2010-11 NBA Blogger Previews – Southeast Division
October 18, 2010The Bare Bones: Some Early Notes on the Indians’ 2011 Payroll
October 18, 2010Saturday night Wisconsin beat the Buckeyes 31-18 What follows are my take aways from the game. I know this column is called the twelve pack, but there is little chance I’m going to re-watch that game in order to get to twelve.
No. 1– Wisconsin came to play. It wasn’t just the stadium and environment, they were determined to take this one from the Buckeyes. Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema said that John Clay had the most intense week of practice he had ever seen. He said that he challenged his offensive line, and they most certainly responded. Ohio State did not match their intensity. Not until it was just too late.
No. 2– Which DE is the preseason All-Everything award finalist- Cameron Heyward or J.J. Watt? Watt made the big plays in this game, sacking Pryor 3 times from at least 2 different positions. He beat Adams and Brewster both, and may have gotten Shugarts too. (Like I said, I’m not watching that thing again.)
No. 3– You know how there are times when you hate being right? I hate that I was right about our LBs last week. I said they would be key to this game, and particularly Brian Rolle-
Our LB play was great in this one, but it is this unit that concerns me most heading into the game next week against Wisconsin. We have not seen a back quite like John Clay this season. The Buckeyes held him in check last year, but he is a better back and has a running mate in Freshman James White. They are Wisconsin’s version of thunder and lighting. We’ve seen Brian Rolle excel against teams that run the spread. He is quick laterally, and really is a very good defender against that offense. Wisconsin does not run the spread. John Clay is a 255 pound cannon ball. This game will hinge on how well Rolle, Homan and Sweat are able to stuff Clay inside, while tracking down White on the edge.
Yep. Rolle was a complete non-factor against the run. Forget stuffing Clay, he couldn’t even get off of blocks. In fact the best of the bunch was Sweat after he moved over to Homan’s spot following his injury.
No. 4– Pryor did not have a good game. He was off target on a number of throws, and really seemed indecisive on designed running plays. Now, there wasn’t a whole lot of room to run, especially in that first half, but hesitating only made things worse. Then there was the pitch over Herron’s head on the option play. In fact, Pryor threw 3 balls over Herron’s head in the game including screen passes. Dane Sanzenbacher bailed him out a couple of times by going up to get passes in traffic and paid a price for it. He was blasted several times, but got up and kept going.
No. 5– Another prediction came to pass, but this one was made by everyone who had watched a Buckeye game this season. “Our special teams are going to bite us in a close game someday.” Ding ding! As if the team and that crowd weren’t fired up enough. That killed. And he didn’t even look like he was touched. Straight up the middle. Good grief.
No. 6– I’m disgusted. I’m done talking about this one. The Buckeyes have to regroup to play Purdue next Saturday. They owe the Boilers a good kick in the pants for last year’s loss. I have very little hope for a share of the Big Ten title. Not even thinking about that right now. I’m in full on let’s get ready to beat Michigan mode.
(AP Photo/Andy Manis)
20 Comments
OSU got it handed to them. No two ways about it.
99% Tressel’s fault.
The Bucks had their manhood ripped away. Hope they find it again soon.
Wisconsin ran straight down OSU’s throats. I mean straight. They didn’t even do anything more sophisticated than running in the A gaps.
That was a straight up physical beat down.
How do you blame Tressel when the defense played awful (it wasn’t the scheme, it was the execution) and Pryor played horribly.
FIRE TRESSEL! MOVE PRYOR TO WIDEOUT OR BENCH HIM!
-Purdue Fan…Ryan Kerrigan all day on Saturday
There’s a reason this game was circled on the schedule. Not excusing the effort at all, because the team looked wholly shell-shocked after the kickoff return TD. Watching that game sucked, save for the first two minutes or so of the fourth quarter. The game was OSU’s to lose at that point.
And the defense totally lost it.
@5 heres how I can blame Tressel, this is part of an email I wrote earlier:
1. He refuses to use the best athlete on the field (TP) to his strengths. He demands he throw from the pocket which is obviously not a strong suit for him.
2. His coordinators are awful, terrible. He refuses to get rid of them, he’s too loyal and too stubborn.
3. OSU got down 21-0 which is absolutly embarassing. JT stood on the sideline stunned as did his players and assistants. He should have been in their faces grabbing face masks and screaming. Woody would have, Earl Bruce, too. Championship coaches would have.
4. We are better than Wisconsin. We have more talent probably by double and we lost. I know you cant win em all but we should have won that one.
5. Our FOUR/FIVE STAR offensive line got absolutly abused. As they always do. We get top notch prospects for our OL and they never pan out? Why? Goes back to coaching and coordinators imo.
6. He has been responsible for atleast half of the losses we’ve had since he’s been here. Illinois at home, Texas at home, LSU national championship, USC at home.
7. And the most frustrating imo. You go all the way down the field in the pistol formation. 1st and G from the 3… shotgun. Ok. 2nd and G from the 4. Shotgun…. 3rd and G… shotgun again. Are you serious? Are we not osu now that we cant pound the ball in from 3 yards out? Gimmie a damn break. And I dont really have a problem with the conservative play calling after a drive eats up 10 min and then we punt. But there are some 4th downs we could have gone for (and in hindsight, should have).
8. Troy Smith is the worst thing that ever happend to this Univ. Now all these guys saw that Tress turned a 3 Star special teamer into a heisman winning QB and they think they can do it too. Gimmie a break. JT won a NC w Coop’s players and he will never win one here again, I guarntee it.
Hey, on the plus side, at least Sanzenbacher and Sweat came to play. On the minus side, neither safety, none of the O-line, Pryor, Posey, the other LBs, the D-line – none of them came to play.
