Wells’ presence boosts OSU on, off field

Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg

	Andy Lyons/Getty Images
	OSU running back Chris ‘Beanie’ Wells could be playing his final collegiate game at the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Monday night.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — It’s been 43 days since Ohio State’s last game, but running back Chris “Beanie” Wells hasn’t spent all this time preparing one of his patented pre-game pep talks.

“It ends up happening at the moment,” Wells said. “I don’t pre-write anything. I just say how I’m feeling.”

Wells’ off-the-cuff style resonates with his teammates, who look forward to hearing from their emotional leader, especially before big games like Monday’s showdown against No. 3 Texas in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl (Fox, 8 p.m. ET).

“Very emotional,” guard Steve Rehring said of Wells’ speeches.

“He might have been more fired up than anybody in our locker room for the [USC] game,” fullback Brandon Smith said, “and he didn’t even dress.”

Wells will be in uniform Monday night as he tries to help No. 10 Ohio State knock off Texas. Much of the focus this week has been on Ohio State’s 28 seniors, but Wells also could be playing his final collegiate game before entering the NFL draft, where he’s expected to be one of the first two running backs selected.

The setting and the situation will only add fuel for a player who thrives on big games and big moments. Add in the fact that Wells is as healthy as he’s been since sustaining a foot/toe injury in the season opener, and Ohio State could have a better chance that many think.

“He is a difference maker,” Ohio State senior tight end Rory Nicol said. “He does something to the morale of the team. It’s like [cornerback] Malcolm [Jenkins] always says, a little spark kindles a great fire.

“Often times, he’s that spark.”

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Embattled OSU line looks to make statement

Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — At 6-foot-7 and 335 pounds, Steve Rehring is a big boy.

The Ohio State right guard can handle a little criticism.

	Matt Sullivan/Getty Images
	Alex Boone and the Ohio State offensive line will need their A-game against the Longhorns’ defensive front.

“We take the blame,” Rehring said of himself and his linemates. “If people want to blame us, that’s fine. Whatever. We do some dirty things sometimes. People don’t understand what we do down there.”

Ohio State’s front five has borne the brunt for the unit’s struggles for most of the season. Despite returning four starting linemen, the Buckeyes finished 78th nationally in total offense (339.7 yards per game) and didn’t truly find an identity until the closing stretch of the season.

The topsy-turvy season brought criticism from both outside and inside the locker room. Left tackle Alex Boone gave the line an ‘F’ for its performance in nonconference play. Rehring was a little more forgiving with his regular-season grade, giving the line a ‘B’ or ‘B-minus.’

The group needs an A-plus performance Monday night against No. 3 Texas in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl (Fox, 8 p.m. ET). Led by All-American Brian Orakpo, Texas leads the nation in sacks (3.7 sacks per game), while Ohio State is tied for 78th in sacks allowed (2.17 per game).

“We have a lot to prove,” Boone said. “We’ve been up and down all year. We’ve been talking about that and how we need to get better.”

Pass protection has been the biggest knock against the Buckeyes, who ranked no worse than 29th nationally in sacks allowed during the last three seasons.

“I don’t think pass blocking all goes on the offensive line,” Rehring said. “We take the blame for it, always. If you get beat, you get beat. That’s on the offensive line. But sometimes, protection-wise, we’re supposed to do this or that.

“As a collective group, we need to protect the quarterback.”

Starting quarterback Terrelle Pryor is prone to holding the ball too long at times, and he’ll need to have a quicker release against Texas, which boasts seven defenders with multiple sacks, led by Orakpo (10.5) and linebacker Sergio Kindle (9). Both Rehring and Ohio State tight end Rory Nicol likened Orakpo to former Buckeyes star Vernon Gholston, the hulking end who had 14 sacks last season.

“We need to do a good job schematically of trying to keep Texas true and contained to their schemes and not letting them just tee off, off the edges,” Nicol said. “Staying out of third-and-long situations where they get in that 30 front, they put Orakpo and the other kid on the edge and they’re coming. They’re coming to get the quarterback.”

Speed has become a sore subject for Big Ten teams in recent seasons, and the new spin on the debate is that the major differential can be found on the line of scrimmage, not with the skill players.

Rehring doesn’t buy it.

“We’ve got great defensive lines in the Big Ten,” Rehring said. “I would put our defensive line against anybody and run 40s, across the board. On the offensive line, it doesn’t matter. As long as you have good technique and do what you do, you have quick feet, it doesn’t matter how fast they are.

“As an offensive line, we’re pretty quick guys, play with good technique and we go against a great defensive line every day in practice. So we’ll see how it works out.”

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Dave’s IMO: Sneak Peek at 2009 for Ohio State Football

David Thurman (4:46 pm)

Is it too early begin thinking about the 2009 Buckeye football team, just a week removed from “The Game”? Of course not!

At least if you are an obsessed Ohio State fan like me, and you are probably are if you’re reading this column! So let’s take a look at a projected roster and a way-too-early prediction on next season’s record:

QB: Terrelle Pryor starts and with a month of bowl game practices and a full spring to work on mechanics, he might become a true superstar. Behind him is a talented but unproven commodity in Joe Bauserman.

HB: Dan Herron looks ready to be a big-time player, and with Jaamal Berry and Carlos Hyde on the way, this may be tailback by committee. There’s no Beanie (who will definitely go pro) but this group might cause big problems for defensive coordinators.

FB: Lots of youngsters like Martin, Boren, and Homan will throw their names into the hat, and Brandon Saine may play some at fullback as well, providing a pass threat out of the backfield. Truth is, though, I see a lot of ace formation in 2008.

WR: Brian Hartline (complaining aside) is an excellent big-play receiver who can catch the tough passes, too, and hopefully he will return for his senior year. Dan Sazenbacher is quickly becoming a fan favorite with his hands of glue and his willingness to take the big hit.

Beyond those two, Ray Small might finally shine if he can get his act together off the field, and DeVier Posey got some helpful experience this year and has the tools to be special. Plus, don’t discount Lamaar “Flash” Thomas, Jake Stoneburner, or the four incoming freshmen. Once again, this is a good if not great group.  

