Anywhere, anytime.The official hate week cryptic, disseminated order of who's playing where's out in the wild. I start with the offensive line, where Justin Boren is expected to back. Boren's plays tapered off gradually since the USC contest. The Boren we get could very well depend on not just his health, but his mental and emotional states going into these three critical contests. We know #65 will get at it November 21st in A^2, but can he show the heart against Penn State and Iowa necessary to help keep Joe Bauserman in his rightful place on the sidelines? Assuming Boren will be right, considerably more trepidation comes in the form of senior Jim Cordle returning a second straight weekend to start at left tackle. Cordle was yet again a revolving glass door, even to the likes of New Mexico State, before being relieved for the majority of the meaningful snaps by Andrew Miller. As has been the case in the past, sometimes "pocket" changes can occur where by tacit replacements are made without the knowledge of the media or otherwise. Perhaps Cordle will begin the game on the left side of the line, then Tress will let the results dictate exactly how much we see Miller. Mike Brewster, Bryant Browning, and J.B. Shugarts are your stalwarts at center through right tackles respectively.
The other notable change on the offensive side of the ball this week comes with the re-emergence of one Daniel Herron. Even in limited duties, Boom managed to find pay dirt against the hapless Aggies. He's now usurped the crown of running back-B from Jordan Hall, who along with Jermil Martin (who was praised by number by NMSU coach DeWayne Walker, late of the UCLA/USC rivalry and a man who knows a running back when he sees one) could continue to see carries on an as needed basis. Brandon Saine will continue to be the primary option at tailback many hoped he'd be going into the season. The wide receiver slots, the fullback position, and of course, the coveted principle game caller spot, all remain static this week. There's been little on the front of Pryor's "lower leg" injury to this point, so as far as we can possibly be concerned, radio silence = win.
On defense, one sure to be controversial adjustment (but defensible to those who've been paying closer attention) is the reprise of Anderson Russell as the starting free safety. Jermale Hines' combination of big play potential and better measurables has given him a slight edge on Russell in the minds of many this season, but Russell's nose for the ball and experience has aided and abated some gutty performances in recent weeks. The fifth year senior will have every chance to go out the last 3 games of his Ohio State career the way he envisioned, long before inconsistency and underwhelming play necessitated an early season demotion. Kurt Coleman, Devon Torrence, and Chimdi Chekwa remain the other principle players of the Buckeye secondary.
As we touched on last weekend, Andrew Sweat being lost for the season makes for the only other defensive shake up pre-PSU. The recently back from injury Jonathan Newsome platoons with sophomore Tony Jackson in the backup Will slot. Ross Homan remains the starter at the position, playing opposite the Sam, Austin Spitler, along with the (TD scoring!) hedgehog-on-crack Brian Rolle still handling business in the middle at Mike. The defensive line remains identical to previous weeks with Doug Worthington and Todd Denlinger clogging the Evan Royster running lanes up the gut, and Thad Gibson and Cam Heyward haunting the aforementioned Clark's dreams all week. This does appear to mean Dexter Larimore won't be returning from injury, and Rob Rose and John Simon will continue to platoon spelling Denlinger.
Finally, with New Mexico State's absolutely deplorable cheap hit on inconsistent kicker Aaron Pettrey bringing the senior's Buckeyes career to an early end, the Buckeyes usher in their 2nd kicker in as many weeks. 26 year old former Columbus Crew forward Devin Barclay is now the heir apparent in the once automatic-for-3 field goal kicker spot. Barclay went just 1/3 in his debut against the Aggies, so questions loom whether or not the relative instability surrounding the position will influence Jim Tressel to consider playing more aggressively when he otherwise normally would've settled for the tres in the past. Some have inquired as to why the once highly recruited Ben Buchanan won't be seizing the role, but as the Dispatch's Ken Gordon mentioned, Buchanan has been by and large being groomed to succeed Jon Thoma at punter. However, it isn't out of the question for Buchanan to be the primary kick off specialist against the Nittany Lions, a role he already filled once prior in the season.
Comments
Can someone tell me that Anderson Russell being listed as starting FS on the PSU depth chart is just a bad joke and/or typo?
Dexter Pittman?
I'm more concerned with Cordle being listed as the starting LT.
I have thought the last couple of weeks Anderson Russell looked pretty good. I'm not knocking Hines, but I don't have much of a problem with him starting.
I actually liked what Barclay did on kickoffs pretty well. I'm nowhere close to as comfortable with him as a field goal kicker.
My apologies. I do, in fact, live in Austin, and evidently have a Tyler Durden thing going on where I'm working the Texas hoops beat.
Seconded. Russell's been really effective the last several weeks and I have no problem with the move. Still hoping Cordle is more lip service than a commitment to X number of plays, but we'll see.
I did not click the Brian Rolle link, and now that dastardly song is in my head. It's like the hamthrax of internet links
I want to believe in A-Russ, but I still have nightmares of #21 making Ricky Dobbs look like Brett Favre, and Daryll Clark is about 10 times the throwing QB that Ricky Dobbs is. I hope it's a moot point, and that we'll be in the nickel package most of the game with Hines on the field, anyways.
