Baseball Update: Indians Lose in Extras, Aeros Washed Out and Scrappers Advance
September 12, 2009Quick-hit thoughts after the game
September 12, 2009
The day starts off fairly slowly, with a pretty meager noon set. The Wisconsin/Fresno State game is interesting, but ultimately isn’t a marquis matchup. The day really starts off at 3:30 with the game in Ann Arbor on ABC. From there we’ve got the big one at 8 o’clock on ESPN.
As much as I’m a “Luckeye homer”, I don’t know how good I feel about this one. On one hand, Navy is 1) a 8-10 win team and 2) unconventional. On the other, we didn’t see a whole lot out of the Buckeyes to instill a lot of confidence last week. The only chance the Bucks have in my mind is to jump out early. Getting pressure on all-GQ QB Matt Barkley is key, and if that doesn’t happen the Buckeyes are going to have a long night. If SC gets an early 2-TD lead before the end of the first quarter, the game’s dunzo.
For other folks’ takes on the game, including some good in depth analysis, check out these links:
“Jim Heacock will undoubtedly load Ohio State’s new masquerading 3-4 defense up on the run, forcing Barkley to beat them with his arm. If we can consistently put the Trojans in third down territory, Ohio State has an advantage on the blitz. The problem with this ideal is that it requires throwing out the Bible of “bend and not break” defense. To win, Ohio State needs to risk giving up a big play to get pressure on Barkley early. I’d rather see a 5 play USC scoring drive where Barkley’s helmet hits the turf twice, before finally connecting over the top for a runaway 65 yard touchdown, than a 13 play dribble of 5-9 yard quick slants, where Barkley stays standing.” – Rivalry, Esq.
“41-14. 38-24. 35-3. 24-21 … It’s come to Redemptiageddon IV and the Buckeyes have yet another chance to win an out of conference game against an elite opponent. Everyone, save for perhaps half of the 10 million or so people living in the state of Ohio, aren’t giving the team a chance. Not that we can blame them — the scores listed above are reason enough to see why the program carries the big game bust label.” – Eleven Warriors
Chris Brown from Smart Football shows us SC’s base defense, and what the Buckeyes need to do to take advantage and have a fighting chance on offense. – Dr Saturday
“A little louder? You play in one of the lamest stadiums in college football full of front running fans that would rather party and drink Hypnotiq than pay attention to the game at hand. Now, you’re playing in front of 20,000 EXTRA people in a state that literally has nothing else going on. I suggest you lower your expectations a little bit, Matt, while I think USC is going to win, you’re reason number 1,204,248 why they will. There’s a difference between being confident and being flat out dumb.” – Major League Jerk
A few ancillary things of note:
– I know it’s a night game in Ohio Stadium, and they’re few and far between. But school’s not in session yet, which means less students. Less students = less of a tolerance in the stadium = less noise. I went to the ’05 Texas game at night, and the crowd wasn’t as rowdy without school being in session.
– Lee Corso picked SC. I think this bodes well for the Bucks.
– I miss Columbus.
– Please remember our commenting policy, no matter how ugly the game may get.
39 Comments
I think saying dumb things just comes with the name Barkley.
While none of these Noon games are marquee matchups, they are somewhat competitive:
Fresno St 21, Wisconsin 17 (ESPN)
Mich St. 17, Central Mich 13 (ESPN2)
UConn 10, UNC 0 (ESPNU)
Duke 14, Army 13 (CBS College Sports)
Indians 20, Western Mich 14 (Big Ten Net)
not a college fb thing, but i just saw Hadnot is out for the browns game tomorrow… does that mean there are only 7 OL?
The University of Akron just unveiled their new stadium in downtown Akron. Thought that was pretty relevant today as well.
you can say what you will about how the middle and bottom of the Big10 has fallen off in recent years (and you should…these used to be pretty good teams). However, you cannot say that these teams don’t know how to have exciting games…..and even win them (except for the Spartans).
