Five Things: Ohio University
National TV Turd
It probably won’t matter either way after next week but it was unfortunate that the Buckeyes put up such a dismal effort against an inferior opponent on national TV.
Expect the fallout to be shown in the blog poll as the Buckeyes will be lucky to stay in the top 6 after providing a tanker load of kerosene for the haters. The only hope is that the game was so bad that most of the national audience abandoned the game in favor of a rerun of Full House or CHiP’s.
Lord knows I was dangerously close to rooting on John and Ponch as they chased some drug dealing surfers in a conversion van instead of watching Ben Person do his best sieve impersonation.
I can already feel my defense mechanism kicking in trying to convince me yesterday was nothing more than a mental letdown thanks to a week of talk about Beanie’s toe and USC, which brings me to item number two…
Who’s more accountable for yesterday – players or coaches?
The phenomena of playing down to the competition certainly isn’t just an OSU thing but it’s a tough pill to swallow when both the players and the coaches stink it up the week before the biggest game of the season. I want to scratch for positives out of yesterday’s debacle but to do that, I first have to bitch about the negatives.
While the list is long and distinguished, I can only stomach touching on a few of said negatives starting with the coaching. How ’bout that 4th and 1 dive up the gut with the team’s least powerful and worst inside rusher (Rasta) running behind a sleepwalking offensive line to kill the first drive of the 2nd quarter?
Calls like that shake my belief in the myth that the staff truly takes individual player skills into account when deciding what play to run.
Though I might meet resistance, I also question not going for two after Boom’s TD cut the OU lead to 14-12 with about three minutes left in the 3rd quarter. I know the book says most coaches won’t considering going for two until the 4th quarter but I think you try to tie the game right there.
In the end it didn’t matter but why not go for it? You only need a FG to take the lead if you fail to convert and you still need a TD either way if you give up a FG to Ohio. In the end, I just hope Tress wasn’t worried OU would score a TD putting OSU in a nine point hole if the two point try failed.
I was also puzzled with Boom being benched after sparking the 13 play, 73 yard drive that got OSU back in the game. His numbers during the drive weren’t amazing (7/32) but he appeared to find a rhythm behind a line finally opening some holes. Why was he benched? Can he not handle more than 12 carries (50 yards, TD) a game?
On the player side of things, many on the roster had lackluster performances starting with Pretorious. Hell, I didn’t even know kickers could get caught looking ahead but after a shanked PAT and a pulled FG, I’m not so sure. The South African wasn’t alone, however, as the offensive line and the top two receivers also failed to show up which brings me to item three…
How good are Robo and Hartline?
Due to TV coverage zooming in to the vicinity of the ball it’s often difficult to evaluate receivers unless you’re at the game but how is it that these two seemingly fail to gain separation from defenders at an alarming clip? The few wide-angle shots yesterday confirmed this after seeing similar issues last week.
This is not to say these guys aren’t any good because they definitely are – I just don’t think either one is elite especially when you consider the lack of game breaking speed and a lack of consistency. Both had drops yesterday, none more painful than their back to back drops forcing OSU to kick a FG cutting the Bobcat lead to 7-6 late in the second quarter.
Robo struck first as he appeared either not ready or scared to take a hit while Boeckman’s slant pass hit him in the hip at the three yard line. On the next play, Boeckman placed a nice ball to the left side of the endzone but Hartline let it go right through his hands. It wasn’t routine, but Hartline will tell you he should have had it. These two need to get it going next week to support Small and Sanzenbacher.
Offensive Line Play Will Dictate What Happens at USC
I honestly thought Boom and Zoom with Dreadlocks would combine to have a solid, if not spectacular day and maybe they did rushing 26 times for 113 yards (4.3 ypc) and two scores however the effort put forth by the offensive line was simply unacceptable.
The first half pass and run blocking was about as bad as I’ve seen outside of the MNC’s and after watching USC’s defensive line, notably DT Fili Moala (#75), cannibalize UVA’s offensive front, I’m going to have trouble sleeping this week.
I said before the season this group still had a lot to prove and they haven’t proved anything yet. I still think Ben Person is useless and I’m not sure Bryant Browning is improving at a rate the recent coach-speak might suggest. He’s slow to protect the edge and you can bet Surfer Pete is going to exploit any weaknesses the line has shown to date.
