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Storm Klein and Christian Bryant Added to Depth Chart

Steve Patterson — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 19:34:11 GMT

Storm Klein and Christian Bryant Added to Depth Chart

For the upcoming Miami (FL) matchup on Saturday, the Ohio State University has released their depth chart along with a media game for the game. The only changes for the game include the addition of Storm Klein as an alternative second string middle linebacker and Christian Bryant as an alternative second string star.

Brian Rolle is the Defensive Player of the Week

Steve Patterson — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:10:26 GMT

Brian Rolle is the Defensive Player of the Week

Ohio State has announced the players of the week after preparation and a win against Marshall on Thursday night. Senior linebacker Brian Rolle was named the defensive Player of the Week. The defensive did not allow Marshall to score while Rolle had 4 tackles and an interception returned for a touchdown at the end of the second quarter.

Ohio State Begins to Worry About Miami after Defeating Marshall Soundly

Steve Patterson — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:48:02 GMT

Ohio State Begins to Worry About Miami after Defeating Marshall Soundly

Ohio State played Marshall on Thursday night to kick off their 2010 season and won convincingly (45-7) after allowing the Thundering Herd to only score on a blocked kick. The Buckeyes now start to prepare for the Miami Hurricanes who also played Thursday night. There was some concern that the Buckeyes might be looking past Marshall but the Conference USA team did present an equal match with OSU playing backup lines early and often during the primetime game. Miami beat Florida A&M 45 to nothing and will come to Columbus in 8 days ranked highly against a #2 nationally ranked Buckeye squad. Miami is currently ranked #13 but should move up slightly in the next AP poll.

Nike Displays New Michigan Game Jerseys for 2010

Steve Patterson — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 19:16:08 GMT

Nike Displays New Michigan Game Jerseys for 2010

A couple days after the BrutusReport.com switched to their new 2010 logo, Nike has released the design of the retro jersey Ohio State will were when they defeat the Maize and Blue/”That Team Up North” November 27th this fall. The jersey is designed around the uniforms the 1942 Buckeye team wore. The 1942 Ohio State team won the national title.

Ohio State Depth Chart Released for Marshall

Steve Patterson — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 03:49:42 GMT

Ohio State Depth Chart Released for Marshall

The depth chart was released today by Ohio State with a press release for the upcoming match-up with Marshall. Some of the surprises on the depth chart come in the way of freshman and red-shirt freshman making the two deep. Including Ohio State Roster members like Johnathan Hankins, Adam Bellamy, CJ Barnett, cornerback Corey Brown, wide receiver Corey Brown, and Andrew Norwell.

Ohio State Schedules Colorado for 2011

Steve Patterson — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 03:47:07 GMT

Ohio State Schedules Colorado for 2011

The Buckeyes had an opening in their 2011 football schedule and were able to secure the Oregon Buffaloes to play for a fee of $1.4 million. In a single game contract with the newest member of the Pac-10, Gene Smith feels the university was able to work out a good deal. Rumors were that CU wanted closer to $2 million for the pre-season game. According to the Dispatch.com, normal single game contracts range between $400,000 and $700,000.

Rob Harley Previews The 2010 Ohio State Buckeyes

Steve Patterson — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 00:51:26 GMT

Rob Harley Previews The 2010 Ohio State Buckeyes

Buckeye alumni and Football Fever College Football Analyst Rob Harley tells us about his latest endeavor coaching in addition to the national status of Buckeye football and a preview of what 2010 has to offer the Ohio State team. Rob was a part of the 2002 National Championship team in addition to doing sideline commentary with the Big Ten Network in 2007.

Jon Thoma – Specialists Are Solid

Steve Patterson — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 15:20:37 GMT

Jon Thoma – Specialists Are Solid

We had a chance to catch-up with Ohio State alumni punter Jon Thoma this week. He covers the kickers and the punters, one special long snapper, his NFL experience, and what fans can expect from the Buckeyes this year in this exclusive interview.

Mike Adams Ready to Compete at the Left Tackle Position

Steve Patterson — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 15:31:31 GMT

Mike Adams Ready to Compete at the Left Tackle Position

An upperclassman star or a recruiting bust? Mike Adams came to Ohio State as the next Orlando Pace, but maybe there will never be a next Orlando Pace. The other two members of the highly regarded 2008 offensive line recruiting class, Michael Brewster and JB Shugarts, have already won their starting roles on the line. But Adams has struggled to find his place at the left tackle slot were both Jim Cordle and Andrew Miller played last season.

OSU Media Day 2010

Steve Patterson — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 02:30:25 GMT

OSU Media Day 2010

Buckeye’s Sunday Practice at Ohio State

Steve Patterson — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 01:36:31 GMT

Buckeye’s Sunday Practice at Ohio State

News is coming out of the first Ohio State practice with the media allowed to watch today. A couple of players are still not active with the team. Rod Smith, the highly recruited running back out of Fort Wayne Harding, has not arrived on campus yet. And Nic DiLillo is clearly not going to be a part of the team this fall after being left off the roster and now not participating in early camp. But the rest of the team news is good as everyone is participating and fully recovered from spring injures.

Ohio State Buckeyes Start Fall Camp

Steve Patterson — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 20:45:02 GMT

Ohio State Buckeyes Start Fall Camp

Ohio State football players reported to fall camp today with their annual check-in at the University Inn near campus. After checking into the hotel the players began attending meetings across the street at the Woody Hayes Facility were they will practice for the next four weeks prior to the their game against Marshall on September 2nd. A couple of players were not with the team today.

Terrelle Pryor is The Preseason Player of the Year

Steve Patterson — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 16:24:04 GMT

Terrelle Pryor is The Preseason Player of the Year

Terrelle Pryor was named the preseason Offensive Player of the Year by the media at the start of the Big 10 conference this week in Chicago. Plus Ohio State was picked to win the conference when they begin play September 2nd against Marshall. While Michigan State’s Greg Jones was picked to be the preseason Defensive Player of the Year. These are the same selections the media made last year. Iowa and Wisconsin were picked to place 2nd and 3rd in the conference.

Jack Tatum Dies From a Heart Attack

Steve Patterson — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:11:54 GMT

Jack Tatum Dies From a Heart Attack

Former Ohio State Buckeye and Oakland Raider Jack Tatum died this week from a heart attack in Oakland California at the age of 61. Tatum was a star defensive back/safety for the Buckeyes from 1968 to 1970. Known as “the Assassin”, Tatum played a hard hitting style of football that would not be allowed under modern football rules.

Film: Jack Tatum No 6 Most Feared Tackler Dies

Ohio State Playoffs in Columbus 2014 and 2015

Steve Patterson — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 19:45:36 GMT

Ohio State Playoffs in Columbus 2014 and 2015

Stark County and Columbus High Schools were awarded the right to host two state football championships each starting in 2012. The Board of Directors for the Ohio High School Athletic Association cast their vote during a conference call today. The special meeting and vote was called after a recommendation was handed down by the eleven members of the football finals subcommittee.

Ohio State Football 2010 Preview

Steve Patterson — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:02:13 GMT

Ohio State Football 2010 Preview

As the 2010 Ohio State Football season quickly approaches we take a look at the 2009 season, the teams strengths going into the new year, their weaknesses, the offense, the defense, and special teams.

Seantrel Henderson Leaves USC Visits Miami

Steve Patterson — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 17:39:12 GMT

Seantrel Henderson Leaves USC Visits Miami

The news surrounded Seantrel Henderson this week has been around his decision to not enroll at USC, being released from his National Letter of Intent by USC, and spending the Fourth of July weekend in Miami visiting the Hurricanes. He will be able to play this coming year with the team that he selects now that his recruitment is wide open once again. Ohio State, at the top of his list in February, appears to have fallen off the list as no mention of the Buckeyes has come out the new search.

Ron Tanner Joins the Buckeyes 2011 Recruiting Class

Steve Patterson — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 03:56:43 GMT

Ron Tanner Joins the Buckeyes 2011 Recruiting Class

Local In-State recruit Ron Tanner joined Ohio State’s quickly expanding 2011 recruiting class earlier this week increasing the number of recruits to 17. The 6’1” 190 lbs safety prospect from Eastmoor in Columbus is rated the 46th best safety in the country and the 38th best prospect in Ohio for 2011, according to Rivals.com. He selected Ohio State over Arizona, Boston College, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, NC State and many others. A long time Buckeye fan, selecting any other school would not have gone over well with his family.

Eastmoor Saftey Ron Tanner Commits to the Buckeyes

Buckeyes Duron Carter and Keith Wells Transfer

Steve Patterson — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 17:50:05 GMT

Buckeyes Duron Carter and Keith Wells Transfer

News out yesterday and today shows how keeping your grades in order, having a college life, and playing Division 1 football isn’t cut out for everyone. Ohio State receiver Duron Carter transferred to Coffeyville Community College after becoming ineligible for the Rose Bowl last year, missing Spring Camp this year, and not being ready academically for the fall. He will not be able to return to OSU until the Winter. Defensive End Keith Wells has also left the program for unknown reasons, with the Columbus Dispatch speculating it is also for academic concerns.

Devin Smith from Massilon Commits to Ohio State for 2011

Steve Patterson — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 21:59:02 GMT

Devin Smith from Massilon Commits to Ohio State for 2011

The 15th commit of Ohio State’s 2011 recruiting class came with wide receiver Devin Smith from Massilon Washington. The 6’2” 175 lbs prospect is rated the 44th best receiver in the country by Rivals.com. He received a scholarship offer from the Buckeyes after he performed well at their senior camp this past weekend. As a junior last year he scored 15 times and had 989 yards receiving. It was his dream to play for Ohio State, growing up in Ohio and being a fan all his life.

Joel Hale Becomes the Newest 2011 OSU Buckeye

Steve Patterson — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 19:52:23 GMT

Joel Hale Becomes the Newest 2011 OSU Buckeye

The defensive tackle from Greenwood Indiana, Joel Hale, became the newest member of Ohio State’s 2011 class on June 7th when he committed to Head Coach Jim Tressel. The 6’4” 290 lbs tackle is considered a 3 star recruit by Rivals.com and the 34th best defensive tackle in the country. Recruited by Dick Tressel, Hale adds to a defensive line class that compares well to 2009 when they brought in Adam Bellamy, Melvin Fellows, Jonathan Newsome and John Simon.

Nebraska Now in the Big 10 + 2 Conference, Title Game Added

Steve Patterson — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 19:22:44 GMT

Nebraska Now in the Big 10 + 2 Conference, Title Game Added

The aggressiveness of the Pac 10 in adding Colorado this past week enticed the Big 10 to speed up their expansion plans and they quickly offered and accepted Nebraska as the newest member of the Big 10 (+2). The Big 10 had been busy planning expansion already which made the other large conferences in the country a little worried. The addition of the Big 10 television network over the past couple of years has allowed the conference to entice new members with larger paychecks then conferences with bad television deals can do, see the Big 12 and the Big East.

Buckeye's Tyler Moeller Seeks to Buck the odds After Severe Injury

Steve Patterson — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 21:05:34 GMT

Ohio State University football player Tyler Moeller

Prior to being attacked in a Florida bar last summer, which left him with a fractured skull and severe brain injury, Ohio State University football player Tyler Moeller was considered to be one of the most versatile “defenders” on the team as a Safety/Linebacker. Although he has now returned to the Buckeyes and hopes to be “full-go” for the fall, only time will tell if will be able to achieve his former form.