TE: I love Jake Ballard, and like most Buckeye fans think he has been underutilized. However, behind him there is no experience and either Nic DiLillo, who redshirted this season, or incoming freshman Reid Fragel, will have to step up quickly, at least to block!

OL: Possibly the biggest question for 2009 is can a line that loses three senior starters get better? I think the answer may be yes.

Obviously, Alex Boone will be missed, though he never maximized his immense talent. I’m not sure that Steve Rehring or Ben Person will be, since they often whiffed on blocks and had trouble remembering the snap count.

Here’s who I am betting on when we open up next year against Navy: J.B. Shugarts (LT); Jim Cordle (LG); Mike Brewster (C); Justin Boren (RG); Bryant Browning (RT). Personally, I would prefer Browning at guard, and if Mike Adams comes on, that might happen.

Beyond those six, only Conner Smith has much experience, and if Marcus Hall commits, he might see some immediate playing time.

In my opinion, the line will be about equal to this year, unless a new coach is hired to teach better fundamentals and put a fire under the big guys.

Overall, I think the offense scores more points due to the progression of Pryor, and the fact that the play calling almost has to get more creative without Beanie.

DL: The weakest link in 2008, the line did get better as the year went on, and I look for more improvement in 2009. At end, Gibson is ready to become dominant, and Nathan Williams might be special, too, if he can gain a little bit more strength to go along with his quickness and tenacity.

Lawrence Wilson will probably return, and he is solid, and Solomon Thomas is making strides. The player that really causes me consternation is Rob Rose, who I thought would be a superstar.

He’s not, and probably never will be, but the light may go on for him in his senior season. This could be a really good group.

At tackle, we still need some big, mean run-stoppers but have a good group returning in Cameron Heyward (could 2009 be his year?), Dexter Larimore and Todd Denlinger. I am also excited to see Garrett Goebel get his first snaps next year.

Of course, I am not discounting the possibility of Melvin Fellows or Johnny Simon making a big splash. Regardless, the line will be improved from this year’s version and that is a good thing.

LB: Saying goodbye to James Laurinaitis and buddy Marcus Freeman is tough, because they made a lot of tackles in their career, and provided plenty of highlights. But the cupboard is not bare. Ross Homan was finally healthy in ‘08, played well, and could move to the middle.

Austin Spitler has waited his chance, and is a good run stuffer, but may lack the speed to play every down. Of course some Florida seed is waiting in the wings, in the person of Etienne Sabino and Brian Rolle.

Both are hard hitters, and I project Sabino as a sure starter and future star. Beyond those four, are two guys who can play outside linebacker or nickel back in Tyler Moeller and Jermale Hines.

I love Hines, who is listed as a safety, and was also impressed in Moeller in the last two games of the season. Of course, all of these guys know there will be a fight with potential superstars Dorian Bell and Storm Klein among four incoming linebackers in the class of ‘09.

Plus, don’t forget Andrew Sweat, who was too good to redshirt this season, as the real Linebacker U keeps churning them out! Personally, I think this group will give up a few more big plays than the past couple of years due to inexperience, but may be better in coverage and against the spread, due to increased speed.

I hope Heacock doesn’t put Homan and Spitler on the field together, however, or the speed factor goes out the window. My early prediction is Sabino, Homan, and Moeller in the opener.

DB: There is a lot to like about this group, but the loss of Malcolm Jenkins is a tough pill to swallow. He ranks up there with Shawn Springs and Antwon Winfield in my book, and will be missed.

The starters seems obvious; rapidly improving Chimdi Chekwa and Donald Washington at cornerback, and ready-for-prime-timer Kurt Coleman and Anderson Russell at safety.

Washington worries me a little, since he seemed to digress after his off-the-field problems which sent him to the doghouse, but he has plenty of talent and experience (supposedly he he is contemplating going pro which would be a big mistake).

Losing 2007 recruits Eugene Clifford and James Scott thins the ranks at corner, where healthy Andre Amos would help, but some believe he may leave school.

At nickel, the aforementioned Hines us a hitting machine, and I love his nasty attitude. Further depth will come from Aaron Gant, and there is plenty of room for redshirts like Travis Howard and Orhian Johnson to get into the rotation, but they may be quickly passed by the boatload of talent Tressel has recruited this year.

A guy like C.J. Barnett may see the field immediately due to lack of numbers here. On paper this is the strength of the ‘09 defense if everyone returns, and should make passing a dangerous proposition for the opposition.

So, the defense should be about equal to this year’s squad if some leaders emerge from the senior class to fill the shoes of Jenkins and Laurinaitis.

What about special teams? A Tressel led team never considers this an afterthought, and with departure of Trapasso and Pretorius some might be concerned, but not me.

I think Pettrey is a superior kick to Pretorius right now, and feel confident that either Jon Thoma or Ben Buchanan can be a solid punter. Long-snapper Jake McQuaide did a nice job this year and he has two years of eligibilty left.

As for returns, I think we may have two special players in Ray Small and Lamaar Thomas, and once again, if Small doesn’t get in his own way, he might put some real fear into opposing punters in ‘09.

Well, that’s a look position by position but what about the final record? My way-to-early prediction is 11-1 in the regular season with a loss coming to USC (home) or Penn State (away).

We could easily lose another one, as upsets happen with young teams, but I am optimistic, at least for now, with months to go before I start worrying!

What do you think? Let us know, as we all gaze into the looking glass wearing our Scarlet and Gray-colored glasses!

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Buckeyes clear their last pre-Michigan obstacle, 30-20

It took the Buckeyes awhile to finally put the game away, but a 4th quarter touchdown drive to pad the 2nd half lead to 17 was eventually the game sealer in Ohio State’s 30-20 victory today in Champaign.  With it, the Buckeyes exact some much needed revenge on the Zookers for last season’s upset in Columbus and add to the woes this season for the Illini.  The Illini, last year’s Rose Bowl representative from the Big Ten, is now 5-6 and a road loss to Northwestern away from becoming the first Big Ten team to play in the Rose Bowl one year and finish under .500 the next (Michigan 1965).

