Score. Raise hands. Repeat. (AP: Jay LaPrete)After four solid days of USC aftermath, I'm hoping our collective Buckeye bowels have finally passed the stank waste otherwise known as reaction to another big game stumble and we can now move forward. Lord knows we won't accept a letdown week from the Buckeyes so as fans we're obligated to practice what we preach and turn the page to the Toledo chapter of the season.
Judging from Tressel's presser in which he took some backhanded shots at a minority of fans and got a little defensive when challenged on his play calling skills, I'm wondering if Tressel hasn't given the team a full dose of "It's us against the world" this week in hopes of galvanizing a young team that still has plenty to play for.
So, whether or not you are still peeved at Tressel and Pryor about last Saturday, you've got to keep on keepin' on as kickoff in Cleveland looms just beyond the horizon. The question is, what do you want to see out of this group on Saturday to help remove the bitter test of defeat from your palate? Here's a few things I'll be watching for:
Intensity As painful as the home loss was, this team has a good enough blend of youth and veteran leaders to expect they'll play like their hair's on fire at the outset. Both the players and the coaches read the papers, watch TV, check 11W and whatnot and I'm sure the negativity has created some red asses in the locker room. What I'm most interested in seeing is if they keep the intensity up for a full 60 minutes, or at least until the game is no longer in doubt, assuming it comes to that. Anything less than focused intensity coming off a loss - regardless of opponent - would be a major letdown.
Offense Though Pryor stood up and told the media he was responsible for the loss while the rest of the players sang the company line about winning and losing as a team there's no question the offense is aware they were chiefly responsible for last week's non-win (see, I'm being positive already). That, coupled with a porous Toledo defense, should be enough to have the Buckeye offense focused and hungry for points. With all the chatter about TP's clunker and JT's play calling, I'm very curious to see how the Buckeyes go about attacking the Rockets.
Specific to Pryor, will he show immaturity by trying to do too much in hopes of making up for last week or will he calmly execute the offense against the imaginary defense? I suspect he might overthrow a pass or two early but after that it should be smooth sailing both through the air and on the ground. I also expect Tressel will call more running plays for Pryor than last week but if the Toledo secondary is as bad as it looks, he's likely to unleash plenty of passes in hopes of giving Pryor and the fans something to build on.
In the backfield, will Zoom get more than the one carry he registered against the Trojans? I think we all were expecting a two headed monster at RB this season with Boom seeing a higher volume of the carries but not the 18:1 ratio we witnessed last week. A similar ratio Saturday would seem to indicate the coaches view Saine mainly a receiver out the backfield and a clear backup to Boom as opposed to the 1 and 1A wishes of some fans. How do you think this situation plays out this week?
The offensive line had its best showing in a big game in quite some time but the offense still only managed 2.9 yards per carry though giving up just one sack was a positive. Predictable play calling might have played a role but the fact is the line still failed in short yardage / goal line situations and abusing the Toledo front, while expected, would still be a nice confidence booster with Illinois headed to the Shoe the following week.
J.B. Shugarts figures to see some action so keep your eye on how he looks in addition to any kids that see the field if the expected blowout emerges. Jack Mewhort looks like he'll be the real deal eventually and I woudn't mind getting a gander at Marcus Hall at right tackle.
Defense Other than surrendering the game winning drive, the defense stepped up last week so keeping momentum and avoiding a letdown against a lesser foe will be a chief focus. The defensive line and linebackers had very respectable showings and the secondary produced a solid effort to build on. Collectively, the D held Barkley to under 50% through the air while picking him off once and sacking him twice. They also held McKnight to a 3.8 yards per carry (3.0 as a team).
Toledo is a different animal in more ways than one as dual threat Aaron Opelt helped the Rockets spread pile up 624 yards of offense against the team formerly known as the Colorado Buffaloes. Man, have they fallen off the map over the years. Anyhoo, with Opelt's versatility and a solid running game offering support, a disinterested defense could make for a frustrating afternoon.
Though Opelt threw just 23 times in last week's W, he aired it out 67 times the week before in 52-31 loss to Purdue. Expecting Toledo will be playing catch up, keep an eye on the revamped secondary and specifically if Torrence continues to outshine Amos. I'm expecting Torrence to seize the starting job if he hasn't already as the Buckeyes look to clarify roles in prep for Juice.
