Road Warriors
The Buckeyes’ dream game plan for the Michigan State game probably went a little something like this: put some early points on the board to force Brian Hoyer to beat you in the air and then pin your ears back on defense and come after him.
Easier said that done when you consider the team was coming off a lackluster win against Purdue in which the offense didn’t cross the goal line, but that game plan became reality reality in front of 75,000 dazed Spartan fans. They witnessed the maligned Buckeye offense come out and score touchdowns on three of their first four drives while watching their own team suffer two three-and-outs and a lost fumble in the process. Just like that, it was 21-0 Buckeyes and we weren’t even out of the first quarter.
The defense then got in on the act, recording fumble returns for touchdowns out of both Gibson and Hines and the Buckeyes finally got that one game where everything seemed to click. They would go on to scoop up five turnovers on the day and when the offense and defense get it going, you get scores like 45-7 Ohio State. Over the 20th-ranked team in the country. In their house.
Offense
Take nothing away from the performance of the defense, because they played their top game of the season, but it was the legs of Pryor and Wells along with an inspired effort out of an offensive line that really set things up today. The least popular residents of Franklin County all week, Boone and the boys responded with their most complete game of the year. They were solid on pass protection and the left side in particular played a huge role in allowing Beanie to collect yards like you collect MP3s. Consider Ballard’s mission at the beginning of the week accomplished.
Speaking of Beanie, another game and another typical performance out of him: 31 carries, 140 yards and two touchdowns. I counted no fewer than five stiff-arms and his Beanie Hop was pure Buckeyegasm for the faithful. The 28-0 halftime lead contributed to his season-high number of carries as the offense slowed down behind a more than 3-1 run to pass ratio. You pray that he doesn’t seriously re-injure the toe, but it also feels good to know he can put in a game like that right in the middle of Big Ten season.
Pryor didn’t exactly light things up in the air, completing just 7/11 and he appeared to struggle on a few reads, but he more than made up for that with his ground work (12 for 72). After the opening kickoff pinned Ohio State inside its own 10, he ripped off a 32-yarder to help flip the field position advantage and then a drive later his 18-yard touchdown run put the team on the board to kick-start the scoring.
LeBron in Cleats is starting to develop a potent stiff-arm of his own and and he surely earned some respect from teammates after lead blocking on Beanie’s reverse field run and a later play to Smith. Most importantly he turned in another performance without a turnover.
With just seven completions, the receivers probably didn’t get the type of work they wanted — especially when three of those went to tight end Brandon Smith, but the ones they caught were memorable. Robiskie was a late option for a catch in the back of the end zone for the Buckeyes’ second touchdown and following a Spartan three-and-out, Hartline answered. On a nicely-executed play-action, Pryor hung a bomb up a little short to Hartline on the right sideline. After slowing for the ball, he went up above two Spartan defenders to pull down the catch and emerged to fall just one yard short of the goal line.
That said, there wasn’t an abundance of arial fireworks and that’s okay. I liked seeing a tight end actually lead the team in receptions and I noticed a lot of good blocking out of the receivers. From a playcalling perspective, it did look like the coaches threw some more wrinkles Pryor’s way. I maintain that a lot of that stems from the play of the line — longer developing plays were off the board last week with the unit playing like it was. One more thing: that read handoff between Pryor and Wells is getting better with each game. On at least two plays, the cameras had no idea who had the ball. The Death Star handoff will be fully operational soon.
Defense
There’s little doubt that the on-field leadership out of Malcolm Jenkins and the youth infusion have really sparked the Buckeye defense. Ever since the 2nd half in Madison, this group has been playing like we envisioned the moment that Laurinaitis, Jenkins and Freeman announced that they would be coming back for their senior seasons. From Laurinaitis stuffing Ringer on the very first play of the game to the two touchdown returns out of the youngsters, we got to see a little bit of that old time Buckeye defense. The kind Dantonio had. It was a beautiful sight.
I’m trying to pick out a defensive play of the game, but I’m struggling. Do you give it to Coleman for getting juked onto his rump, getting up to punch the ball loose and springing a Donald Washington fumble return in what was then still a close game? What about his diving interception on the sideline? Or what about Jenkins for his sack-fumble and his interference on Ringer during Gibson’s 69-yard return? (I especially liked that the Jenkins/Gibson play came after Spartan backup quarterback Kirk Cousins had raced out to his roaring start, completing his first 10 attempts. It was almost like the defense said, Enough of this shit.)