Turnovers were the story of the day for the Illini.  Juice’s first play from the Illini’s first drive from scrimmage resulted in a fumble and Terrelle Pryor rushing touchdown.  Later, Malcolm Jenkins blocked his second punt of the season, which was good for a safety and 9-7 lead.  The ensuing short kickoff set up the Buckeyes at the Illini’s 3 yard line and the Buckeyes made good for yet another score — this one on the ground by Beanie.  Later, a certain scoring drive for the Illini was ended by a Kurt Coleman interception.  The ensuing Ohio State drive ended with a Dane Sanzenbacher touchdown.  After taking a 23-7 lead (later a 23-13 halftime lead), the Illini were unable to play catchup.

But controlling for those mistakes, our defense was absolutely torched by big plays in this game.  Juice Williams had 193 yards throwing and two TDs (1 INT), though more than one of those TDs and 50 of those yards came on Ohio State’s obligatory garbage time touchdown drive on defense.  The Illini’s production on the ground was even more embarrassing.  The Illini used a balanced rushing attack from Juice and the two tailbacks (Dufrene and Ford) to rack up 214 yards rushing.  In total, the Illini outgained the Buckeyes 455 to 354.  Still, the Buckeyes won were it counted most, I guess.

Offense

Terrelle Pryor had an outstanding game, though most of his production came on the ground.  His 13 carries for 110 yards was good for second best on the team, behind you know who.  Further, like the Northwestern game the week before, his big plays were absolute backbreakers for Illinois’ defense.  His touchdown run came on 3rd and goal at the one.  His 20yd touchdown throw to Dane Sanzenbacher on the Buckeyes’ 4th offensive series came on 3rd and 5.  Lastly, on the Buckeyes’ first series of the second half, Terrelle Pryor gained 18 yards and a first down on 3rd and 13.

Of course, there’s not a lot to read into the Buckeye passing game because the Buckeyes ran 52 times, allowing Pryor only 10 passing plays.  The casual Buckeye fan would see that disparity and assume only the most banal, stubborn playcalling — an observation without a lot of validity.  What made the rushing game work was some creative misdirection and playcalling by the coaching staff.  The second down call near the goal line on the Buckeyes’ first scoring drive was a shotgun QB off-tackle run with Beanie as lead blocker.  The eventual touchdown was a misdirection fake dive to Boom Herron (I believe) that set up Pryor’s bootleg and walk into the end zone.  Further, the QB draws were an uncommon wrinkle in the Buckeyes’ rushing attack and we saw them a lot this game.  The end result: a lot of rushing plays that worked precisely because the Illini hadn’t seen them before.  It doesn’t hurt to have a guy who runs like a gazelle for a tailback and a guy who runs like an armoured personnel carrier for a tailback.

Also helping the Buckeye rushing attack: the offensive line.  The offensive line didn’t dominate this game, but it did much more than it did against Northwestern the week earlier.  Instead of piling up yards in spite of the offensive line, Beanie was the beneficiary of some blocking up front with Alex Boone looking to be most productive member of that unit.  The running lanes were definitely there, but I still saw some things that worried me.  For the first game this season (perhaps with Penn State as an exception), it seems Michael Brewster was pushed around a lot this game by the Illini’s tackles.  Brewster had been a reliable and consistent performer on the line this season after having been thrown into the mix following the USC game.  He is a freshman and I’m sure that it’ll be learning experience in the long run.  But for this game, it seems like players like fellow freshman Corey Liuget got the better of him.  Steve Rehring has also been slow to pull on plays.

Beanie was exceptional this game, though his fumble to end the Buckeyes’ first drive of the game cost Ohio State at least 3 points and came at a time when most of us were sick to our stomach over the performance of the defense.  Earlier that drive, though, his hurdling of Donsay Hardeman was nothing short of divine.  As it was, he played a leading role in adding to Ohio State’s outstanding 305 yards rushing on the game with 24 carries, 143 yards and a touchdown.  Boom Herron, while not quite Beanie, came in when it looked like Beanie may have tweaked his hammie (oh please no).  He doesn’t have that “Jim Brown incarnate” quality to him, but Boom added 29 yards rushing and showed why Ohio State’s rushing attack should be in good hands should Beanie choose to go pro after this season.

Pryor completed 6 of what was only 10 passing attempts on the game, good for 49 yards.  Ergo, there’s not a lot of superlative to hand out to the receivers.  Hartline was the busiest when his end-arounds are also considered.  He did have a drop, though.  Dane Sanzenbacher led all receivers with 2 catches for 22 yards and a touchdown.  20 of those 22 came on the touchdown reception.  He also took more shots this game, and I’m sure he can’t wait until the Michigan game is over in order to use the month-long layoff to unscramble his brains.

Defense

There had to have been over 20 missed tackles by the Buckeyes this game, and a lot of that was responsible for extended Illinois drives and even touchdowns.  It was far and away the most frustrating element to the defensive performance this game because there was still pressure exerted on Juice Williams (or the backup McGee) by the defensive line.  Yet, the defensive line itself appears to be a mixed bag.  I think they did a great job in getting penetration to take away the interior on rushing plays.  Where rushing yards were piled up on the read option  from the snap — and there were lots of them — the responsibility mostly appeared to be missed tackles or over pursuit by the linebackers and defensive backs.  Further, some of the bigger plays by Dufrene, the Illini’s leading rusher on the game, came in the first drive where the Buckeyes looked totally confused (sigh…) by the no-huddle hurry-up stuff by the Illini.  In terms of Xs and Os, the interior of that line did its job in defending the read option and forcing Juice to keep it.  Heyward led all players in that unit with 7 tackles (2 solo).  Nader Abdallah didn’t have a huge game, but I thought he played well (2 asst tackles and a fumble recovery).

That said, pass rushing still leaves a lot to be desired and that’s where I think the defensive line struggled the most this game.  Juice Williams was sacked only twice, with one of those being a split sack by Worthington and Laurinaitis.  In passing situations, the defensive line was unable to get to Juice with a 4 man rush.  Where they were able to get to him or force him out of the pocket, they were unable to tackle him.  I hate to say it, but in these situations, the defensive line looked… yes… slow.

