Eleven Warriors

First posted at Inside The Shoe (includes video highlights)

Although the 2012 recruiting class has not yet been finished, with the recent hiring of Urban Meyer, 2013 has already perked some interest into Buckeye fans across the country. With that said, here are our efforts to give you the in-depth knowledge about who Ohio State's top targets are.

There's a reason that '13 wide receiver recruit Robert Foster starts off our 2013 recruiting profiles: He's simply the best of the best. The junior from Central Valley has already been offered from a multitude of schools, including our very own Buckeyes. Ohio State isn't the only one noticing the game-breaking receiver, as Foster currently holds offers from Ohio State, Notre Dame, Michigan State, Penn State, West Virginia, Virginia, Rutgers, Pitt, and Purdue.

At 6'2'', 175 pounds, Foster could very well be one of those few players that you don't say no to. All-State in Class 3A as both a wide receiver and a punt returner during his sophomore season, he put up some serious numbers: 45 carries for 406 yards with 3 rushing touchdowns, and 25 receptions for 520 yards. As a junior, Foster did a little bit of everything in helping the Warriors finish 11-1. He caught 37 passes for 584 yards and five touchdowns, including a long of 99. He rushed another 36 times for 419 yards and two scores, including a long of 55.

He can play defense, too: From his safety spot, Foster registered 57 tackles, four interceptions, three pass breakups and a forced fumble. His team lost in the state championship, but heading into next year will no doubt be an exciting one for Foster as he returns as a senior with a lot of attention focused on him and his team as they try and make another title run.

If you've ever heard the phrase "Hold your breath when (they) get the ball" it applies perfectly for Robert Foster. The kid has a knack for coming up with plays when his team needs them the most. Returning punts, kickoffs, or just short passes intended to get a first down or a couple of yards can easily turn into 70+ yard plays on one quick move. With Urban Meyer's type of offense, Foster would be a great fit as a go-to receiver. He is by and far one of the most explosive players in the country. He is literally a threat to score any time he touches the ball, and has game changing speed with the ability to change gears at any point in time.

There’s a reason why his coach puts him in so many situations. Whenever he’s involved, good things tend to happen. Even with the punting. Last year in a game against New Castle, Foster was punting from deep in his own end. The snap went over his head and bounced through the end zone. But Foster managed to stop the ball just inches from the back of the end zone. With his heels nearly touching the end line, Foster picked up the ball, surveyed the field in front of him, and then he took off. He returned the ball to the 40-yard line, giving his team a first down.

Robert is elusive in the open field and is a very dangerous return man, which makes him very versatile, something that Urban Meyer has proved time and time again that those types of players are his favorite. See: Harvin, Percy. Foster is a big time vertical threat who can go up and get the ball but also possesses outstanding ball skills and seems to come up big when he needs to.

He is still raw and learning with every rep, but that's what junior year is for: refining your skills and getting ready for that break-out senior year. He's already got the talent and his skill set is very high already, now he needs to work on the little things and refine them. Foster is the #1 ranked Wide Receiver in 247's Top 247, and also the #14 prospect overall.

For the video highlights of Foster's sophomore and junior year, please visit the orignial post at Inside The Shoe

First posted at Inside The Shoe

The 2012 recruiting class took a huge momentum shift nationally, when Urban Meyer raced into the picture for Ohio State. Enough cannot be said about how Luke Fickell and Mike Vrabel continued to recruit, and recruit well. Before Meyer came onto the coaching staff, Fickell had wrapped up 9 recruits on his own, and had picked up some pretty decent players.

Once Urban stepped in though, the bar was set a couple of feet higher. Recruits are gaining interest fast, and now are taking a serious look at where they stand.

Now another recruit has joined the mix, and we didn't have to wait long to hear from another star prospect.

That prospect is Camren Williams of West Roxbury (MA) Catholic Memorial. Williams, a 6-2/200 linebacker, is a four star recruit that is currently committed to Penn State. He the brother of current UNC offensive lineman Brennan Williams.

We talked with Camren on Tuesday night, and he gave us the latest info on his recruitment and thoughts on Ohio State.

