The best coached game of the year. It looked like the staff had Penn States signals as well as their playbook. I was talking to a coach friend. He called Heacock the player of the game. I would say the entire coaching staff because we had variety on offense. We ran some counter and some reverses. Saine is always a threat on counters. He is not a guy with great vision. He is not looking backside. The counter is a backside play by design. Punting on the first quarter series where we drove inside the Penn State 30 was not conservative. It was smart. You don't want your backup kicker taking that near 50 yard kick, especially after his suspect performance last week. Third and 15 tight end screen on the field goal drive was, but that is Tresselball and in this kind of game it is hard to beat Tresselball. We are on the verge of offensive change but in games like this Jim Tressel taking over the headset is a really good thing for us. I have been calling for more smashmouth. I thought the line was ready for it. We saw it in this game and look at the results. Best running game all year and it was against a highly ranked defense.

In my preview I said that protecting Pryor and getting pressure on Clark would be huge. The Buckeyes were on Clark like ugly on an ape. We just stuffed their line. Beat them up and threw them around. We were physical all day with them. 14 points allowed in the last three games by the defense. Great game by the linebackers too. Everyone of them had a few memorable plays. On the other side this was the best performance by the offensive line all year. They protected Pryor and had a good game run blocking. They did it against a highly regarded line. I have been asking for more smashmouth. Lets just run it right at them. We did so in this game and I thought we were effective with it. Marcus Hall stepping in for Shugarts was huge. He played well the rest of the game.I have to mention Zack Boren. Not a fan of the kid as a linebacker but I said he could be the best option of all we want the fullback to do is be a lead blocker. He found his stride in this game. I was really peeved that they made so much of his missed block on Bowman down on the goal line. Fourth year All-American linebacker, sure to be a first round pick if he goes pro, versus freshman linebacker in the open field no less. Who do you think is going to win that battle??? We scored on the play anyway. Really ticked me off.

Cam Heyward was unblockable. The best game by a Buckeye defensive lineman since Gohlston versus Michigan. He really hurt them rushing from the tackle spot. He was a complete player today. Dominating against the run and the pass. I hear he is likely coming back. I think he will stick to that until he sees his draft status, which went through the roof off this performance, and someone clues him in to what is going to happen with rookie salaries after the next collective bargaining agreement. Great game by Gibson. I think Denlinger and Worthington played good games too.

Did Pryor turn the corner? A couple of wild throws in the first half. The miss to Sanzenbacher was an awful throw but that was about it. Made great decisions all game. His mechanics were consistently good this week. In the second half he was dead on with his throws, and just as importantly his decision making. I think we can argue for several good games in a row.Great play call down on the goal line and Pryor executed it perfectly. Drew the linebacker and threw to Saine for the touchdown. The way Pryor runs the ball we could take advantage of that play regularly if he executes it like that, especially down on the goal line and in short yardage.

ADDENDUM: I thought we could win but we would not win. That we dominated Penn State was something I did not think we would see. Once Pryor hit Posey on the long touchdown pass, you could see it. The body language of the Penn State players changed. They had not gotten anything done all day and now were down 10.

The defense has allowed 7 points in the last 3 games. Don't tell me we have allowed 14 points. NO WAY was that a touchdown. The ball NEVER crossed the goal line.

---

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites

Comments (18)

...
written by Razrback16, November 08, 2009

Glad you stated that about the phantom touchdown Duane. This year has been worse than most when it comes to officiating.

• 
• +0
• 
• 

...
written by GregLee2000, November 08, 2009

I was mad when Tress didn't challenge the play, then i was furious when the ref's looked at it, and still gave it to them. Love the fact that we are running play action on 2nd down. Just wish we could give Jordan Hall more carries. He has big play potential every time he gets the ball.

• 
• +0
• 
• 

...
written by Loganbuck, November 08, 2009

Zach Boren is going to make all the arguments about him being a wasted scholarship, look really stupid. Jim Tressel will get a cumulative six years of starting players, out of one scholarship. I have heard that there is another younger Boren brother in the pipeline. What kind of player is he?

• 
• +0
• 
• 

...
written by kf213003, November 08, 2009

Duane, first off I just want to make it clear that this is a HUGE win and I am in amazing spirits today because of it; however, there were a few things that bothered me and I am curious on your thoughts. What did you think of all the first & second down runs we had throughout the game (especially in the first half)? What did you think about all the carries we gave boom and yet excluded Jordan Hall? Was this type of playcalling a lack of faith by Tressel in Pryor's abilitiy to make plays and do you see Tressel showing more "faith" than he did yesterday in the future? Will he open it up? I only ask these things because I feel like that type of conservatism may get us in serious trouble down the line if we play a team with a much better offense (like what we could face in a potential rose bowl).

