Buckeye Recap Game 1 Buffalo

Game One in the books.

Offense 3 Leaves (out of 5)

 The Bucks offense looked pretty much what you expected with Jordan Hall running for 159 and two long touchdowns and Braxton being Braxton. He had one pick returned but otherwise was pretty efficient. 7 different receivers caught passes.



Defense 2 Leaves

The defense needs work. Granted they were missing some guys but they need to improve.


Special Teams 4 Leaves

The return game was decent and they will break one or two before the season is over. The coverage unit was solid but hey, it was Buffalo.


One in the books on the plus side of things. On to the next. Go Bucks!!

 

Buckeye Recap

Tressel Ball played to almost perfection, the Terrelle Pryor we always thought we'd get and the Bucks win 26-17. The Buckeyes controlled the ball for 41:37 of the game and kept the fast paced Ducks off the field. The offensive line came out early and punched the Ducks square in the bill and played one of their best games of the season. The media kept talking about the speed of Oregon but they forgot to mention that Ohio State's offense was faster than the Oregon defense. From the games first drive the Bucks dominated. If they could ever get past the love of the field goal they could really put some points on the board.

Pryor threw for 266 and 2 scores and ran for another 72. Clearly outplayed Masoli, who was billed as a great passer, and will both be back as pre-season Heisman hopefuls next year. The Bucks defense played hard the entire game and effectively shut down Oregon's passing game.

A great finish to a pretty good season winding up 11-2 and probably a top 5 finish nationally.

Next up is Marshall on September 4. I can't wait. Before that with be National Signing Day on February 4. The Spring game in April is always a good time also. Go Bucks!

Game Day

The Rose Bowl is here. Ohio State is 7-0 all time against Oregon but since they haven't played since 1987 that doesn't matter. Ohio State won its 5th straight Big Ten Title but that doesn't matter. Ohio State lost to USC 18-15, who lost to Oregon 47-20 but that doesn't matter. Ray Small is suspended, yet again, and even that doesn't matter. Ohio State beat Michigan again but that doesn't matter. Well it matters but not for this post.

What matters is that Ohio State must come out and win a highly visible game against a decent opponent. Ohio State has lost its last three bowl games to high profile programs in high profile games. Brace yourselves, this gets ugly. The Bucks lost to Florida 41-14 in the title game. Then they lost to LSU 38-24 in the title game the next season. Then last year they lost to Texas 24-21 in the Fiesta Bowl. Throw in the 18-15 loss to USC at home this season, the 35-3 loss to the Trojans in 2008 and you see the pattern. The Vest has slowly become a slightly better version of the The Coop. He beats Michigan but the big national games he is just as bad in.

Today the offense must carry the load. They must remain on the field and score touchdowns to ease the strain the defense will be under. The defense needs to play like it has all year. They must create havoc for the Ducks and force turnovers and demoralize and frustrate Oregon early.

I think the Bucks will squeak this one out 24-21.

Go Bucks!!

Go Bucks!!

Game Day

It is here. The Michigan Game. The all knowing pundits are saying this game has lost its luster. They are wrong. Michigan needs this win to salvage the season. It needs this win to be bowl eligible. It needs this win to get an additional month of practice. For a young, not very good, team that is huge. Their freshman quarterback is saying now that he is staying. And given more reps and a better surrounding cast this kid can become pretty good.

That being said Ohio State needs to reverse that thought and play with desperation themselves. A loss today tarnishes the season for the Bucks. It will not happen. The running game will be a key factor. Everyone seems to be healthy and that is huge. If the running game gets going early Pryor should be able to hit a few big plays to the receivers and put this game away early in the 3rd quarter. Final score Ohio State 35 UM 10.

How am I doing so far? (9-1 so far)

Game 1 Prediction Ohio State 31 Navy 17
Final OSU 31-27
Game 2 Prediction Ohio State 10 USC 35
Final USC 18-15
Game 3 Prediction Ohio State 45 Toledo 17
Final OSU 38-0
Game 4 Prediction Ohio State 35 Illinois 17
Final OSU 30-0
Game 5 Prediction Ohio State 28 Indiana 7
Final OSU 33-14
Game 6 Prediction Ohio State 24 Wisconsin 17
Final OSU 31-13
Game 7 Prediction Ohio State 42 Purdue 7
Final PU 26-18
Game 8 Prediction Ohio State 21 Minnesota 7
Final OSU 38-7
Game 9 Prediction Ohio State 42 New Mexico State 7
Final OSU 45-0
Game 10 Prediction Penn State 24 Ohio State 14
Final OSU 24-7
Game 11 Prediction Ohio State 34 Iowa 7
Final OSU 27-24 in OT

Michigan Week

The week Woody lived for is here. Feel free to post your best UM-OSU stuff. Say what you want but remember they are what makes being a Buckeye great. Trash them, abuse them but always respect them.