What are you on the lookout for this week?
Comments
I'm on the lookout for one or all of the following guys seeing the field:
Berry
J. Hall
Bell
Sabino
Klein
Stoneburner
Adams
Bauserman to stand on the sidelines until qtr 4
Cordle out 3-4 weeks. Not good for a unit that needs all hands on deck.
I haven't seen the Buckeyes put up 60 points in awhile. Let's do it.
I want to see all the young guys on the O-line together just once.
Adams, Shugarts, Brewster, Hall, and Mewhort in some combination.
I agree, while typically I think it makes no sense to do this, and I'm not impressed when Florida whips Charleston Southern like that, I do want to see some huge point production in this game. I am advocating running up the score. This offense needs that kind of boost.
Someone has got to pay for last weeks game !! Toledo is the chosen one !! Kick the livin CRAP out of them !!! Onside kicks and 2pt conversions are a must even if up by 60 pts !!!!
I want to see them come out and dominate this game (they should). I want to see Pryor put the USC loss behind him and continue to progress. I will say this that I really want them to implement a zone read package. Pryor is not ready to be a pocket passer, lets not force him to be. I want to see Saine run the ball more, I want to see Ray Small get some action on the offensive side of the ball. I want to see the defense continue to build on last weeks performance. I want to see us be able to punch the ball in from the 2 yard line if that comes up again. I think what Im mostly looking for is that zone read package though. This gives Pryor more opportunity to make plays and it doesnt try to turn him into a pocket passer too early into his career.
That would be cool. I really want to see Mewhort get some snaps because I've heard such good things. Looks like Shugarts will definitely get some work over the next month and Adams should, too --- assuming he puts down the Graffix.
I like the call for some zone-read action. I forgot to to include in my post that I personally want to see a heavy dose of Duron. I'm so ready for that dude to haul in a TD reception.
I'm sick of predicting what to look for in this team's performance from week to week. Basically all speculation boils down NOT to what is really going to happen, but what SHOULD happen and doesn't because the coaching staff is a set of chummy cronies. Predictions are now only wishful thinking, and don't represent reality.
I want to see Maurice Wells come out of retirement, dreads and all, suited up, set up as the HB in the I-formation, and execute the off tackle run for his customary gain of a loss of 3. Then, I want to see Lydell Ross spell Wells, at which time he runs for his customary gain of loss of 2. That would be the perfect game.
2.9 yards per carry was not an OL problem, it was a scheme/play calling problem.
A bad situation just got worse. Hope Adams and Shugarts step it up.
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/f...
I hope Shugarts plays so well, they have to keep him in the starting lineup
I'd be surprised if it happens; he's good friends with their head coach. And while I don't expect to allow him to let them stay in the game if he can help it, I would be pretty shocked if we shellac the Rockets like a no-name team.
Wow. Listening to The Fan a bit ago and dude sarcastically asked Tressel if he plans to keep calling a Division II type offense or not and that he's tired of spending so much money on season tickets and bowl games to watch it. Tressel handled it better than the "4th down" question from the presser saying he feels the caller's pain especially considering the fact he was not only at the games like the caller but also preparing 18 hours a day leading up to it. Crazy how the tide has turned this past week.
The cherry on top of your scenario would be it happening while Reggie Germany is on the sideline doing homework!
"see you on sundays" - Lydell Ross when I saw him at Miani's. What a Doucher (yeah, capital D)
I am looking for a stellar performance...
Would love to see Pryor rip off some big gains, lazer throws...
Maybe see some recruits like Berry, Hall, and the likes on the field...
Just want to see two things:
1st) Walk away injury free with a win of a large margin
2nd) Leave TP in the game for a long time, let the kid vent his frustration on a horrible defense... Honestly, when you go up against a USC defense, and Ohio state defense everyday this should be like playing with Junior Varsity kids.
I call it 54-14
Player of game on offense: Pryor 20/31 242yds 3 td, 5 carries 86yds 1td
Player of game on defense: Gibson 2 tfl, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble
Breakout Performance: Torrence 11 tkls, 2 ints, 1 td
I agree playcalling was partially responsible, I wrote as much, though I still think the line failed to get much of a push in short yardage situations. Overall, they faired much better than they have in recent games against top competition and I really liked the pass blocking - it was much improved from a year ago. I'm wondering, though, if maybe some of us just have low expectations for them making it easier for them to earn our praise? What do you think?