Braxton Miller Huber Heights Wayne

Steve Patterson — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 23:36:27 GMT

Braxton Miller Huber Heights Wayne

Quarterback Braxton Miller ended the speculation today about the next step in his football career after committing to play for Ohio State surrounded by a crowd of people consisting of family members, coaches, teammates and media members. Ranked number one in the country for his position, Miller settled on becoming a Buckeye after choosing from a short list that included the Florida Gators and OSU. The young phenom also considered offers from Alabama, Georgia, Notre Dame, USC and a host of other top schools in the nation.

Michael Bennett Centerville Highlights Are Many And Are Impressive.

Steve Patterson — Sat, 22 May 2010 18:30:43 GMT

Michael Bennett Centerville Highlights Are Many And Are Impressive.

When big number 63 from Centerville Ohio committed to Ohio State University this week he left 34 other coaches and recruiters looking for another premed scholar that can run a 4.9 40 and can hit your tight end in the flat like a cross town bus from downtown Dayton. On May 17th Michael Bennett became the 15th player from this Western Ohio high school to secure a place on the OSU roster. The Centerville High School Elks football team has a long and strong tradition of creating first class football players that often go on to the NFL; and it seems Michael is going to be the latest link in the chain of that long tradition.

Michael Bennett 2011 Offensive/Defensive Lineman Highlights

High expectations? No Problem for the Buckeyes

Steve Patterson — Tue, 18 May 2010 00:51:07 GMT

High expectations? No Problem for the Buckeyes

The Ohio State Buckeyes began spring practices for the 2010 season, in which they have been heavily hyped, on April 1st, and have had many spring games since. The first scrimmage was held on April 17 and the first official Ohio State football spring game 2010 was held in Ohio Stadium on April 21st. While there are certainly many young backups who will hope to attract the attention of the coaches during these games, the Buckeyes will also have many positional issues to work out. During these spring games there will be a few positions of particular interests to the coaches for this up and coming year: QB, RB and WR.

Ohio State Football Schedule 2010

Steve Patterson — Sat, 15 May 2010 02:50:59 GMT

Ohio State's 2010 Football Schedule

After a thrilling 2009 season that saw the OSU Buckeyes win a thrilling Rose Bowl victory over the Oregon Ducks, OSU's football team takes back to the gridiron come fall with the goal of a National Championship. Like always, the Ohio State Football schedule 2010 first game is against Ohio college opponent and the last game is against archrival Michigan.

Cornerback Dondi ‘Tweak’ Kirby Jr. from Monroeville Gateway

Steve Patterson — Sat, 01 May 2010 19:21:23 GMT

Cornerback Dondi ‘Tweak’ Kirby Jr. from Monroeville Gateway

Dondi Kirby is a 6’3” cornerback from Pennsylvania powerhouse Monroeville Gateway. He currently holds 12 offers from some of the top schools in the country including Ohio State, Iowa, Maryland, NC State, Pittsburgh, and West Virginia. With size and 4.5 speed, teams are excited about the tall cover corner with run stopping ability.

North South Ohio Classic 2010

Steve Patterson — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 21:00:09 GMT

North South Ohio Classic 2010

For the first time in the history of the Ohio North-South Classic, the game will be played on a Friday night. The kickoff is tonight at 7 pm in Ohio Stadium and starts a great weekend of Spring football at the Ohio State campus which ends with the Buckeye Spring Game tomorrow at 1pm. Five Ohio State 2010 recruits will be playing in the game including Darryl Baldwin, Christian Bryant, JT Moore, Tyrone Williams, and Verlon Reed.

Ohio State 2010 Spring Football Draft

Steve Patterson — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 02:07:29 GMT

Ohio State 2010 Spring Football Draft

At the Woody Hayes Facility today the Buckeye seniors selected their teams for the annual Ohio State Spring Game, the Scarlet and Gray Game. The seniors were assigned by the coaching staff prior to the draft with the teams alternating picks by position thereafter. The Scarlet team began the draft and selected Terrelle Pryor with the first pick. Positions that followed quarterback included center, defensive tackle, and safety. The Spring Game is this coming Saturday at 1:30 in Ohio Stadium.

Terrelle Pryor is Happy With His Spring Football Progress

Steve Patterson — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 18:21:30 GMT

Terrelle Pryor is Happy With His Spring Football Progress

The starting quarterback for Ohio State is happy with the progress he has made this spring, feels more comfortable in his role for the Buckeyes, and says that he can lead the team, one game at a time, avoiding any obstacles that are in their schedule this season.

Film: Terrelle Pryor Talks Ohio State Spring Football

Ohio State 2010 Spring Game Football Depth Chart - Defense

Steve Patterson — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 16:45:34 GMT

Ohio State 2010 Spring Game Football Depth Chart - Defense

The Ohio State 2010 Spring Game Football Depth Chart presents some changes on the defensive side of the ball with several key players moving on to the NFL after last season. Nathan Williams assumes the defensive end position occupied by Thaddeus Gibson last year. John Simon is the 1st string defensive tackle after Doug Worthington graduated. Etienne Sabino takes the place of Austin Spitler. The cornerback positions stay the same with Jermale Hines and Orhian Johnson earning the starting safety positions after the departure of Kurt Coleman and Anderson Russell. A lot of new faces on the defensive side of the ball this year for the Buckeyes. Safety/Linebacker Tyler Moeller has returned to the two deep and will hopefully be full-go when fall camp arrives.

Ohio State 2010 Spring Game Football Depth Chart - Offense

Steve Patterson — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 15:05:50 GMT

Ohio State 2010 Spring Game Football Depth Chart - Offense

The latest Ohio State Football Depth Chart is available from the university with the entire roster laid out and not just the top two teams. Some notes from the offensive side of the ball include Joe Bauserman being the second string quarterback despite rumors that Kenny Guiton had passed him by in practice last fall. Jermil Martin remains with the tailbacks at this time although there are seven tailbacks on the depth chart and Roderick Smith coming in over the summer. Spencer Smith is now listed with the tight ends. Duron Carter is listed with the wide receivers although his academic issues were suspected to keep him out of the line-up until the fall. And Mike Adams is the #1 left tackle over Andrew Miller.

Ohio State’s 2011 Recruiting Class Grows

Steve Patterson — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 21:20:04 GMT

Ohio State’s 2011 Recruiting Class Grows

Ohio State’s 2011 Recruiting Class started slowly with two very good defensive line prospects and then exploded with five new recruits committing to be Buckeyes in the middle of March. Now the OSU coaching staff has secured their eighth commitment from Firestone’s Tommy Brown. At eScoutRoom.com, all the recruiting action is covered.

OSU Spring Football: What to Expect

Steve Patterson — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 17:10:14 GMT

OSU Spring Football: What to Expect

OSU Spring practice is upon us, guaranteeing a jam-packed 15 days of memorable game play. Fans can expect to check out a new team, especially with some fresh players who are ready to get into the game. The spring practice is the perfect time to start to fine tune who the leaders on the field will be, especially those newer recruits who need to step up and prove their worth.

By Mark Ramos

Two of the biggest names to look out for in the OSU spring practice are Chris Fields and James Jackson, who are from the recruiting class of 2009. Unfortunately, senior Tyler Moeller will be easing into the game in his return from his head injury this past July. By the time he starts his contact drills in fall camp, it will be clear whether or not he is ready to play for the upcoming football season.

The OSU spring practice will mainly focus on catching and running strong routes, as the coaches watch for improvement over the next few weeks. This is the opportunity for the newer players to step up and get noticed, as well as the veteran players to hold their role in the team. Who will come out on top?

Mark Ramos is a coffee fanatic that has spent the entirety of his career cultivating and studying all of the best uses and brewing styles for optimal coffee and espresso flavor. His specialty site for all coffee needs, supplies, and the Bodum French Press can be found at The Coffee Bump.

Crazy with March Madness? How’s Your Bracket?

Steve Patterson — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 14:44:45 GMT

Crazy with March Madness? How’s Your Bracket?

I look forward to March Madness every year, and drink in the games and study the stats afterward. If you are like me, you had your March Madness bracket filled out as soon as the teams were finalized. My bracket is always the subject of much frustration, though. Of the millions of Americans who fill out their own picks, no one to this point has gotten a perfect bracket. (That’s not surprising, considering the odds are one in 9,223,372,036,854,775,808).

By AJ Wilcox

I always go through the same process of weighing my own favorite team against what will likely actually happen. Then I go through and pick 5 upsets (just my process, and I know that some predict as high as 10). Finally, I watch the games on my Dish TV package and track the stats as much as I can – sick days anyone? – and finally watch my bracket fail completely in the 2^nd round. Sound familiar?

I hope that someone fares far better than me this year. At the time of writing, it looks like a 17 year old has a perfect bracket all the way through the second round. All I know is that I feel like I am constantly losing with my bracket, but for some reason I still can’t get enough.

My brother throws the best game day parties. We all pitch in a few bucks and eat, cheer, and the best bracket gets a prize. I can tell you that it’s a blast for everyone involved. So invite your friends over, order pizzas and drinks, and watch your favorite team. Compare brackets and pool together a prize for the best bracket. There is never a better time to get excited than the present.

If you have Dish network, you can catch all the action on the CBS Sports Channel if you have the “America’s Top 200” package.

Evan Turner - First Team All American

Steve Patterson — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 02:10:45 GMT

Evan Turner - First Team All American

Evan Turner of the Ohio State University has been named the first All-American of the team and was a key player in leading the team to their Big Ten title. Turner plays as the small forward, shooting guard, and point guard for the team, and he was named the first team All-American and the National Player of the Year in 2010.

By Mark Ramos

Most recently, he was one of the five out of the Big Ten players who was in the top 10 in assists, rebounds, and points scored within the same season. Even better, he was named on the watch list of nominees for the 2010 Wooden Award, as well as on the watch list for the Naismith College Player of the Year award.

In short, it is easy to expect the best from Turner, who is a 6’7” point guard with an excellent record. Many experts anticipate that he will rank as high as number two in the NBA draft for the summer, and he has successfully led his team in high point scores, assists, and rebounds. From the field, he has been reported to shoot at 53.8%, and he is also recovered successfully from his hiatus to the game after breaking six bones in his back.

2 Ohio State defeats 10 Georgia Tech 75-66 in the NCAA 2nd Round

Steve Patterson — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 02:58:14 GMT

2 Ohio State defeats 10 Georgia Tech 75-66 in the NCAA 2nd Round

Sunday in Milwaukee Wisconsin in the 2nd round of the Mid-West NCAA Region Ohio State defeated the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 75-66 with a great second half shooting effort and a defensive strategy that limited Georgia Techs big front court. Ohio State now moves on to the Sweet 16 and is matched up against the 27-8 Tennessee Volunteers.

By Steve Patterson

Going into the match-up, Ohio State feared the play of the big front court from GT. Gani Lawal and Derrick Favors had proved that they could dominate the boards and make enough points to upset any team this season. The Buckeyes came out in a 1-3-1 zone on defense to not allow the ball to be moved into the low post. This limited the touches for the big men, who only scored 21 points with 8 rebounds combined. And Ohio State didn't have to double-team when playing the zone which allowed them break-away points at the other end of the court.

