LiC: Responsible for 21 of Ohio State's 42 offensive TD's dating back to start of last season. (Photo: AP / J. LaPrete)Phew. That was fun, wasn't it? Nothing like starting the season on the scariest roller coaster ride in the park versus a simple stroll down the lazy river sipping a cold one. Still, though I have lots of opinions just like you, it's probably best to remind ourselves that the 31-27 win over Navy was against an unconventional opponent meaning we really have no idea how good, or bad, this team might be. I view this game as far more positive than last year's season opener, despite the score, as we saw plenty to be excited about mixed in with the stuff that made us want to share our Buckeye necklaces with the living room drywall.
The Passing Game I seem to be one of the few that will offer a critical assessment of LiC which sometimes is misconstrued as me insinuating he's not a great player but I thought TP did some very good things yesterday coupled with a few areas of opportunity.
I still see some issues with where the ball is delivered. A few of his passes to RB's swinging out of the backfield caused Saine or Herron to slow their momentum toward the line or sideline thus hurting the effectiveness of those timing plays. There were also two occasions where he didn't release the ball fast enough to WR's running out patterns and by the time the ball got there, the receiver was already out of bounds. Another accuracy issue occurred early in the 2nd quarter when Ballard was all alone on 1st and 10 from the Navy 44 but had to lay out for a the ball just to catch it when, if hit in stride, he could've turned upfield for at least another 15 yards on top of the 16 gained on the pass. Again, take a deep breath if you are getting all worked up. I know we are talking about a few passes but we are also talking about a guy with the potential to be a Heisman winner and national champion next year and for both of those to happen, these are the types of things he needs to shore up.
As I said, I still saw far more good than bad from TP and the passing game. I loved the improved zip on Pryor's throws, especially over the middle. He hit Ballard with a 19 yard laser and connected with Posey and Dane on some purposeful throws on slants and in-routes. Even the swing and screen passes to the RB's (regardless of location) had the type of velocity needed in order for the play to be successful. I was very impressed with his commitment on most of his throws and I really enjoyed watching him scramble with the purpose of buying time to locate a receiver instead of scrambling with his head down giving up on a potential throw too early. Seeing him step up in the pocket, shuffle back and to the left before again stepping up an into a throw to Dane over the middle immediately made me think back to when Troy started showing signs of maturing into a great quarterback. Fun to watch.
Just as fun to watch was Tressel's playcalling featuring more passes to RB's and TE's in one game than I can ever remember. Ten of the 17 completions were to those guys, good for 118 of the 210 passing yards. No, that is not a misprint. Obviously this is significant because we haven't seen JT utilize his talent at tight end in recent years and there's no question Saine can do damage as a receiver by creating matchup problems for opposing LB's in coverage. Oh, and TP hit seven different receivers. Good stuff.
One quick word on the hot topic of Bauserman getting an early series...I understand why some of you are upset but I think it was a good move. Though TP is a physical specimen, he's going to take some shots this year and if you watched Oklahoma lose last night, you know it's important that the backup has some reps with the ones just in case.
Boom & Zoom Me likes what I saw from Boom and Zoom yesterday, especially when I consider what the offensive line showed me against a small Navy front. Saine ran with the same quickness we saw in the spring game which was nice to see after I left unimpressed with him both times I saw him in scrimmages/practice during fall camp. I liked how he hit the hole fast instead of dancing like we've seen in the past. Besides toughness (ie: avoiding injury) that's why I've always preferred Boom in the backfield. He makes a decision and hits the hole quick every time.
Boom racked up 101 yards (72 rush, 29 rec) with Zoom adding 74 yards (53 rush, 21 rec). The two combined to average 4.8 yards per carry and 8.3 yards per catch. Not electrifying totals but solid nonetheless. Assuming Saine stays healthy, I feel comfortable with a two headed monster shouldering the rushing load and there's obviously a greater chance he will stay healthy if he's only getting 10-15 touches per game. He had 11 touches yesterday compared to 21 for Boom.
