OSU 45 - Toledo 7

Saine and the Running game were too much for the MAC school

Terrelle Pryor was awful today. Just awful. He threw picks - 2 of them - he missed open receivers, and he just didn't play a smart game. Sure, he managed to talent his way into a short touchdown run, but it was the OSU running game and the Silver Bullet defense that got it done today. There was even a moment when Jeff Bauserman was asked to warm up.

Running backs Boom Herron and Brandon Saine complemented the defense with disciplined running (no turnovers) and effectively controlled the game. Saine had the biggest day (17-146-1) but Herron ran for 63 yards on 10 carries, scoring twice.

Also, Freshman cornerback Travis Howard showed signs of future greatness in this one. The pass-oriented Toledo offense called for a number of different coverage looks, so Howard saw a great deal of time on the field. He made the best of it. Seven tackles (one for loss) his first interception, and a touchdown to boot. Great game from the youngster.

Slugfest in the 'Shoe

Everyone knew this would be a tough on to win. no one had any illusions about that. But just how resilient the Trojans could be - well, no one quite understood until now. USC gave the Buckeyes all they could handle, and almost more than they could handle, but the Buckeyes proved too tough at home, and pulled out the narrow 17-14 victory.

USC came out tough early, forcing consecutive fumbles in the first two Buckeye possessions, and recovering both. The Buckeye defense held firm, but when preseason Thorpe nominee Kurt Coleman missed a tackle, USC's Joe McKnight made the Buckeyes pay dearly. Coleman had little to say about it after the game. He simply said "It won't happen again," and walked away. The Trojans missed the extra point, but led 6-0.

After watching their offense fumble on consecutive possessions, and their defense give up a big play reminiscent of last year's thrashing in the Coliseum, Buckeye fans might have felt as if they were in for another big Trojan victory, but the team had something else in mind. The Buckeye offense drove the length of the field and capped the drive with a TD on a pitch play to Sophomore Boom Herron. Senior Aaron Pettrey added the point after, and the Buckeyes led 7-6.

The third quarter passes as the defenses tried to control field position, but the Buckeyes were able to add a field goal as the quarter closed, making the score 10-6.

The fourth quarter of this game was something no football fan should ever miss. The defenses slugged it out, gaining and losing yards as if locked in a game of tug-of-war. Southern Cal would make a play, and the Buckeyes would counter with one of their own. But the play of the game happened just after the Buckeyes managed to drive to the five yard line of USC. Boom Herron manged to break a big run late, but he couldn't outrun Senior All-American Free Safety Taylor Mays. It was OSU's ball on the USC five yard line.

The Buckeyes were stuffed on the next two plays, gaining only two yards total. And then it happened. In a clutch situation, star players make big plays. Coach Griffin called the play-action pass on third and goal, the defense sold out on the blitz, and Terrelle Pryor showed us all just how great he might become as he hit the wide open man - (RS)FR TE Jake Stoneburner - in the end zone to put the Buckeyes up 17-6.

With only 2:15 remaining, everyone thought the game was over. But USC wouldn't go away so easily. Quarterback Aaron Corp led the Trojans on a quick drive down the field, but was knocked out of the game by Junior defensive end Cameron Heyward, who racked up three sacks in the game. Backup QB Mitch Mustain hit Junior wideout David Ausberry for a seven yard score with 49 seconds left, and after adding the two-point conversion, the Trojans had a chance. Ohio State 17, USC 14.

On the ensuing onside kick, junior wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher, who all say has the best hands on the team, recovered the high bouce and fell on it to secure possession and the win.

Or so we thought ...



It was just a simple pitch play. The Buckeyes have run it thousands of times. But this time, sophomore defensive end Malik Jackson did something none of us have ever seen before. He stole the pitch. It happened so fast, the camera guys even missed it. Were it not for the heads-up play of running back Brandon Saine, Jackson might have scored the game-winner.

But the Buckeye defense held firm yet again, and the Trojans were not able to advance into field goal position in time. The game ended with the Buckeyes winning 17-14, but it was a nerve-wracking game right to the end. It was a great one, but the Buckeyes might not schedule the Trojans again for a few years.

Buckeyes Win Opener 31-3

Posey was behind the defense all day

Ohio State did what Ohio State fans expected them to - they won the home opener with solid defense and timely, if sometimes frustrating offense. Ohio State stuffed up the option run game of the Army Black Knights, and got the win.

While the offense managed 351 total yards, the Army defense made a number of big plays on the Buckeyes, sacking Terrelle Pryor twice, and catching the Buckeyes in the backfield on a number of occasions. Though Ohio State rushed for 140 yards in the game, they needed 40 carries to get that number, averaging less than four yards a carry. Not quite a disappointment, but nothing to brag about. However, the Buckeye defense gave up only 59 yards on the ground, and only 41 in the air, so the home team found itself in good field position more often than not.

Perhaps the best play of the game came off the arm of Terrelle Pryor, who hit Sophomore Devier Posey in the corner of the end zone on a fade route in the second quarter. If Pryor can pass with this kind of touch on a consistent basis, he could have a special year.

As a whole, it was a decent showing. The defense was spectacular, and the offense was adequate. But when the big boys in the Big Ten start coming to town, a similar performance probably won't be enough to get the job done. But for now, both the coach and fans seem satisfied with the effort. Next week, we'll see what USC thinks about it.

Buckeyes Sign Two!

The Buckeyes reached into the top 250 recruit list and snatched two guys, a quarterback and a corner. Eddie Woods, from Akron, is listed as the #29 defensive back in this year's recruiting class. He's a big kid at 203 lbs against a 5'11" frame, but his speed doesn't seem to be affected by this (B+ SPD), as he still runs in the 4.4 range, and tends to excel in man coverage schemes (B MCV).

Quarterback Patrick King, from St. Clair Shores in Michigan, is a bit of a project. He's got good skills all around, but doesn't seem to have the wow-factor that really impresses the scouts. His arm strength and accuracy are above average, and so is his ability to avoid the rush, but he likely won't challenge for a starting job for a few years.

Coach Griffin admitted, though a bit grudgingly, that it is likely both will redshirt in their first year on campus. "But you never know," he said, "These guys just might be able to push a few starters, if they really apply themselves. We'll just wait and see."

Striking the Pose?

Might we see this from Terrelle?

No Buckeye fan could ever forget the day that Desmond Howard struck the Heisman pose in the end zone during the Ohio State - Michigan game in 1991. This year, the Buckeyes just might be planning a little revenge. Second-year quarterback Terrelle Pryor might just be a serious Heisman candidate this year, and if he is, and he scores in the big game, he might just exorcise the Desmond-Demon by putting his stamp on the award in Ann Arbor, hopefully in the same end zone, and in the same spot where Howard made history 18 years ago. When asked about it, Pryor just grinned:

We have a long way to go before we have to worry about any of that stuff, but it would be nice to shut those guys up by winning our sixth straight against them. Right now, I'm just concentrating on putting us in a position to win.

Don't bet on it, folks. Tressel might have coached up Terrelle's interview skills, but we see through it. Expect the pose if the Buckeyes win.

Or will this be enough for Buckeye fans?

Preseason Video

Just a little something to get me thinking about football, and that school up north.

Nicklaus Dots the "I"

I was at this game. Jack's pretty much the man around these parts, so this was a pretty cool day. Jack's reaction pretty much says it all.