Opeltulant to opposing defensesWhat better way for the Buckeyes to get the bad taste out of their mouths than to get up for a matchup with the nation's leader in total offense. Yes, that would be Toledo senior quarterback Aaron Opelt and his 437 yards of offense per game.
It didn't always come easy for Opelt. Though the Fremont Ross product became the first freshman to start for the Rockets at quarterback in 23 years, the offense sputtered under coach "Toledo Tom" Amstutz. Opelt would have breakout games here and there, but could never put it together for a run. As a sophomore, he led the Rockets to a 5-7 record and followed that up with a 3-9 run last season. There was that notable win in Ann Arbor, but Opelt's offensive performance that day pretty much summed up his career heading into this season: 33 of 50, but held under 300 and without a touchdown.
When Amstutz retired at the end of last season, the university plucked defensive coordinator Tim Beckman away from Oklahoma State. Citing what he'd learned as a coordinator in the Big 12, Beckman made it known in his very first presser that the team would be installing a spread offense. And Opelt was like, "Tell me more."
Just two games into the Beckman era at Toledo, it's safe to say the new offense is a roaring success. Toledo is 15th in the nation averaging 42.5 points per game. Those weren't earned on cupcakes, either. The Rockets opened with Purdue and went down swinging 52-31 in West Lafayette. The following week, they welcomed Colorado to town and promptly hung 54 on them in a 16 point win. That's 30+ against two BCS conference opponents.
Opelt, of course, is the reason why the offense is cruising. In the shootout with Purdue, he was 41/67 for 423 yards and two touchdowns. Last week against the Buffaloes, he cooled a bit throwing the ball, only going 15/23 for 319 and four touchdowns, but he added eight runs for 109 yards and two more scores. If you're keeping score at home, he's 56/90 for 742 yards and seven total touchdowns through two games. And that's just through the air. Granted, the Purdue and Colorado defenses won't be confused with the Steel Curtain any time soon, but the man is getting it done.
Opelt has a quality group of receivers to distribute to including freshman phenom (MAC phenom, at least) Eric Page. Also, unlike anyone on Ohio State's roster, Opelt has experience playing a college game in an NFL stadium. He was on the beating end of a 45-3 decision against Pitt at Heinz Field in 2006. Not that I expect something so trivial will matter this weekend when the other team has a decided talent advantage and a ferocious defensive front, but hey, at least you know now.
The Buckeyes might struggle at times getting to Opelt because he gets the ball off so quickly (Heacock stopped just short of comparing him to Brees this week), but with the way the defense rotates in padded junkyard dogs, over the course of the game, the pressure, hurries and hits will increase in frequency. Hines, Rolle, Gibson, Heyward, Torrence and all of your new favorite players should have no problem getting up for the challenge and that usually means good things for us.
It's also nice that it's no longer like it was earlier this decade and in the past when it was quirky preparing for a team that runs the spread. The Buckeyes see them all season these days and the defense is probably better equipped to deal with that type of offense than it is pro style offenses. Credit to the Buckeye staff on that one. Now if we could just schedule 12 spread teams a season...
Comments
This is going to be entertaining (not deep into the game, I hope) to watch. Pretty interesting, imo, that tOSU has to prep for three completely different styles of offense in its first three games; flexbone offense, McKnight offense and now a spread. You're right, unleash the junkyard dogs. Should be fun in the Dawg Pound..
LOL @ McKnight offense. Quite the valid point you make there Ken
To the poll..Im looking forward to UT-UF on Sat. Ill be interesting to see how ugly it gets. But what Im really looking forward to is SUNNY is on tonight!
Love that show.
me too. i want an office pool on how many points urban hangs on kiffin. i also want to see kiffin's crazy behind get all will hunting-ish in the post-game interview...
reporter: you saw that urban was going to run up the score, why did you leave your second string defensive backs in the game?
kiffin: because f*** him, thats why.
Easily one of the funniest shows out. The humor is one-of-a-kind.
Illinois LB Martez Wilson out for season, ouch!
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/...
Anyone else thinking next years miami game might be two top 5 teams the way theyre playing and were both young teams
Toledo's offense is nasty....it will be interesting to watch our developing secondary against these tall, speedy recievers. My guess is that Beckman (Toledo's coach) will recognize when Anderson Russell is in, and you can expect them to take a shot. Brian Rolle will have a career game. You can tell he has a different kind of attitude than the rest of the team. He will punish runners, and Tressel will have to pull him off the field. Both Berry, and Hall will see time at tailback with Hall getting most of the third down snaps, and Berry will score on a long, long run. tOSU 45-17
I'm watching the UMiami-GT game right now and Jacory Harris looks like a NFL-caliber QB... He's also not shooting jump shots while trying to pass the football.
Right now, Harris > Pryor.
In context - he looks like an NFL-caliber QB compared to TP. Confident. Assertive. Collected.
Geeked in Toledo drinking 40 ounce malt liquors while JT's sittin round stupid waiting for luck to hit. My man Aaron Opelt ...#1 in the nation ready to shock Buckeye Nation. We certainly don't need a defense cause Jimmy loves running that "dave" play everytime he has a 3rd or 4th and short we got that down. Honestly we are counting on these Jimmy brainfart moment alot, you know like not calling a QB sneak on 3rd & a foot...not running the clock down before the half deep in his territory with 3rd and 3, a minute to go and USC out of timeouts...not kicking a 52 yard FG to go up by 8, it's fricken endless and it gives the Rockets an edge.