I think that maybe it could be the turning point the offense needs really. Get all the young kids in there sick of hearing the stuff and wanting to walk the walk. Although JT scared me talking about moving browning back to RT. That kid got beat last year more than the whole TBDBITL drum corps drums.
Now more than ever Pryor needs to have an offensive explosion to get Tressel's back. Forget Pryor playing well for himself; I think he is going to make this about getting Coach Tress's back. Pryor was texting Tress right after the LSU game, months before he formally committed. I think there is a very close relationship between the two of them. I'm also comforted by the fact that it sounds like Bollman is on his way out, at least according to Duane Long, who knows more about these things than I. One big offensive game, and the naysayers will disappear.
Maybe he shows up with "TRESS" on his right eye black this weekend?
How many of you are actually making the trip to Cleveland? Do you think we will have a big turn out after all of negativity? I'm making the trip to hopefully witness what Duran just called. I would love to see TP let go and gain some confidence or at least give the fans something to be confident about.
That would be a beautiful.
I don't know if Tress should admit to have spent 18hrs per day preparing for the USC game.
I'd like to see Pryor have an absolutely monster 1st half, then Bauserman play 2nd half.
I think the tone a lot of the e-mailing fans took got to Tressel. A lot of people may not like his candor, but I thought Tressel was right on the money in terms of calling out the obsessive mouth-breathing portion of the tOSU fanbase that flamed him via e-mail (and probably is still sending death threats to Ryan Hanby). He's shown much more admirable restraint than most would have in dealing with those cretins.
I agree. Maybe Shugarts and/or Adams will be so good that one of them will supplant Cordle permanently from the starting lineup. Nothing like a little old fashioned competition for a starting spot.
Relentless offensive pressure. TP acting like TP, and not some hand cuffed big game version, a biggest, fastest player on the field version. If we struggle anywhere past the first part of the second quarter, I'm taking a walk and contemplating my life choices.
pryor needs all the reps he can get...
This kid doesn't want to play just one half, personally i hope he plays at least
till the 4th quarter. He needs to play because he needs the experience.
Plus, i like watching juke people left, and right. Haven't seen that in a week.
I agree with you.
To be honest, I'm not sure why there is all the backlash after this loss in particular. I, for one, was much happier after this OSU loss than I was this time last year. While a loss is never good, we showed that we can hang with one of the best teams in the nation. Last year, 35-3 happened, which pretty much convinced everyone that we had no business being on the big stage.
Last weekend convinced me that we are the team to beat in the Big Ten this year. If we can come that close to beating USC, there's no reason that we shouldn't be able to blow the doors off every team in the Big Ten.
I think the reason for backlash is because people watched this game!
They noticed that we were the better team for 4 quarters of football.
So, after we heard how slow, weak, overrated. Most people were just hoping to not get embarrsed. Then they actual see a team with fire, hunger, and desperation play.
They see a Quarter Back struggling, and a few bad play calls later we hear about how horrible of coach we have. How horrible are QB is...
I don't have a big problem with how he's handled it, I just think the fact he handled it the way he did shows he's clearly out of his comfort zone for the first time since he's been here. Using the sarcasm he used the last few days in the presser and today on the radio is almost the equivalent of dropping F-bombs all over somebody when you consider how he has always been overly polite even when he knew the question/caller wasn't doing the same.
Exactly, let him get reps. Toledo is not going to pressure him, and he's probably going to be as big as there LB's. Let him stay in the whole game and get his game speed passing in. The kid needs all the game time he can get and being up 10 in the 2nd quarter is not a time to take him out. Let Bauserman take a knee to run the game clock down.
I agree with your first sentence and I think it has caused Tress to pursue the wrong strategy and in the process lose the moral high ground. Tress should have just ignored the emails publicly. He has now set himself up as a public adversary of the "mouth-breathing portion of the tOSU fanbase." You can't really go back from that.
The people you so smugly dismiss probably deserve the treatment, but they also don't command a bully pulpit. Tress used his position to make snide comments and insults towards those people. Tress deserves as much scorn in this episode as the emailers.
you mean like Northwestern?