First posted at Inside The Shoe

There's something very deceiving about the 6-6 record that Ohio State holds for the 2011 season. A lot of these losses came down to either the final couple of minutes in the game, or were within striking distance the entire day. We lost to Michigan 40-34. Before that margin, Michigan was at first and goal, leading with only a couple of minutes left in the game. Then some magic took place, allowing hope to enter my head.

That magic, came in the form of some very stupid mistakes by Michigan. A holding call, and then a personal foul against the Wolverines pushed them all the way back to around the 20 yardline. In turn, they had to kick a field goal, leading to the final score. Of course, Ohio State had an opportunity to get things going and to win the ballgame with a last minute drive once again.

With that, let's get onto what went wrong and right for the Buckeyes on Saturday.

First posted by Nick at Inside The Shoe

Part one of our in-depth look who could be on Gene Smith’s list of coaching candidates helped to lay out what we’re potentially looking for in a new field general and examined the backgrounds of candidates 10 through six. 10. Jon Gruden 9. Gary Patterson 8. Tim Beckman 7. Luke Fickell 6. Bo Pelini (ranking was made pre-Michigan v. Nebraska)

Just to recap, we’re evaluating the candidates based on three criteria:
1. Head coaching experience
2. Ohio ties
3. Offensive coaching background. (Although, it’s clear after watching Saturday’s Penn State game that we need help on both sides of the ball)

Let’s pick back up where we last left off and ponder whose names could appear at spots five through one.

5. Mark Dantonio -  Michigan State head coach and Jim Tressel protégé Mark Dantonio could definitely receive some attention by Smith and the OSU brass. His successful turnarounds of Cincinnati and Sparty football programs give him a proven head coaching track record. Not to mention, his Spartans have clinched the Legends Division and will play in the first ever conference championship game on Dec. 5. Much like his fellow B1G coaching colleague Pelini, Dantonio is known as a defensive wizard. His 2002 unit was a monumental reason why Ohio State won the national championship.

While Dantonio has an impressive head coaching track record, Ohio ties and enjoyed a successful stint as an Ohio State assistant coach, I think it’s highly unlikely we’d turn to him to replace his mentor. His age (55) and history of health problems don’t exactly represent a long-term solution. In addition, the university will certainly shy away from hiring someone with such close ties to Tressel. Dantonio would likely retain several members of the current Ohio State coaching staff and bring Mike Tressel (Doc’s son and Jim’s nephew) with him to Columbus. We have to finally turn the page from the Tressel era and hiring one of his mentees and keeping a majority of the current coaching staff probably isn’t the way to do it.

4. Josh McDaniels - Every coaching candidate list needs a dark horse contender and ours is former Denver Broncos head coach and current St. Louis Rams offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. The 35-year-old Barberton, Ohio native and son of legendary Canton McKinley High School head coach Thom McDaniels represents an intriguing potential head coaching choice.

As a long time assistant of the New England Patriots, where McDaniels served as a defensive coaching assistant, quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator, he was with the team for their all three of their Super Bowl championships. Even though McDaniels’ Ohio ties and offensive coaching experience is right up there with many of the other candidates on this list, his rocky tenure with the Broncos could work against him. He clashed regularly with players (Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall) and compiled an overall record of 11-17.

3. Chris Petersen - As one of the hottest names in coaching the past few years, this list wouldn’t be complete without Boise State’s Chris Petersen. Petersen has led the Broncos to two BCS bowl wins and beaten several major BCS conference schools in the regular season. Boise’s strength of schedule can certainly be debated, but what can’t argued is Petersen’s masterful offensive game planning and knack for getting the most out of his players against far-superior competition.

Who could possibly forget his “Statue of Liberty” two-point conversion call to beat Oklahoma in overtime during the 2007 Fiesta Bowl? While Petersen doesn’t have Ohio ties, his head track record as a head coach and reputation could help him overcome that deficiency. However, it’s very unlikely he would have an interest in the job. He’s been mentioned as a candidate for several openings over the past couple years and has decided to stay put at Boise. Plus, his team’s impending move to the Big East could also influence his decision. Nonetheless, Ohio State would be fool hearted not at least gauge his interest.