On the offensive side of the ball, OSU penetrated the gaps in the GT defense to put pressure on the big guys down low. The GT players had foul trouble in the first half that continued during of the game. Ohio State led by 2 points at half-time and they shot 65% in the second half, opening up a decent lead that Georgia Tech could not overcome. Jon Diebler played well for a second straight tournament game, finishing with 4 shots from behind the arc and 20 points total.

Georgia Tech
Gani Lawal 11 points, 4 rebounds
Derrick Favors 10 points, 4 rebounds
Glen Rice Jr 10 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists

Ohio State
Evan Turner, 24 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists
Jon Diebler 20 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists
David Lighty 18 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists

Sweet 16

The Mid-West Sweet 16 currently features both Ohio State and the Michigan State Spartans which makes the outcome of this weeks first games intriguing. The Elite 8 could feature another matchup of the two Big Ten schools. The Spartans need to defeat Northern Iowa to take the next step in the Big Dance. In related news, Evan Turner was named today as a finalist for the Player of the Year award.

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Ohio State Wins the Big Ten Tournament and Enters the NCAA as a Two Seed

Steve Patterson — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:01:58 GMT

Ohio State Wins the Big Ten Tournament and Enters the NCAA as a Two Seed

Ohio State had no problem in the 2nd half of the Big Ten Championship game against Minnesota on Sunday after struggling with Michigan and Illinois. Yet the Buckeyes completed the tournament on top securing their second goal of the year which includes winning the Big Ten, wining the Big Ten Tournament, and winning the National Title. They begin work on their final goal this Friday in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

By Steve Patterson

Minnesota and Tubby Smith had a chance to secure a spot in the NCAA by winning the Big Ten title but fell short. Luckily for them the selection committee felt they deserved entrance in the field of 65 and awarded them an 11 seed Sunday night. Illinois, also a Big Ten bubble team, was as fortunate and was left out of the Big Dance.

Minnesota played competitively against Ohio State Sunday remaining within 3 points throughout the first half. But David Lighty caught fire and had a great 2nd half, driving the lane, playing defense and getting rebounds. He finished the game with 20 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Leading OSU was Evan Turner who scored 31 points, had 11 rebounds, and 6 assists. Jon Diebler was also instrumental scoring 19 points. The Buckeyes made the game ugly for Minnesota with a final score of 90-61.

Final Stats for the Game:

Lawrence Westbrook 17 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists
Devoe Joseph 14 points
Damian Johnson 7 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists

Evan Turner 31 points*, 11 rebounds, 6 assists
David Lighty 20 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists
Jon Diebler 19 points

* Championship Game Record

NCAA Tournament

Five Big Ten teams were selected after the tournament completion to enter the NCAA tournament. Minnesota received an at-large 11 seed, Ohio State is a 2 seed, Purdue and Wisconsin are 4 seeds, and Michigan State is a 5 seed. Ohio State will face UC Santa Barbara in the first round on Friday in Milwaukee. The Gauchos have a 20-9 record out of the Big West. They play strong defense and shoot well from behind the arc. If Ohio State can defend the long range shots and rebound most of the misses, they should prevail.

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2011 Georgia DE Ray Drew – Has A Deadly Pass Rush

Steve Patterson — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 22:23:20 GMT

2011 Georgia DE Ray Drew – Has A Deadly Pass Rush

Ray Drew is one of the top 250 2011 prospects in the country on the Rivals early watch list. He is a 6’5” 245 lbs defensive end from Thomas County Central in Thomasville, Georgia with almost a 7 foot wingspan. He told us about his college options and why he is able to dominate offensive lineman at the high school level.

By Steve Patterson

We asked Georgia prospect Ray Drew about his ability on the high school level to achieve so much from the defensive end position. “I am a very humble individual with a mean streak on the field.” he explained. “With a 6'10 wingspan my pass rush is very deadly. [I am] great with my hands, great speed, and jump off the ball. I don't get in trouble, and every time I hit the field I go on with a mindset that I am the best. I’m going to show the person in front of, the quarterback the and running back that I mean business.”

In his first game starting for Thomas County Central he was disruptive in the pass rush. “My Sophomore year (first game starting) at Thomasville High, I ended the game with a possible game winning sack. The quarterback dropped in the pocket with less than 10 seconds on the clock and I sacked him as time ran out.”

As a junior he continued to rack up great statistics including 16 tackles for loss and 7 sacks. ”72 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 28 quarterback pressures, 7 sacks, and 3 forced fumbles.” he reported to us as his stats for his junior season.

As an early candidate to be in the Top 250 nationally for 2011, he has already been contacted by many of the major programs in the country. Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and USC have made scholarship offers, just to name a few. And Drew has begun visiting some of these schools. “I've been to UGA, UF, FSU, Alabama, Rutgers, and Georgia Tech. All of the visits were very enjoyable.”

He takes his recruitment very seriously and wants more than a good football program. “When I go to a college I try to look at it from a non-prospect point of view and all of the schools seem to have a lot to offer.” he told us. “The schools academic success, tradition, major availability (communications), fan support, and playing time [are important to me].” he explained when we asked him what he is looking for in a college.

The complete list of scholarship offers is nearly too long to list. “All SEC teams, the majority of the ACC, and many different schools all over the country. As of right now, I hold 23 offers.” he reports. And if one of the SEC schools thinks they have him locked up, Drew is still keeping his options open. “I don’t have any favorites at this time.” he told us.

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Ohio State Men’s Basketball Win a Share of the Big Ten Title

Steve Patterson — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:30:25 GMT

Ohio State Men’s Basketball Win a Share of the Big Ten Title

Ohio State defeated Illinois last night to win a share of the Big Ten title this year in addition to getting the number one seed in the upcoming Big Ten Tournament. Evan Turner and Jon Diebler led the way for the Buckeyes as foul trouble limited Demetri McCamey and Mike Tisdale for the Fighting Illini.

By Steve Patterson

Ohio State entered Tuesday nights Columbus game ranked 6th in the country in the AP poll and looking to secure a share of the Big Ten Title. It was senior night for the Buckeyes who will lose PJ Hill, Kyle Madsen, Danny Peters, Jeremie Simmons, and Mark Titus when the season ends. They defeated the Illini 73-57 in a tight match and will begin the 2010 Big Ten Tournament March 11th as the #1 seed.

Illinois guard Demetri McCamey grew up playing against Ohio State’s Evan Turner and they greeted each other pre-game as they often do. This could be the last game the 2 play against each other on the college level as Turner is likely to enter the NBA this spring. Illinois went up by 6 points early, half way through the first period. But a 15-2 run by Ohio State sparked by McCamey’s foul trouble, resulted in a Buckeye 4 point lead at half-time.

Jon Diebler was hot from behind the ark all game long with 7 triples total on 50% shooting from distance. Turner had good night as usual leading OSU in rebounds and putting up 16 points. The game continued to be tight half way through the 2nd half with OSU leading by 3 to 5. Illinois center Mike Tisdale fouled out with 7 minutes to go which gave the Buckeyes breathing room. And Ohio State pulled away to win 73-57.

Turner 16 points, 12 rebs and 5 assists
Diebler 21 points, 50% from 3 Point land
Buford 17 points, 7 rebs, 6 assists, and 4 steals

McCamey 18 points, 4 rebs, 7 assists
Paul 11 points, 2 rebs, 2 assists
Tisdale 10 points, 3 rebs, 3 assists

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2011 Strong Safety Prospect Wayne Lyons

Steve Patterson — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 04:09:03 GMT

2011 Strong Safety Prospect Wayne Lyons

Wayne Lyons from Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale current has 32 offers from some of the best programs in the country. An early 250 Rivals to Watch for 2011 member, the 6’0” 190lbs defensive back makes plays all over the field and finishes tackles well. He doesn’t have a favorite college program at this time but has almost a year to make his selection.

Dillard Strong Safety Wayne Lyons Junior Highlights

Wayne Lyons 2011 Strong Safety Hits Hard

By Steve Patterson

We asked Lyons recently about his play on the field from Dillard High School. “My best attributes are my ability to fly to the ball and make big hits on the field.” he told us. A little surprising, he enjoyed his first night at Dillard the most. “I have to say the highlight of my career was my first high school game when we played Booker T. Washington and I started that game and played pretty good under the bright lights.”

His statistics the last two seasons have been phenomenal. “Last year I had 75 tackles, 21 for loss, 6 forced fumbles, and a defensive touchdown.” he reported when we asked. And his highlight films from Diamond in the Rough are quite outstanding. Although Lyons will not qualify as a diamond in the rough when fans turn their attention to 2011 recruiting.

He has made a number of visits already. “I have visited Stanford, Notre dame, Florida, Michigan and FSU. And i will visit more in the future.” He seemed to like all five programs that he visited. “All of those places were great.” he explained.

“I look for a program that has a good winning record and also has a good academic background in engineering.” He told us about what he values in a college and a college football program. But one factor might set some schools apart, “I am also looking into early playing time.” he said. “There are many schools that have shown interest because I now have 32 offers from big named BCS schools.”

An early favorite for one of the sure to be most recruited players of 2010? “I don’t have any favorites yet."

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Ohio State Buckeyes at The NFL Combine

Steve Patterson — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 20:56:33 GMT

Ohio State Buckeyes at The NFL Combine

The NFL Combine runs from February 24, 2010 to March 2nd in Indianapolis and four OSU Buckeyes have been invited to attend. Senior Safety Kurt Coleman, Junior Defensive End Thaddeus Gibson, Senior Kicker Aaron Pettrey, and Senior Defensive Tackle Doug Worthington. 18 graduating Buckeyes have been preparing for the OSU Pro Day in addition to the NFL Combine since their season ended with a Rose Bowl victory on January 1st.

By Steve Patterson

When NFL scouts attend the NFL Combine or travel to Columbus for Ohio State’s Pro Day, they are looking to measure many things in the athletes available, including speed, strength, agility, reasoning and character. The tests aren’t necessarily testing abilities needed to play well on the football field. For many it’s like returning to high school track practice where speed and reaction time are most important. But it’s a good chance to prove what they have learned and trained for while at the university overall.

The intense workouts the football players endure to prepare for the pro events become a full-time job leading up to the days. The staff continues to work with the players and fine tune their abilities to test well in all necessary aspects. Eric Litcher, Ohio State’s training and conditioning coach, puts in the most effort working individually with each football player who is leaving.

Thaddeus Gibson is one of the standouts that is expected to be drafted in the first round. He is leaving the program a year early but should be rewarded if the 6’3” 240 lbs defensive end is selected as high as anticipated. Unlike some in the past that left Columbus for workout facilities, Gibson stayed in town and has been training at the Woody Hayes facility. He has looked at the Wunderlich test and is considered of good character by everyone in the system in addition to being a great athlete. He feels that he will remain a part of the Buckeye family even after he has left for his next occupation.

Expanding Big 10 Reaching Out to Texas and Other Big 12 Teams

Steve Patterson — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 16:49:55 GMT

Expanding Big 10 Reaching Out to Texas and Other Big 12 Teams

The Big Ten is in talks with a number of schools with Texas being the biggest program being rumored. The poor television deal the Big 12 has currently compared to the better Big Ten television deal makes all Big 12 teams in play. Texas might be a reach but the Longhorns switching conferences would be significant.