Not sure if I necessarily agree with you. I can say I was less Peed off at the world, but is that because I’m becoming more accustomed to losing every season’s must win game. It felt more like taking it with a grain of salt. As well, we are Ohio State and should expect to blow the doors off every big 11 team we play. Admitting to being inferior to USC/the PAC 10 and that we were able to simply hang is weak sauce man. Love the buckeyes and love Tress. Anyone else see PTI the other day with Wilbon ripping us a new one for some questioning Tressell. What a load of crap. ESECPN has been on our backs for years now making us the laughing stock of the nation. So some fans try to stand up and say we DO want to win these games. Wilbon comes back with where is our birth right to simply deserve to win these games. Where is his right to tell these fans that they shouldn’t want to win after ESECPN continually assaults tOSU and the Big ten. Just seems like they keep beating us down and when we stand up and say we are actually a good team they find another way to criticize us…And for the record, still behind Tressell, just think a fire needs to be lit for him to change his sometimes frustrating ways.
FTW!
Tress said Berry is a little knicked up, so i wouldn't expect to see him.
I think everyone is pissed because we let USC hang around with us for the entire game. When we had several chances to put the game away. The play calling was sub par.
Nailed it right on the head there tampa
Taint4Hesiman.com?
Are they serious? I mean, granted that made me laugh really hard, but for real? Who has THAT much spare time on their hands. Kid made ONE play against a team that hasn't had a Defense since Rudy graduated. My god, is it November yet?!?!?!?!?!?! I want to see him crawl off the field like his previous position holder
Agreed. Cordle makes me cringe, even though he did recover in the USC game. First quarter saw him with false starts and blown up on an XP or field goal (could be the ankle problem tho).
What's the over/under on how many of Calista Forcier's bones our defensive line breaks this November?
Bad situation. The line did their job on Saturday. One day all buckeye fans will wake up to the truth that Jim Tressel has not called a good game since 06' vs Michigan.
He won't make it past PSU. I do think he will be good though.
Screw Wilbon and ESPN, OSU has been around 4 times as long as them. We don't need there weak ass approval to know that we EXPECT to win those games. I've always thought of D1 CFB as a three level association. And we are one of the ELITE. So NO, we don't have to be happy with beating the hell out of 2nd class teams and put up with how Tress coaches. He either has to WIN BIG or his ass will be gone. Now, I hope he wins, but we fired a guy with a 90+ win pctg. to hire him, so that means we expect him to do better.
Him making that comment was equivalent to all the famous tirades in coaching history, but worse. Calling out officials or the press is one thing, but attacking fans, even if they deserve it, is usually off limits. Tress is on the hot seat, and he knows it.
Evil Jim comes to party Saturday, just a week late from my previous prediction. The transition lenses fade to black and it's time to run up the score.
i second that.
or Steve Bellisari Celebrating with a keg driving around campus.
or Florida, or LSU
ya if you can beat mighty notre dame in the last second you are god in cleats. I think they should give him the heisman and the national title now.
If tressel was coaching both notre dame and michigan the game might have ended in a tie somehow. I'm thinking 3-3. With the Punt from the 35 yard line locking up the tie.
So our freshman qb is playing well (hesiman talk is ridiculous) and your soph. qb is playing like an inexperienced freshman with eyeblack of a jackass and you immediately have to bag on Forcier?
I for one like the direction our program is going under our coach, can you honestly say the same?
Hopefully he continues to play well once you play a team that has a D with a pulse. Quite frankly, I would love for you scUM's to be undefeated come November, that way when we stomp you for 6 straight, it will taste all the sweeter.
42-7
I see us losing 4 games this year easy, but after a stellar showing against Navy and losing a game that USC was giving away (I was there)your confidence may be a little high.
At least you are better then most OSU fans who want UM to lose every game and destroy what little credibility the Big Ten has left.
UM losing 4 games that is, before all you OSU fans start crying.
Congrats you beat a shitty ass team with no qb who still kept you sweating till halftime.
App State! HAHAHAHAHHAAAA!
I'll quit. If you are as sensitive as your coach you are already tearing up.
*sniff*
Nope not sensitive at all, for the record App State happened under Carr and you still didnt answer my question.
Maybe you qb could spend less time giving SC highlights like "everybody murders" and learn some checkdowns for when a db drops coverage and shows blitz, could have helped at the end of the USC game.