• 
• +0
• 
• 

...
written by marks-gforce, November 08, 2009

I am amazed at how we just squeezed the life out of PSU. I was thinking of their fans. This is the kind of grinding that just kills your day! LOL

• 
• +0
• 
• 

A couple of thoughts
written by fish-61, November 08, 2009

1.) I loved the fact that OSU moved back to more I. I think Z. Boren is proving to be too valuable at FB to not use regularly. He was destroying Sean Lee. I think the line plays better out of the I and the backs run better.

2.) As good as Heyward was I would argue that Russell might have been just as bad. I still don't know what he was doing on the bubble screen that lead to PSU's phantom touchdown. How a 5th year senior with as much pt as he has gotten takes an angle like that is mind blowing.

• 
• +0
• 
• 

...
written by Duane Long, November 08, 2009

...
written by kf213003, November 08, 2009
Duane, first off I just want to make it clear that this is a HUGE win and I am in amazing spirits today because of it; however, there were a few things that bothered me and I am curious on your thoughts. What did you think of all the first & second down runs we had throughout the game (especially in the first half)? What did you think about all the carries we gave boom and yet excluded Jordan Hall? Was this type of playcalling a lack of faith by Tressel in Pryor's abilitiy to make plays and do you see Tressel showing more "faith" than he did yesterday in the future? Will he open it up? I only ask these things because I feel like that type of conservatism may get us in serious trouble down the line if we play a team with a much better offense (like what we could face in a potential rose bowl).

I really liked the first and second down runs because we were being effective with it. As much fun as a wide open passing game is, there is nothing like running the ball right down a defenses throat. It is tiring as well as confidence sapping. We averaged 4.7 a carry. I am fine with running the ball every play at that rate. There is a pure brutal beauty to smashmouth when it done well. We did it pretty well yesterday.

I think JT wanted to take some of the pressure off Pryor. It has been something I called for weeks ago. I think this offensive line is ready for some of this. There is more room to throw when the linebackers are having to play the run first. It takes some of the pressure off Pryor to open up those lanes a bit. I don't think it was a lack of confidence so much as simply an attempt to helping out a young quarterback who was looking overwhelmed. Great decision in my mind.

I think we always will go this direction on games like this. I picture Tresselball as like a constrictor. If JT can get his coils around you it is over. This kind of game he is going to win. Slow it down, keep it between the hash marks, and play it safe. JoePa got lured into the kind of game where controlling the line of scrimmage and no turnovers is going to make you difficult to beat. Jim Tressel has mastered a way of playing those kinds of games to where he can beat anyone, even a legend. To beat Jim Tressel you have to be very aggressive. You have to be dynamic.

• 
• +0
• 
• 

...
written by Duane Long, November 08, 2009

...
written by Loganbuck, November 08, 2009
Zach Boren is going to make all the arguments about him being a wasted scholarship, look really stupid. Jim Tressel will get a cumulative six years of starting players, out of one scholarship. I have heard that there is another younger Boren brother in the pipeline. What kind of player is he?

I would say he is between them as far as what level of recruit he is. Zack was always a great player. He just did not have the kind of body that was going to draw the big boys as a linebacker. The youngest still has a couple of years to develop. He has a better body. Whether he is an elite like Justin is yet to be determined.

• 
• +0
• 
• 

...
written by mab, November 08, 2009

I liked the gameplan yesterday and the OL gave us a chance to execute such a plan. I love watching a team that can run the ball and throw effectively when it needs to. I have been asking all year for opinions on why we have not used screens and short passes to build Pryor's confidence early in games. We seemed to do exactly that in this game. We still did not utilize the TE's, but when is the last time a FB has been utilized in as effectively as Zac was used in the running and PASSING game? The FB's have 4 catches all year and 2 were in yesterdays game. I think we are seeing the return of the FB to the offense. I hope Tress gives Zac a token handoff before the year is over (a goaline TD against Michigan over the LG..yes, his brother..would be nice to see).

As everyone else has pointed out, none of what was accomplished in this game would have been possible if the OL didn't step up this game. Great game in the trenches on both sides of the ball...GO BUCKS!!!

• 
• +0
• 
• 

...
written by Miko, November 08, 2009

Grinding our way to 200 + yards on the ground and punching them in the face on Defense is the way we love our Bucks to play.

