Open Thread: Buckeyes at Illinois
November 15, 2008Cavaliers Preview Game #10
November 15, 2008Ohio State’s big time players made big time plays to keep the Buckeye’s Big Ten title hopes alive…
Chris Wells and Terrelle Pryor each went over the century mark in this one, as the Buckeyes racked up 305 yards on the ground. The rushing game was so good for Ohio State that they threw the ball only 10 in the game. The Buckeyes actually averaged more yards per rush, 5.9 (52 carries for 305 yards) than passing yards, 4.9 (10 attempts for 49 yards.) The defense gave up plenty of yards, but had key turnovers as well. Marcus Freeman caused a Juice Williams fumble and Kurt Coleman picked off a pass deep in Buckeye territory that led to OSU scores.
Defensively, James Laurinaitis was very active and around the ball, while Malcolm Jenkins blocked a punt out of the end zone and had several pass break-ups. Ross Homan had a nice sack of Juice Williams on a drive that could have made this one more interesting. Of all the big plays and play makers on a cold afternoon in Illinois, Beanie Wells was the most impressive to me.
Wells ran through, around, and over defenders once again. The play of the game was his hurdle of an Illinois safety. beanie displayed patience and agility today, looking like he is finally over the foot injury that may have cost him a chance at the Heisman this year. Of course, on his final run of the day he was brought down from behind and appeared to injury his hamstring. That happened early in the fourth quarter, and Beanie didn’t return to the game. Whether or not it is serious there was no reason to risk further injury, but with Michigan coming up, we know that we will need Wells at his best.
Speaking of that other team, they took one on the chin at home today to Northwestern. The Woodchucks are 3-8, and 2-5 in the conference. They have never lost 8 games in a season. Bawahahahaha!!! O-H!!!
9 Comments
I thought it was an ok game. Was definitely pleased that OSU was able to control the game on the ground like that. But the defense was infuriating. The turnovers saved the day for the Buckeyes. If Illinois takes care of the ball, they probably win this game.
I have to say I was getting upset by the halftime crew, and the announcers saying something similar, that Illinois could be winning this game….
Yeah, if they don’t commit the turnovers, AND they manage to punch it in the end zone on those possessions it would have been a closer game. But they weren’t exactly stopping us either. Regardless of whether we drove 50 yards or 80 yards for a TD, we were running the ball over them. Beanie had a fumble that could have easily been another TD for the Buckeyes. Not to mention for the last three drives Ohio State went into Boom Herron stall mode.
They made a lot of huge plays on third down against us, which I don’t like to see either. But the bottom line is that the defense pretty much kept Juice Williams contained, and made some nice adjustments in the second half to Illinois’ running game.
Beanie did have one more run didn’t he? T.p had a great game imo. He had no bad throws and ran wit ease. We missed alot of sacks tho cuz of poor tackling. Good win tho
can we get that penn st game back? damn, we are rollin now. let’s go michigan st!!! we need that rose bowl game win to make this season a success!
[…] Wooden Turtle: Ohio State takes the prestigious trophy back from the Fighting Illini. [WaitingForNextYear] […]
As this site’s designated UofM Whipping Boy, I will boldly predict that we will not score a point against OSU on Saturday.
If we do, you should be embarrassed!
well rick, since no one else has offered the “answer” to your “call”….
I-O!!!
There were 3 extremely blatant holds that Illinois got away with on plays that resulted in first downs on 3rd and long. Two of the drives resulted in field goals. On a third drive the hold was on Laurinitis as his face mask was being used as a bowling ball by one of the Illini lineman. Apparently there is no holding in the Big Ten, unless of course you wear a Buckeye jersey.
Very happy with the results of the game Saturday, but the one thing I don’t understand is why Tressel always takes the foot off the gas when we’ve got a lead. If a couple of little things go Illinois’ way in the second half the game is much closer and the Buckeyes might have had to worry a little. The Penn State game was much the same way, they had a lead and so Tressel decides to try and run out the clock. However this time they fumble and Penn State scores and they lose.
I’m not worried they’ll lose Saturday because this seriously might be the worst Michigan team ever, but I definitely don’t want to see the Bucks let up if they jump to a big lead. It’s Michigan, we’ve got to rub it in whenever we can, if only to get back for all those times they ruined our good seasons.