By Steve Patterson

Fans of the Big 12 are hoping the conferences stay the way they are, more regional than anything else. Other Big 12 and non-Big 12 teams rumored for a move include Nebraska, Missouri, Rutgers, Notre Dame, Syracuse and Pittsburg. The number of new Big Ten teams could range from one up to five. A 16 team conference would make divisions easy and a championship game ideal.

Current rivalries in the Big 12 is an issue that might stop Texas from making the switch. Oklahoma, Texas Tech, and Texas A&M are important games in the Longhorn’s history. Switching them to non-conference would make the Longhorn’s schedule one of the most difficult in the country. To not have these games would be a major change for a traditional team. The Big Ten likes the athletic programs in addition to the academic standards at Texas. Plus expanding the Big Ten network and Big Ten recruiting into Texas is something all programs in the conference would love to see.

Missouri is a popular Big 12 target in rumors for the Big Ten and might happen before a powerhouse like Texas moves. Rutgers is a Big-East program that would allow the Big Ten to expand into New York which is almost as financially attractive as expanding into Texas.

Jamel Turner, Tressel Impressed

Steve Patterson — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:20:04 GMT

Jamel Turner, Tressel Impressed

Jamel Turner was an early commitment for Ohio State’s 2010 class but enjoyed the process anyway. Considered a four star recruit and 22nd best defensive end in the country by Rivals.com, Turner spent his senior high school year at Fork Union Military Academy to make sure he would be academically eligible for college.

By Steve Patterson

Jamel Turner made his official visit to Ohio State a year after he committed to be a Buckeye. “I only made my Ohio state visit.” he told us about his official visit schedule. He had offers from a number of top programs in the area and enjoyed getting to learn more about these other schools. “The college recruiting process was exciting and a new experience although mine was short lived because of a early commit. I still enjoyed it.” he told us when we contacted him this week.

Turner was a Buckeye fan growing up which made committing to them in December of 2008 easy. He also had offers from Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Stanford and Wisconsin. He was looking for a winning football team among other things when he was still considering other programs. “I was looking for a winning program, one that had a great history and good traditions, and somewhere that I could be comfortable and be able to put trust in the coaching staff.” he explained.

He also likes the game day atmosphere at Ohio State, while Jim Tressel was impressive during their time together. “I love the atmosphere that the Ohio state fans put in the stadium...I think it's amazing but other than that Tressel is one of the more decent men that I've met and he was the main reason I committed.”

Turner won’t be in for spring ball but will get to campus in early summer and begin preparing for the fall season. “I'll be there for summer school in May and so as much as I am allowed with the team.” He has been compared to departing defensive end Thaddeus Gibson and should see playing time as a freshman.

Drew Basil, Jumping into the Rotation this Spring

Steve Patterson — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:46:23 GMT

Drew Basil, Jumping into the Rotation this Spring

Drew Basil made many visits to colleges on his way to committing to the Ohio State Buckeyes this past Wednesday. He plans to enroll in the spring and began practicing with the team during spring camp. The Buckeyes are in need of depth at both the place kicker and punting position, so he has a good chance of seeing playing time early.

By Steve Patterson

Drew Basil is a 6’2” 188 lbs kicker out of Chillicothe Ohio who was ranked in the top 15 at his position nationally by a number of rating agencies. With offers from Air Force, Ohio State, Cincinnati, Kentucky, and Purdue, Basil was busy visiting campuses before committing to Ohio State. “I enjoyed the recruiting process very much.” he told us this week. “I enjoyed every single part of it, including the traveling and all of the mail I received. I visited Northwestern, NC State, Purdue, Cincinnati, Kentucky, Air Force, Alabama, Iowa State, and Ohio State. There might be a few that I am forgetting.”

He likes Ohio State for its winning tradition in addition to the academics. “I was looking for where I could get a good education and feel comfortable living there for the next 4-5 years. I was looking for a football program that will be successful every year.”

Basil also liked the fan support and what he saw around the OSU campus when he was visiting. “I liked how everyone supports the athletics and how involved everyone on campus actually is.” he explained.

A bit of a surprise, he plans to enroll quickly and get started training with the team. “I plan to enroll for Spring Quarter and start practicing as soon as I get there.” he told us. The Buckeyes return Devin Barclay and Ben Buchanan this year to handle the roles of kick offs, place kicking and punting. Possibly Basil can secure on of these positions as a true freshman.

Verlon Reed, Ohio State was Everything that I Hoped it Would Be

Steve Patterson — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:23:33 GMT

Verlon Reed, Ohio State was Everything that I Hoped it Would Be

Verlon Reed is a local product for the Ohio State Buckeye’s 2010 class but provides versatility and tremendous upside. Playing quarterback, wide receiver and defensive back for Marian Franklin, Reed led the Red Devils to four city league titles. He will get a shot at quarterback when he arrives on campus but could also play safety during his career.

Verlon Reed 2010 Quarterback/Safety Prospect

By Steve Patterson

Verlon Reed is a standout not only in football but basketball and track also at Marian Franklin. He didn’t have a long recruiting season as other sports and school activities kept him occupied, but he did visit two programs. ”I was only able to visit Toledo and Ohio State. And I really enjoyed my recruiting process.” he told us about the process of being recruited.

He was looking for academics and football he explained when we contacted him this week. ”In a college I was looking for a strong academic department also with my major which is sports management. As far as a football program I was looking for a school with a great chance of winning and not just in their conference but also huge bowl games. Also a school with great tradition.”

“I liked the fact that Ohio State was everything that I hoped it would be.” He told us about his selection of Ohio State. “I felt Ohio State had everything that I would need to be more successful in life as a student player and most of all a better person.”

He plans to come in over the summer which has become very common with recruits in the last couple of years. “I will probably be enrolling in June and hopefully start practicing by June or July.”

Jordan Hicks Selects Texas over Ohio State and Florida

Steve Patterson — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:13:33 GMT

Jordan Hicks Selects Texas over Ohio State and Florida

Westchester Ohio linebacking prospect Jordan Hicks selected the Texas Longhorns over scholarship offers from Ohio State, Florida and many others. The best outsider linebacker in the country, according to most recruiting services, flashed the hock’em horns and said that his heart was with Texas at a press conference at his high school this afternoon.

Jordan Hicks 2010 Linebacker Highlights

By Steve Patterson

The Lakota West football program has sent a number of top prospects to Ohio State in the past but Jordan Hicks grew up a fan of Texas and wanted to play for the Longhorns next year. Narrowing his list down to Texas, Ohio State and Florida a little over a month ago, rumors circulated for each school since. Tuesday night, reportedly, Hicks made up his mind that his heart was in Texas and scheduled the press conference for today at 12:30pm.

At 6’2” and 220 lbs, Hicks has all of the skills to be an elite linebacker at the next level. He excelled in high school coming off the edge and should put on some weight over the next year to be a completely dominant pass rusher. He finished his junior season with 88 tackles, 16 for a loss, and 4 sacks.

Ohio State will now focus on Seantrel Henderson, Matt James, and Dominique Brown with possible scholarships still available for offensive lineman Morgan Moses and West Virginia soft verbal Latwan Anderson. Henderson, James, and Brown are going to make their college selections next Wednesday when they sign their letters of intent.

Glenville’s Christian Bryant Selects Ohio State

Steve Patterson — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 22:11:42 GMT

Glenville’s Christian Bryant Selects Ohio State

Christian Bryant got the opportunity to make his college selection at his high school today, Cleveland Glenville. Like many Tarblooders before him, he waited till close to signing day to continue the pipeline to Columbus for the athletic Cleveland High School coached by Ted Ginn Sr. Bryant was a multi-talented player for Glenville and help take the team to the state championship game as a senior. He was recruited as a cornerback at the next level by Ohio State in additional to North Carolina, Michigan State and many others.

By Steve Patterson

Christian Bryant was highly sought after by schools like Minnesota, Stanford, Vanderbilt, Michigan State, Ohio State, North Carolina, West Virginia and Notre Dame. He was recognized as one of the top 125 football prospects in the country and a top 10 cover corner for the class of 2010. For the Tarblooders he put up stats all over the field including corner, quarterback, tailback, receiver, and returns. He became the 18th member of Ohio State’s current recruiting class that will finish ranked slightly below were the team is used to finishing on National Letter of Intent Signing Day.

Bryant at 5’10” and 175lbs is one of the top players in the 2010 OSU Class which also includes receiver Corey Brown, offensive tackle Andrew Norwell, tailback Roderick Smith and quarterback Taylor Graham. Ohio State is still hoping to land a number of other top talent nationally in offensive tackles Seantrel Henderson, Morgan Moses, and Matt James, linebacker Jordan Hicks, and defensive back prospect Dominique Brown from Winton Woods Cincinnati.

OL Morgan Moses Gets a Jim Tressel Visit

Steve Patterson — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 20:17:40 GMT

OL Morgan Moses Gets a Jim Tressel Visit

Ohio State is hoping to take 3 offensive lineman in their 2010 class and have recently visited one additional prospect to make sure that happens. They currently have Andrew Norwell, an offensive tackle from Cincinnati, in the class. And the coaching staff for OSU has been very active recruiting Seantrel Henderson, Chaz Green, and Matt James. But with the commitment of Sharrif Floyd to Florida at the Army All American game, the Buckeyes now have a scholarship for Morgan Moses.

By Steve Patterson

Morgan Moses committed to Virginia last year for 2009 class but was not able to qualify academically. He spent the past year at Fork Union Military Academy were he was a teammate of current Ohio State commitment Carlos Hyde. Moses was able to get his grades in order at the Prep School and is now ready to begin his college career. The only problem with his prior commitment to Virginia is that their coaching staff has now changed. With Al Groh leaving the program, Moses felt the need to open up his recruitment and look around.

Moses was a standout during the 2009 Army All American bowl and could play offensive tackle or defensive tackle at the next level. At 6’7” and 340lbs, his is a huge player with great athleticism. He has offers from Virginia, Rutgers, North Carolina and South Carolina, with Ohio State and Florida being considered but yet to offer a scholarship. The Buckeyes are trying to get an official visit scheduled with Moses prior to National Letter of Intent Signing Day, early in February.

College All Star Games Draw Buckeyes

Steve Patterson — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 16:49:38 GMT

College All Star Games Draw Buckeyes

For seniors at Ohio State it has been an exciting January so far with a Rose Bowl win over the Oregon Ducks and the spring is going to remain busy and full of opportunity. Four Buckeyes have been selected to play in College All Star games in the month of January and early February. Then they will need to complete their classes, get ready for the OSU Pro Day, the NFL Combine, and the NFL Draft.

By Steve Patterson

The university has announced that Jim Cordle, Doug Worthington, Kurt Coleman, and Aaron Pettrey have been invited to post-season all-star games. The East-West Shrine Game is set for January 23rd to be played in the Florida Citrus Bowl. Offensive tackle Jim Cordle and Defensive tackle Doug Worthington will showcase their skills to NFL scouts at 3 pm that day. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN2.

The Under Armour Senior Bowl will feature safety Kurt Coleman. It will be played on January 30rd at 4 pm. The NFL Network will carry the game and it is set to be played at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile Alabama. Coleman was an All-American for Ohio State and considered leaving for the NFL after his junior season.