Why isn't this idiot banned yet?
Scary that they're both sophs. But yeah, one does look a little bit better than the other.
How can you take the guy seriously? He's either a troll of the highest order or a Rocket fan hopped up on nitrous.
Good point. I admire your restraint with the banhammer.
I'm pretty sure that in prison, internet trolls check in under child molesters.
can we get Miami's offense??? See what bringing in an NFL offensive coordinator does??? Please Tress??
Naptizzle? 419 represent!
Tress.... are you watching Miami trying to score when they are up by 23???? Are they trying to take time off the clock to kick a field goal??? They are trying to DEMORALIZE their opponents into submission... not lull them to sleep. Remember that OSU plays them in the shoe next year and Jacory Harris looks all world compared to Terrelle and they are at the same point in development... what is the difference. Lets see... Mark Whipple (NFL) vs Nick Sicliano (Grad Asst.) Maybe we need a real QB coach...... just sayin'
We're toast next year, too.
Bucksfan, you went from being one of our most annoyingly devoted homers to our resident Chicken Little literally over night. Pathetic.
This game is going to be 28-7 at half-time. Watch for Pryor and the Buckeyes to get at Navy hard. There’s a lot of grit, and a lot of attitude with the young’ns…it’s not going to be close like everyone thinks. You don’t come into Ohio Stadium expecting to run the football, and that’s all Navy does…the joke will be on them.
Ohio State in a walk. Maybe that’s a little homerism in my prediction, but there are too many weapons.
To
We suck. The game next week might as well be a wash at this point. They had an opportunity to go out there and show the world their immense talent, and they stood there looking like a de-pantsed Sunday school kid. This was an embarrassment not just for the defense, but for the offensive line – who had everything to prove and more to lose.
I am really disappointed in this performance. The O-line was horrendous against a mediocre defense. Worse than we could have ever hoped for, honestly. Awful, awful, awful performance. They gave Pryor absolutely no time to throw the ball. They were piss-poor in run blocking. Even though the 4th-and-2 was a questionable time to go for it, and the power-I was the worst play they could have called for that situation, they FAILED EPICALLY!!!
Buckeye players, if you read this thread, then fucking get it together! This was disgusting, and you have the Buckeye nation in panic mode. Way to suck. We’re calling for Tressel’s job if you don’t show up against USC.
Truly a sad sight to see. Go root for Florida.
Guys. Really. Calm down. Toledo won't keep this close for a half. Watch the highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
All I see are blown coverages and incredibly poor athletes at Colorado. The Buffs have had one top-40 recruiting class in the past five years. Ohio State hasn't had one outside the top-20 in like forever. We'll be fine.
Also, lol at that Opelt TD run. The kid is not fast. At all. He's about as fast as Kirk Cousins from MSU. Ohio State has dealt with a much more dangerous mobile QB on a similarly talented outfit - NW and Kafka - and came away fine.
OSU 38
Toledo 14
I like the way they rolled over Colorado last week, very entertaining game. Of course I am a graduate Rocket so I like what Beckman has done with the program. Should be an interesting game.
Yep that one will be my next buckeye game I attend. I will be bringing my bullet proof vest to miami. I should say I hope that is the next one I attend we might end up in the outback bowl if tressel gets his way.
I thought he floats the deep ball a bit but they are loaded at wr. Looking like a great game next year for sure.
Thanks for the recap. But in all fairness to me, which of those posts of mine were correct? The first one - my prediction before the opener? Or the one after the opener? The one that says the coaching calls were terrible?
Aside from the fact that I was drunk when I wrote that, I wasn't wrong...the last drop of Tressel-aid has simply run out.
What the hell? Are you kidding me? Of course your post after the game was more "correct". Your pregame post was shoot-from-the-hip homerism, your post-game rant was drunken stupidity. Neither were actually accurate, of course, but that's a discussion for another day.
Enjoy being angry and depressed all the time.
No doubt, Heacock is really earning his paycheck, and has silenced some critics.
next year they play here, right? they play @ miami the year after
Reality, get over yourself. Keep drinking your Tressel-aid and leave me the hell alone. I'm allowed to be critical of a man that has given away 3 big games in 3 years while having the lead in the 4th quarter, and who has gotten blown off the field in successive national championships. If you can't recognize that the Navy game and the USC game is simply another rung on this descending ladder, then you're not watching the same football games that I am...that or you don't understand the game.
I'm pissed, and I'm not the only one.
Heacock is in the booth and Fickell is on the field. Quite the combo.
Your right. Looks like I'll make a trip to columbus sept. 11 2010. That will be a great game.
I remember the days when we would put 42 points on toledo in the first half. I'm hopeful we will put up 42 for the game but its hard to see that happening with Tressel running the O. His ego won't let him adjust his coaching style. Maybe we all should just start to support tresselball and he will change just to be different. Email him things like....
Hey coach great call punting the ball there from the 35 you don't want to show up the other team with a 5 point lead like that. Classy move.
Hey Jimmy Hell of a call there with the slow developing run play on 1st down. Way to keep them off balance on d. They never saw it coming. I blame the O-line not your great playing calling.
YO JT Way to get the most out of your talent up there I really enjoyed watch you NOT qb sneak there with a foot to go for the TD Who says you can't think outside the box. That completely got everyone!
We have scored 35 or more points 17 times in the past three years. 42 or more 8 times.