Preview: #12 Ohio State at #25 Northwestern
Fitz has NU rolling.
 #12 Ohio State 7-2, 4-1 Big Ten Roster | Schedule |
November 8, 2008 12:00 PM ET - ESPN2 —— Ryan Field Evanston, IL |
 #25 Northwestern 7-2, 3-2 Big Ten Roster | Schedule |
The Buckeyes need to take some frustrations out in the worst way. I’d love more than anything to see Beanie, Pryor and crew hang a half a hundie this weekend. This offense needs it and as a fans, it’s up to us to project hatred and destruction on Northwestern. After all, Woody would want it.
But the truth is, it’s hard to hate the Wildcats. I’ve tried — it’s impossible.
They’re the only school in the conference than can rightfully tell Michigan to eat it when it comes to academics, they typically make the most of their talent and Pat Fitzgerald is an inspiring story. That and the fans are kind enough to free up enough seats to turn every game in Ryan Field into a de facto road game for the Cats.
Hopefully Tressel’s boys can do a little better job of creating some anger because the conditions are ripe for a nerve-wracking afternoon. I was thinking we may be in store for a rare offensive explosion earlier in the week. But that was before Thursday’s drama. Throw in the fact that the Cats are actually decent this year and the weather shaping up to favor an underdog, and you have cause for a little worry.
It’s hard to see the Buckeyes losing this one, but then again, this offense has generated more questions than answers. And the Cats do have a small trend on their side.
Opponent
Thankfully, Northwestern has been decimated by injuries the last few weeks. Out is Sutton, as is is backup Conteh. Ditto for defensive end Vince Browne, linebacker Malcolm Arrington and countless other Wildcats.
The good news is that quarterback C.J. Bachér should be back from a hamstring injury. Or is that bad news? Despite passing for a school-record 3,656 yards last season, the senior has struggled this year and backup Mike Kafka has such giant stones that he only set the Big Ten rushing record for a quarterback last week in his first start since 2006.
Fitzgerald’s team is going to throw the ball on offense — even with Sutton healthy, Bachér put the ball up nearly 38 times per game. When they do try to run, look for them to utilize Kafka in some creative ways and you can bet Heacock has been harping on halfback passes and other backfield tomfoolery for the better part of this week. Sophomore Stephen Simmons, a micro-back, will get whatever scraps are left and may triple his season total of four carries.
As much as the Wildcats pass, it’s only mildly surprising that they have three receivers with more total yards on the season than Robo or Hartline (hell, even Sutton has just 20 or so fewer receiving yards than either of the Brians). Ross Lane, Eric Peterman and Rasheeed Ward all put up about the same numbers, but Peterman is the most consistent of the three.
NU’s defense has been stung particularly hard by injuries with the aforementioned Browne and Arrington as well as end Rejaie Johnson and cornerback Justan Vaughn out for the season as well. Still, it was the defense that came up with the big play to seal the win over Minnesota last week when safety Brendan Smith returned an interception 48 yards for the winning margin in the waning seconds.
With winds expeted near 20 mph and possible showers, the Cat defense can probably take solace in the fact that the Buckeye passing game will be strained on the day and they can focus their attention to stopping Wells, Pryor and the rushing attack. Another 58 points is certainly not expected.
Buckeye Breakdown
It’s a relief to see the Buckeyes playing on the road. This season, save for California, they seem to play better on the road for reasons that are partly related to the home crowd being so quick with the booflex and associated friends and family distractions for the players. With the Ray and Ken Small cloud looming, the trip out of town may well be what the doctor ordered.
With the exception of Small, at best a 3rd option this season, the Buckeyes should be rested and traveling with their full accouterment of talented bodies. Beanie, healthier than he has been at any time since the opener should create a few of those my goodness, he just destroyed that dude’s face moments after being held to his worst game of the season two weeks ago against Penn State. He looks like the type of back that was put on Earth to pile up 200+ in bad weather.
The loss to the Fightin’ JoePas was tough to swallow, but Pryor did have his best passing game of the year. It was pointed out here and elsewhere, but his throw-away out of bounds was just another step on his evolutionary progress. First time we’ve seen it this season, and we loved it. While conditions may limit him in the passing game, he’s had two weeks to work on read handoffs and hopefully the option. And Allah-willing, we’ll see the pistol again.