Spielman is the God of all Sideline Reporters
Without question, the highlight of the day was Spielman’s work on the Buckeye sideline. I know he’s really a booth guy and we love him for his emotion but his insight is incredible. Sure, he was funny as hell because he was getting pissed at the shameful effort put forth by OSU early and his observations about the receivers not getting open and the lack of intensity up front were right on the mark.
I’d go through the tape to cite specific quotes but watching that diarrhea inducing effort once was enough. I will say his calling out of the o-line for participating in a pillow fight was one of the most awesome things I’ve ever heard on TV.
Maybe Tress should hire Spielman as Chief Motivator since the Vest seems to sometimes struggle in this department. I think that post might be a little more valuable than a Speed Coach at this juncture.
God love Spielman. The fire that continually burns in him is just another legacy of Earle Bruce. Those two are never lacking for motivation.
I think it’s safe for us Buckeye fans to start preparing ourselves for a shalacking on Saturday. We’ll have our barbecues, our coolers of beer, and our HDTV, but this team, as it stands right now, shouldn’t even take the same field as USC. From embarrassing comments by Saturday’s #1 receiver, to the pillow fight at the line of scrimmage, to the inept play calling by our offensive staff, and to the irrelevance of James Laurinaitis, we simply don’t have a prayer.
I’m starting to think the Bucks are overrated, and at best can hope for a Rose Bowl berth against the Pac-10 #2. I hope I’m dead wrong, but in the end, it’s not what I hope or what I think, it’s what really happens that counts.
Wow Steve, thanks for heads up to the the rest of us that the sky is falling.
You’ll see an entirely different Buckeye squad in Cali. And Beanie will play, no one will keep him off that field. And I won’t predict a victory, but overconfident USC against a underdog Ohio State, well the circumstances for an upset don’t get much better than that.
Jim Tressel all-time record against #1 ranked teams: 1-0
That’d be those bad boys from Miami that everyone thought we’d lose to. Keep the faith.
While my confidence and faith is certainly shaken, don’t buy into the whole “we don’t belong on the same field as USC” bullshit. That’s exactly what douchebags like Pat Forde and Mark May want you to think.
We looked every bit as awful against Akron last year. Take it easy, guys. We’ll have our “A” game when we arrive at the Mausoleum. Whether that’s enough remains to be seen.
I’m just curious why “one of the best offensive lines in the nation” is always piled up on top of each other after a run block.
USC’s O-Line all trimmed down this summer to under 300. We all know what they did to UVA. Depending on what they do to us, I have a feeling that the leaner, quicker O-Line will be the new trend.
Steve, if you’re going to say the Bucks will get buried, then don’t use the word “us”.
You’re not one of us if you talk like that.
1.) You always kick the XP in that situation. Always. You take the “easy” points until you HAVE to go for two.
2.) I was at the game, and although I am certainly a novice, my armchair analysis is pretty much the same as yours regarding the WRs. After the first few drives, I started trying to pay attention to the WRs on passing plays as often as I could, and they were just not getting open. One or two times Boeckman missed an open Robiskie over the middle, but he was already scambling by the time Robo came open.
3.) Obviously no one here is hoping that we’ll lose to USC, but seriously: just because someone thinks we’re going to lose doesn’t make them a “traitor” or anything. I’m as excited and nervous as can be, but come on, it cannot be denied: if we play like we did yesterday, USC will blow us off the field. I am confident that we won’t play as horribly, but only an insane optimist (and they are certainly legion in the Land of Eternal Buckeye Optimism [TM]) would not have their confidence shaken at least a little after yesterday’s horror-show.
Like you said — it won’t matter after next week. Ohio State won the game and they’ll impress the college football universe enough to move into #1 and stay there if they can beat USC in the Coliseum next week.
