the D cannot afford to lose. Thankfully he was ok!
- At times it was frustrating seeing the lack of pressure from the Dline, but that sorted itself out as the game played out. When Minny was forced to throw, they went off and it worked!
- The secondary needs to get a lot better between now and the Iowa game. Just sayin’…
- Are there any quality High School senior kickers in Ohio that can kick the dang ball into the endzone on a kickoff? If so, give that guy a schollie, STAT!
- Really liked seeing, and hearing, the TBDBITL during the broadcast. Nice road trip for them to a new stadium.
- Big log jam at the top of the Big Ten Conference leader board. Bucks need to be great in November, which they usually are.
Here are some nice TP football stats & nerdery stuff for you:
- Terrelle Pryor completed 10 consecutive passes in the game, the third time he has completed 10 or more in a row this season. He had 11 against Indiana and a school-record 16 against Eastern Michigan.
- Terrelle Pryor became the third Buckeye to surpass 7,000 total yards and also passed Bobby Hoying (7,151 yards) for second place on Ohio State’s all-time list. Pryor has 7,275 yards of total offense in his career and now trails Art Schlichter’s Ohio State record of 8,850 yards.
- Terrelle Pryor threw the 49th and 50th TD passes of his career, tying him with Art Schlichter for fourth on Ohio State’s all-time list.
- Terrelle Pryor accounted for three TDs in the game, giving him 69 in his career, which is now second on OSU’s all-time list behind Art Schlichter (85).
- Terrelle Pryor now has 19 games with at least 200-yards of total offense, tying him with Troy Smith for the most all-time.
I’m very impressed with this win. I thought they’d win convincingly, but not like that. That was a good old-fashioned beat down! I likey. Now the team has a much-needed bye week to try and get some key players healthy for the November stretch. Go Bucks!
Pregame Postage: Week 9, Minnesota
October 29, 2010
So tomorrow, the Buckeyes get their chance to play in Minnesota’s new TCF Bank Stadium. I hear it’s pretty nice, so that should be nice for the players; except that it’s another damn night game. I know I don’t like them, and I’m not even on the team. The players don’t like them either, and I can’t blame them. You have to wait all day, keep yourself psyched up for that late kick. So annoying. I don’t think they play that well, as a result. Sure, they’ve won before, and have a respectable record for those late kicks, but they shine during the daytime.
But what’s done is done and thankfully they’ll be meeting a team that really doesn’t have much of an identity and is dealing with the firing of their head coach. Much better situation than a Wisconsin, Iowa, or Penn State.
I’m not sure what to expect from Minny. They don’t have anything to lose, so I kind of get the feeling they may throw the kitchen sink at the Buckeyes. I mean, it’s their new stadium, but they don’t have much success there. They haven’t won a home game this year. What better way to get the fanbase excited than to knock off a ranked team they haven’t defeated in years? *kanye shrug*
The Buckeyes should win, provided they are actually ready to play and don’t try to get too cute. Ideally, I’d like to see a repeat of last week’s performance, minus TP’s 2 INTs.
WHAT I WANT TO SEE:
- No more injuries. This team is barely holding on right now. With a BYE next week, it’s crucial to get in and out of Minneapolis w/ no more injuries!
- No Special Teams breakdowns. It’s been a couple of weeks, so I guess it’s time for another. I don’t know what needs to happen, but this has gone on far too long. FIX IT, ALREADY!
- Fast start. The team came out inspired and jumped all over the Boilermakers last week. They need to do the same against the Gophers. Scoring early and often is key!
- TP got the ball to a ton of receivers last week. Variety is good, and the team could use the reps.
- I’d like to see the ground game flourish. Boom has been doing a great job! Continuing that takes some pressure off of TP and the passing game.
- I know the coaches said they wouldn’t rest right tackle JB Shugarts, but they really should. The team shouldn’t need him tomorrow. So, getting up early might help him get some rest when the staff clears the bench.
- I’m still waiting for J. Hall or J. Berry to break one on a kick/punt return. They’re due to break one.
- I loved the tenacity the defense played with last week. Jermale Hines is so key right with all the injuries in the secondary. That he can be used in so many ways is an asset. He helps the D continue to attack, which is something that was lacking in the Wisky game.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN:
Barring a massive meltdown, the Buckeyes win. I hope they do so in an impressive manner. Yes, most of the country will be watching the Oregon/USC game, but having a primetime slot is a great opportunity for style points and to influence the human voters. If the Buckeyes & Badgers both win out (and Sparty stumbles somewhere along the way) it’ll come down to the BCS rankings to see who gets the automatic BCS bid. Eventually, OSU’s schedule should help w/ the computers as the season progresses, but the human voters aren’t going to jump the Buckeyes over a team that defeated them unless they post impressive victories week after week. It’ll be interesting to see how the remaining month of the regular season plays out! Go Bucks!