2. Patrick Fitzgerald - It’s hard not to like the job that Patrick Fitzgerald has done with Northwestern since taking over the program unexpectedly in 2006 after the sudden passing of head coach Randy Walker. The former two-time B1G Defensive Player of the Year has elevated the Northwestern out the conference’s cellar—leading the Wildcats to three straight bowl appearances.

Like many of the other candidates on this list, he’s shown an ability to coach up inferior talent to win football games. Even without offensive coaching experience, just think about how Fitzgerald would do at a school with less rigorous admissions requirements than Northwestern. Getting Fitzgerald to leave his alma mater will be tough. He’s already turned down Notre Dame and Michigan over the past couple years. But at only 36, one has to believe it will eventually be time for such a talented coach to move on. He’s served on the American Football Coaches Association’s Ethics Committee, which is a bonus for obvious reasons.

1. Urban Meyer - Unless you’ve been in hibernation, it should come as no surprise to anyone reading this list that the former Florida head coach and current ESPN college football analyst is Ohio State’s first and only choice to be its next head coach. The two-time BCS national championship winning coach is everything Ohio State is looking for in a coach and then some. He’s been successful everywhere he’s been (Bowling Green, Utah and Florida), has extensive Ohio ties (born in Toledo, raised in Ashtabula, attended Cincinnati for undergrad and Ohio State for grad school and coached TE and WR under former Ohio State coach Earle Bruce) and is known for his spread offense.

Meyer compiled a .817 winning percentage in 10 seasons, including a 7-1 record in bowl games and a 5-1 record against Florida’s in-state rival, Florida State. While the odds of Meyer returning to coaching next year and coming to Ohio State are very good, there are still a few hiccups that exist. Unlike what’s being reported in the media, I don’t think he’s too worried about NCAA sanctions. However, family and health concerns could still end up keeping him off the sidelines next year. Although there have been a number of reports about Meyer already agreeing to a deal, he’s issued a denial about Ohio State offering and him accepting the head coaching job. This is probably technically accurate and likely doesn't mean much.

The University and Meyer are most likely waiting until after Saturday’s Michigan game in order to show respect to Luke Fickell and not to be a distraction to the team. Regardless of who Ohio State ends up getting as the next head coach, hopefully it will bring closure to the numerous ordeals of the past year and allow us to get back to beating Michigan, winning B1G titles and playing in BCS games.

First posted by Nick at Inside The Shoe

“It is my honor to introduce to you, the next head football coach at The Ohio State University…….”

Just think, in less than two weeks, we could be hearing this sentence from Gene Smith. Scandals aside, the next coach will inherit one of the most-coveted jobs in college football and a substantial nucleus of young talent to build a successful team around.

Before I get into talking about the top ten potential coaching candidates that could be on Geno’s List, let’s take a moment to discuss the lay of the land and what we’re looking for in a candidate. Based on what we've seen so far this season from the interim regime, it’s clear we need someone head coaching experience to fill the shoes of our iconic former coach.

In addition, the next coach will have an enormous challenge mimicking the Jim Tressel-built recruiting wall in the state of Ohio. Even before The Vest’s departure, the wall was already showing some cracks with blue-chip recruits Trey DePriest, Jordan Hicks and Aundrey Walker fleeing the Buckeye state for Alabama, Texas and Southern California, respectively. Someone with Ohio ties has to be near or at the top of the list of candidates. Not to mention, they obviously have to be able to recruit in the Sun Belt states. And finally, the final criterion to evaluate the candidates is their past offensive coaching experience.

With the evolution of the college game and our annual lethargic production, we need someone with an offensive coaching background. Gone are the days of three yards and cloud of dust. If we want to be able to beat teams from other BCS conferences and our own, we have got to regularly score above 30 on a consistent basis. While I’m by no means dismissing the importance of defense, we've have got to score more points.

Therefore, I’m going to evaluate candidates based on three criteria:
1. Head Coaching experience
2. Ohio ties
3. Offensive coaching background.