Michigan needs this win to become bowl eligible, it will be their Senior Day, and they will have 110,000+ people who hate the Buckeyes screaming. If ever there is a trap game it is this one. The Bucks can not come out as flat as they did against Iowa and expect to walk away with a win.

Buckeye Recap

An old fashioned butt kicking today. That is what Penn State received from the Buckeyes. A 24-7 win, coupled with an Iowa loss puts the Buckeyes back in total control of the Rose Bowl race as well as a Big Ten title and another BCS game. The Bucks held the high powered offense of PSU to 201 total yards. Our O line dominated and Pryor looked great throwing; even if the stats don't reflect it.

Big Play Ray came up huge today. 7 returns for 130 yards including 41 and 45 yarders. Nice to see the kid finally be productive on the field.

Game Ball to the O Line. Without their effort today the Rose Bowl hope would be out the window.

Too soon?

2009 Bowl Projections - Week 6
BOWL (MATCHUP) Mark Schlabach Bruce Feldman
Citi BCS National Championship Game
(BCS No. 1 vs. BCS No. 2) Florida vs. Texas Florida vs. Texas
Tostitos Fiesta
(BCS vs. BCS) Ohio State vs. Miami (FL) Boise State vs. Miami (FL)
Allstate Sugar
(BCS vs. BCS) Alabama vs. Cincinnati Alabama vs. Cincinnati
FedEx Orange
(BCS vs. BCS) Virginia Tech vs. Boise State Virginia Tech vs. TCU
Rose Bowl presented by Citi
(BCS vs. BCS) Oregon vs. Iowa USC vs. Iowa

I ran across these bowl predictions by ESPN's "experts" this morning. Interesting that neither one has Ohio State winning the Big Ten but still making a BCS game vs. Miami. I'd be shocked if they match them up seeing how they play in game two next season in Columbus.

Buckeye Recap

Here goes my rant. My prediction was 35-10 USC. I am glad it wasn't a rout but I almost wish now it was.

One word sums up Ohio State's 18-15 loss to the Trojans. Embarrassing. This was a game that the Buckeyes truly dominated save a drive at the end of each half. This was a game that the Buckeyes defense more than held their own with the vaunted USC offensive unit. And at the end it came down to coaching. And the Bucks came up, once again, woefully short.

The game came down, once again, to Tressel's never failing conservatism. And it is starting to get really annoying. When the game-winning drive started OSU had USC pinned deep, 2nd and 19 at their own 5. Ohio State made a decision to quit playing the aggressive style that had been working and go to a soft defense, dropping the linebackers and playing off of the receivers. This was the same mistake they made at the end of the first half which allowed the Trojans to drive 80 yards for a tying field goal. That first half drive was set up by a ridiculous 3 play 7 yard drive that consumed a whopping 54 seconds off the clock. After USC scored to go up 18-15 Ohio State saw a defense that blitzed and confused Pryor. What a concept.

The offensive line at times looked good but other times looked very inept. Boom Herron is not the answer at running back. He was slow to hit the open hole and never really put any fear in the defense. Saine was a non factor. I really would have liked to see Pryor run more. A quarterback sneak would be a great play but I sometimes think OSU believes their line can't get them a yard. They really need to work overtime on Pryor's throwing mechanics. He threw off balance and off the wrong foot several times.


Grade Card:
Offense D
Defense B
Special Teams A
Pre-Game Preparation B
In Game Coaching D-

As the game came down to crunch time my feeling could be described by one word. A word that millions of Buckeye fans know all too well. BOHICA; Bend over here it comes again. We all knew what was going to happen and it did. Later this week I'll post my top-ten list of BOHICA moments as a Buckeye Football fan.

I listened to his post game news conference and was disappointed. Disappointed that no reporter asked about the inexcusable three and out on OSU's last possession of the first half. USC had no time outs and he let them off the hook. I was dissapointed that Tressel didn't step up and say he blew it.