I don’t know what to make of the linebackers’ performance, collectively at least.  Laurinaitis was second on the team with 8 tackles (5 solo, including the shared sack with Worthington).  He also stripped one of the Illini tailbacks (Jason Ford, I think), though that ball was recovered by another Illinois player on their first drive of the second half.  In short, Laurinaitis had yet another of his workman-type effort games.  The guy gets dogged on by other Big Ten fans, and sometimes by our own fanbase for falling short of AJ Hawk-level expectations, but Laurinaitis is always working, always thinking and always doing.  I’m not sure what to make of the performance of Freeman and Homan.  Freeman was third on the team with 8 tackles (4 solo), but it seems that missed tackles haunted him.  I wonder how much he’s really hindered by his bum ankle.  He did force the Juice fumble in the first quarter, though.  Homan (2 tackles, 1 solo) only had his name called once, but it was off a delicious Juice sack for an 8 yard loss.  It wasn’t necessarily Homan’s spectacular play there, but just a great playcall by Heacock.  Heacock sent both Laurinaitis and Homan on a blitz, with only Illinois’ center there to pick his poison.  He went with the award winning linebacker, giving Homan a clear shot on Juice.

The secondary certainly got a workout with all the missed tackles.  Kurt Coleman, strong safety, led all defenders with 11 tackles (6 solo) and came up with the fortuitous interception to end what was otherwise a very promising drive for the Illini.  Tyler Moeller certainly caught the eye filling in for the injured Jermale Hines at nickelback.  His 7 tackles (5 solo) were good for 4th best on the day for the defense.  Further, he came on more than a few blitzes, finishing with two TFLs.  Moreover, while Freeman actually jarred the ball loose, Moeller gets the stat for the forced fumble in the first quarter (see above picture).  Elsewhere, Malcolm Jenkins showed that, in spite of just 2 tackles on the day, his 3 pass breakups and blocked punt will underscore why he probably won’t regret coming back for his senior year.

Miscellaneous Thoughts

• I hate Michigan.  I hate Michigan with every aching muscle in this tired body of mine.  That is the real enemy; this is the primary objective.  With Illinois out of the way, I now have 6.5 days left in this all too short week to explore the depths of my soul and fully grasp, as a guy who now owns a blog, the menacing specter that the very existence of this haunting, holistic apparition that we label “Michigan” poses to my very essence… to my very being.
• It’s odd that we haven’t called on Nathan Williams or Thaddeus Gibson much the past two games.  Instead, Abdallah, Heyward and even Worthington have been getting the recognition in that unit.
• For the second straight week, the Pasch-Ware coverage of an Ohio State game has been somewhat frustrating.  Most importantly, I don’t care to watch some low income nobody among the Illini fanbase cooking some kind of “food” contraption while a costly holding penalty gets called on an Ohio State lineman and I don’t get to hear who it was.
• On the topic of Ware, his “Ware It Out” segment on the BCS was also cause for consternation… at least when you consider how he comes off in his comments to be overly critical of Ohio State getting any kind of perceived preferential treatment over Utah or Boise State in at-large selections.  True, it would not be fair for Ohio State to get any kind preferential treatment by virtue of marquee value or travel considerations because that would corroborate my observation that the BCS is a glorified country club.  But in the same breath, while Andre Ware doesn’t want Ohio State getting that preferential treatment, he also wants the Big 12 and the SEC to get 3 teams in each?  He did say that.  There’s two ways to interpret that, and Andre Ware is free to own up to any one of them: A) Andre Ware is against Ohio State getting an at-large bid [fair enough] and is couching this viewpoint in an inconsistent logic or B) Andre Ware is an idiot.
• We’ll all have to watch to see what comes from the Beanie and Abdallah injuries.  We’ll watch with baited breath if Beanie pulled a hammie while I think Abdallah went down with a cramp.  His injury didn’t look too serious.
• The Illini certainly were chippy this game.  More importantly, they still lost.  Suck it, Vontae Davis.
• On Beanie, part of me really wishes he would go pro after this season.  It’s not for fear that his injury problems might hurt us next year and throw off our offense, just that with how fragile the big backs are in the NFL, I’d hate to think him feeling he had to come back would result in another injury that could compromise his draft stock or, worse yet, his career.  If he decides to go pro after this season and secure his money, I don’t think any Buckeye fan would blame him.  I certainly wouldn’t.  Instead, I’d fondly remember one of the best tailbacks of my generation and one of the all-time greats in Ohio State history.
• I’m hoping the Illini were taking notes on how the game ended.  More importantly, an important conference road win doesn’t have to be celebrated with by a flag-planting ceremony at midfield.  Did you see that, Ron Zook?  I’m hoping you did.
• With Penn State winning today against Indiana, the Buckeyes can hope for no greater than a shared conference crown.  Either Penn State or Michigan State will finish the season with only one conference loss.
• Illinois finishes up next week at Evanston… a game that Mike Kafka may not make on account of a concussion suffered against Michigan today.  A loss would make them bowl ineligible.
• More news and notes to be found here.  Such as: Dane Sanzenbacher’s TD catch was the first of the season and only the second of his career.  The first of his career came against Youngstown State last year, his first career game.

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It’s Ugly, But it’s a Near-Healthy Ugly

After having largely avoided the injury bug the past few seasons, the Buckeyes have taken their lumps in 2008. Beanie’s injury, while not season-ending, was the biggest setback, but there have been many others. Whether you value their contributions or not, both Rehring and Person have missed games …
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What to Watch for – Week 10

Well, life goes on.  Apparently there was some objection to the tone of the synopsis post about the Penn State game, which apparently was indicative of cliffjumping.  In my defense, any perception of that is solely that of the reader, and not the author.  Lest we forget that we shouldn’t conflate exasperation with suicidal tendencies.  There’s plenty of other reasons to jump off the cliff, literally speaking.  These would include problems at work, home, living in Alabama, the sense of powerlessness in light of domineering discourses that subjectify us, the inability to find motivation to deal with the banalities of Western life and, first and foremost, the inevitable realization that any understanding of humanity or consciouness — that is: being, as such — is epiphenomenal and ultimately an emergent and (so far) unknowable phenomenon contingent on the action and reaction of mindless, physical particles.  The inevitable realization that all consciousness, thought, emotion and even behavior is a stochastic phenomenon in a universe governed by the very chaos of these random energy reactions might lead people to abandon hope in the Enlightenment metanarrative.  The ol’ alma mater dropping a decision on the gridiron should not, however.