Let's get on to the list after the jump.
10. Jon Gruden - Because of his recently signed five-year contract extension with ESPN, I almost didn't include him on the list. However, it wouldn't be a real a top 10 list without shamelessly including some big names that have zero chance. Gruden will never leave the NFL. Obviously, the former Oakland Raiders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach and current Monday Night Football co-host meets all three of our criteria.

He’s won a Super Bowl, hails from Sandusky, Ohio, graduated from the University of Dayton and has an offensive coaching background. But, can you imagine the temperamental Chuckie trying to get through to 18 and 19 year old college players? It’s not going to happen folks! And, we would be reminisced not to mention the fact that he did he get fired from his last job because he wasn’t a good enough coach.

9. Gary Patterson - Ok, so the AP 2009 Coach of the Year doesn’t have big time program experience, Ohio ties or an offensive coaching background, but he did beat Bret Bielema in the 2011 Rose Bowl. Let me repeat. He beat Bret Bielema in the 2011 Rose Bowl. During his tenure as head coach, Patterson has helped to transform TCU into a major college football program.

He’s shown an ability to coach up inferior talent to win big games. With TCU set to join the Big 12 next season, it’s very unlikely the Kansas native would leave for Ohio State or any other coaching position; especially, given the fact that the Horn Frogs now get to play Texas and Oklahoma on an annual basis.

8. Tim Beckman - Next on my list is Toledo’s current field general, Tim Beckman. The Findlay alum and former Ohio State cornerbacks coach (2005-2006) is widely thought of as an up-and-comer in the coaching ranks. He’s already beaten a few B1G teams, including Michigan and Purdue. And, let’s not forget who had his team better-prepared than Luke Fickell earlier this season in the Horse Shoe.

Beckman served as a graduate assistant at Auburn and as the defensive coordinator at Bowling Green (1998-2004) and Oklahoma State (2007-2008). While Beckman certainly has Ohio and Ohio State ties, it’s very unlikely the university would tap such a raw talent to lead the program. Only the NCAA dropping the hammer on the program could potentially result in Beckman getting the job.

7. Luke Fickell - First and foremost, let me just say that I admire and respect Luke Fickell for how he’s handled a no-win situation. In fact, I would really like to see him named as the permanent head coach at Ohio State—only in about 10 years. While Fickell may have been a point-after-attempt away from getting the job, he’s looked lost on the sidelines many times this season and has shown an inability to get his team motivated to play inferior competition (Toledo, Indiana and Purdue).

Plus, don’t even get me started on why the coaching staff ever thought it was a good idea to let Joe Bauserman see the field. It’s abundantly clear Fickell isn’t ready for prime time. Hopefully, he can finish strong and secure a head coaching position somewhere else. Let him gain some head coaching experience and develop recruiting ties, and we’ll see him back at his alma mater someday. Ohio State is not the place to receive on-the-job training. That’s why the football gods invented the Big East.

6. Bo Pelini - It shouldn’t surprise anyone that Mark “Bo” Pelini would appear on this list. The Youngstown native, former Ohio State team captain and current Nebraska coach has many attributes that make him a strong contender for the getting the head job at this alma mater. Pelini is without question one of the brightest defensive minds in coaching. Anyone remember the 2008 BCS title game in New Orleans? His teams have produced top-five NFL draft pick defensive tackles Glen Dorsey and Ndamukong Suh, and just think what he could do for the careers of John Simon and Big Hank.

While Pelini is certainly an intriguing candidate for the job, it’s very unlikely he would get offered the job unless some of the other candidates turned Ohio State down. His teams aren’t well known for being offensive juggernauts and head coaching moves within a conference are rare. Not to mention, his sideline antics and abrasive personality could be too much for an administration and fan base used to the mild-mannered Vest.

5. Sorry, but you’ll have to wait until next week for part two and the top five potential coaching candidates on Geno’s List. In the meantime, let us know what you think about candidates 10 through six and who you’re hoping to see in the top five.

First posted by Stephan, at Inside The Shoe

In an otherwise very ugly game for Ohio State against Purdue, Braxton Miller showed at times what has made him so special.  Miller escaped pressure time and time again to make a play, none seemingly more important than on 4th down on what should have been the game-winning touchdown.  Miller was pressured, but showed great composure to keep his eyes downfield to find Jordan Hall behind the defense.