Not that I expected to see either one considering the score but with USC on deck that means the first two games will have gone by without Berry or Hall seeing the field. The question now is probably whether or not both will redshirt or if just one will. My guess is Hall will eventually redshirt but not Berry, just for insurance, even though Hall has been far more impressive to date.
Your Weekly Duron Carter Update I've shown DC love since he arrived on the scene and I only see my love getting stronger for the kid with the golden genes. He had a modest 21 yards during his three catch debut but his potential is obscene. His hands are like football-hunting spider webs and his seven yard reception on 3rd and 5 on the TD drive that would put OSU on top 17-7 was a perfect example. The throw was a little high and he effortlessly threw up his gangly fingers and snared the ball in traffic before quickly bringing it to is chest.
Carter also found himself wide open over the middle for a potential long gain but he either broke in too early or else TP mistimed the throw. Either way it was an incompletion but DC was wide open and adjustments will be made next time around.
With Small going back and forth between either being sick or making the fanbase sick combined with Mr. April having a tough time hanging on to the football, I'd imagine Carter will get every opportunity to prove he belongs on the field more than Washington, and possibly Small. I'm excited to see what Carter can do next week against a real secondary and I'm even more excited to watch his future unfold.
I Heart Chris Spielman I know, we all love Chris Spielman but how great was yesterday? Not only did we get the pleasure hearing his best in the business color commentary but we also got to see him celebrated on the field in the presence of his kids and especially his wife, Stefanie. It's no secret she's not doing well in her latest battle with recurring cancer and to see the look in Spielman's face as he was recognized by the crowd and again when he described the moment on TV - you could just tell he was so happy she was able to be there with him. Great moment. Greater people.
Spielman's emotion didn't stifle his usual booth-hilarity as the one liners were flowing all day. I think my favorite was when he accused the Navy offense of attempting "A Criss Angel mindfreak" when they attempted some formation shenanigans on 4th and 2 in hopes of OSU possibly jumping offside. I was also cracking up when he got on the Navy safety's toughness after being hurt twice in the first half as he offered up something to the effect of, "If I were his father I'd tell him to take a pill and get back out there!". Griese, of course, made a wussy comment about these being college kids but Spielman would have none of it. I hope he's paired with Brian's Dad the rest of the year as that will make Spielman even funnier than usual with the added bonus of Griese squirming by his side.
Shuffle
- Even for a game one, the penalties were a little disheartening especially the three in a row on the first drive of the 2nd half. I know it's been touched on but a delay of game after a false start?! How does that happen? Ballard's rare false start on 3rd and 8 also cost OSU a shot at a TD, instead settling for a FG. You can't beat USC with six penalty nonsense.
- I didn't really touch on the defense because I refuse to put much stock in how they performed against the triple option even though they did hold Navy to almost 100 yards less than last year's rushing yards per game average (292/186). Overall, I liked the play of Williams and Thaddeus on the edge against an offense that negates what they do best but I was most impressed with how Larimore played. He was very active (7 tackles) and seemed to quickly recognize when the FB did or didn't keep the ball on the dive preceding the option. At LB, Rolle was as good as advertised but I need to see what he can do against USC. I'm not doubting him, I just need to see it against an opponent with a crazy rushing attack before I gush any further. Spitler never really caught my eye which makes sense considering his two tackles. I expected to see more Sabino but it never materialized. I liked how Coleman bounced back from some poor play early. He finished with nine stops and his INT was an incredible play. Great read, great break on the ball and an excellent catch.
- Anderson Russell. How many times do I have to watch the same mistakes over and over before he doesn't play anymore?
- Jake Ballard: Sans the false start, he had a solid game. I love his hands (3/51) and I'm still shaking my head at the fact he isn't a captain.
- I assume you are all just as nervous as me about the offensive line heading in to USC? I know many are upset about Tressel going for it on 4th and 2 triggering the Navy comeback but the real problem is that the line had a chance to put the game away on that series and instead we got a one yard gain on 2nd and 3 followed by no gain on 3rd and 2 and and one yard and 4th and 2. Brewster and Cordle seemed to have the most trouble yesterday and picking up blitzes was a constant struggle. Not cool.