Laurinaitis was everywhere, finishing with 11 tackles and a sack. Gibson, Denlinger, Rose, Williams and the rest of the defensive front helped hold Ringer to a season-low of 67 yards and got to the quarterbacks. Thad is just continuing his trajectory and Williams had two plays that really stood out: his hustle from the backside to track down Ringer on a mid-range run and his monster block on Hines’ 48-yard fumble return score with 15 seconds on the clock. The clowning got so bad that even Brian Rolle got in on the action, recording an interception to end the game.
What’s more encouraging is that it looks as if Heacock is starting to favor man coverage. The proof is in the pudding, so to speak, with five takeaways and stuffing the nation’s leading ball carrier. If the Buckeye defense plays like this next weekend, Penn State could be in for a rude awakening.
Special Teams
Outside of his muff and near turnover on one return, Ray Small is turning into a nice little weapon returning punts. He has sure hands and the moves and speed to make the first and second guy miss. As much as Tressel loves the battle over field position, this has to warm his heart somewhat. Flash is looking like a complimentary option on kick returns (muffed catch of his own and all).
The most refreshing aspect of the victory had to have been the fact that the Buckeyes only tried one field goal. That came in the fourth quarter when Pettrey hit a 40-yarder. That’s normally Pretorius range, so you have to wonder if kicker won’t be the latest position to see a change at the top (though the depth chart — which is quickly being rendered misleading at best — seemed to indicate otherwise earlier in the week).
Notes
Rehring was a surprise starter at right guard… Cool Game Moment #1: Malcolm Jenkins making plays on the punt team – with one minute to go in the game… Many props to the Buckeye secondary for focusing on becoming ball hawks and then going out and doing just that… Robo’s little brother looks like a big-mini Robo… No called options this week?
25 Responses
Trackbacks
- Eleven Warriors » Buckeye NFL Watch: Week 7
- Eleven Warriors » Top 11 Buckeye Moments of 2008: Part One
I’m demanding that everyone who picked MSU this week apologize publicly.
I’m sorry. I didn’t exactly say that, but I told my wife that I thought there was a good chance the Buckeyes could lose.
We need to bring this kind of game back home for next week, for sure. This is the best I’ve seen the Buckeyes in a loooooooong time.
Any word on Chekwa’s injury? He is just starting to establish himself–I hope for his and our sake it is nothing serious.
Dan, the official site doesn’t have a transcript up yet and I haven’t heard anything. Anyone else have news on his front?
FIRE THE COACHES.
FIRE THE COACHES.
FIRE THE COACHES.
For shame boys, for shame. I hate to say I told you so, but I told you so. Have a little patience. Enjoy the Crow Pie.
PSU falls next. Go Buckeyes.
Matt I still think we need some new blood at O coordinator. Great win today, but the coaches have to empower TP to throw the ball a little more than 11 times. Anybody who said fire Tressel is an idiot and not a true fan anyway.
This was an amazing outing. Everything I predicted came true, especially releasing Hines as a force attacker. Its like Heacock checked the blogs. What a beast he is. I am not even worried about losing our LB core next year because Hines, Sabino, and Rolle have it covered.
Player of the game is tough to call but I’m gonna give a joint award to Laurinaitis/Beanie….the Stiff Arm of Justice was in full-force today, and it takes me outta my seat everytime. Please come back next year Beanie, just do it! LOL
Either way don’t type when your drunk………..O-H!!!!!
“Laurinaitis, Jenkins, and Cooper”? Do you mean Freeman?
MikeLew, I do. Fixed now, thanks.
yeah, robos little brother looked a clone.
Jason, were you thinking Joe Cooper? Are you stuck in 1999?
I really, really love mgoblog, and Brian – I think it was in his season preview of the Buckeyes – described the challenge Beanie poses to opposing defenses as being akin to trying to rope down a Tyrannosaurus. That’s always seemed particularly apt to me – Beanie is, I’m sure, quite literally terrifying to the guys who have to face him. He’s bigger/faster/stronger than anything, and this was abundantly clear even against LSU.