Has the offensive line found there Mojo ?

• 
• +0
• 
• 

...
written by Hilltopbass, November 08, 2009

How about a little love for Ray Ray, we saw a great performance from our D-line, Z Boren is looking more like a factor on his own not just a package deal and TP had the game he needed to. Borrowing the Mack Brown comment used in the telecast, learn to win first worry about the rest later, This was the game TP needed, now the path is clear for him to move forward a grow from it.
Back to Ray Ray, his returns in this game were huge on 2 drives and some of our own special teamers were more effective stopping him being in his way than P St. coverage team was.
Can't end this without talking about the O-line, thier best game this year and maybe we point to this game as the point when it turned for that young unit.
I said it here a couple of days ago that we could win this game when many didn't think so, I didn't see the 17 point margin so I'm in the boat with most regarding the dominant win. Didn't see it coming, so yes credit the staff we've been kicking most of the year for a solid game plan across the board.
A total team win.

• 
• +0
• 
• 

...
written by Chris Sawyer, November 08, 2009

Middletown Middies Knock off Moeller Don't Call It A Upset what do you think Duane. Nick Mcknight is a stud.

• 
• +0
• 
• 

On Jermil Martin
written by pula, November 08, 2009

Duane, what a big win. It was a complete game by the offense, defense, special teams, and coaching staff. I was impressed at how well this team handled the adversity. There were a few mistakes that Pryor made yesterday, but no more than any other QB that I watch. I hope he realizes that he does not need to will this team to victory. Devier, Duron, Dane, etc are not bad options. Although we also saw what makes Pryor special. There were two drives where it was 3rd and long where Pryor picked up the first down. It was great recognition of taking what the defense gave him. I believe these plays broke Penn State mentally.

In an old fashion smash mouth football type of game, do you know why we did not use Jermil Martin more? I really think he could get us an extra 1-2 yards when we are pounding the ball up the middle. There were a few runs by Saine that ended up behind the LOS, which is unacceptable. Even picking up 2 yards may not seem like a big deal, but it makes 2nd and 3rd down a lot more manageable.

• 
• +0
• 
• 

...
written by dvo45, November 08, 2009

This game was all about who was more PHYSICAL and O-State came out and smashed state penn's facemasks in!!!

Folks...one of the things the coaching staff wanted to do was turn Ohio State into a PHYSICAL team for the first time in a long time...and it sure likes the are really becoming a bunch of physical "sonbitches"...

• 
• +0
• 
• 

...
written by punt on second down, November 09, 2009

I have been very critical of Tressel, but I have to give him and the coaching staff credit for this win. Rock solid gameplan, as mentioned the line played well for once and Pryor managed the game very well. I was hoping Iowa would beat Northwestern so we could take down an undefeated top 5 team. Oh well, now we control our own destiny. I say we destroy Iowa, hopefully Pryor and the coaches build/improve upon the Penn State game and continue to be turnover free. You know Iowa has a defense that has somehow created alot of turnovers. Go Bucks, lets get two more shutouts.

• 
• +0
• 
• 

...
written by Eltoasto, November 09, 2009

I liked what i saw from Pryor. There were a few slant routes that looked like poor passes, but really were just thrown where only the WR could get them. And most of them should have been caught. He overthrew Sanzenbacher on that one, but would have been nice to see Sanz lay out for it.

And one time, and i swear this is true, i saw Pryor look off the safety to the right and then throw to his left in a key situation. It really happened i promise, i wasn't drinking or anything.

Would it be a NCAA violation if we started a collection and bribed Kiper to slide Heyward down on the draft boards? The glut of 3-4 teams are always hungry for DE's and it wouldn't shock me if he were taken in the top half of the 1st round if the draft were held today

• 
• +0
• 
• 

...
written by RipsManifesto, November 09, 2009

And one time, and i swear this is true, i saw Pryor look off the safety to the right and then throw to his left in a key situation. It really happened i promise, i wasn't drinking or anything.

I actually thought I saw that too. I was shocked. I think it was the long pass to Sanzenbacher that he overthrew.

• 
• +0
• 
• 

...
written by Duane Long, November 09, 2009

...
written by Chris Sawyer, November 08, 2009
Middletown Middies Knock off Moeller Don't Call It A Upset what do you think Duane. Nick Mcknight is a stud.

I can't call it an upset because Middletown has more talent than anyone knows about but I was surprised.

• 
• +0
• 
• 

Name

Email

Website

Title

Comment

smaller | bigger

Subscribe via email (registered users only)

Add Comment