I did have a post ready for yesterday on the Bollman situation.  I put up the poll question for this week precisely because of the awful performance of the offensive line against Penn State and how Bollman has become the least popular person in Ohio at the moment.  I was curious to see what the vote of confidence was in Bollman across the board, viz, that his departure would be the only way to address the offensive line problems.  To be honest, I like seeing a good split and that not everyone is rushing to 86 him.  On the post I had planned, in short, was thinking about the Bollman situation and wondering if the offensive line problems are overdetermined, and thus not entirely his fault.  Entering the season, I thought Bollman, moreso than Jim Heacock, had identified the nature of the problem: recruiting.  The Buckeyes had probably come to the realization that they reached on in-state lineman prospects in order to secure an easier comitment and that they were now suffering the consequences for it.  This would explain Steve Rehring and, to some extent, Bryant Browning.  This would explain Kirk Barton’s productivity albeit relatively low ceiling, and also account for how a true freshman (Michael Brewster, 5-star Bollman project) has probably been the most consistent performer on the line this season.  There’s also some idiosyncratic personnel issues and, try as he might, Jim Bollman can’t police Alex Boone from being the Wilt Chamberlain of Beer and force him to put in the necessary off-the-field effort for the likes of a USC.  Further, the offensive line… indeed the defensive line as well… indeed, the whole team for the most part… just look tired.  Conditioning, of course, is Lichter’s responsibility and not Bollman’s, per se.  If the conditioning is affecting their jump out of the gates, that’d be more Lichter’s responsiblity as “Director of Football Performance” dealing Bollman a smaller hand.  In trying to prepare this post, and revealing it here, I wasn’t suggesting that Bollman is blame free or that our frustrations with him are totally misguided.  Rather, I was just curious if, though the offensive line debacles reflect very poorly on him, the said debacles aren’t entirely his fault.  Of course, there’s some discrepant evidence I couldn’t explain, such as Ben Person falling well short of expectations and the ghosts of Connor Smith and Kyle Mitchum (two former Army All-Americans).  I wasn’t pretending to have all the answers, just trying to rephrase the question.  In light of that, though, I thought against running that post… even though I think I just did.

Anyways, on to the regular Wednesday features.  With the Ohio State football program suspended for a week (formally called a bye week), there’ll be lots of college football to watch.  So what’s on?

Tuesday

• Houston @ Marshall (ESPN or ESPN2, one of those… I forget, 8:00PM ET).  Apparently Houston has the third most explosive offense in the NCAA when using the proxy of yards per game.  You wouldn’t know that, though, from watching this game and watching Marshall jump out to a 30-3 lead late in the 3rd quarter.  After 3 quarters of this sleeping pill, I yawned and tuned into Greg Oden’s pro debut in that pseudo-sport called the NBA¹.  The only redeeming quality of this game was watching that Houston wide receiver shatter his leg running into an equipment cart in the end zone.  Nice (attempt at) a catch, blanco niño.  But too bad your ass got saaaaaaaaaat.

Thursday

• South Florida @ Cincinnati (ESPN, 7:30PM ET).  Big East football. Thursday night. Chris Spielman and that cue ball will probably be in the booth.  Yep, sounds familiar.

Saturday

• Northwestern @ Minnesota (ESPN2, 12:00PM ET).  Minnesota is one Penn State national title game, one Ohio State loss, and 4 wins away from… gulp… a trip to Pasadena!  I hold no ill will towards Minnesota, so I think it’s kind of cool to see them in this position.  That is, I think it would be cooler if they didn’t change their uniforms to the NIKE’s Bitch Template ™ of uniforms.   Their last set of uniforms under Glen Mason was just so classic.  I’m sure Gopher fans don’t mind aesthetics like I do.  I don’t have much of an interest in who wins this game, other than seeing Northwestern play Vanderbilt in the Outback Bowl.  Oh, and since this is a noon kickoff, and because Northwestern is involved, I think I’m declaring a Pam Alert ™.  I have to be one of a handful of college football fans on the planet that doesn’t hate Pam Ward, but most everyone else I know does.
• Wisconsin @ Michigan State (ESPN, 12:00PM ET).  Two Big Ten games at the noon slot on the ESPN Family of Networks.  Nice. Niiiiiice.  Feels like home and it makes the Southerners down here change the channel.  The more inclined they are to turn off the television, the greater the probability (albeit infinitesimally small) of them picking up a book and reading it.  Good. Goooooood.
• Central Michigan @ Indiana (BTN, 12:00PM ET).  Wait, what happened here.  Is Central Michigan now a Big Ten team or did Indiana get relegated to the MAC?
• Air Force @ Army (ESPNU, 12:00PM ET).  Though Navy has the in-road to yet another successful defense of an outright Commander-in-Chief trophy, it’s service academy football and thus you must watch it.  Communist.
• Michigan @ Purdue (BTN, 12:00PM ET).  PILLOW FIGHT!! Loser gets last place in the Big Ten.
• Pittsburgh @ Notre Dame (NBC, 2:30PM ET).  See, this is the kind of filth that the FCC should be keeping us from watching.
• Florida @ Georgia (Jacksonville) (The SEC Network, 3:30PM ET).  I’m not sure if The Game Formerly Known as the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party but Now Known as The Love Love Love Share Share Share Festival of Good Sportsmanship and Teetotaling because the SEC Doesn’t Want to Own Up to the Fact that Alcoholism is the Only Means of Coming to Grips with the Brutality of the Southern Condition is the least interesting mid-season rivalry game in college football.  Georgia tried to spruce things up by doing some kind of celebration thingie in the end zone after scoring their first touchdown last year.  This, of course, made The Urban Meyer upset that they would do this to The Urban Meyer’s team.  A pox on them, The Urban Meyer declared in his biography, (The) Urban’s Way.  This egregious affront to The Urban Meyer’s sensibilities shan’t be forgotten by The Urban Meyer.  It shan’t!
• Iowa State @ Oklahoma State (ABC, 3:30PM ET).  Wait wait wait… there’s an Iowa State football team?  Again, I’ll be rooting for Oklahoma State.  Their defensive coordinator created Antonio Smith and their head coach yells at women, he’s 40² and he can take it.
• Florida State @ Georgia Tech (ABC, 3:30PM ET).  Hoo-ray! Paul Johnson on national television.  Paul Johnson is the only redeeming value the ACC has.  That said, his arrival at Georgia Tech coincides with the Ramblin’ Wreck’s putrid new uniforms.  I think they’re going for the LSU/Dallas Cowboys wear-white-at-home chic.  Pass.  Oh, and Georgia Tech’s home loss to Virginia set up the 5-3 Cavaliers… yes, 5 wins and 3 losses, to win the Whatever-It’s-Called Division and play upstart… yes: upstart… Florida State out of the Whatever-the-Other-One-is-Called Division in the ACC Title Game. Hmmm.
• Oregon @ California (ABC, 3:30PM ET).  I think ABC owes us some kind of explanation for why non-USC Pac-10 games continue to be televised at this time slot.
• Brigham Young @ Colorado State (The MTN, 6:00PM ET).  In preparation for this football game, Brigham Young’s football team has been having nightly cookie and punch fellowships, playing charades and putting together a play about how much Colorado State can ruin family life.  From what I’ve been told, Elder Max Hall’s performance was exquisite.
• Washington @ USC (probably Fox Sports LA, 6:30PM ET).  Assume crash position, Husky fans.
• Tennessee @ South Carolina (ESPN2, 7:00PM ET).  South Carolina’s defensive line and Tennessee’s secondary notwithstanding, I don’t see how these two teams are anything other than cellar-dwellars in the Big Ten.
• Texas @ Texas Tech (ABC, 8:00PM ET).  I think Lubbock, Texas is hosting its first Gameday ever, but that still won’t make me that interested in watching this game.  That said, Will Muschamp, the Longhorns’ defensive coordinator, reminds me of Will Forte’s impersonation of former Georgia Senator Zell Miller.  I can’t find any of the Zell Miller impersonations on the intertubes, so feel free to share if you can find one.
• Nebraska @ Oklahoma (ESPN, 8:00PM ET).  I’m more tempted to watch this game than Texas-Texas Tech.  Yet, whenever I watch a game with Oklahoma playing, I have to hit the mute button.  Their fight song is far and away the most annoying in college football (and it’s basically ripped off from Yale’s Boola-Boola cheer) and Oklahoma’s band plays it after EVERY SINGLE PLAY. Ugh.