This team can beat Penn State. It should beat Penn State. But I fear the growing mountain of injuries is going to prevent us from beating Penn State.
We're running 2 and sometimes 3 deep with injuries at key positions on both sides of the ball. It's crazy that in a bye-week game against NMSU, we suffered a season-ending injury to our kicker and who the hell knows what to Pryor.
Testing the gravatar
didn't work.
I think Russell's putting up respectable numbers/not giving up big plays in part because we haven't really played many teams with any sort of downfield threat. I'm not sure Penn State does that, but then again, Navy shouldn't have either.
"but can he show the heart against Penn State and Iowa necessary to help keep Joe Bauserman in his rightful place on the sidelines?" Amen Brother...It`s amazing how bad our back up QB situation is ! I know I know guys ran when TP signed and we were left with JB. Anybody who watched the spring game knows that a walk on Justin Seims played better than Joe Blowserman. What a missed opportunity this last week end to see what other talent we have on the bench !! Hell in one attempt Posey looked like he should be moved to the #2 QB spot !
Couldn't the same thing be said about the entire secondary though? I mean he had one bad game at the beginning of the year. I think he's looked pretty good lately. Te one great game he had everyone ripped him that it was because the QB over threw and whatever else, but If Hines were in there and did the same thing the same people would be praising Hines for playing so well.
Cordle at LT again?! I thought Halloween was over?
So we go from the Browning debacle in last year's PuSU game, to starting a center at LT? My God.
A-Russ has had more than one bad game, carrying over from last year, but I do agree that he has improved. However, the improvement comes while Russell is playing from the nickel spot, with Coleman backing him up at FS and Hines laying the wood at SS. Coleman is arguably our second best cover DB after Chekwa, and so with Coleman sliding over into SS, it places an incredible amount of pressure on A-Russ to cover PSU wideouts. Clark has recently been on a hot streak in the passing game and I honestly don't understand this move, unless Hines is hurt and Tressel doesn't want to give that information up. The current structure of the defense has been playing lights out as of late, so I don't understand the 11th hour move, back to a setup that wasn't working against lesser teams like Navy. PSU will not be able to consistently rush on our D-Line, and so if they win this game, they win it through the air. I would hate for us to lose because of another blown A-Russ assignment.
I just found this in my 13 year old son's backpack.
Dear Coach Tressel, I am the biggest and most loyal Ohio State fan there is... its time to repay me.I'm just asking you to do a few simple things beat Penn State, Iowa and Michigan. Who knows maybe if you pull your head out of your *** and stop being conservative. PLAY TO WIN NOT KEEP IT CLOSE. This week against Penn State I want you to be screaming at the team. BE A CHEERLEADER FORGET YOUR CLASS FOR THE NEXT 3 gamesGrow some balls Tressel if #2 starts to suck I want his *** out of the game. Do a little play action let Devry Posey, Duron Carter and Danea chance cause you know there hands are dusty from your crappy play calls and you know they are capable of making big plays.I will be watching the game at the ohio state buckeye bar last year i saw pryor fumble the ball it was the worse thing i could see happen. Please do not disappoint me and my friends at the bar. IF WE ARE WINNING BIG RUN UP THE SCORE OK. You have the most underrated defense in the nation they are beastly motivate the. LETS NOT GIVE UP A GAME WINNING DRIVE LIKE WE DID AGAINST USC. I WANT THE LINE TO PLAY MOTIVATED LIKE THEY PLAYED AGAINST USC. GIVE TP SOME TIME TO BE HIMSELF LIC . Coach i'm noticing this is getting a little long so i will have to motivate you some more before the MOST IMPORTANT GAME OF THE YEAR IOWA CAUSE I WILL BE THERE AND IF WE LOSE IM KICKING YOU AND TERRELS ***. Please don't dissapoint me because sorry the word DISAAPOINTMENT DESCRIBES ALOT ABOUT WHAT US BUCKEYE FANS HAVE BEEN FEELING THE COUPLE OF YEARS...BEAT PENN STATE STRAIGHT UP.
Whats up with Hall. I thought he was coming on.
Methinks your son needs remedial schooling in grammar, spelling, etc.
Sounds like your son found it lying on his dads desk !!
Well, Russell, as Matt said, has a history of subpar games. He got torched against USC in '08, and in a far more obvious example, directly cost us the Texas game. Not all that is strictly on Russell, but I just don't see any reason yet to bench Hines.
I think Hines has been far more consistent, both in coverage and as a tackler. But perhaps the coaching staff sees something I do not.
Alright guys, so I am sick of hearing the whining and complaining of A-Russ starting on the depth chart. The game isn't even here yet and you're already complaining about a depth chart move. As for the Cordle situation, let me let you in on how the offensive line works when it comes to players ability to play various positions on the line. I personally know one linemen on the line and I am not gonna tell you who he is but I will tell you this. The coaches like to get linemen prepared to play usually more than 1 position on the line. So for instance, Cordle has played center before so he has the experience with that, he has also played tackle. It doesn't matter which side you play tackle with the exception, playing the two sides is like playing right handed vs. left handed. So now YOU know why these moves are made like they are on the depth chart as well as unfortunate injuries that happen during games.