- Special Teams: I thought Dane did a nice job in his debut as punt returner. He's no Ray Ray but I liked the north-south mindset he showed on his 15 yard return. Pettrey is straight money. That 52 yarder would've been good from 62, easy. I like how his long kicks still have the necessary height to clear the line of scrimmage. Thoma's two punts averaged 44.5 with a long of 53. I'll take it.
Comments
Nice analysis. The only thing I would add relates to the series where OSU did not make the 3rd and 2 4th and 2. Why not roll Pryor out with the option to run or pass. I doubt he is stopped short of the first down with two attempts to make two yards.
I see Big Ten teams do this often in games in similar situations--and usually they lose. When the game is on the line, they go away from the player that got them there (usually a great running back) and put the game in the hands of a mediocre quarterback. On Saturday, JP did the opposite. He put the ball in the hands of lesser talented running backs rather than in the hands of his high-quality quarterback.
Spiel is great in the booth. Tells it like Woody would have. On 4th and 1 he says: "If you can't get a push better that that...You've got a big problem". Yes, tough to see his wife like that, I didn't know she was struggling. Brought back bad memories of a friend. I hope Tress asks him to speak to the team Saturday night...probably will be on assignment somewhere though.
It will be a battle Saturday night but we are very young at LB and I think that will hurt us. I would like to see Storm Klein more.
I agree about Spielman. Thought he did a great job calling the game.
Very tough to see his wife like that. I did not know she was in a wheelchair. Also, you would think someone could get his kids a #36 jersey??? Was I the only one wondering about that?
Stephanie has had a very long battle with breast cancer. I saw her on Feb. on the Cruise for Cancer and she looked great. Chris is completely devoted to her. It doesn't not look good for her. Very very sad.
That was a sad moment, both the wife and I got a little misty eyed. We both are praying for Stephanie and Chris.
You are spot on about having Spileman address the team, if you're not up for this one then you are dead, but Spiels has a way of putting a little fire in your belly.
I thought the defense played extremely well, A+! I was too focused on the o-line to comment about that. Aside from the Russel miscue(s), I thought we did a fantastic job of adjusting to the knuckleball.
They looked sharp and fast, except for Spitler. WHERE WAS SABINO?
"At LB, Rolle was as good as advertised but I need to see what he can do against USC. I’m not doubting him, I just need to see it against an opponent with a crazy rushing attack before I gush any further. " - Both have a crazy rushing attack, USC's is what I would call more traditional.
"Spitler never really caught my eye which makes sense considering his two tackles." - How about Spitler trying to chase down Ricky Dobbs? Yikes. Let's hope McKnight runs right at him.
"Kurt Coleman" - Went into beast mode and practically took over the game from the defensive side of things. If only other players wanted to step up.
Sabino was all over the place on special teams - that's about all I saw of him.
Amen. Spitler stood out to me. Stood out as being too slow.
Coleman looked great. Kid gets my Player Of the Game Award and his picture as my wallpaper for the week. Found a nice one of him straight ripping the ball out of a receivers hands. Nervous about USC, but not pessemistic. Here's to crossing fingers...
Nice commentary. I hope that Russell and Spitler are both benched. Both are too slow for USC or other top competition. We need the D-line to dominate this game if we want to have any shot at winning.
Bill, I was thinking the same thing. Even a naked bootleg would be a better option in that case.
Yea, I second the comments about Spitler. The first drive he played for the entire drive was the 99 yarder. He had 2 chances to catch guys and twice was blown by around the corner for first down runs.
Russel is awful. I rewatched the game yesterday. Regardless of the TDs, it took him 3 seconds longer than everyone else on the defense to diagnose the play. Then instead of helping in the run support he simply waited 10 yards off the LOS for the play to come to him.