Miller definitely was not perfect on Saturday, but at this stage in his career, you cannot expect him to be.  He overthrew several open receivers deep down the field throughout the game.  His accuracy is something that needs to improve.  Miller was 8-18 against the Boilermakers for a career-high 132 yards, but the low completion percentage brought his season average to exactly 50 percent.

One has to wonder if this stage is getting to Miller, as he was hailed out of high school as being a “true dual-threat that is advanced as a passer in comparison to most,” according to ESPN.  His accuracy has been off almost all season, but his legs and his ability to make the big play have overshadowed this a bit.  Hopefully this is just a result of growing pains, coming from high school to college football.

There is no question that Miller has the skills necessary to become a very good (maybe great, I won’t say it yet, it’s too early) quarterback for the Buckeyes.  Some put the blame on the play-calling (looking at you, Bollman), considering the amount of talent on this football team.  But it is a lot of young talent.  Of the top seven receivers, four are freshman, two sophomores and Jake Stoneburner is the veteran of the group as a junior.  It is a group that could have used the experience of DeVier Posey to lead on game day.  The experience that this group has gained this season will be invaluable over the next few years.

With Posey returning for Senior Day against Penn State this week, I think it will open up more options for Braxton Miller and the passing offense.  It would have been nice to have him back for the Nebraska game, like originally scheduled, but like most of this Buckeye football season, nothing has happened as it was supposed to.  Hopefully Posey and Miller have established a connection in practice that will let them get together on the field, and let the Buckeyes open up the offense a little bit.

Even in a bit of a down year for Ohio State, the Buckeyes still have a chance to get to 8-4, and most importantly, beat That State Up North for the 8th consecutive time.  Braxton Miller’s play will be vital in the final two games of this season, the possible bowl game and the next three years.  He must prove that being a top-level quarterback is his destiny,  and I'm excited to see how it plays out.

First posted at Inside The Shoe

While Ohio State has knocked themselves out of a chance to get into the Big Ten Championship Game, there is still an opportunity to build on these last games. This season could very well end in 6-6, or it could end in 8-4. It's a huge difference not only towards the attitude of the team, but for momentum into next year.

When Braxton Miller rolled to his right on 4th and 3 from the Purdue 13, and then saw Jordan Hall with a step on his man on the opposite side of the field, he threw it up. Very similar to the Wisconsin game, it seemed as if the ball hung up in the air for hours, finally floating into the outstretched hands of Hall. We know that the next play was awful, but there were other key points and factors throughout the game that resulted in the Buckeye loss. Let's take a look at what went right and wrong for Ohio State on Saturday.

What Went Right
- Jordan Hall Can Catch: Who knew? Hall was Ohio State's leading receiver with 3 catches for 58 yards and 2 touchdowns. If that stat doesn't scream to you that he should be moved out to slot receiver so we can get him the ball on short crossing routes or jet sweeps, I don't know what does. He also had 9 carries for 46 yards, but was mostly used in short yardage situations.

- Ryan Shazier Is The Next Big Thing: When Andrew Sweat went down with a concussion through the middle of the game, most everyone immediately thought about how our already depleted and weak linebacking core was going to survive without the team-leading tackler. That's when freshman special teams standout Ryan Shazier stepped in. Shazier this season has been just fantastic in every aspect. I can't think of one time that Shazier has done something bad. Against Wisconsin he blocked a punt, and in every other game he has led the charge in special teams. If you wonder why our special teams are much better? Sure, Dick Tressel has done a good job, but Ryan Shazier has been a monster.

Against Purdue alone, he had 7 total tackles, 6 solo tackles, 1 sack, and forced a fumble that was later ruled down. Shazier also almost had an interception at a key moment in the game where he read Marve's eyes and stepped in front of a slant that he would have taken to the house. His energy in this game was unbelievable, giving 110% every down.