Aaron Pettrey, who made a remarkable recovery to play in the Rose Bowl, will play in the Texas vs. the Nation all-star game. The game will be aired on CBS College Sports on February 6th from El Paso Texas.

Sell your Baseball Rookie Card in Arizona

Steve Patterson — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 03:02:35 GMT

Sell your Baseball Rookie Card in Arizona

If you are like many adult males in the US, you have a collection of baseball cards worth quite a bit of money that you saved from when you were a child. You might have at one time tried to sell them at a trade show, online, or at a garage sale but was unable to obtain a good price. I recently came across an Arizona based buyer and seller of baseball cards that you should contact.

I have a baseball Mantle card that I always thought was worth quite a bit and all the pricing books supported this feeling. I was never able to get a price close to what was reported to be it’s value until I came across IBuyAndSellBaseballCards.com. Maybe for you, it’s not Mickey Mantle but a baseball rookie card, this buyer and seller of cards is looking for what you want to sell.

As long as your cards are vintage cards, pre-1969, they will be happy to work with you. And if you have other cards in addition to baseball cards and don’t have the time to sell them properly, IButAndSellBaseballCards.com will purchase football, basketball, and hockey cards too. Take a look at their services today.

Ohio State 2010 Recruiting Class Final Stretch

Steve Patterson — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 15:46:55 GMT

Ohio State 2010 Recruiting Class Final Stretch

The coaching staff at Ohio State hit the road shortly after the win in Pasadena to land the final 5 recruits for their 2010 class. The Buckeyes scored a defensive tackle in Johnathan Hankins from Detroit Michigan but came up short with two highly recruiting players this last Saturday. At the Army All American Bowl, defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd selected Florida over Ohio State while Cleveland Glenville safety prospect Latwan Anderson selected West Virginia over the Buckeyes.

By Steve Patterson

With Charlie Weis no longer recruiting in South Bend, Urban Meyer having a short retirement in Gainesville and Pete Carroll leaving USC, Ohio State should be cleaning house this year in recruiting top talent locally and nationally. They got some important commitments early in wide receiver Corey Brown, offensive tackle Andrew Norwell, and running back Roderick Smith but have gone for more mid-tear recruits down the stretch.

The Buckeyes still hope to land a couple nationally top ranked recruits before the beginning of February including Seantrel Henderson, Matt James, Jordan Hicks and Christian Bryant. But may end up with only 50% of these ideal four and therefore give scholarships to recent Columbus visitors Bradley Roby and Dominique Brown, great athletes in their own right, but not the blue chippers top programs covet.

Seantrel Henderson is the top ranked offensive tackle in the country and is believed to be leaning to Ohio State after only taking a couple of official visits. He had interest in Southern California but the recent departure of Pete Carroll could seal the deal for the Buckeyes. He’s the latest ‘next Orlando Pace’ left tackle.

Matt James is an in-state offensive tackle from Cincinnati St Xavier. He was leaning towards the Bearcats while also considering Ohio State and Notre Dame. Now with Brian Kelley in South Bend, Notre Dame is the favorite. Florida has also come on lately and is always hard to beat for a recruit. He plans to decide on National Letter of Intent Signing Day.

Jordan Hicks is an another in-state national top recruit that doesn’t seem too interested in the Buckeyes. He has favored either Florida or Texas for the majority of his recruitment but has kept the Buckeyes in his top 3. The Lakota West linebacker made an official to Ohio State for the USC game and knows the coaching staff well. But he is a fan of Texas and seems to want to leave Ohio.

If there was a lock (for sure commitment) in this final four it would be Christian Bryant. The Cleveland Glenville corner back plays a position of need for the Buckeyes and grew up watching the Scarlet and Gray. He is the normal Glenville player that has been in the program for more than a year and respects the coaching staff at Ohio State the way he respects the Glenville coaches. He is waiting till the end to make his announcement as many Ted Ginn Sr players have done in the past.

Pentello and Gibson Leaving, Heyward and Chekwa Staying

Steve Patterson — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 01:01:27 GMT

Pentello and Gibson Leaving, Heyward and Chekwa Staying

The Columbus Dispatch reported this morning that Rocco Pentello will be transferring while the Ohio State Athletics website reported Thaddeus Gibson would be declaring for the NFL draft. Later in the day, Buckeye fans found out that two starting juniors in Cameron Heyward and Chimdi Chekwa were returning for their final years of eligibility.

By Steve Patterson

Rocco Pentello told Head Coach Jim Tressel and the coaching staff that he plans to transfer to Ashland University were he will have two more years of eligibility. Pentello wasn’t able to crack the two deep at the safety position while at Ohio State for three years. He is excited about the possibility of playing quarterback for Ashland, a position he excelled at for his high school, Westerville North in Central Ohio.

Cameron Heyward

Cameron Heyward released a statement through the university that he intends to stay at Ohio State for his final senior year instead of going into the NFL draft this spring. The news is very good for Ohio State as Heyward led the Buckeyes in sacks this season with 7.5 plus 11 tackles of loss. His statement:

"I am excited about next season and am looking forward to being one of the senior leaders of our team. I sat down and talked at length with my family about my situation, and they totally support my decision. I've been blessed to this point. I am just having fun being a college student.

"I learned a lot from seniors like Doug (Worthington) and Kurt (Coleman) and all they were able to accomplish during their senior year. I would love to be a part of Buckeye tradition like that. I think the upside is very positive.

"I want to help our team achieve the goals of winning another Big Ten title and possibly accomplishing a national championship. If I could win some recognition, that would be great as well. I think I can be a leader for our team, and I know another season will help me become a better player."

Chimdi Chekwa

Chekwa wants to return for his final year so the Buckeyes can accomplish another Big Ten title and make a run for the National Championship next season. He is one of the two returning cornerbacks for the Buckeyes and has 27 starts in his three year career. His statement:

"I am not ready to leave Ohio State, and I am looking forward to my senior season. I prayed about this decision and talked about it with my parents, and I know this is the right decision for me.”

"I will graduate next fall, and I am looking forward to being a leader on what can be a very special defense for the Buckeyes. After the Rose Bowl win, we are working toward accomplishing more great things, including another Big Ten title and a run at the national championship."

Thaddeus Gibson

Gibson choose to enter the 2010 NFL draft instead of coming back for his senior season. Gibson has been a great pass rush threat off the edge with a team leading 13 tackles for loss this year. His statement:

"I would like to thank Coach Tressel, Coach Fickell, Coach Heacock, Shelly Poe, and the entire Ohio State football staff, as well as my mother, brother and of course God, for helping me to have the opportunity to enter the draft, and for the support from my teammates, alumni, and Ohio State fans across the nation."

Gibson said he has "grown a lot from his experience at Ohio State," crediting the January 1 Rose Bowl win over Oregon as one of his most memorable Ohio State experiences.

"I am not leaving the Buckeye family. I wish the team the very best in the upcoming years and I thank all my teammates for all their support. I will keep in touch with my Buckeye family and I love them all. I will always bleed Scarlet and Gray."

Ohio State 2010 Rose Bowl Champions

Steve Patterson — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 04:24:22 GMT

Ohio State 2010 Rose Bowl Champions

The Ohio State Buckeyes changed their game plan to offset the aggressive run defense of the Oregon Ducks Friday night in the 2010 Rose Bowl win that made this season one of the best years of Jim Tressel’s tenure as Head Coach. Terrelle Pryor and the Ohio State Buckeyes came out throwing and didn’t stop as the Buckeye quarterback throw 37 times connecting on 23 of them. 266 yards and 26 points later, Ohio State walked away from the BCS bowl with a 26-17 win.

By Steve Patterson

Hoping to offset recent loses in 3 consecutive BCS bowls, the Buckeyes rode aggressive offensive play and a solid defensive performance to redeem themselves with the country and prove the Big Ten had not lost it’s stature. Pryor also ran for more yards (72) than anyone else on the team making him the clear selection for the MVP of the bowl game. Brandon Saine rushed 14 times for 45 yards while Daniel Boom Herron took the ball for 42 yards or 14 rushes. The tailbacks were also active in the passing game catching 5 passes for 77 yards and a touchdown. One of the best plays of the night came on a 46 yard pass to Saine who had slipped out of the backfield and was covered by a much slower defensive end.

The Buckeyes were limited everyone assumed going into the match up due to the suspension of wide receivers Ray Small and Duron Carter. But the Buckeyes were able to lean on the remaining two receivers DeVier Posey and Dane Sanzenbaucher. Keeping the ball moving with consistent running from Pryor and timely passes to the receivers kept the Oregon offense off the field allowing the score to remain manageable. Posey finished with 8 catches for 101 yards and a touchdown. Sanzenbacher caught 9 passes for 64 yards. Backup receivers Taurian Washington and Lamaar Thomas did not catch any passes on the night but were active in blocking downfield and drawing defenders away from the main receivers.

Aaron Pettrey returned from a season ending leg injury to kick two extra points and one field goal on the night. The strong legged kicker promised to be back for the bowl game when he was injured late in his senior season. His replacement Devin Barclay was also used often on the night responsible for kick-offs and kicking three field goals.

Jake Ballard made one of the most important plays of the night, late in the game, when Pryor threw up a bad pass with pressure pushing him far behind the line of scrimmage towards the sideline. The pass saved a drive that led to the Buckeyes final 7 points and put the game in hand with only seven minutes remaining.

Wisconsin Puts the Hurt on Miami to Score for the Big Ten

Steve Patterson — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 22:14:27 GMT

Wisconsin Puts the Hurt on Miami to Score for the Big Ten

Wisconsin came into the Champ Sports Bowl as underdogs but outplayed the Hurricanes of Miami for almost the entire game. The Big Ten has 7 bowl games this year and Wisconsin wasn’t one of the teams expected to give the conference a winning record for 2010. But they got things started on the right foot with a powerful kicking of a Miami team that came in ranked 10 spots higher in the BCS polls.

By Steve Patterson

Miami got on the board early with a great kick off return down to the 6th yard line but Wisconsin controlled the ball for 39 minutes and made great play after great play on both sides of the ball. UM quarterback Jacory Harris was bothered all night but linebackers and defensive ends batting down his passes and sacking him. UW running back John Clay (121 yards) had another outstanding performance scoring twice in a 20-14 win that wasn’t as close as the score would have you believe.

Wisconsin quarterback Scott Tolzien had a great performance in addition to Clay going 19-26 for 260 yards. His favorite targets on the night were his tight ends Lance Kendricks and Garrett Graham. They combined for 205 yards on 13 catches and could not be covered by the linebackers and safeties of Miami.

The Badgers finished the year with 10 wins after a disappointing season last year. They are set to finish in the top 20 and begin next season even higher in the polls. They should continue to be near the top of the Big Ten next year with many starters returning.

