| 05 January 2011
I am still savoring this one. It will take a great finish in recruiting to take my mind off of this win. It is one for the ages in my book. The team goes in distracted with Tattoogate. Early on the Buckeyes lose an All-American and future NFL corner in Chimdi Chekwa against a likely first round quarterback. We then see the secondary take another hit as Chekwas replacement, Travis Howard, gets knocked out of the game too. I did not see the Buckeyes winning the game with Dominic Clarke at one corner but the defensive line made sure he did not get tested too much. This was a good Arkansas team. Make no mistake about that. The Buckeyes did not just beat another SEC team. They beat an SEC team that only lost to the defending national champion in Alabama and an undefeated Auburn team that will be playing for the national championship this year. The Buckeyes beat a good SEC team.
I know there are alot of fans out there that got a few more gray hairs watching the offense shut it down in the second half. Pryor threw 19 passes in the first half. 6 in the second. That is the Jim Tressel way. It always has been and always will be. He had an 18 point half time lead. You knew he was going to shut it down. He is not going to lose the game. He is going to make the other team win the game. He is going to make them take the chances. At that point he was in a battle with the clock not with Arkansas.
I have a major dispute with the game MVP award. Pryor had a great first half. Cam Heyward had a great game. Talk about going out on a high note. I think it was the best performance of his career. The defensive line in general was the difference in the game. This Arkansas team led the SEC in tackles for loss. The Buckeye defensive line was better. Simon was outstanding. Nate Williams had his best game since midseason. Larimore goes out with his best game in some time. The defensive line won this game for Ohio State with constant consistent pressure.
I thought Jermale Hines had a lot to do with how the secondary held together in the most trying of circumstances. I thought the young guys really stepped up. Travis Howard was beaten for a touchdown and another long gain. If he plays defense like that the rest of his career he will be an NFL player. Those were perfectly thrown passes that no corner was going to do anything about.
I am most proud of Jim Heacock. Ever since the USC loss he seems to be a changed man. He is getting after it. He attacks and attacks. Just when you think he can't find another way to attack he throws a zone blitz at them that Mallett had not seen all day and secures an interception to ice the game. Did you notice Cam Heyward was standing right beside Sol Thomas when he made the interception. Heacock deserves a game ball for the defensive game plan.
I know many were thinking about incoming freshmen replacing Cam Heyward or Melvin Fellows returning to health and stepping into that role. Adam Bellamy is a force to be reckoned with. He played very well last night. I see him as the starter at SSDE.
I noticed Garrett Goebel in there before I saw Hankins. When I did see Hankins I saw why. I saw too much of him. He looks like he enjoyed the Holiday season too much. Weight was always an issue. The talent level is too great here for him to let himself get out of shape. Goebel has always been solid. It was the talent level of an in shape Hankins that push him to the bench. Hankins has to return in good condition.
I cannot believe how bad J.B. Shugarts was last night. He was beaten all night consistently. On one series in the third quarter when momentum was definitely turning in Arkansas favor, Pryor escapes and picks up a first down on third and long. Shugarts held so it was called back. The very next play he gets beat again and Pryor has to throw the ball away. That was just one series where his inability to get the job done had an impact on the game. Who knows what impact the inability of Shugarts to block his man had on play calling. Pryor is clearly more comfortable going to his right. With a pass rusher winning that battle more often than not it could have changed the way the game was called. My dream scenario is Norwell moves to left tacklenext year. I don't know how we can make that happen with Shugarts so suspect on the right side. I don't want to hear about his ankle/foot injury. He had 5 weeks to nurse the injury. It is not better yet? He had a motion penalty. I know that is not a surprise.
There was a great deal of talk about whether the "5" should play in this game. Look at their performances. Think we would have won this game without them?
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