What Went Wrong
- Extra Point Blocked: Despite having all the momentum in the world, Drew Basil just could not find a rhythm all day long on Saturday. He missed a 50-yard field goal that had the distance, but sailed to the right of the uprights, and made a 33 yarder for Ohio State's first lead of the game. The blocked extra point would have given the Buckeyes most likely the win and would have capped off another improbable Braxton Miller drive.

- Antonio Underwood: I had some high hopes for Underwood, the true freshman who got the nod in favor of J.B. Shugarts who was out due to a right knee sprain. Those hopes were immediately crushed when the Purdue defensive line started eating our entire offensive line alive. The reason Boom and company weren't able to get things going on the ground might be because the offensive line literally had little to no push. It almost seemed as if Ryan Kerrigan was on the field again, donning the Boilermaker's uniform. The bad part about it was we were making them all look like Ryan Kerrigan in the first half.

Purdue stacked 8-9 guys in the box, and sometimes more. The "We're a running football team, and we have to plow through everyone to win games no matter what" philosophy isn't working anymore. Eventually Underwood was pulled, and suddenly the offensive line improved. That's not good news, and hopefully doesn't shatter his confidence.

First posted by Brady, at Inside The Shoe

What a game to select as my only trip to Columbus for football this season! I'm not claiming to be a genius as any Buckeye fan would've picked the Wisconsin game if put in the same situation but damn that was F'n awesome! That trip was everything I could have hoped for and more. I got to party like a rock star the night before in my killer pilot costume, tailgate my ass off behind the varsity club in a private party, watch our freshman quarterback become a star right in front of my eyes, witness one of the great moments in Horseshoe history and watch fat Wisconsin children dressed in cow outfits be taunted on the way out of the stadium.

What more could you ask for? Sure I ended up with a hangover that lasted two days and a hoarse voice from yelling all night but those were just minor inconveniences. The magic and excitement of Buckeye football is back... for another week at least. So how did OSU come out on top against the Badgers? Let's hand out some game balls to those who were able to help the bucks come out on top.

Booooooooooom Herron- The crowd was all over this chant the entire game and for good reason. Boom ran hard all night and was pretty much the only consistent weapon for OSU on Saturday. It was a helluva weapon though. Wisconsin did not have an answer for Herron, especially in the 2nd half. There were many occasions that he was only getting 2-3 yards on first down but it was still positive yardage. Even though we all would like to see 5 yards on first down the Badgers were never able to bottle him up behind the line to force Ohio St. to throw on second down. The offensive line definitely had a part in Herron's huge night but the majority of those yards came from Boom's sick moves, surprising speed and brute strength. We really missed this guy during the first half of the season.

Defensive Line- Johnny Simon was the standout in this group but the whole unit played really well. Most bloggers, including myself, noted that OSU had to get pressure on Wilson for the Buckeyes to have any shot in this game. Mission accomplished my friends. OSU ended the night with 4 sacks but there were a number of hurries and hits on the quarterback that didn't show up in the stats. Wilson looked hurried and didn't get the chance to hurt us with his feet which was a huge bonus. The 2 Wisconsin fans in my section kept yelling for him to run but there was nowhere to go. Must have been the giant cheese heads blocking their vision. He did end up with some long throws but that was more coverage breakdowns in the secondary than it was lack of pressure from the D line. This group was also solid in stopping the vaunted Wisky running attack. I just can't say enough about these guys.

Luke Fickell- I still don't think he is coming back for another season but you could probably sway me if OSU can win out. This was definitely his best performance as head coach though. Luke from 4 weeks ago would've never gone for it on 4th down at the one yard line. I might not have even gone for it there considering we had been stuffed the previous 2 plays but Fickell threw caution to the wind and sent Herron back into that mass of bodies. One juke-out-of-your-jock later and Boom was standing in the end zone with 6 points instead of 3. That was a HUGE play. Too many times in the past Ohio St. settles for field goals. You can't expect to win big games like this with freaking field goals. I tip my hat to Fickell for having the balls to go for it along with handing it off to Boom instead of getting cute and trying to pass it that close to the goal line. Good show sir!