To extend that analogy a bit, and with apologies to Michael Crichton, it occurs to me that if Beanie is like a T-Rex, then LiC is like a velociraptor. Sneaky, fast, and deadly – and also, incidentally, bigger/stronger/faster than anything you’ve got, unless you’ve got a T-Rex. And ultimately, even scarier than Beanie.
Now, I’m not about to suggest that the two of them are simply going to leave nothing but chewed-up body parts and bloody entrails in their path the rest of the year – there’s plenty of freshman mistakes and shoddy line play to be had yet – but I do mean to suggest that if the minor miscues that happened today can get tightened up, then the team that demolished the Spartans today is the equal of any other in the country. We’ll see if that’s the team we get next Saturday. If we do, the Nits are in trouble.
Velociraptor for sure El Caballo. I know its all anyone talks about, but its amazing everytime he takes off with the ball that he looks like he’s barely trying as he glides around defenders. Did you see how flawlessly he sidesteped the DE on the TD pass to Robo? It was a thing of beauty, what athleticism! I was actually suprised that he went to Robo, because Ballard was at the front pylon wide open for a good 3 second window or so. I yelled out “NOOOO!” when he threw it because the camera angle didn’t show Robo open from the backside. All was well though, great vision LiC.
Saying Ray Small is sure handed on punt returns despite a muff and a fumble makes me think that sure handed doesn’t mean what you think it means.
Great post otherwise :)
Great vision and great poise as well for him not to buckle under pressure as he as done in previous games. Hopefully we see more of that and less scrambling backwards from here on out. After watching the highlights again, I have to say anyone who doesn’t get a stiffy from all the stiff arm action in this game is not a fan. It’s expected out of Beanie (and he produced like 5) but to see Pryor lay someone out made me jump out of my seat.
It’s exciting to see what this team can do when it plays to their ability.
Looking forward to the UFR..er… Hitting Rewind. Thanks, Jason!
Obviously, the defense played their best game of the season and set the tone of the game. I believe MSU had a positive turnover margin heading into this game.
I hope Sanzenbacher(TP’s ‘go-to’ guy) and Boom Herron are back to play next week vs. the Kitty Kats. We’ll need every able bodied player.
I think that OSU played well against MSU partially because with Dantonio, they are a more traditional “run on first down” type Big Ten team, with a very good running back. PSU is no such team anymore. They spread the ball around.
I personally hope that MSU rebounds from this game and spanks UM next week, as I have no animosity towards the Spartans. They better get the Crapperines this year while they’re down.
BTW, I don’t like the praise heaped on Ray Small. I think he is a ‘decent’ return guy, but he is no Ted Ginn. Had our guy(#38) not recovered that fumble of his, and MSU recovered on our 2 yard line, it could have turned into an entirely different game.
Next up for Ohio State: The Big Ten “Championship Game” vs. the Kittys in Columbus. ;)
The one question that I am left with is what is the deal with B Saine? Is he hurt or do the coaches just hate him. I feel so bad for the kid because the only time he seems to get in the game are in obvious running situations where he can’t even make it to the line. To me it seems like a big waste of talent.
Otherwise, bring on the white helmets!
GO BUCKS!
AR-
I was gonna say basically the same thing about Saine, big day with 4 total yards. He has to be hurt, otherwise he is at the bottom of the depth chart next year when Berry gets in there, and ESPECIALLY if Beanie stays. Kid might wanna transfer if that happens actually…..too bad because everyone has high hopes for the kid
I personally think Saine was way overhyped. He has done nothing to prove he was worthy of the hype and I wouldn’t go so far as to blame that on the playcalling, coaching decisions, or any injuries. The kid just doesn’t look like a football player. Transferring might be a good idea for him but if Beanie ends up leaving after this year he’ll likely be a second stringer (or at least competing for it) rather than a 4th.
And Buckeyedude, I don’t think anyone’s comparing Small to Ginn Jr anymore, but you have to admit Small is a better option at returner over Rasta or Saine. Thomas has shown he can return too.
nitpicker, it would have definitely helped to have added the word “usually” in there. My faith in Ray’s hands remains strong. :)
The “deal” with Brandon Saine is that he’s overrated. He is a track star, not a football star. He looks incredibly muscular, but he’s soft(like the Michigan offense).
He goes down too easy, and is afraid to get hit. He should run track for OSU next spring and forget about football, IMO.
Flip, you’re right. I would prefer Thomas, Small or even Mo Wells returning punts before Saine.