The biggest thing I noticed about the line was that they didn't adjust for blitzes. I'm not sure if that's TP's call, the center's call, or an adjustment on the fly, but there were MANY times when we had two double teams going on with our guys and two LBs coming in to be blocked by the back (I must say Boom and Zoom looked great in pass pro). Only once or twice did I see terrible one on one blocking execution - again they just didn't recognize the blitz and slide the blocking package to fix it. Browning needs to go - he's not any better at guard. Multiple times (including the 4th down) he was pulling into the hole, but instead of trying to create a hole, he simply piled on top of someone on the ground.
All of TPs misses were high - overcompensation for low throws we heard about over the past week or two, first game jitters, timing problems, or something else?
To me there was no question that this should have been the call. Pryor was the one insisting that we go for it on 4th down, why not put the ball in his hands and let him do his thing. Instead we ran the exact same play we ran on 3rd down that every body in the world knew was coming and, surprise surprise, it gets stuffed (which, ironically, was the exact same sequence as we did against UF in the 2006 NC game, again getting stuffed.) I didn't have a problem going for it on fourth down here, but anything would have been better then handing it to Herron to run between the tackles.
Totally agree Bill. The kid with the rock in his hand, and the wide side of the field to work with was the call that should have been made... I disagree with Tressel's self-criticism that he should have taken the FG.
The comments about spitler are dead-on, but alas he will be plugged in there next week. I can't see JT switching out after one game when he clearly favored Spitler after all of the spring and fall camp stuff ... interesting that somehow, someway sabino couldn't beat him out.
I don't think we know exactly how good sabino would be starting next week, but I think it is safe to say he has a better change of making open field tackles against the SC backs than spitler.
Also, with Russell, I am not sure you can really make a switch now, the more I think about it. And I am positive that JT doesn't feel comfortable making a switch before the USC game - he probably wants a guy that has been there before to take that spot when the lights go on next week. The D-line then becomes even more important ... nothing every Buckeye fan didn't already know, obviously
Spitler could still be bothered by the injury he suffered a couple of weeks ago. And... if that's the case, Sabino should be on the field.
As i have herd and agree - if we stop McNight and the run and make a freshman qb beat us with the pass we have a chance. He did do a lot of play action but make him stay in the pocket and throw it down the field is what the defense has to do. Who is that beast #86 for usc? Tight end?
I was at the game against navy.
Why do we open, and close our playbook. The 4th and 2 call to go for it was
not a horrible call, but run a bootleg and hit the tight end that had been open
all game long. Open the playbook, keep it open.
Did anyone else notice that we did not expose the safties at all...
Where is the DEEP BALL? Why did we not throw at least one Deep Ball?
Are we saving this ?
Bob Griese should retire. Without Keith Jackson he's been reduced to muttering tired old platitudes like "you can't win with turnovers". I watched the FSU-Miami game last night and I thought Todd Blackledge was on top of his game. He puts Griese to shame, that's for sure.
One other Griese blunder from Saturday: referring to Dan Herron as "Tim Herron" (i.e. the golf pro). It's bad enough that we got the old Terry-for-Brian deal on Robiskie the past few years, but you would think he could at least keep his bloopers within the same sport. I can't wait for the next time he does an OSU game, because I fully expect to hear about the exploits of James Posey, Johnny Saine, and Mark Prior.
My only hope is that Tressel & Co. use this opportunity to scheme against USC. In a 2nd/3rd & short in the red zone, have the Pryor rollout this week after they have watched film of us running it up the gut.
I loved how many different formations, and various plays run from them, were used on Saturday. My hopes are that we use some of those same formations Saturday night against USC, but you see a drastically different play call from them...
There is a part of me that watched that game and just wonders when the Jim Bollman and Jim Tressel offensive experiment is going to end. I mean how many more years are we going to talk about the lack of toughness on the O-Line and watch them just not get the job done. I like TP with the ball and he is just going to keep getting better but watching the O-Line struggle year after year is going to keep costing us wins in big games like we have seen the last 4 years.
If Mark Prior can learn to put a little more touch on the ball, this team is going to be deadly.
I thought the Oline played well. Sometimes they had problems, others they did well. Our FBs missed a lot of their assignments, especially on the 4 and 2.
they played better is pass protection than run blocking, weird.
but better is a relative term...