I wish you luck, but I think USC’s gonna be too tough for the Bucks to knock off.
not sure if it’s been brought up, but not only have the receivers who’ve played the opening two games not getten seperation, they haven’t put a substantial block on an opposing team member – period. any play involving the ‘flat’ has been swormed on while Hartline & Robiski simply stand there gaucking.
also, the absence of Beanie’s pass protection blocking this past Saturday was quite obvious. he’s more than simply a great back carrying the ball – pay attention, his protection of the QB can be a thing of beauty.
as many others who’re crazy enough buckeye fans that they’re reading this right now – i can almost feel a blitz is coming before the lines get into their stance. how come no one down on the field can? we need an effective, quick pass counter for when USC brings the heat the first few times – if this doesn’t happen & cause the Trojans to be a little more conservative on blitzing then it is going to be a long & ugly evening for us & Boeckman!
Look, Jeff at the BBC, I’m frustrated with how Ohio State has played in its first two games. I’ve spent the last 7 months on blogs reading, writing, and defending the Buckeyes endlessly to the nation of college football fans, especially the SEC. Then, when it finally comes time for us to get a glimpse of what should be an NFL all-rookie team, I’m left feeling like the last 120 minutes of gameplay has been wasted before what should one of the biggest non-conference matchups this decade.
There are no excuses. This was supposed to be a lesson in redemption, and it was supposed to be vindication for our fans that Ohio State is the greatest football program. So far, it looks like a bunch of headcases the same way Michigan approached the field last season.
I’m angry that we’re not annihilating people. They should be fearless out there, the same way USC is fearless when they play football. Why that fearlessness isn’t there is anyone’s guess, but intensity wins ballgames. We better see intensity on Saturday, because I haven’t seen it yet.
Isn’t anyone the least bit ashamed at playing such weak teams like Youngstown St and Ohio U? At least you should beat on them the why Nebraska used to. Even UCLA opened against a ranked Tennessee team.
Gentlemen…breathe in…breathe out…relax. Don’t sell your season tickets just yet. You guys are forgetting the key factor for Saturday’s game; an additional 8 extra solid hours of Miller Lite and Scioto County Swamp Water(tm) consumption!
Remember as online fans/bloggers it matters not how the well the players execute, the coachers prepare this week, Beanie’s toe, etc…What matters most is how insanely drunk you are before the game. Beers = confidence, and confidence is contagious, hell judging by the sheer amount of vaginaness I’m witnessing here, some of you need to start drinking now and keep up the fire until Saturday night.
Win, lose, or draw the Bucks will be fine on Saturday. Would you feel better if we had ole #8 Bellasorry behind center leading us into battle?
Dr. Holtz said it best when he was countering the enormous sack of dousche Mark May who was bantering on and on about how bad the Bucks are and how bad they’ll get beat….
“Mark, if I was a bartender, I’d cut you off”. Keep the faith men, Lou Holtz knows his shit, he is a bonafide Doctor.
Hey Tommy Trojan – don’t kid yourself about UVA being worth a shit. Richmond had them on the ropes, trailing just 3-0 in the 4th quarter before UVA finally got a couple scores to win 16-0. Cracking on the YSU game being scheduled is just a lack of knowledge / understanding of the college landscape. A large chunk of the powerhouses have I-AA teams on the schedule as that 12th regular season game. Dumbass.
I remember calling my buddy on December 28th 2002 and telling him I changed my mind. I am not going to the NC game against Miami because we are going to get destroyed and I am not going to waste my money. I would rather cry & sulk in the comfort of my own living room. That is basically the exact same feeling that I have had for the last 24+ hours. Moral of the story…..who knows what is going to happen next week, nobody. The upset of the century happens nearly every week. Hopefully the Bucs can get focused and go out and prove everyone wrong. The pressure is kind of off know…nobody is going to pick them to win….and by the way, I did go to the game(only because my wife told me OSU may never get back to the game…so go and try to have fun). Best decision she ever made
My only gripe is the open substitution/rotation that the offense has implemented in games 1 and 2. I believe that the offense hasn’t jelled yet because of that. If you watch all the other “big boys”, their 1st teamers play until the game gets out of hand. This has been my only knock on Tressel’s offensive philosophy. Why can’t we come out the gate and lay the wood? Anyone else feel my pain?