The Fans- Yes I am going to pat myself on the back. I only do this because I can't pat the other 105,000 fans that were there on the back. Holy shit was it loud in there! I haven't been to a sporting event in a long time where it was that loud. Little kids were literally covering their ears around me on some of those late third downs. It was a really cool sight to see. I have been to numerous games at the Shoe as well as a ton of pro Football and Baseball stadiums. Nothing and I mean NOTHING compares to the atmosphere of the Horseshoe on a Saturday night. The scene in that place after Miller heaved his last pass into the end zone will live with me forever. I am getting chills just thinking about it again. It was really nice to see that the fans hadn't given up on this season and we were all rewarded for it.

BRAXTON- I was really impressed with the young guy on Saturday. It was still apparent that the coaches were hesitant to call passing plays but we really didn't need many of them. When combined with Boom, the two rushed for nearly 300 yards on a top 15 team. It was amazing to see the progress he has made over the past month. I can't begin to imagine the adrenaline that is rushing through your veins when a 18 year-old is in front of 100,000 screaming fans against a team like Wisky that was on national television. That is something very few of us will ever get to experience. The kid apparently didn't feel any pressure. If he did it certainly didn't show up. I can't remember any really bad decisions made by Miller during the game.

Plus, the story that surfaced of his wink and "don't worry coach, I got this" before the final drive is the stuff of legend. I really think he's starting to get it and this may be the beginning of another great quarterback run at Ohio St. All of a sudden, the Buckeye's are back in the race for the division and a shot at going to Indy for the title game. We must win out and some other dominoes need to fall but it is well within reach. It's amazing what a few good wins and one monster game at home will do for your season. Just a month ago I had to be talked off the ledge but now I'm scoreboard watching and breaking down opponents. It has been a trying season but it can still end positively for OSU. Indiana and Purdue are up next before the season ends with Penn St. and Michigan. One week at a time boys... one week at a time.

First posted at Inside The Shoe, by Stephan

What a game.  What a finish.  What an effort.  The Ohio State Buckeyes showed tremendous poise under pressure after surrendering a 12-point lead to Wisconsin with less than four minutes on the clock.  Braxton Miller did not play like a freshman, he played like a man who knew he had a job to do, and that job was to win a football game.  Much like Terrelle Pryor did back in 2008 against Bucky, Miller led a late 4th quarter drive to win the game for Ohio State.

The second half of the game was the Braxton Miller show, rushing for two touchdowns and, of course, throwing a 40-yard strike to Devin Smith to win the game.  Miller showed excellent composure on his first touchdown run to give the Buckeyes their first lead of the game early in the 3rd quarter.  On 4th-and-goal, Ohio State needed a touchdown to cap their opening drive of the half, a drive kick-started by Boom Herron’s 57-yard dash.  A fake to the running back, a nifty move on a Badger defender and Braxton Miller walked into the end zone.

Miller’s second touchdown run of the game seemingly put the game out of reach when Braxton kept an option play and ran 44 yards untouched to the house.  However, two Russell Wilson touchdown passes to Jared Abbrederis gave Wisconsin a 29-26 lead with 1:18 left in the game.

An excellent return by Jordan Hall gave the Buckeyes the ball just outside midfield, then Braxton Miller and the offense went to work.  Three plays later, the Buckeyes were on Bucky’s 40-yard line.  As the clock rolled after the chains were set for the first down, the Buckeye receivers looked confused, as they first lined up on the wrong side, causing a few more seconds to run off.  There was no need to worry, since a scrambling Braxton Miller would find a wide open Devin Smith in the end zone.  That sparked a wild celebration from the 105,511 in attendance, myself included.

From my seat in Block O South, I didn’t initially see Devin Smith running free behind the Badger defense.  I was cued in on Braxton Miller, thinking he was going to scramble and at least get the Buckeyes into field goal range.  Once I saw him release the pass, I looked up and saw Smith wide open and hoped that he would hold on to the pass that took five minutes to come down out of the air.  At least that’s how long it felt like.  As soon as I (and everyone around me) realized Ohio State had scored, we went crazy.  I hugged complete strangers.  I ended up three rows up from where I was originally standing, simply because I kept going up and celebrating and hugging more and more people.  Without a doubt, that was the best sporting event I have ever attended.  I’m not even sure there is a close second.  This game was Secretariat, all the others are lining up behind it like it is the 1973 Belmont Stakes.