So after that I have decided that Saint Tressel is officially now being down graded to the same status as St. Nicholas, St. Christopher, and St. George. He has to start winning the big games right now. He must beat Penn State in Happy Valley this year. He must beat Michigan in Ann Arbor this year. He must win the Bowl Game after this season. There might be a BCS game after this season and if there is he must win it. The Miami Hurricanes are a home and home series starting next season. And in 2012 there are back-to-back home games against Cincinnati and Cal. I'm really not looking forward to any of those games.

Buckeye-Trojan Minutia
• USC leads the all-time series, 13-9-1 and has won the last seven. Ohio State's last win in the series was in the Rose Bowl following the 1973 season.

• Seven games in the all-time series have been decided by a touchdown or less.

• The home team has won 9 of 16 regular-season matchups.

• Ohio State is 44-18-2 against the Pac-10 Conference.

• Ohio State and USC played in front of 106,000-plus for the third time in the series history - the other two were Jan. 1, 1972 and Jan. 1, 1974, both in the Rose Bowl. It is the seventh time they have played in front of 100,000-plus.

Next week sees Ohio State going on the road to Cleveland where they will play a decent Toledo team. If they don't regroup and/or overlook this team they will get beat. I hope they pull it together. Go Bucks!!

Number 59 Watch

Had a pretty good night. Had a real good look at him running on the field as the Bucks took the field. During the pregame show he got about 15 seconds of air time during a blocking drill. He had a quick shot on camera during the game and then a real nice shot at the end when they were singing Carmen Ohio as a team.

Think Good Thoughts Tonight

It's Like Christmas Morning for the Buckeyes

Wake Up, wake up!! It's here!! The morning recruits can officially commit to play at The Ohio State University. We will keep the updates coming as the names are released. This is Sam Longo from Bellbrook Ohio. The class of 09 looks like this:




PLAYER POS HT WT HOMETOWN/HIGH SCHOOL

C.J. Barnett DB 6-1 180 Clayton, Ohio (Northmont)

Dorian Bell LB 6-2 220 Monroeville, Pa. (Gateway)

Adam Bellamy DL 6-4 275 Aurora, Ohio

Jaamal Berry RB 5-10 185 Miami, Fla. (Palmetto)

Zach Boren LB 6-1 245 Pickerington Central

Corey Brown ATH 6-1 190 Monroeville, Pa. (Gateway)

Duron Carter WR 6-3 185 Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Aquinas)

Dominic Clarke DB 5-10 170 Frederick, Md. (Tuscarora)

Melvin Fellows DT 6-5 255 Garfield Heights, Ohio

Chris Fields WR 6-1 180 Painesville, Ohio (Harvey)

Reid Fragel TE 6-8 258 Grosse Pointe, Mich. (South)

Kenny Guiton QB 6-2 182 Aldine, Texas (Eisenhower)

Jordan Hall RB 5-11 190 Jeannette, Pa.

Marcus Hall OL 6-6 300 Cleveland (Glenville)

Adam Homan LB 6-2 230 Coldwater, Ohio

Carlos Hyde RB 6-1 235 Naples, Fla.

James Jackson WR 6-0 175 Grand Ledge, Mich.

Storm Klein LB 6-2 225 Newark, Ohio (Licking Valley)

Corey Linsley OL 6-4 285 Boardman, Ohio

Sam Longo OL 6-5 270 Bellbrook, Ohio

Jack Mewhort OL 6-6 285 Toledo (St. John's)

Jonathan Newsome LB 6-3 230 Cleveland (Glenville)

John Simon DT 6-3 265 Youngstown (Mooney)

Jordan Whiting LB 6-1 230 Louisville, Ky. (Trinity)

Jamie Wood ATH 6-2 185 Pickerington Central

I wanna puke

Well, looks we have the early favorite for the 2009 Season National Champions. Notre Dame. The Golden Domers blasted Hawai'i 49-21 on Christmas Eve to snap their 9 game Bowl losing streak, which is a NCAA record.

Quarterback Jimmy Clausen completed 22 of 26 passes for 401 yards and five touchdowns, which are both ND Bowl records. This also means he will be the early Heisman favorite, despite whatever Bradford, Tebow, or McCoy do.

Even money says Notre Dame will be rated in the Top Ten when the 2009 preseason polls come out.