Ohio U has a good coach in Frank Solich, now, I bet the Buckeyes practiced for USC this week not Ohio U. Solich anticipated this and knew Ohio State was going to throw the basic package out there. All that added together and you get a team with a spark of hope to pull off an upset. Eventually the better athletes won the game…
Lou Holtz believes, per ESPN. com:
Ohio State
It wasn’t a great effort Saturday, but Ohio State will play an outstanding game at USC. You never have the same team two weeks in a row. They will redeem themselves out in California. They’re a very talented football team and I think they’ll win at the Coliseum.
Yeah, I think they were not in the game and this was definately a poor performance across the board. I am making the trip out to LA for the game to represent buckeye nation. I think if they don’t get down early, they will be able to win, but it will definately define the remainder of the season.
Im not sure Lou Holtzssssssss believing in the bucks is such a good thing…..
After watching this game on Saturday, I want to know where the passion is in this football team. There is no way that Ohio University should be playing one Quarter with Ohio State. I mean come on, these guys on the o-line played like pansies. I think that Coach Tress should send them a message in the locker room by saying things like, if you guys don’t want to carry the Ohio State tradition with pride, we will bring younger guys in who will. This game is unnacceptable. They better get their butts reamed for this kind of performance. That is where Spielman would be good to go down there and give him a piece of his mind!
Ohio State won’t consistently win big games unless we get a new offensive line coach and a new offensive coordinator. Oh boy, its the same guy! I wonder why both are horrible. With all the talent on the line there is no excuse for less than 200 yards rushing every time out. And as always play calling is suspect.
It was nice to see some INTs this game, though.
Regardless of how we got here we are 2-0 and ready to play USC for #1, we better just concentrate on them and forget the past two games. Yes, they were disappointing but come Saturday night, it wont mean squat. Neither OSU or SC we be thinking about their first game(s).
I hope we match up well with them and play OUR best. If we do, I like our chances.
OU played a spread offense Saturday. We always suck at defending the spread (for reasons I don’t know). Of course we looked horrible in some of the other departments of the game, but I’m just saying. USC plays a more pro style offense. We defend better against that. I think we’ll be fine Saturday. Everyone and their moms around the country are already drinkin the SC Kool-Aid, and they played one game against a weak Virginia team. I don’t care if Virginia is a BCS school, they’re a cupcake. So I’m willing to even say the University of Spoiled Children is a bit overrated now. Plus, those west coast kids can be soft, with their Hollywood lifestyle, boosters and Escalades. I think the smash mouth football we play here in the Big Ten will be a factor.
We’ll be ready come Saturday and I think we’ll have a good chance to pull out a W. I mean we’re not playing against an SEC team so we’re good haha. If we do lose it’ll probably be really close.
I’m sorry to say but the “Vest” seems to be losing his luster. Yes beating Michigan year in and year out is awesome, but we have come to expect more than that now. I just hope Jim was resting his coaching for USC too!!!! GO BUCKS!!!!
Mike, I’m sorry to say, but you strike me as an idiot. John Cooper. 2-10-1. Owned, by Michigan, year after year. Double digit wins a rarity, not the norm. Losing bowl game after bowl game. And then the Vest comes out of nowhere, turns it all around, restores pride, discipline, tradition to the program. Tell me, by your standards, is Tressel allowed to lose a game anymore? And if even he wins the game, how big does the margin of victory have to be for you to have your expectations met? You don’t expect “more”, you expect 118 other teams in Division I football to never beat the Buckeyes. And if that were the case, I doubt we’d watch much college football anymore.
I think this is the wake-up call the Bucks needed this week. They’ll be just fine Saturday. Not to mention, this game is shaping up just like the Miami game a few years ago, everyone is saying how bad we’re going to get beaten. Now, granted, if we play at all like we did vs. OU, it’ll happen, but I think we just got all the BS out of our system and now will start playing some football. Go Bucks!
First off, Mike, Tressel isnt loosing his luster. The seniors let this team come out flat. Two weeks in a row now there has been no fire in this team. No sense of urgency. Our O-Line which I believe averages 320 POUNDS let an Ohio U defensive line push them around. That is completely unacceptable. Chris Speilman said it best when he made the pillow fight comment except it looked like the line was fighting with feather pillows.