Sunday

• East Carolina @ UCF (ESPN, 8:15PM ET).  Why is UCF playing on Sunday now?

1. Any sport where Derek Fisher is considered an “athlete” can’t be genuine.
2. Yes, I know he’s 41 now…

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Ohio State’s Monster.com Posting: "Will Pay Top Euro for Offensive Coordinator!"

I’m sick…physically ill. If I have to watch the 2008 edition of the Ohio State offense again, I might just vomit all over the computer screen and then hit send, and that will be my article for next week.

WHEW! That felt good to get off my chest. Almost like a good ol’ verbal teaspoon of Pepto-Bismol for the tummy. As a matter of fact, it felt so good, I think I’m gonna drink myself a whole verbal bottle full…

Explain to me, the “common man,” who doesn’t know the true intellect of football, how you can go count ‘em…one…two…three college football games during a singular season without scoring an offensive touchdown?!?!

Better yet, explain to me, the “ignorant fan,” the following numbers out of 120 Division I college football teams…

- 95th in the NCAA in passing offense

- 24th in the NCAA in rushing offense (mind you, this is what Ohio State does AT LEAST 75 percent of the time)

- 67th in the NCAA in scoring offense

- 95th in the NCAA in total offense

- 41st in the NCAA in third down efficiency

- 99th in the country in sacks allowed

Now for the greatest riddle of all: If an offense can’t throw the football, can’t convert third downs, and can’t protect the quarterback…how does it score???

Ah…but it’s a trick question, because if you are THE Ohio State University, you don’t know what the end zone is unless you are the defense and special teams! Because it’s become perfectly clear that this offense can’t find it.

Jim Bollman should be fired IMMEDIATELY…IMMEDIATELY. And they should scour the country to find an assistant coach to try to teach this offensive line how to friggin’ block!

Chris Wells, your preseason All-American tailback, your workhorse…22 carries, 55 yards for a grand whopping total of 2.5 yards per carry! The offensive line got no push, there were no holes, no cutback lanes, nothing…

Alex Boone (6′8″, 316), Bryant Browning (6′4″, 312), Ben Person (6′4″, 323), Steve Rehring (6′7″, 335), Jim Cordle (6′4″, 300), Michael Brewster (6′5″, 295)…Not one player under 295, and you’re gonna try and tell me that you can’t make a hole?

This isn’t just about Penn State: it’s about Ohio, Troy, and USC too. The only thing consistent about this unit all year has been its inconsistencies. When Michael Brewster, a true freshman, is your best offensive lineman among four-year starters and multi-year starting seniors…there is a big problem.

And don’t tell me that the reason OSU can’t run the football is because the Buckeyes aren’t a threat to throw the ball deep. It’s garbage.

Navy leads the nation in rushing annually, and everyone from the opposing head coach to Lil’ Tommy the 10-year-old popcorn vendor in section 146 ZZZ knows it’s coming. But the Naval Academy offensive line, (which by the way, probably AVERAGES about 275 pounds per lineman), are tough, hard-nosed, and disciplined. They know their assignments and they execute them, and they carry out their game plan.

Oh…game plan? Almost forgot! Leads me to my next dose of Pepto…

An offensive coordinator for Ohio State…I think the time has come for the alumni association, the board of trustees, and the fanbase to rise up together and DEMAND one. And NO…I don’t mean a “co-offensive coordinator” like Jim Bollman claims to be. And NO…I don’t mean bringing in some coordinator who is a puppeteer for Jim Tressel.

I’m talking a full-blown, independent, young, energetic, filled with new ideas, offensive coordinator that Jim Tressel can have a good working relationship with.

