OFFENSIVE LINE
Held to less than 4 yards per carry last year by Youngstown State, the Buckeyes got better push up front this time from their veteran line, averaging a crisp 5.8 yards a pop. All three heralded freshman — Mike Adams, Mike Brewster and J.B. Shugarts — got in on the third series as fellow freshman Terrelle Pryor directed a march resulting in a field goal. The only glaring mistake up front was a false start by new right tackle Bryant Browning that stalled a drive inside the 10.
GRADE: A
RUNNING GAME
The loss of Beanie Wells to an ankle injury in the third quarter took some of the fun out of Saturday’s victory. Wells had launched his Heisman campaign with a 43-yard TD burst on fourth-and-one and left with 111 yards rushing in little more than a half. Brandon Saine, part of the tailback-by-committee behind Wells, nursed a hamstring injury most of camp, but displayed some nifty footwork tip-toeing the sidelines for 14 yards. Terrelle Pryor was OSU’s second-leading rusher with 52 yards on nine attempts, including a 19-yard TD and option runs of 10 and 21 yards. He made it look easy.
GRADE: A
PASSING GAME
OK, it was only Youngstown, but after the way Todd Boeckman struggled down the stretch last season it was nice to see him get off to a fast start. He threw two TD strikes, including a 31-yarder to Brian Robiskie against tight coverage. His best pass of all came under pressure, with Brian Hartline catching it in stride for 47 yards, setting up a field goal. Devier Posey, an impressive-looking 6-3, 205-pound freshman, had a 25-yard TD, most of the yardage coming after the catch.
GRADE: A
DEFENSIVE LINE
Lawrence Wilson didn’t break his leg this time against the Penguins. That was the best news. In his first game as the “new” Vernon Gholston, he had a sack, good for an 18-yard loss. But we really didn’t hear his name called until that play on the opening series of the second half. Craig Heyward forced a fumble inside the YSU 40 that led to an Ohio State field goal and converted linebacker Thaddeus Gibson had OSU’s other sack.
GRADE: A
LINEBACKERS
Marcus Freeman was all over the place, coming on blitzes, defending the pass (his forte) and — unfortunately — even throwing an illegal block on a 70-yard punt return by Ray Small. (The Buckeyes scored a TD anyway). James Laurinaitis had a quiet game (five assists), but he probably wasn’t going to win the Heisman anyway. A few more impact plays by the unit was all that was missing.
GRADE: B plus
DEFENSIVE BACKS
The secondary was short-handed because of suspensions, injuries and defections, but it held up well all things considered. YSU should have tested it more. Freshman Jermale Hines, a converted linebacker starting in place of injured safety Kurt Coleman, had a fumble recovery that led to a field goal, but Shaun Lane dropped an interception with nothing but real estate in front of him. We’ve seen that scene way too often the last couple of years.
GRADE: B minus
SPECIAL TEAMS
The only exposure punter A.J. Trapasso got was on the cover of Saturday’s game program. Ryan Pretorius was perfect on four field goal attempts in the first half, including a 50-yarder, and backup Aaron Pettrey added a career-best 54-yarder. The most encouraging sights were the 28-yard kickoff return by Brandon Saine and the 70-yard punt return by Ray Small, reduced to 45 yards because of an illegal block. It sure beats the putrid effort the Buckeyes gave on returns last season.
GRADE: A
COACHING
When Beanie Wells hurt his ankle on OSU’s first series of the second half, it looked grim and opened up Jim Tressel to second-guessing for having him in a game that already was decided. But Wells returned to the sidelines in the fourth quarter under his own power, letting his coach off the hook (as long as he’s back for USC) and enabling the Buckeyes to feel better about their blowout victory. The Buckeyes are so deep, juggling personnel could be Tressel’s biggest challenge all season.
GRADE: B plus
— Compiled by Jon Spencer