I realize for some reason we dont play the spread well at all. We had four INT’s and it was great that one of them was by a safety. That was a hell of a catch. Last year he wouldnt have caught that. But, I have a question. Why, when we know they have a mobile QB not bring in one extra DB or even use Moeller as a spy on those third down plays? It was great we forced them into 3rd and longs but to give it away that easily is unacceptable. Or, tell our ends not to rush 10 yards up field and to back off and play a spy role on the qb. Just a thought, but something that might actually work.
I am just as excited and just as anxious about this game against USC as anyone else here who has posted a comment. But, the bucks are not playing with any sort of passion. Its especially evident with the play of the o-line. This isnt something that is easily turned on like a light switch. I dont know what the coaches have to do but if they come out flat Saturday night they are going to get their a$$e$ kicked. There is no way around it. Our receiver especially Robo and Hartline need to stop crying about getting beat up and play with some heart. They were out played by Ohio’s DB’s. They looked horrible but, instead of looking inside themselves they complained to the refs for not making calls that shouldnt have been called in the first place. They better get used to it because next week they wont get any calls in their favor. Unless its obvioulsy blatant by a USC defensive back. Our O-line better be ready for the a$$ beating of there lives because its coming. Carroll is going to let everything fly and if the line isnt ready Boeckman is going to pay dearly. I dont know if Ohio State is ready but, we are about to find out either way.
Quote of the day from Matthew Zemek at College Football News.com
“Very simply, ladies and gentlemen, if you think that Ohio State is in trouble against USC because of the way the Buckeyes played against Ohio, you know nothing about college football and have failed to pay attention to this sport during your lifetime.
Nothing more need be said.”
Speilman was the highlight of the game. Sometime’s he’s annoying on the radio, but when he was down there calling OSU out, it was hilarious. I just wish he was allowed to go over and smack the players around.
Did anyone else notice J. Bauserman’s displeasure with the 4th and 1 call? You could see it on his face that Mo Wells up the middle was coming and he knew it wasn’t going to work.
We all saw it on our couch and knew exactly what play was coming.
Can we get JT to hire Spiels as Defensive Coordinator? At least you know Spiels is a great motivator and has some passion!
And he would attack opposing offenses.
Hey Principal Skinner,
Is puerile name calling the best you can do? Must be an OSU grad.
Name the last D 1-AA team USC played.
USC actually beats SEC teams.
“USC actually beats SEC teams.” And chokes against losers. See: The Cardinal, Bruins. You could have had your shot in 2006 but you decided to shit the bed instead. Could have had another shot last year, same story. No matter what shit is talked by you or me, the kids duke it out this weekend. Should be interesting. Cheers, see you in LA.
I’m in the camp that thinks OSU will lose – and lose soundly – in California. I feel even more strongly about that after watching Ohio State demonstrate its inability to run on a Bobcats defense that couldn’t stop Wyoming on the ground. Wyoming. You know, the Wyoming Cowboys.
I hope for the opposite. I hope I fly out to LA and see OSU play a good game against USC. I hope, I hope, I hope….
Good one Tommy Trojan, feel great, feel invicible. We may not do this coming weekend but that day is surely coming and the fall will be unbearable for those of you that feel great and ….invincible. Now stop lurking here and go back to the land of Hilton Perez, TMZ and “What Award Shall We Give Ourselves This Month”. Just saying.
I still have no concerns about the defense, regardless of OU’s 3rd down conversions; when a defense gets 5 turnovers and the team ends up with 26 points, the problem is not with the defense. They’ve still only given up 1 TD in 2 games. Given the fact that Sanchez is not a particulartly mobile QB, I feel very good about the way our D matches up to SC’s offense. Not to mention, we’ll have Washington and O’Neal back in the lineup even though Jermale Hines has played very well in their absence.
As far as the offense goes, I’m still very concerned. First, the playcalling was abysmal; I sincerely hope its because we didn’t want to show anything to SC. Second, count me as one of those who is not yet sold on Boeckman. With all due respect, the guy’s no more than an average QB. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but it is what it is. If Boeckman is getting happy feet in the pocket against OU, God bless when Maualuga and all of his 260 pounds comes through on a blitz.
Bottom line, it’s idiotic to assume the Bucks will come into the Coliseum and have another performance like OU. But it’d also be idiotic to assume everything will automatically take care of itself and fall into place by this Saturday night.