Looking back, Week 2
September 7, 2008
As the NFL season begins and the Ohio game is set to be re-watched on my VCR, here is a second-day review of my 5 Key Factors that runs in our Gameday+ section.
If you haven’t had a chance to see Gameday+ yet, check it out, it’s online Fridays and in the paper Saturdays, chock full of stats and stories, keys and predictions.
Anyway, here goes:
1. MAKE A BIG PLAY EARLY
The thought was an OSU team missing Beanie Wells — or an OU team hungry for an upset — would benefit greatly from seizing early momentum.
It appeared the Buckeyes had done it when Lawrence Wilson tipped an interception to himself and took it to the Ohio 24 — that made him some NFL money — but the Buckeyes settled for a disappointing field goal.
Really, it was the lack of big plays by either side that helped the Bobcats start feeling good about themselves. They needed it to be a slog-fest, and it was.
VERDICT: Didn’t happen
2. EXPLOIT YOUR BIGGEST ADVANTAGE
For OSU, I thought it would be on both lines of scrimmage. For Ohio, I thought it needed to throw it downfield and try some tricks.
The Buckeyes failed miserably at this, for the most part. The offensive line allowed far too much pressure — 3 sacks! — and could not push Ohio off the ball to pick up a fourth-and-1. Eventually, the line got serious and pushed a tiring Ohio team off their heels enough to record two second-half TD drives to win the game.
The Bobcats, to their credit, did try and fling it, but backup QB Boo Jackson has a shotgun rather than a rifle, and he scattered interceptions right and left. They also tried a reverse on a kickoff return.
VERDICT: Nope. But give Ohio points for trying.
3. LOVE THE ONE, ER, THREE YOU’RE WITH
Referring to OSU’s committee of tailbacks in the absence of Beanie. The trio combined for 113 yards on 26 carries, which isn’t awful (4.3 yards a rush).
I thought Dan Herron showed the most potential. I like how he pushes into a pile and mostly falls forward. Brandon Saine still looks not quite right from a preseason hamstring injury, and Maurice Wells is you-get-what-you-get — some shifty moves outside, not much inside unless it’s a draw with the field spread.
My biggest problem with the backs had to do with their complete lack of use in the passing game. The Buckeyes completed four passes to their backs in week 1, but just one Saturday.
Too often, they were left in for pass protection — which is logical, considering Ohio’s pressure. But I felt it left Todd Boeckman without an outlet receiver too often - forcing him to hold the ball too long. Giving Boeckman a dump-off should be more of a priority.
VERDICT: About what you expected.
4. CONVERT RED-ZONE CHANCES
Ohio State was 1-for-5 scoring TDs in the red zone against Youngstown State, and was 2 of 3 Saturday. Not bad.
Ohio came in 1-for-4 against Wyoming and was 1-for-1 in Columbus.
VERDICT: Check.
5. ADD TO PRYOR’S PLATE
I felt Terrelle Pryor should be more involved, particularly with Beanie out. Of course, I did not anticipate the game being a nail-biter, which I’m sure significantly altered Jim Tressel’s pregame plan for his quarterback rotation.
I found it very telling the Pryor only played one series early (with OSU leading 3-0) and then not again until garbage time.
This means one of two things (or maybe both):
One, Tressel did not want to ignite a controversy by sending Pryor in to try and “rescue” Boeckman and the offense. If he had gone in and shone, fans would be calling for Boeckman’s head.
Two, Southern California now may believe they will only see Pryor in sporadic, safe situations. They might think Tressel is reluctant to play him in a close game. Might Tressel be playing possum with Pryor?
VERDICT: Didn’t happen. . .this week. Stay tuned.
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