Not getting off blocks, no QB pressure (see previous point), couple blown coverages on the few pass plays by the corners, the O-line getting manhandled consistently except for the 3rd quarter, the WRs’ hands being coated with butter (except for Sanzenbacher), terrible special teams, and an inaccurate Pryor. Yeah, that’s clearly 99% on Tressel and not on just about every player failing to execute. A couple of those screens were great calls – combine them with great throws to Herron and it works. Pryor failing to throw it to a reasonable spot is not Tressel’s fault.
Bucks just looked terrible most of the game. For whatever reason(s) they were not ready to play and just played into the media outlets that constantly say OSU is overrated.
I know the team looked bad for a good portion of the game, but one moment in particular really sticks out in my mind.
The punt…
Specifically, the punt with about 6:30 to go in the game when OSU was down 10 points. It reminded me of Mangini punting the ball to the ravens down one score with 4 minutes to go.
There must be some chapter in Tressel’s “winner’s manual” that can remind him that your chances of getting the ball back with enough time to score twice are slim to none.
If they go for it, one of two things happens. First, they could get the first down, and the drive continues. Second, they don’t get the first down, and they still have a chance to hold Wisconsin to a field goal, and you’re still down two scores.
All I’m saying is, what’s more likely…getting a first down on 4th and 10 to keep a drive going, or punting, getting a quick stop, receiving a punt at roughly the same spot your were originally in, scoring, recovering an onside kick, and scoring again. I can’t understand any strategy that depends on recovering an onside kick when you still have time to score, play normal defense, and score again.
@JK, so this was clearly 100% Gene Smith’s fault. Not only is he responsible for the 99% that is Tressel’s, but he isn’t making Tressel do anything about it! Fire Gene Smith!
As Denny would say, derp.
Ohio State loses 1 Game and they want to fire Tressel. The same things you love him for when he wins are the same thing you hate when he loses. Troy Smith the worst thing to happen to Ohio State? A Heisman winner being bad for a University? Going to 3 National Championship and numerous BCS bowl games and wanting to fire the coach? Dude you are drinking and then getting on the computer. Come on now don’t go thinking like a SEC fan.
JK, I disagree whole-heartedly with just about everything you said, save for the coordinators. Fickell and Hazell are good. Wouldn’t mind seeing the older guys go.
Pretty often that 5-star recruits don’t pan out. Ask Mike D’Andrea. The core of the O-line is solid. The ends are not.
Double the talent doesn’t = double the team. Wisconsin played up their strengths to the max.
Troy Smith had talent galore around him. Pryor does not. He has his Gonzo in Sanzenbacher (reliable guy for the first down, every time). He does not have a Pittman, or a Beanie, let alone a Ginn or Holmes.
And Tress is responsible for many more wins than losses. You’re deluding yourself if you think otherwise.
For you own sake (and all of ours), stop. Because there aren’t very many (if any) coaches that are better for the University than Tressel. It could be a heck of a lot worse. Look at Florida.
But please, don’t act like a petulant child. I’m not complacent with a bad loss – but I’m being realistic. It could be a whole hell of a lot worse. This team wins out, and they’re in a BCS bowl game again.
We lost, that will happen. Tressel is a premier coach and to talk about it’s his fault or firing is just silly.
[sarcasm]
I’m sure Rodriguez will be available soon, maybe we can snag him from the blue. Straight up trade maybe?
[/sarcasm]
Ok… Ok… I have to say something.
I am a ND fan. I really don’t have a dog in this fight other than that I LOVE how Wisconsin plays the game. They kinda remind me of how OSU USED to play… when they were good. ZING!
Sorry.. sorry. Couldn’t resist.
Anyway… you people who want to get rid of Tressel are NUTS! But if you insist I would take him as ND’s head ball coach this second. And I love Brian Kelly. I think we finally have a guy with a plan in him… but I would take Tressel over him in a heartbeat. But I digress.
So please keep beating those drums OSU fans… If he leaves, you guys are gonna miss him when he’s gone and he is gonna make somebody else into a better team than they are now.
Typical ND fan, talks a big game, with nothing to back it up…
My disclaimer: I’m a Tennessee fan. And, yes, I know they are not very good. But this isn’t about Tennessee. That said, I believe the issue with OSU is twofold.
First, I’m not sold on the coaching staff’s ability to make successful in-game adjustments. This was first apparent to me from the Florida NC game. I personally think it’s the coordinators, especially Heacock (sp?).
Second, I believe, and have always believed, that the way they are using Pryor is an immense mistake. He made it to the #1 HS player in a spread offense. His best weapon is his running. Having him in a non-spread, drop back style is playing into the weakest part of his game. He should be the Cam Newton of the Big 10. Make the D commit to covering 3-4 wideouts, and open those huge holes inside.
The use of Pryor in this fashion, and the retaining of Heacock, does, in fact, stop with Tressel. Fire him? I don’t know.
I never said fire Tressel, just to clarify. I think he is one of the best coaches in the country. His coordinators who is loyal to however….
billthehammer – Yeah Troy was great. With all of his, take money from a booster, and gain 40 lbs in the NC and get chased down by linemen w/ no helmets. Other than that he was amazing.
Denny- That’s the problem. Tress, when he’s done, will have a say in who the HC, and he’ll probably suggest to promote one of the bums we have as a coor right now.
I’ll drop a couple more bombs on you folks… First, if TP would have went to Oregon, UM, UF, he would be a heisman front runner right now. Didnt say fire Tressel AGAIN, he just doesnt know how to use TP at all.
Second, not saying that Id rather have him because I think he runs a really dirty program. But if Urban Meyer had OSU’s talent this year, they would be undefeated thus far in either schedule.
JK read the end of post #14 and chill out. OSU will be fine