Northwestern, being Northwestern, doesn’t exactly have a dominant defensive front. Will the line show up and put together their 2nd complete game of the season? They’re cognizant of the chatter that they’re the weak link on this offense and here’s to hoping the two weeks were filled with plenty of reflection both on where they want to take the team (BCS or late December bowlin’) and where they want to go with their own careers. Alex Boone, the top-performer of the group, is playing for future cash every Saturday.
The Buckeyes are well-positioned on defense, with the secondary, the strength of their unit, taking on the Northwestern arial attack. I like the Buckeyes in this one. Bachér may find some low-hanging fruit underneath in this one, but without a real fear of the running game, Ohio State can roll more nickel with linebackers dropping into coverage. Freeman or Laurinaitis would make great spies when Kafka is in the game, so things shouldn’t get out of hand from that perspective.
If there’s anything that has me tuning in as of late, it’s a maturing defensive front, that seems to improve with each outing and incredibly has performed better since the loss of Lawrence Wilson (truly one of man’s unsolved mysteries). Thaddeus Maximus has quickly become one of our favorite Buckeyes and although Bachér gets the ball off pretty quickly, he could come away with a couple of more sacks or man-ball separations to keep his legend alive and well.
PREDICTION:
The weather and home-cookin’ will help — and the Wildcats are legit this year, but we just can’t really see this one getting all that close. Not last year, but not exactly Purdue, either.
Ohio State 26, Northwestern 13
Re: the poll
It’s hard to criticize any of the wide receivers, given the QB situation. Some say they just aren’t getting open for Pryor, and sometimes that’s true, but I also think Pryor just can’t find them.
I voted Alex Boone. Disappointment follows great expectations so Mr. 1st round draft pick gets my vote.
Home cookin? There will be more Ohio State fans in that stadium than NU fans. We went up 2 years ago and that place was all scarlet and gray. I was invited to go up with 3 different groups of buckeye fans. There will be no home field advantage and we will hear the O H I O chant going around the stadium early and often. The students don’t even show up there at all maybe 1,000 of them go.
JoseOle-
No doubt about it. I’m going up with a group of 8…all of us will be decked out in S&G. It should be just like a home game minus the blue hairs.
Any idea of OSU’s record following a bye week?
1-4.
Me-
No Sutton, dinged Bacher, depleted defensive front makes the record off the bye week irrelevant. Moving on……
Im looking for a sick Stiff Arm of Justice, my life isnt the same without it. “Allah-willing” there will be a broken facemask by games end. Hope everyone taking the trip to Evanston has fun, wish I could meet you guys out there but sadly will remain in upstate NY. Might be out for the Michigan Community College game tho….
Sweater McWool 31
Purple People Eaters 10
I agree it’s easy to pull for the ‘cats outside of this match up. They play hard, they play smart (obviously), they have a good coach, and they reside in one of my favorite cities.
I want to believe this will be an Obama-style landslide victory, but after 9 games of inconsistency it’s difficult to predict an outcome. I pray the boys come out with some serious intensity after the last heart-breaker. Win out and get a good bowl bid is the still the same goal as it was in August. A lot has happened this season and this game has me slightly nervous. We shall see…
Go Bucks!
Considering who has done more with less, would you rather have RR or Fitz as your head coach?
If JT got hit by a bus tomorrow (knocking feverishly on wood) I would be shouting from the mountain tops to hire Fitzgerald or Randy Edsall.
Young classy guys, running winning, classy programs.
Yeah, I can’t bring myself to have any negative feelings about NW. It’s a great school, they play smart, solid football. I love their coach. I’m with BrotherBuck here.
I watched the Northwestern practice when the BTN did their fall camp sessions at each school. I liek the way Fitz handled things and he came across as the kind of guy I would run through a brick wall for.
The only negative on Fitz is I can’t get rid of the image of him front and center cheering as Michigan handed it to the Bucks and sent Northwestern to the Rose Bowl.
yea fuck him for that
Hey OSU fans, this alum will be at fabled Ryan Field tomorrow to watch his beloved Wildcats take on the Buckeyes. A word of caution about overconfidence. These guys play like their coach, they don’t quit even when behind as the Minnesota game proved. And I would like to see OSU fans prove something to us…that they are good guests. In 2004, when we beat the Bucks in overtime, several OSU fans turned downright ugly (busting bottles, throwing trash and pissing in lawns) as well as mocking our school and facilities. While we have a lot of experience with losing, since 1995 only OSU and Michigan have more Big Ten titles than Northwestern (1995, 1996 and 2000) so we’re not the bottom dwellers (bowl games in 2003 and 2005) the way the MS [Sports]M likes to portray us. I’m hoping for a great game–of course I want us to win–with no rain; snow is OK. And I hope all of you traveling to Evanston enjoy the experience. I’ll be tailgating with my fraternity middle-aged brothers in the East (party) Lot on Saturday morning. Hope to see you there. Good luck!