STFU
APPLE DOESN'T DROP FAR FROM THE TREE - JUST BEING LOYAL - VENTING
russell anderson is garbage, anybody who likes his game obviously never played football...you wear his jersey every night to bed don't you nuckbut?
Just curious, but what kind of bar lets in a 13 year old kid for last years PSU game, which started at 8pm?
Do you really have to keep bringing up the JoePa bathroom incident...really? Didn't a legendary OSU coaching icon choke a player on an opposing team? You're clever...come up with something better...
No, the legendary coach did not choke the player. He slugged him. Woody didn't fight, he beat bitches up. The Clemson player obviously shouldn't have been standing there, Woody was just shadow boxing and the guy walked into it
It doesn't just happen to Joe Pa. It happened to Steve Rehring last year during the Wisky game. Even Alex Boone said, "Man, that's Joe Pa stuff!"
Yeah, I put on my A-Russ jersey. Climb into bed. Put on some A-Russ highlights on my TV, like the 2009 osu-texas game and the 2009 osu-navy game and watch with a bag of doritos and a pepsi. Oh, and I also shoot my wad, its so awesome to watch!!!!
People dont forget!
I'd like to 2nd that, and add Thoma needs to stop punting the ball 30 yards.
Yea McNutt thats exactly what I do, great job on that one, really got me there.
Seriously I have to ask you, is this what you do is come on to an Ohio State blog to either A. say fire Jim Tressel or B. make fun or other people who defend him? I am not sure what you are trying to get at with these posts, but I guess that is to be expected when you write like a 6 year old.
McNutt = garbage
In the ATL .sports bar. thanks about the grammer you must be wound too tight to take a joke
No doubt...How come J and J are getting more love from the coaches whose teams they smother than they are from their own coaches?
You have to use the email that you registered with the gravatar.
I think most of us have been victim of the evil SHART. I really like JoePa. I think it's unfair that people say his great assistants are running the team now but when they had bad teams 5 years ago it was his fault, not the assitants. The man has done more for Penn State than any other coach has done for their respective school. Sure he's old and gives crazy quotes and everyone loves to rip on him, but it takes a pretty tough character to put in the hours that he certainly still does.
That being said, I hope we stomp their ass Saturday night, but just can't rip Joe Pa. Sharting happens, but punching a player that is beating your team, classless.
+1000 if you meant to reference Superbad.
You spelled grammar wrong.
"Come to Penn State!!!!!"
Coming up with something better...hmm, our probability for success at that DEPENDS on our mood. hey ooh
But of course
Don't bring kids into this, that shit just 'aint funny.
Isn't it a "Hershey squirt" since he's from Pennsylvania?
lol yeah that would be correct. I'm truly laughing out loud about that one.
I CANT STAND State Penn. They're old ass coach, who doesn't even really coach, they're lame ass uniforms, the whole "We are....Penn State!" no.... You are....Usually Bad!' All this talk about tOSU dragging the B11 thru the mud...please they got waxed by USC worse than we did. All their former/current players with their criminal records. In conclusion, and I apologize for this ahead of time
FUCK PENN STATE!
Last several weeks vs the competition = he had better of been. His performance against a par opponent is the difference.
I love Joe Pa and the college game will never see anyone like him again, not even close. I like the Penn State program in general, although I do think they are slightly on the outside looking in, in terms of being an elite top tier program; they simply don't have the national titles or heismans or all-Americans to be mentioned in the same sentence as USC, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Michigan, etc. And while I appreciate PSU for these things, I think their fan base is insufferable. They have an incredible chip on their shoulder, precisely because they know their program doesn't get the same respect as those listed above, and they incessantly whine.
I like JoPa, too. But even my best of friends would never get away with dropping a duece in his pants and haluing ass to the head in front of 108,000 people on national TV.
Sorry about your luck, Joe. This one ain't going away.
matt you bring nothing to the table - i just tried to share something that i thought was funny.. you on the other hand need to be perfect. typical 11w whore - like palm beach
blah blah blah why don't you give jopa a blow job since you love him
He probably just got his prescription of Cialis filled....have at it
He thought it was halftime!
I hope Pryor responds positively to all the jeers from PSU fans and students. I've read about the good and the bad (but at least the good happened on the football field). We've all heard about his scream fest with fans at a bball game. I read from a Jeannette native that during a rainy football game they were playing a rival and TP caught the opening kickoff but slipped after taking a few steps and the other team's fans abruptly started laughing and doing the overrated chant. First play from scrimmage though, TP took it up the middle to the house. That's what I hope to see Saturday, no whining just proving them wrong on the field...
you stay classy buckeyes, that is what makes you so special.
doing it on the field is much better than a t-shirt, notice how cute the fans at State Penn are being with the Cryor shirts...c'mon Bucks lets shut these guys up, they treat us like a national championship game anymore
Revisionist history much?
USC - 35
Ohio State - 3
USC - 38
Penn State - 24
Ohio State football: moral victories by way of revisionist history (and bringing up criminal records - how impressive!) since 2008!
Lets see.....did my gravatar work?
Lets try that again....