My remote barely could switch between games fast enough in the 4th quarters and I just gave up on UNC v. UConn that ended 12-10, which obviously was another good game. It started last week with a bunch of last minute wins by Big10 teams….and continued this week in the early games. Here are those early games:
Penn State crushes Syracuse – well, what can you expect…Lions are good.
Hawkeyes kill Cyclones – a bit of a surprise with as bad as Iowa looked last week (in win vs. Northern Iowa) and how close this game is no matter which team is good or bad.
Now the close ones:
Eastern Michigan vs. Northwestern – Wildcats up big early….let EMU comeback, then hit a 42 yard FG with 6 seconds left to win.
Western Michigan vs. Indiana – Down by 4, WMU marching down the field, Indiana strips the ball at the 11 yard line to preserve the win.
Fresno State vs. Wisconsin – Wisconsin outplayed the entire day, they somehow take a 3 point lead….then, give it up at the gun on a 40 yd FG to go to OT. In OT, they match TDs. Double OT: Fresno stopped and the Badgers kick a FG to win.
Central Michigan vs. Michigan State – Spartans outplay CMU all day, but can’t shake them loose. CMU gets within one but has to kickoff….ball somehow bounces over a Spartan and CMU recovers for a chance to win (28 seconds left at the time). And they get the FG for the lead with just 3 seconds left. Then, they trick MSU with another onside kick (hard kick off a frontline player that had turned around to block) and recover for the win.
ND’s offense looks quite efficient but they can’t get scores when they need them. UM has greatly improved on special teams. They might be legit, but it’s still early.
I really hope that we can exploit UM’s corners as well as Notre Dame is doing. Floyd is doing whatever he wants.
I want to see our LB’s actually hit someone tonight. I know Little Animal was a good player and deserves his place in Buckeye history. But, I feel like I haven’t seen a good stick on someone since the days of Hawk, Carpenter, and Schleigel.
Anyone see that James Davis was in a car accident this morning and might not be able to play tomorrow with a possible head injury?
Yes, but it doesn’t appear the injury was serious. He’s now listed as questionable. He may have just been taken to the hospital as a precaution as some people are when involved in a car accident.
OMG IM SO NERVOUZZZZ
I hate Michigan..
Is there anything more frustrating than an interception on the first possession down to the two-yard line and then holding USC off until a two-yard run on fourth down? Ugh.
Great, great drive there. Herron establishing himself as a feature back. Sanzenbacher = Gonzo 2.0.
I wouldn’t go that far to call it a great drive.. That 56-yard pass was the only thing truly productive at all. But you can’t complain when they almost had a possible 4th and 28 while down seven already compared with a 7-7 tie.
Where’d this OSU Dline come from? What happened to it last week?
Wow.. Now this is where we need to capitalize after that nice first down. Come on Bucks, take advantage of an offensive opportunity in a game versus a top-five opponent for once..
jacob. i dont like your tone, you seem like a pessimist.
and for the record ive been trying to tell yall bout sanzenbacher for some time now
@ Alex – chop. blocks.
@ Denny – for real
WOWIE-WEE-WOW! Missed FG off the top o’ the crossbar.
Huh, a ballgame at half in a big one.
ill take 10-10. its on pryor’s arm
SAFETY!!! i lovvvvve defensive struggles
what, everything goes well and noone has anything to say?
Saving it all for yelling in my living room
fair enough its early
Just gotta get a stop
Brutal drive by SC.
We can’t run a 2 minute drill.
Close fought game. But still, epic fail.
JIM TRESSEL= MARTY SHOTTENHEIMER PLAYING NOT TO LOSE.
Agree with Crazycav…Tresselball is just college Martyball.
It’s getting harder and harder to watch any of my favorite teams lately. Good things happen when Saine gets the ball, so let’s give it to him for one drive only. I don’t even care if that’s the closest B10 game USC has had in years by far.
pryor doesn’t look like a qb at all. and tressel can’t call a game to save his life.
wasn’t that last punt in FG range for pettrey?
It was on the brink. After SC declined the delay of game it would have been close to delay of game if they tried to get the FG team out there. Can’t fault that call – miss and SC gets the ball on the 40.
f
well said mikey.