I’m surprised there isn’t an “all of the above” option on the poll.
Anyway, I’m thinking 28-19 Buckeyes.
I feel like maybe there is room for Todd to get some snaps. However I’d love to see both TP on the field with Todd that would be very hard to defend. That should be something we put in since we had two whole weeks to get a game plan ready. Sadly, I have a feeling tressel worked on the ISO play all week.
Everyone that said Robo is having a bad year must be on crack. He doesn’t get thrown to enough. Hell none of the wideouts have seen much action. Tressel really pisses me off. Get it together ASSHOLE! Just once I’d like to hear him say “hey I fucked up there, my bad!” but he is too much of a dick to realize he is holding this team back with his shitty play calling.
Having said that we should be pissed this week and NW is banged up. Ohio State should cover 11 easy win.
Beanie for 150+ is my only prediction…..Beanie-hop optional
I really wish there was some way we could get past the incessant “here’s-what-one-of-your-fans-did-around-me-one-year” nonsense. I’d be more than happy to rehash the bahavior of two Northwestern students during the 2003 game, but what’s the point? Disorderly drunks who can’t control their behavior are everywhere. Moronic football-player wannabes inhabit every stadium and environs. Can’t we all just move along?
(We also need a refresher course on what a “landslide” is, apparently.)
I think the game is a lot closer than people think. Banged-up Bacher or no, Sutton or no, this team plays tough and is dangerous. OSU had better get them strapped on, or they’ll have three losses in a big hurry.
i’m heading out to a party tonight..hopefully i’ll be good for the game :)
HoosierCat - There are asshole fans everywhere for every fanbase. Also, I highly doubt this OSU team is overconfident, even if some of the fans are. Two different animals.
OSU: 24
NW: 7
I’m overconfident:
Bucks 41
Damn “enter” key
Northwestern 6
Bucks 31
Purple Kittens 14
In the next evolution of football Tressel has Pryor take a knee each time on offense and completely relies on the defense to score for the team.
OSU - 4
NW - 0
Correction Kyle, he will take a knee three straight times to set up the most important play in football … truly an innovator
College Gameday sucks today. All kinds of fear talk about coaches being fired, Saban needing Presedential-level security, etc. Reminds me of Sunday shows. Tuning out.
Iowa weather is going to be a factor today,
http://www.weather.com/outlook/events/college-football/weather/52242?eventid=270520
I’m here and it’ windy as hell.
College Gameday sucks today! All kinds of fear talk about coaches being fired, Saban needing Presedential-level security, etc. Reminds me of Sunday shows. Tuning out.
Iowa weather is going to be a factor today! I’m here and it’s windy as hell.
what the fuck are you doing in Iowa? watching corn grow?
Ohio State 71
Nw -14
If we lose this game Tressel should leave the program.
If we lose this game they should end the football program at Ohio State entirely.
“what the fuck are you doing in Iowa? watching corn grow?”
Dude. That’s the same thing you can do in Ohio. Trust me, I live here. :-)
I hope we see a lot carries given to Wells this week, I think it will take a lot of pressure off Pryor and open a lot of options for him. He need to make NW belive that at any time he can use to option, that will keep the safties playing a little short.
In Iowa for a wedding… and an ethanol convention!
Surprised that Game Day chose to do a feature on the Texas Tech O-line and not ours!
Brrrrrrrrr!
wow ouro-line is badFUCK YES PRYOR
Thank god NU’s secondary is bad. Breaking news our OL is still like 1 ply toilet paper, and it’s wet out there.
How on earth did OSU get 7 on that drive? I’d be pulling my hair out if I was NW’s coach. They stuffed the run and still got scored on.
Hah, look at all those Buckeyes in the stadium.
Can we get another defender in the box PLEASE?
That’s the same play like 7 times. No stops!
Bad call on JL. Now what about this?
Ugh. They are asleep at the wheel today.
I think it’s safe to say Tressel coached football teams are always flat after a bye week. Take it to the bank.