Outstanding Big Ten Bowls:

Insight Bowl: Minnesota v Iowa St Thursday
Outback Bowl: Northwestern v Auburn Friday
Capital One Bowl: Penn State v LSU Friday
Rose Bowl: Ohio State v Oregon Friday
Alamo Bowl: Michigan State v Texas Tech Saturday
Orange Bowl: Iowa v Georgia Tech Tuesday

Rose Bowl: No 8 Ohio State Buckeyes v No 7 Oregon Ducks

Steve Patterson — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 22:41:11 GMT

#8 Ohio State v #7 Oregon

Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California

Kickoff: 4:30pm

TV: ABC

It’s almost impossible to wrap one’s brain around the fact that this is Ohio State’s first Rose Bowl in 12 years (1997). It’s been 13 for the Ducks (1996) but Ohio State has been so good under head coach Jim Tressel’s watch that it’s hard to believe. The 2010 Rose Bowl features the high powered Oregon offense and the ever stout Buckeye Silver Bullet defense. Ohio State is on a three game losing streak in bowl games and Oregon is 1-6 in Rose Bowls and 0-7 all-time against the Buckeyes. This game means so much to both programs and emotions will be running high. The Granddaddy of the All will have a classic Big Ten v Pac Ten showdown that could turn out to be one for the ages.

OSU “O”

The Oregon defense is ok and the Ohio State offense is suspect but if head coach Jim Tressel is able to play his signature ball-control turnover-free offense the Buckeyes will have a great chance of scoring enough points to win the game. Good old “TresselBall” was able stifle the effective and powerful Iowa and Penn State squads. Oregon’s defense has been steady allowing only 23.6 points per game but has been burned by teams with solid running games. In the last five games of the season, the Buckeye offense has been reeled in and less pressure has been put on quarterback Terrell Pryor. Pryor has some growing yet to do before he becomes an elite quarterback and will get limited opportunities to stretch the field vertically. The a solid running attack by Pryor and running backs Brandon Saine and Boom Herron will be the flavor of the game for the Buckeyes.

OSU “D”

The Lightening and Thunder duo of LaMichael James and LeGarrette Blount will be a major threat to the Buckeye defense. James is small (5’9” 189lbs) but incredibly fast. If the Buckeye defense can get an arm on him, he should go down easily. Blount on the other hand is a force and will pound the ball between the tackles while using his deceptive speed to make the Buckeye defense pay for sloppy tackling. The running back tandem is complimented by a superb passing and receiving game. Jeremiah Masoli is a dual threat quarterback and runs the Duck’s spread offense masterfully by spreading defenses horizontally and using short quick passes to gain huge chunks of yardage. The surest way to stop Oregon’s spread attack is to play disciplined assignment football, don’t get overly aggressive against the option and make precision tackles.

Summary

This one is a classic strength on strength will be one for the ages. Ohio State’s mighty defense allows an average of 12.2 points per game while Oregon’s high powered offense averages 37.7 points per game. The key will be the Ohio State offense and if can sustain long drives and keep the Duck’s offense off the field.

Prediction: OSU 23 – UO 13

Why OSU will win:

-A well executed Tressel-Ball strategy will win the game. A ball control offense will limit the Ducks offensive opportunities.

-Tackling is the key on defense. Swarm to the ball carrier, get a hand on him and don’t let go. Sacrifice the big hit for the sure stop.

Why OSU will lose:

-Offensive turnovers; the Buckeye offense will beat itself if it can’t hold on to the ball.

-Poor tackling and over pursuit. If the Bucks don’t wrap up the Ducks at their first opportunity, Oregon will make Ohio State pay with big gains.

Bold prediction for the game:

-I might have Scarlet colored glasses for this one but the Buckeye defense will hold the Oregon rushing offense to under 150 yards.

Crazy stats of the game:

-The last time the Big Ten won in Pasadena was in 2000; Wisconsin over Stanford 17-9.

-Oregon has only one victory in six Rose Bowl appearances (1914 versus Penn, 14-0).

-OSU is 7-0 versus Oregon.

Last time they met…

1987: Ohio State over Oregon 24-14.

Duck players to watch:

Freshman RB #2 LaMichael James

Senior RB #9 LeGarrette Blount

Junior QB #8 Jeremiah Masoli

Junior WR #23 Jeff Maehl

Senior TE #83 Ed Dickson

Junior LB #55 Casey Matthews

Junior LB #35 Spencer Paysinger

Sophomore LB #11 Eddie Pleasant
Junior LB #58 Kenny Rowe

Freshman FS #20 John Boyett

Sophomore CB #14 Javes Lewis

Junior CB #37 Talmadge Jackson

Ohio State to Miss Robert Rose and Ray Small for Bowl Game

Steve Patterson — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 22:09:31 GMT

Ohio State to Miss Robert Rose and Ray Small for Bowl Game

Head Coach Jim Tressel confirmed that both Robert Rose and Ray Small will not be eligible for the Rose Bowl when Ohio State plays Oregon in a little over a week. Robert Rose plays an important part in the two deep rotation on the defensive line and Ray Small is the #1 punt and kick off returner for the team. Sophomore running back Bo Delande is also rumored to not be eligible at this time.

By Steve Patterson

This bit of bad news comes a week after fans found out that the number three receiver on the team, Duron Carter, would not be eligible because of a poor performance in the classroom during the fall quarter. Small is the fourth receiver on the team, leaving the Buckeyes searching for players at the position. Coach Tressel feels Taurian Washington, Lamaar Thomas, and Jake Stoneburner can fill the void at the position.

The official reason given for the suspension of both Rose and Small is a violation of team rules. Small has seen his troubles through his career at Ohio State including losing his number, starting the season late because of academics, and a mysterious absence from a game completely early in the season. Both players had hoped to finish strong and complete their degrees in the Spring. Both players were missing from practice for several days prior to the announcement of their ineligibility.

Wide Receiver Duron Carter Ineligible for the Rose Bowl

Steve Patterson — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:57:34 GMT

Wide Receiver Duron Carter Ineligible for the Rose Bowl

Ohio State freshman wide receiver Duron Carter has been ruled ineligible for the January 1st Rose Bowl game against Oregon. Academic issues are preventing the productive first year wide receiver from playing in the game that his father, Cris Carter, excelled in years ago. Other Buckeyes including Robert Rose have been rumored to be is the same situation but no other players have been officially ruled out.

By Steve Patterson

Duron Carter’s fall quarter grades were not good enough to allow the Fort Lauderdale Florida standout to play according the Athletic Director Gene Smith. Other players may be in the process of appealing their fall quarter grades and therefore are unsure of their outcomes at this time.

Two years ago a similar situation occurred with Donald Washington and Gene Clifford with Clifford not playing and Washington playing against LSU after an appeal. Carter will have time to improve his academic standing and be eligible to play again after the Winter quarter.

Carter is the fourth receiver on the depth chart for the Buckeyes after DeVier Posey, Dane Sanzenbaucher, and Ray Small. He played in every game so far this year with one touchdown and 176 yards on 13 receptions. His status will open up a spot for either Taurian Washington or Lamaar Thomas, two players that have been considering transfer that now get their shots.

Ohio State Buckeye Recruiting Heating Up

Steve Patterson — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 04:58:52 GMT

Ohio State Buckeye Recruiting Heating Up

This coming weekend a good number of recruits will be on campus as Ohio State tries to encourage the remaining members of their 2010 class to commit to play for the Buckeyes next year. Christian Bryant, Latwan Anderson, Johnathan Hankins, Matt James and Verlon Reed will all be on campus as OSU continues preparing for their Rose Bowl appearance on January 1st. Head Coach Jim Tressel and his staff would like to secure verbal commitments from all five high school recruits.

By Steve Patterson

Our partner site eScoutRoom.com has stories on Latwan Anderson, Christian Bryant, Matt James, Johnathan Hankins and Verlon Reed. Plus an additional article on defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd who visited the Buckeyes the weekend of October 24th. Floyd is the fourth best defensive tackle in the country. He attends Philadelphia George Washington and is also considering Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Penn State and USC. His top two currently are Florida and South Carolina.

Verlon Reed Gets Late Ohio State Offer

Ohio State Invites Recruits to Bowl Practice December 12th

Latwan Anderson Favors West Virginia

DT Sharrif Floyd Makes a Number of Visits

DT Jonathan Hankins Gets Ohio State Offer for 2010

Christian Bryant, Glenville Recruit Heading to Ohio State?

Matt James 2010 Offensive Lineman from St Xavier

Oregon Ducks win the Pac 10: Will face Ohio State Buckeyes in the Rose Bowl

Steve Patterson — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 19:38:26 GMT

Oregon Ducks win the Pac 10: Will face Ohio State Buckeyes in the Rose Bowl

Thursday night the Oregon Ducks beat the Oregon State Beavers 37-33 in the annual rivalry match. This time was more special than most as the winner would become the Pac 10 title holder and play Ohio State in the BCS Rose Bowl January 1st.

By Steve Patterson

LaMichael James was the star of the show for Oregon, finishing with 166 yards on the ground and three touchdowns. Oregon State could not stop James all night as he also caught 2 passes for 15 yards. Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli had a decent night with 201 yards and a touchdown throwing the ball. But his 2 turnovers gave the Beavers a chance to win until a final drive by Oregon ate up the remaining 6 minutes of time in the fourth quarter.

Oregon

Oregon was content to run the ball and take time off the clock during the game. Masoli ran 10 times for 40 yards while LeGarrette Blount was able to utilize his power running game and gained 51 yards along with a touchdown. Blount is now famous for his opening game non-sportsman-like punch to a Boise State player that led to a multi-game suspension for the 2009 season.

Ohio State

Ohio State has been waiting for over a week to see who they will play and now they can begin preparation for the Ducks. The Buckeyes have the 5th best rush defense in the country, only allowing 83 yards a game on the ground. The Buckeye’s passing defense isn’t bad either ranking 18th nationwide. Oregon could have it’s hands full when it arrives in Pasadena on New Years Day as they excel on offense but often give up a lot of points and yards during a game.

Ten Buckeye Football Players Receive Big Ten Honors

Steve Patterson — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 20:21:28 GMT

Ten Buckeye Football Players Receive Big Ten Honors

Ten players on the current 2009 Buckeye Football roster received conference honors after completing their season as Big Ten Champions. First Team All Conference awards went to Kurt Coleman and Justin Boren. Coleman was named to the first team by both the coaches and the media. Boren was first term on the media’s vote while he was second team after the coaches voted. Boren will return next season as a senior offensive guard.

By Steve Patterson

The current senior class of 19 has won 43 games over the past four years with consecutive conference championships and BCS appearances each year. The team is ready to begin preparations now for the Rose Bowl which will be played on January 1st, 2010. Going into November, many considered the team to be a disappointment until they won 3 straight against the hardest part of the their schedule and secured the Big Ten title.

Second conference team members included Brandon Saine, Thaddeus Gibson, Cameron Heyward, and Ross Homan. All four are juniors and should return next season on a team that will come in highly favored to win the Big Ten again. Honorable mentions went to Bryan Browning, Doug Worthington, Chimdi Chekwa, and Terrelle Pryor.

Ohio State Buckeyes Win Outright Big Ten Title with Michigan Victory

Steve Patterson — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:11:05 GMT

Ohio State Buckeyes Win Outright Big Ten Title with Michigan Victory

Ohio State was able to win the Big Ten title outright by beating Michigan yesterday in the Big House 21-10. Ohio State has won the conference championship five straight seasons. This also marks the 6th time in a row that Ohio State has beaten the Team Up North which matches a record from the 1920s. The win also improves Head Coach Jim Tressel’s winning record against the Buckeye’s main rival to 8-1 during his 9 years with OSU.