Because I, along with the rest of BuckeyeNation, am sick to death of an offense that used to have explosive weapons all over the field (Terry Glenn, Eddie George, David Boston, Joey Galloway, Teddy Ginn, Rickey Dudley, Maurice Clarett etc….etc….etc….) and has potential now with DeVier Posey, Lamaar Thomas, Terrelle Pryor, Chris Wells, Brian Robiskie etc….being wasted in the philosophy of “Tresselball.”

This is an offense where our offensive coordinator thinks the most important play in football is the punt! Wrong, Mr. Tressel: The most important play in football is the play that gets you first downs, moves the damn chains, and gets you into the end zone! That’s the most important play in football!

I know I’m angry right now. I also know that this isn’t a nonsensical rant. These are well thought-out sentiments that are being expressed with the hint of “Tresselballitis” that is rumbling from the pit of my stomach.

It may not seem like it from this article, but I’m an Ohio State fan and a Jim Tressel fan. I think he is an excellent leader of young men. I think he is centered as an individual, wise, and offers a great father figure to the players. But I think we are coming to some dead ends as a program.

I’ve been told on many occasions by people “in the know” that Jim Tressel won’t give up play calling duties. Well, I think it’s time for the people above him to make him do just that. If Jim Tressel can’t understand that, is he really still right for this program any more?

A coach has to be willing to adapt. A coach has to be willing to change. If you can’t do that, you risk your program becoming stale. Yes, Ohio State is Jim Tressel’s football program, but he still answers to alumni, to board members, and to you, the fan—and it’s about time we start demanding some change.

There is absolutely no reason this team should be as inept as they are offensively. None…N-O! N-E!…zero, zilch, nada…This team has talent across the board to get inventive, creative, and become explosive.

Ohio State has the talent offensively to be just as prolific as the Texas Techs, Missouris, Oklahoma States, Oregons and Illinois of the world. None of them have “recruited” to the level of Ohio State, so why are they outperforming us?!?!?

Bottom line, stop wasting this team’s offensive talent. Fire Bollman, who can’t motivate this offensive line to block, and open up the world’s largest athletic department budget to hire an offensive coordinator that can help find an offense that, excluding ‘06-’07, has been absent for the past 10 years.

Hell, at least get us into the Top 50 in most offensive categories (I know we’re not like Ohio State or anything). Let’s see what we can do…if that isn’t asking too much.

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Ohio State vs. Penn State Preview

I figured we ought to take a closer look at this weekend’s game, seeing as all the pundits view it as a de facto Big Ten championship game. I’m not quite as sure of that (strange things tend to happen), but it is a big game, no question. So let’s take a closer look at it.

When Penn State Has The Ball
It all starts up front for the Nittany Lions. Penn State has the best offensive line in the Big Ten. Nobody in the Big Ten is rushing for more yards per game (234.63) or more yards per carry (5.8). Only Northwestern has given up fewer sacks (five, to Penn State’s six). Daryll Clark is a Heisman candidate and Evan Royster is one of the best backs in the Big Ten, if not the country, but it all starts up front. The Penn State blocking scheme places an emphasis on getting to the second level and blocking linebackers, so there should be opportunities for the defensive line to capitalize, but will they?

The last two weeks provide some hope. The defensive line was much more active against Purdue and Michigan State. Those aren’t awful o-lines, either: MSU had only given up four sacks all year before the Buckeyes picked up three, and Purdue has given up twelve, good for sixth in the Big Ten. PSU will be a major step up, but there is hope.

While PSU’s o-line philosophy creates opportunities for the Buckeye d-line, it limits them for the linebackers. James Laurinaitis’s biggest weakness is getting off blocks, which could be a problem. The Nittany Lions could have some success running right at them, especially with a back as good as Royster. He’s averaging 7.7(!) yards per carry. Don’t expect him to do quite that good against the Buckeyes, but don’t expect him to be bottled up, either.

Penn State’s not just going to run up the middle, though. They’ll spread the field wide, and that playes to the linebackers’ strength: speed. Laurinaitis and Marcus Freeman are fast, and they’ll need to be to make plays out wide. They’ll also need to be smart, though, and not overrun anything.

Out wide is the Buckeye defense’s biggest strength: the corners. Derrick Williams gets the pub, but Deon Butler and Jordan Norwood are the leading receivers (sixth and seventh in the conference, respectively). The three talented receivers will match up against the Buckeyes’ three talented corners: Malcolm Jenkins, Chimdi Chekwa, and Donald Washington. Chekwa’s shoulder isn’t 100%, but Tressel says he’s going to play, and he’ll need to play well. Jenkins has been the best player on the roster, Washington was playing very well in fall camp and has done nothing to disappoint on the field, and Chekwa has been a pleasant surprise. These guys are good enough to at least contain the Nittany Lion’s receiving threats.

And they’ll need to do a good job with Daryll Clark taking the snaps. He’s seen as a dual threat, but if he is, it’s in the Troy Smith mold, a passer first and foremost. Clark averages just 23.75 yards per game. He prefers to sit in the pocket, and if the defense can’t get pressure on him, he’ll pick them apart. The OZone posits that the increased playing time Washington has seen has allowed the defense to blitz more and play man defense behind it. The Buckeyes will need to get after Clark, but not too aggressively; he’s still fast enough to beat teams on the ground.

When Ohio State Has The Ball
Beanie, Beanie, and more Beanie. The Penn State rush defense is second in the Big Ten (behind the Buckeyes), allowing 104 yards per game. However, teams have rushed 57 more times at the Nittany Lions than at the Buckeyes, suggesting that they see something that leads them to think they can have success on the ground (or that they were just running teams, but whatever). And in conference play, the PSU rush defense hasn’t been nearly as effective, allowing 155.5 yards per game (6th in the Big Ten) to Illinois, Purdue, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Decent rushing teams all, but not as good as the Buckeyes. While the Penn State d-line is collectively a strength, the defensive tackles aren’t great (good, just not as good as the ends), and can be run at. And at the second level they’ve got Josh Hull at middle linebacker, who is pretty average. The other linebackers are very good, but this front seven’s weakness is up the middle.