I believe Kafka ran the ball in all except 2 plays of that drive… and they couldn’t stop him.
flip:
Yup. I’d run it until they stopped it, too. NW is controlling the LOS on both sides of the ball.
Here comes two runs a pass and a punt. Fuck you tressel. How bout a blitz?
Lots of leaning by the OL. Lazy football. *Sigh*.
Run run pass, run run pass… shocker.
Browning.
Let’s be sure not to put them away!
I’m tempted to turn this off and go do something else. It’s so uninspiring to watch them make the same mistakes over and over again.
I called it. You have two weeks to get ready for a game and this is what you give us tressel. He’s gone.
A PLAY WHERE NORTHWESTERN DIDN’T GAIN YARDAGE YESSSSSS
I hear that, Tom. It’s frustrating to see that there is still no adjustment. No creativity.
Way to step up, Nader.
we are good
Hey, the D made me interested again.
uh kafka just met homas or JL and put him on his back
Anyone still think we don’t need a new S+C guy along with new coordinators? Offensive line is playing pattycake (again) with one the worst defenses in the Big Ten (again)
Tressel is gone?
Wow.
WTF on O!
This is pathetic.
We’re really starting to feel like Michigan 2007, except Michigan 2007 had a very young defense. But our offensive line is awful and everyone is moving the ball at ease on us, except, weirdly, Penn State.
The last thing this O needs is to play behind the sticks. These plays are basic plays that once again, the O-line is having difficulty executing. Just what was the coaching staff preparing for the last 2 weeks?
Raise your hand if you’d be surprised if Todd is brought in to run an option. Nobody? Oh. Erm. Okay.
I was thinking the exact same thing, pogue. We’re so predictably predictable… Bollman MUST go.
Tressel isn’t going anywhere for some time, not with his contract extension.
I’ve already called seven of our plays before the snap, and I’m as amateur as it gets over the fundamentals of football (gap assignments, etc.). This is sad.
Does it feel to anyone else like we stumble into third down conversions and touchdowns rather than actually willingly score them?
LOL, pogue!
BEANIE!!! With a mini Beanie hop.
Notice how he did that all by himself, no thanks to the OL.
SArmOJ
We’d be maybe 3-6 without Beanie.
WTF? I go answer the doorbell, and the offense scores? Did I walk into another dimension?
that run should pump me up but it is absolutely infuriating that he has to break three tackles AT THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE to do that
HA! Two guys behind the LOS, and Beanie does it by himself. Just tell O-line to take a seat. He doesn’t need ‘em.
That play summed up the season: the offensive line got its ass owned by a bunch of 2 and 3 star recruits, and Beanie Wells blasted fools and scored a touchdown all by his own damn self, with no help from anyone else.
Imagine how good Beanie could be behind a good OL.
hahahah fumble recovery i have no idea how we can play this bad but catch all these breaks
OK. Put them away!!
okay, that would probably happen EVERY PLAY if beanie was able to see daylight at all
what do you think TP was saying in Beanie’s earhole for a full 30 seconds?
“dude, awesome run. those fat white dudes are garbage. we gotta do this on our own”
bup bup bup - it seems to always happen this way vs. Northwestern. They play tough early, turn the ball over, and get thwacked because they give our high school offense short fields and our defense pick sixes.
They’ll still probably have 300+ yards in this game, thank you Heacock.
Great job on getting the TO. And the O-line is looking MUCH better on this drive. I must give them credit now.
OLE!!!!
And the offensive line gets owned again. Pray to GOD we don’t meet up with Bama, Georgia or Florida in the bowl game.
Tressel had a boner for that field goal right when the ball popped out of the NW RB’s hands
That was the slowest dev sneak in history!
And the O-line is looking MUCH better on this drive. I must give them credit now.
why say things you KNOW you will regret
Ugh. I spoke too soon.
browning horribly missed his man on the beanie run before the pryor draw. i haven’t really bagged on the o-line before this game but they are playing atrociously
The O-Line is awful. Almost as bad as our play calling.
“why say things you KNOW you will regret”
LOL! Yeah, I know. I’m trying to be fair, they just won’t let me.
God tressel sucks. Please throw the motherfucking ball on first or second. Wtf is that third down call? This is why we can’t hang with the top teams. If not for beanie this game is ugly right now.
Way to set up for the field goal on that third down play. Sending Pryor a message about how much you don’t trust him.
Tampa Buckeye - name one coach we have a shot at that you’d rather have than Tressel.
That throw had to be absolutely perfect. So of course it was.