I cannot say enough about how impressed I was with Braxton Miller’s play in the second half.  The kid has ice water in his veins.  He showed no signs of being scared of Wisconsin and no sign of being scared by the situation.  I think it is safe to say that Ohio State has got itself a fine quarterback for the next four years.  It is, indeed, Miller Time.

First posted by Brady, at Inside The Shoe

I really don’t think that our young coach has any shot of hanging on past this season despite the news he finally is coaching under a legit contract until the end of 2012. It’s true that Fickell was dropped into an impossible situation with all of the suspensions and the turmoil surrounding the program but most fans still believe he is in way over his head. Ohio St. is one of the few jobs in America that other coaches pine for and the school should be able to hit a home run once this season comes to an end.

However, if Luke wants to put a HUGE notch under his belt and make the brass at Ohio St. second-guess their impending coaching search, this weekend certainly presents the opportunity. Wisconsin will be a great challenge for this team and its’ coaching staff moving forward.

Will the Buckeye’s be able to throw or even move the ball against a stout Wisconsin defense? Can Braxton escape this Saturday with body intact and all wits about him? Will Bollman dial up some plays that don’t remind us of leather helmets? I don’t really have the answers to these questions but I am dying to find out the answers in person this weekend at the 'Shoe!
Wisconsin will be pissed coming off that dramatic loss at the hands of Sparty on Saturday night. I have been racking my brain trying to figure out if that loss will be a good thing or a really bad thing for the Buckeyes. One could argue the Badgers will be hungry to atone for that last-second loss and OSU may be in trouble because of it. Wisconsin was beat up for most of the game against MSU but still managed to climb back in during the 4th quarter with some great plays by Russell Wilson. Besides the two-headed running attack and massive offensive line, Wilson is the guy that scares me the most.

Actually, after looking at that last sentence, the whole freakin’ Wisky offense is what scares me the most. I always have faith in a Buckeye defense but remain unconvinced that OSU has the horses to bang heads all night and stop that rushing attack. The loss of Nathan Williams will be felt during this game. He was excellent at getting pressure on the quarterback along with shutting down the running game. I hope that Hankins and Simon are up to the task but it won’t be easy pushing those giants around up front.

The Badger offense is good. No football fan in their right mind would argue that point. For the Bucks to have a shot they will have to move the ball and put up a bunch of points. Those two basic football concepts have been hard to come by this year. Part of the problem is starting a Freshman quarterback but Braxton has shown flashes of the talent that had fans drooling over his arrival last spring. Bollman and Fickell MUST open up the playbook for this one. Besides the Michigan game, this will be the marquee match up of the season for our young team. We still don’t know what the NCAA will decide later this month so a bowl game can’t be counted on either. This is Homecoming against a national power! Pull out all the stop’s coaches. I beg of you!

After watching that MSU-UW game on Saturday night I don’t think the Badgers are as invincible as I once thought. The Spartan defense had a great game and forced Wisconsin to throw more than they wanted to. I believe the OSU defense has just as much talent which gives me hope that the Buck’s can stay in this thing until the end. The D line will have to find a way to get pressure on Wilson and get his ass on the ground a few times early. They can’t let him get comfortable and pick our young secondary apart . If Wilson can couple that with a bruising running attack the game could be over before half time. Ohio St. is capable of a good defensive showing so let’s hope Heacock has some tricks up his sleeve for this one.

This game will be an opportunity for Fickell to wash the bad taste from all of our mouths. Most folks understand that it isn’t entirely his fault but it’s hard not to lay some of the blame with him. Our fans are a fickle bunch (pun sort of intended) and we expect to be in the race every year. That dream is long dead but there is still an outside shot to get back in the Big Ten race. A lot of dominos must fall in our favor but stranger things have happened. I want to remember Fickell for the great nose tackle he was, not the overwhelmed coach with a thousand-yard stare. This Saturday the healing can begin.