I'm well aware that App. State happened when Carr was running a legit program up North.
USC was rolling coverage at us all night, but I'll agree that TPs comments were horrible and not very Tress savvy. TP is in major need of a Public Speaking class but at least he didn't cry.
I hate defending Wolverines on this, but I equate ND to the same level of opponent as Navy. That said Tate performed well, Pryor did not (talking about the Navy game here).
I was at the USC/tOSU game, and I for 1 am tired of all the blame Tressel is getting. Being up in the stands I saw plenty of receivers that were open ALL game. People can criticize play calling all they want because our offense didn't do anything, but when a coach call a play and receivers beat the defense I call that a good playcall, if the QB can't check down and find other open receivers then that is on him, the coach can't play the game for him.
That said, these are many of the same complaints I had with Troy Smith during the 1st half of his (RS)Junior year, and then all of the sudden the light just seemed to go on for him......I really hope that happens for Pryor....and sooner rather than later.
So the program is no longer legit, with Tressel, Herbie and the rest of college football all backing RichRod and calling it by what it is, a witch hunt, you know that rules have been broken?
I would have rather had an emotional speech then one with my star qb making himself and the entire university look like Vick sympathizers. Reminds me of K. Rambo speeches and he was great for some laughs!
Pryor has all the physical tools to be a great qb, but I don't think that was ever the question with. Can he handle the mental aspect of leading a elite college football team? To date it would seem no, maybe the coaches threw to much at him during the offseason with opening the playbook, reading coverages and the changing of his mechanics.
If he turns the corner like Troy then you have a heisman run to expect, if he dosen't he could take your coach down with him.
awesome thought process there - one player putting something on eye black in one game gives the appearance of a statement by 60,000 people. hehe. you must be a treat at parties.
you might want to check the lines of thought for your Pryor comment and your defense of RichRod. Pretty sure you are going trip over yourself.
OHHHHHHH the Rambo name drop....I just KNEW that was coming LOL
That is why you don't pull pryor in the navy game. He just had a good drive throwing the ball. Ohio State up by 10 and tressel puts in the backup. How can we expect a second year player to lead us down the field vs a good USC d? Reps is all this kid needs right now by the end of the year he'll be there, but we need to get him out of the pocket and put pressure on the d to make a play.
How bout you worry about your own program, especially when your leader ignores an obvious punch, pretends it never happened, and forces the Big 10 to come down on UM. You think this would ever happen under Carr? You might get a few W's, but it'll be fun to see what other hooliganism sullies the relatively unsullied UM program.
http://mgoblog.com/content/jon...
the best part of that post is Brian just brushing it aside like it was no big deal AND trying to make UM into a victim. that guy is insufferable. i think generally Penn State fans are more insufferable than michigan fans, but Brian makes it a tough call all by himself.
Was it giant punch that NCAA should be all over? No. Should actions been taken against Mouton? Yes.
RichRod never said he wasnt going to punish Jonas iternally as we do not make that public.
It is not like he choked somebody out of the game.
Is Pryor not the face of the OSU program currently? If he is wearing eye black that supports Vick and nobody on the team or staff is stepping in then one would assume the team is fine with it.
responsible for above post,
I already told the media, that I am not tall enough to read Terrelle's eyeblack and so forth
Coach Hayes, they told me you were dead. Good to see you, sir. I agree!
I just want a blowout against the rockets. The comments in that article from the Toledo fans, you'd think WE were the MAC snack........
You meant "than me". And 20 big offensive games won't help, I don't think, unless at least 2 are in big games against outstanding opponents. (My humble opinion.)
I would guess turnout was decided before the USC game, right? And no self-respecting Buckeye would deliberately missed a planned trip.
oops - miss
by your logic, richrod, and thereby the entire university of michigan, condone sucker punches. they did not publicly speak out against or step in to deal with Mouton as of Friday.
and how the hell do you know what richrod's (or tressel's) internal policies are? just accept this one for what it is - your players are just as dirty as everyone else's and your blogger hero, Brian, is a program sycophant.
Well said, sir.
Word to ya mutha
did tressel miss the bus today?
Why do you ask that one tampa? Is there something I DONT know?!?! LOL
If you don't want to hear bad things about wolverines, you're probably a bit web-lost on this blog. Most of us are still a little burned from last Saturday, so forgive our errant rants about tsun.