By Steve Patterson

Ohio State Running Game

In a game that featured throw back jersey’s for Ohio State, the Buckeyes returned to a game plan that didn’t involve much passing. But with their defense grabbing five Michigan turnovers and the running attack gaining 251 yards on the day, passing wasn’t required. Daniel Boom Herron, Brandon Saine and Terrelle Pryor combined for 251 yards on the ground and one touchdown. The final touchdown for Ohio State came on a tailback screen from 12 yard line to Herron.

Michigan Turnovers

A bad start of Michigan didn’t help their cause as starting quarterback Tate Forcier fumbled the ball in the end zone resulting in a Cameron Heyward recovery for a touchdown. During the game he also threw four interceptions which killed Michigan drives that at times showed promise through the air. The loss by Michigan means they will end the season with a 5-7 record (1-7 in conference) and will not be invited to a bowl game. This is the 2nd season with Rich Rodriguez as head coach, his 2nd losing record, and the teams second year in a row without a bowl appearance.

Rose Bowl

The Buckeyes now have more than a month to prepare for their New Year’s Day BCS bowl game against the winner of the Pacific 10 conference. Ohio State hasn’t been to the Rose Bowl since 1996 when they beat Arizona State 20-17.

del.icio.us Tags: ohio state,michigan,jim tressel,daniel boom herron,brandon saine,terrelle pyror,rose bowl

BCS No 10 Ohio State at Michigan

Steve Patterson — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:04:55 GMT

BCS #10 Ohio State at Michigan

Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Kickoff: 12noon

TV: ABC

All is wine and roses in Buckeyeland as Ohio State has wrapped up at least a share of a fifth consecutive Big Ten Championship and their first appearance in the Rose Bowl since 1996. Could there be anything to make this Scarlet and Grey sundae any sweeter? As a matter of fact there is and “That Team Up North” is going to be the cherry on top of it all. Michigan turned a lot of head early on in the season as they started out 4-0 including a big win over Notre Dame but since then has gone just 1-6. The Wolverines need a win to stay bowl eligible and the Buckeyes need a win just because it’s Michigan. Don’t count the Wolverines out of this one, they have the fire power to be something special and since it’s “The Game” nothing will be held back. The same goes for the Buckeyes as they have nothing to lose in this game, outside of self respect that is. Michigan will give the Buckeyes their best game this Saturday. Unfortunately for the Wolverines, Ohio State will be doing the same.

OSU “O”

The game plan against Iowa last week was painfully conservative, almost as if Jim Tressel was doing a “Script Don’t Screw This Up” on the field. Now that the conference championship and a Rose Bowl have been secured, we will all see a different Ohio State offense this week; one that will play to win and win big. The Michigan defense has given up an average of 39 points per game in the Wolverines last four losses. While defensive back Donovan Warren and defensive end Brandon Graham continue to shine, the rest of the defense has not performed well. Jim Tressel will limit quarterback Terrell Pryor’s passing attack and allow him to manage the game with his running abilities while taking a few shots down field. If Pryor is on, the Michigan defense will look foolish.

OSU “D”

Michigan leads the Big Ten in scoring (31.3 ppg) and is second in the conference in rushing (195.8). Freshman quarterback Tate Forcier and senior running back Brandon Minor have been an effective duo all season. Forcier has five receivers with 15 catches and over 220 yards each and Minor has hammered in eight touchdowns this season. The Wolverine offense however has had a nasty turnover problem fumbling the ball 12 times and getting picked of 11 times in 2009. The OSU ball hawking aggressive defense will be looking to continue this trend and keep the high scoring Michigan offense off the field.

Summary

While still the weak link, the OSU offense should put some points on the board. Jim Tressel has typically opened up the playbook for the Michigan game and we should see a more aggressive approach to the play calling. The Buckeye defense will take care of business by stopping the run and daring Forcier to throw. Will it be like last years 42-7 smack down, not likely but it should still be a dominating effort from start to finish. This game means a lot to Tressel and he will not let us down.

Prediction:

OSU 24 – Michigan 13

Why OSU will win:

-The Buckeye defense is really really good and will shut down the high scoring Michigan offense.

-The offense will lean on the rushing attack to control the speed of the game.

Why OSU will lose:

-If the Bucks fall behind by two touchdowns and have to rely on Terrell Pryor’s arm to bring them back, Ohio State will lose.

Crazy stat of the game:

The Buckeye defense has allowed 136 points so far this season (12.3 per game). The record for fewest points allowed in a season during the Jim Tressel era is 166. Michigan averages 31 points per game. Do YOU thing Michigan will score 31.3 points against this Buckeye defense?

Last time they met was…

A 42 -7 OSU beat down of Michigan in the ‘Shoe.

Michigan players to watch:

Freshman QB #5 Tate Forcier

Senior RB #4 Brandon Minor

Senior DE #55 Brandon Graham

Junior CB #6 Donovan Warren

Freshman WR #12 Roy Roundtree

Michigan Brandon Graham Talks Justin Boren

Steve Patterson — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:59:04 GMT

Michigan Brandon Graham Talks Justin Boren

Brandon Graham came out today when asked by the media about Justin Boren’s move to Ohio State with some hard words. He felt that Boren never gave the new coaching staff a chance and transferring is equivalent to quitting. Graham plans on making some noise on the field on Saturday and hopes Boren is on the receiving end of some of the trash talk.

By Steve Patterson

Not Justin Boren

When talking with the media today Michigan senior Brandon Graham started by stating that his kids would never be allowed to consider Ohio State. “I’m not Justin Boren. I couldn’t do that” he said. He plans on doing just as much talking on the field on Saturday. “Some people talk back, some people don’t”. he explained about the trash talking he customarily does during a game.

Michigan Front Four

Graham feels the Michigan front four on the defense will be able to handle the offensive line of Ohio State. “I trust and believe we’ve got a good front four that’s going to get the job done.” he said about his defensive teammates. And he added about Boren, “He’s going to have to prove to me he’s still got it. He was good here, but I don’t think he’s good there because it’s O-State”

Ohio State Proficiency

Boren will be the starting left guard for the Buckeyes when they face the 5-6 Michigan Wolverines on Saturday in the Big House. Ohio State has already secured a piece of the Big Ten title for 2009 and been invited to play in the Rose Bowl versus the winner of the Pacific 10 Conference. The OSU offensive line has provided space for the running backs the past two weeks to run for more than 220 yards a game against two ranked opponents. Ohio State hopes to have similar success against the Wolverines, ranked 84th nationally against the run.

#11 Ohio State v #10 Iowa

Steve Patterson — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:49:59 GMT

#11 Ohio State v #10 Iowa

Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

Kickoff: 3:30

TV: ABC

I have rarely been so happy to be so wrong. The Buckeyes proved to everybody that they are still relevant and will not roll over to die. The coaches, the offensive line, the quarterback, running backs and defense came out to prove a point and reestablish their hold on the top spot in the Big Ten. With the win over Penn State there is but one more step to go, one more test to pass and the Buckeyes will win their fifth consecutive Big Ten title and first trip to the Rose Bowl since 1996. Iowa will arrive in Columbus this week tied for the lead in the Big Ten with Ohio State. The Hawkeye / Buckeye match-up will decide the season for both teams as the winner will be Big Ten champs and get an automatic bid to the Rose Bowl.

OSU “O”

Two weeks in a row a sleepy Buckeye offense decided to show up in the second quarter. Good blocking by the offensive line and fullback Zach Boren helped spring Boom Heron and Brandon Saine for steady yardage while quarterback Terrell Pryor had time to set his feet and deliver solid balls. The vaunted Penn State defense was unable to stop a well scripted afternoon of Tressel-Ball and there should be no let down this week. The Iowa defense is a beast when it comes to turnovers and with total of 26 turnovers, 19 of them interceptions, the Buckeyes need to lock down the ball and make smart plays. Defensive back Tyler Sash leads the team with 6 interceptions and will be keying on Buckeye wide receiver Devir Posey. Linebacker Pat Angerer leads the Hawkeyes with 106 tackles on the season and will certainly be hunting for a shot at Pryor.

OSU “D”

This unit continues to amaze Buckeye Nation as they held an effective Penn State to less than half of their offensive average. There is no reason to think that for their final home game of the year will be any different. Iowa has been hit with two devastating injuries and will be starting redshirt freshman James Vandenberg at quarterback and true freshman Brandon Wegher at running back. Wegher has done well this season splitting time with fellow Adam Robinson and recorded 118 yards rushing in his first start versus Indiana. On the flip side, after Iowa quarterback Ricki Stanzi went down with an injury last week, Vandenberg completed only 9 of 27 passing attempts for 82 yards and looked out of place. This week Vandenberg will have to rely on All-Big Ten tight end Tony Moeaki for support when the Buckeyes blitz. The Buckeyes might just sit back, defend the run and dare Vandenberg to throw.

Summary

This one’s for all the marbles and the best thing about the game is that it’s at home. The stakes are so high for this game that it should rival the intensity of the USC game. Iowa has an outstanding defense that will test the Buckeye offense however with two first time starters at key positions on offense the Hawkeye’s won’t be able to put many points on the board. The win last week thrust the Buckeyes back into the spotlight and breathed new life back into the 2009 season. California here we come!

Prediction: OSU 21 – Iowa 6

Why OSU will win:

-Stifling defense and controlled effective offensive production will win the game for the Bucks.

-Iowa is starting freshman at both quarterback and running back positions. The Silver Bullets are frothing at the mouth.

Why OSU will lose:

-If Pryor get’s too excited and tries to do everything, he’s likely to make costly mistakes. -Turnovers and getting behind early will be OSU’s downfall.

Bold prediction for the game:

-Ohio State will lock up their fifth consecutive Big Ten title and their first trip to the Rose Bowl in 13 years.

Crazy stat of the game:

-No Big Ten team has ever won five consecutive conference titles.

-Jim Tressel’s resume at Ohio State: Three trips to the National Championship game, One National Championship, 5-3 in BCS bowl games, four (going on five) Big Ten Conference Titles, One Heisman Trophy winner and ZERO trips to the Rose Bowl.

-The last time Iowa beat Ohio State in Columbus was 1991, 18 years ago.

Last time they met…

Sept. 30, 2006: 38-17 Ohio State over Iowa in Kinnick Stadium.

Iowa players to watch:

Freshman QB #16 James Vandenberg

Freshman RB #3 Brandon Wegher

Sophomore SS #9 Tyler Sash

Senior #43 MLB Pat Angerer

Senior #81 Tony Moeaki

Ohio State in Place to win the Big Ten and Attend the Rose Bowl

Steve Patterson — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:48:56 GMT

Ohio State in Place to win the Big Ten and Attend the Rose Bowl

After a second loss on the season and a bad loss to a mediocre team, no one thought Ohio State had much left to play for. Even Head Coach Jim Tressel said the team had little room for error going into the final 5 games of the season. Nothing is for sure even after a great win against Penn State, but things are looking bright for the Buckeyes who are now favored to win the Big Ten and receive an automatic bid to the Rose Bowl.

By Steve Patterson

Ohio State was about as low as a team could be after apparently throwing away their 2009 season with a bad loss to a Purdue team that had no business beating the Buckeyes. That 18-26 loss to the Boilermakers on October 17th spurred the team to three straight victories with the ultimate win Saturday night on the road against the Nittany Lions. A Minnesota win at home and a New Mexico State warm-up scrimmage also at home produced the confidence the team needed to march into Happy Valley and steal one away from the higher ranked Big Ten foe.