It’s strength is the defensive ends. Aaron Maybin isn’t huge, but he’s fast and excellent. He’s second in the nation with ten sacks.  The other ends are also talented and fast. The OSU tackles will have to be on their game, and if Steve Rehring sees any time at right tackle, be afraid. Rehring’s move to right guard seems to be paying dividends, though, and hopefully that continues Saturday. A solid ground game is important not just for the offense, but as a defensive weapon, keeping PSU’s explosive offense off the field.

While we’ll all be concerned if Pryor is throwing the ball 30 or 40 times against the Nittany Lions, he may have some luck against their defensive backfield. They haven’t been tested much all season, in large part because the front four does such a good job of pressuring the quarterback. If Pryor can avoid that pressure, he may be able to move the ball through the air. Avoiding that pressure will be a big if, though, considering how often he’s been sacked. He’ll have to be decisive against this defense. He can make one read, maybe two, then it’ll be time to take off running and take what he can get.

Concluding With A Conclusion
This one should be interesting. This is a team that the Buckeyes handled easily last season in State College. However, it’s also a team that’s been crushing everyone they’ve played so far. Meanwhile, this is a Buckeye team that is capable of 45 points against Michigan State, but also capable of no offensive touchdowns against Purdue. The Buckeyes have the best player in the game in Beanie Wells, but the Nittany Lions have the better lines. Who knows how it’ll play out? Before the season, we had every reason to be confident. After USC we had every reason to be terrified. Now, who knows? Whatever happens, it should be a good one.

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My latest report card

OFFENSIVE LINE

Terrelle Pryor might think twice next time before masquerading as Orlando Pace. He had his head snapped back like a rock ’em, sock ’em robot, trying to throw a downfield block for Beanie Wells. As least he showed the kind of fire that had mostly been missing this season from the guys who actually earn their scholarships playing offensive line. Saturday, thankfully, the front five took their cue from Pryor. Don’t want to jinx things, but it looks like the Buckeyes might have found their best combo: Alex Boone at left tackle, Jim Cordle at left guard, Mike Brewster at center, Steve Rehring at right guard and Bryant Browning at right tackle. But let’s hold off on a coronation until after the Penn State game.

GRADE: A

RUNNING GAME

Still waiting for someone to show they can stop the Beanie-Terrelle Express. With the Spartans buying the fake, Terrelle Pryor ambled for 72 yards on 12 carries. And Beanie Wells was even more of a load, rushing for 140 yards on 31 carries. The only thing slowing Beanie was his own teammates. A chop block penalty on Mike Brewster and Steve Rehring cost him a third touchdown.

GRADE: A

PASSING GAME

Yes, Terrelle Pryor’s passing skills still leave a lot to be desired. His 56-yard completion to Brian Hartline was more of an artistic success on the receiving end and his seven-yard TD to Brian Robiskie was thrown off his back foot. But Pryor was able to get away with it because he bought extra time with his feet, allowing Robiskie time to get wide open in the back of the end zone. My fear is that he won’t have enough passing reps when the time comes to really throw the ball with authority. What will OSU do then, page Todd Boeckman?

GRADE: B minus

DEFENSIVE LINE

Is it just me, or is Thaddeus Gibson coming up with a big play every week? His 69-yard fumble return TD on Saturday was the longest in the Tressel Era. The pressure up front has never been better than the last two weeks. Tackles Todd Denlinger, Nader Abdallah and Dexter Larimore have shown signs of life playing alongside Cameron Heyward, and Rob Rose couldmake us forget end Lawrence Wilson (season-ending knee injury). Personally, I’ve already forgotten him.

GRADE: A minus

LINEBACKERS

It’s hard to say who got more face time Saturday on ABC, James Laurinaitis or daddy Joe, the former pro rassler. With his parents watching from the stands, Laurinaitis (11 tackles, one sack) had one of his best games of the season, leading the charge against Javon Ringer. Actually, the best defense against the nation’s top rusher was OSU’s offense. By jumping out to a 28-0 lead, the Buckeyes essentially took Ringer out of the picture. When he did carry the ball, Laurinaitis was usually there to greet him with a bearhug and playful tap on the helmet. Ringer finished with 67 yards on 16 carries, saying goodbye to his Heisman hopes.

GRADE: A

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Nobody is playing better on defense right now than Malcolm Jenkins. His strip sack of backup Kirk Cousins led to Thaddeus Gibson’s 69-yard fumble return TD, one week after Jenkins blocked a punt (resulting in a TD) and intercepted a pass against Purdue. Jenkins was still in at the end, flying downfield to stop a punt returner cold with an ankle tackle. “He won’t let me take him out,” coach Jim Tressel said. Donald Washington, back in the flow after an early-season suspension, returned a fumble 44 yards to set up a TD and nickel back Jermale Hines scored on a 48-yard fumble return in the closing seconds that pained Tressel almost as much as his close friend, MSU coach Mark Dantonio. The last thing Tress wanted to do was pile on, but his team needs all the style points it can get.

GRADE: A

SPECIAL TEAMS

Couple of close scares here. After making a splashy debut on special teams last week, Lamaar Thomas dropped the opening kickoff and got tackled at the 8. Worse was Ray Small’s decision to field a punt inside the 10, compounded by his fumble. Austin Spitler, out most of the season because of injury, recovered the loose ball and saved Small from another trip inside Jim Tressel’s doghouse. Aaron Pettrey made a 40-yard field goal, but his kickoffs have lost their oomph this season. On average, only one out of four have resulted in touchbacks.

GRADE: C

COACHING

Up 28-0 at halftime, the Buckeyes threw only two passes in the second half. Hey, you didn’t expect Jim Tressel to turn into a Big 12 coach overnight, did you? Give him credit for throwing the ball deep on first down on the play where Brian Hartline pinballed off two defenders. And, in fairness, although it won’t show up on the stat sheet, he did have Terrell Pryor throw long for Brian Robiskie in the second half, resulting in pass interference. But I’m still not convinced Ohio State can win a shootout with Penn State, if it comes to that. Maybe the defense should have saved Saturday’s two scores for next week.

GRADE: B

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Ohio State football: Rough start for Buckeyes

Buckeyes win the toss and elect to receive – and freshman Lamaar Thomas drops the kickoff and is tackled at the 8. Steve Rehring gets the start at right guard ahead of Ben Person. And on the second play,…
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