Two Remain

Now the Buckeyes only have two games remaining before Bowl selections occur and their final two opponents don’t look up to the task. A once dominant Iowa Hawkeye team has been beaten up by injury with the most recent one coming in a 10-17 loss to Northwestern. Quarterback Ricky Stanzi suffered a severe sprained ankle that will keep him out until their bowl appearance. Likewise, the Hawkeyes lost starting running back Adam Robinson with a similar injury in a previous game.

Michigan Ohio State

The final game of the season for the Buckeyes is the rivalry Michigan match-up. But this year it shouldn’t have the same intrigue as in the past as Michigan has looked poor in conference play and might not even end the season with a winning record. The game is in Ann Arbor and the Buckeyes could have already sealed their Big Ten title and Rose Bowl appearance, making the game a non-factor and harder to be motivated for. But it is Michigan and it is on the road, so the Buckeyes should be ready to punish the once powerful program one more year.

Get the Roses read on Saturday as the seniors say goodbye to OSU fans and try to take another consecutive Big Ten title.

del.icio.us Tags: Jim Tressel,Ohio State Football,Iowa Hawkeyes,Michigan Wolverines,Ohio State Michigan,Ohio State Michigan 2009

No 15 Ohio State v No 11 Penn State

Steve Patterson — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:30:36 GMT

#15/12 Ohio State at #11/10 Penn State

Beaver Stadium, State College, PA

Kickoff: 3:30

TV: ESPN

The Buckeyes need to win the next three games to both capture a least a share of their fifth consecutive Big Ten title and their first trip to the Rose Bowl since the 1996-97 season. OSU visits Penn State on Saturday as the rivalry continues to have conference and post season implications. Last year, PSU won beat the Buckeyes in Columbus for the first time since joining the Big Ten in 1993 and with one conference loss; the Nittany Lions need this win to keep their Rose Bowl dreams alive.

OSU “O”

Last weeks game could not have gone more wrong for Tresselball. Yes the final was 45-0 but the Buckeyes lost their veteran field goal kicker for the season and the two backups have little to no experience. Tress leans heavily on his kicking game to make up for the pathetic red zone offence we have seen over the last few years and without a proven kicker, Tressel will have to change his game plan. Penn State has one of the best defenses in the country as they lead the NCAA in scoring defense, giving up just 9.3 ppg, while ranking fourth in sacks (3.56), fifth in rushing defense (84.11) and total defense (254.78) and sixth in pass efficiency defense (95.65). With the way the offensive line has been playing, this Buckeye offense doesn’t stand a chance.

OSU “D”

The crown jewel of this year’s team. This unit continues to shine week in and week out. They will have their hands full with Penn State’s superstars RB Evan Royster and QB Daryll Clark. The defense has the ability to keep the Lions in check and if the offense can sustain long drives to keep the “D” fresh, the Bucks will have a chance.

Summary

This is not going to be a fun game to watch for Buckeye fans. The offensive line has let the team down all year and has stifled the development of Terrelle Pryor. 2010 must see a change in the coaching of this line or Pryor will be a wasted talent. I hope I’m wrong but a win on Saturday is likely out of the question.

Prediction: PSU 34 - OSU 7

Why OSU will win:

Defense: The defense will have to win this game with turnovers and three-and-outs.

Why OSU will lose:

Offensive line. Don’t expect this unit to get any better in 2009. Their poor play will prohibit the Buckeyes from establishing any type of offensive firepower.

Bold prediction for the game:

I think I’ve already said it; if the Bucks hope to stay in this game the defense will need to pitch a near shut-out and snag a turnover for a score. Otherwise, the Bucks lose big.

Crazy stat of the game:

-Penn State has never beaten the Buckeyes in two consecutive seasons.

-OSU has the tenth best offense in the Big Ten. ugh

Nitany Lion players to watch:

Senior QB #17 Daryll Clark

Junior RB #22 Evan Royster

Junior WR #6 Derek Moye

Senior LB #43 Josh Hull

Senior DT #91 Jared Odrick

R-Freshman DE #81 Jack Crawford

Ohio State v Minnesota Turns into Romp By the Buckeyes

Steve Patterson — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:39:45 GMT

Ohio State v Minnesota Turns into Romp By the Buckeyes

Ohio State fans might have been sweating heading into half-time of the Ohio State v Minnesota game this past weekend as the Buckeyes only led by 7 points. But by the end of third quarter there was no doubt who was going to win as Ohio State jumped out to a 28-0 lead. Running by two freshman tailbacks added late points with Terrelle Pryor rebounding from his worst game as a college athlete.

By Steve Patterson

After the game freshman running back Jermil Martin talked with the media about his 39 yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. “It felt good to score a touchdown.” he said. “It was a dream come true. It felt great to be able to help the team. I've always had that drive and motivation and it was great to go out and show it today.” Pryor got to prove himself in the match, with 239 yards passing on the day with 2 touchdowns in addition to 104 yards rushing and a touchdown. He told Martin what he might have been feeling himself. “Terrelle told me good job and that I was finally proving myself.”

Jim Cordle returned for the buckeyes after sitting out a number of weeks with a injured ankle. “It doesn't affect me during the play;” he explained to the media. “I'm usually a little sore after [the game] though. It’s great to be back in a game situation. It can be up and down each day, but today I felt good.” The Buckeyes are also waiting for starting left tackle Andrew Miller to return from a long battle with the flu. Getting their upperclassmen offensive lineman back can only help with

Sophomore wide receiver DeVier Posey had a career day with 161 yards and 2 touchdowns. He was very humble after the game with such a great performance. “I feel like I still have a lot of learning to do.” he said. “The touchdowns feel good but I'm only half of the equation. Terrell made great passes.” Even with such an outstanding day he felt that he had more to improve. “I feel, personally, that I'm nowhere near where I want to be yet. I haven't reached my full potential, especially because of my hamstring issue early on.” He explained how much he learns weekly at practice. “I'm learning a lot and really trying to incorporate that knowledge onto the field.”

Ohio State is set to play New Mexico State this coming Saturday in Ohio Stadium at noon.

No 19 Ohio State Buckeyes v Minnesota Golden Gophers

Steve Patterson — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:23:31 GMT

#19 Ohio State v Minnesota

Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

Homecoming

Kickoff: 12noon

TV: ESPN

The defense can’t win every game and we found out that reality the hard way on Saturday. The Buckeye offense is not improving but instead regressing from even a few weeks ago. Purdue absolutely was the better team on the field and deserved to win. The final score wasn’t even that close. Now another bad Big Ten team is gong to try to kick the Buckeye horse while it’s down. The Minnesota Golden Gophers come to town for what should have been an easy win but now turns out to be a season determining game.

OSU “O”

Its official, the offense is bad. The coaching is bad, the line play is bad, the quarterback play is bad, and the running play is bad. Nothing went well for the offense last weekend. Penalties, turnovers and uninspired play seem to be the theme. The Minnesota defense will try to use the same schemes Purdue used to get to Terrelle Pryor. Faith in the OSU offensive line is at an all time low and it's hard to imagine that the Gophers won't have their way with them. Gopher tackles Lee Campbell and Nate Triplett will see a lot of time in the backfield if the Buckeye line play doesn't improve.

OSU “D”

The defense, ranked 9th in the country, has been spectacular all year but laid an egg Saturday. Unfortunately the offense was too inept to bail them out. This week the defense better be prepared for the spectacular receiving skills of Gopher star Eric Decker. Decker is averaging 104.4 yards per game and has five touchdowns on the season so far. Quarterback Adam Weber is solid and averages 189.3 yards per game. The Gopher offense is good enough to keep the game close and if the Buckeye offense turns the ball over like they did last week, Minnesota will have every opportunity to win the game.

Summary

A loss will certainly erase the Buckeye hopes of winning a fifth consecutive Big Ten title and making a trip to the Rose Bowl in over a decade. The solution to the offensive woes escapes the coaching staff and this reporter. It's hard to believe a team with so many highly recruited athletes is such a complete bust. Even though spirits and faith have hit rock bottom, the Buckeyes will be in the safety of the Horseshoe and will be playing for a homecoming crowd. The Bucks should still be able to stumble their way to a victory.

Prediction: OSU 17 – Minnesota 14

Why OSU will win:

On paper, the Buckeyes are vastly superior in every aspect except wide receiver. With a homecoming crowd behind the OSU, the Bucks should be able to keep their Big Ten title dreams alive.

Why OSU will lose:

The line will let the offense down destroying any kind of running scheme and forcing Pryor to regress even further with poor ball handling and bad decision making.

Bold prediction for the game:

The Buckeyes will turn the ball over more times than the Gophers and still win the game.

Crazy stat of the game:

The Buckeyes have won six straight against the Gophers.

Gopher wide receiver Eric Decker averages 15.6 yards per catch.

Gopher players to watch:

Junior QB #8 Adam Weber

Senior WR #7 Eric Decker

Senior DT #77 Lee Campbell

Senior DT #70 Nate Triplett

Ohio State Head Coach Jim Tressel Stresses Turnovers

Steve Patterson — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 03:43:58 GMT

Ohio State Head Coach Jim Tressel Stresses Turnovers

In a media luncheon today, head coach Jim Tressel discussed turnovers, benching Terrelle Pyror, and a couple of offensive lineman that fans hope will return soon to the lineup.

By Steve Patterson

The Ohio State coaching staff is stressing turnovers this week when discussing the terrible loss to Purdue this past weekend where starting quarterback Terrelle Pryor turned the ball over four times. He discussed today how they talk about turnovers with the team but maybe do not emphasize it properly. “Turnover-wise, perhaps we talk about it so often that it becomes a little bit, "well, yeah, I know."”

History of Road Turnovers

He admitted that the coaches need to do a better job to ensure the players do not turn the ball over especially when on the road. “We've got to do a better job of making sure that we know, not that we know, but we really know.” And the reason is that turnovers make all the difference in the Big Ten when on the road. “I looked back at our last 20 Big Ten road games and 16 of them we've won and four of them we've lost and in the 16 we've won we've had 20 turnovers. Which it's about 1.25 per game.” he explained. “And in the four we've lost, we've had 14 turnovers, which is about three and a half a game.”

Benching Pryor

There was some talk about benching Pryor from the media and fans after the bad loss but the coaching staff never considered it during the game or since the game. Coach Tressel told reporters that the benching of Todd Boeckman last season was a completely different scenario than the current situation at quarterback. Seems a mobile quarterback is the best option from Ohio State with offensive line blocking issues in addition to Pryor’s better performance at practice.

Andrew Miller

Good news for the team is that Andrew Miller and Jim Cordle, both starters at the beginning of the year, continue to get closer to returning. “Andrew has practiced a little bit and I hope he can contribute. This will be an important week of practice to see if he can get some weight back on and get some strength back and so forth.” Coach Tressel said about Miller recovery from a serious case of the flu.

Jim Cordle

“Jimmy Cordle, we tried to get him into the game Saturday and he just isn't quite ready. It's one thing being able to be able to go through a practice tempo and it's another thing to be able to do it on a Saturday.” He said about the starting left tackle who has been out with an ankle injury. “I like to think he'd be a lot healthier because we kind of took a step back with him.” Coach Tressel explained about trying to get Cordle into the game on Saturday. “We didn't leave him in so long that he got banged up.”

Little Room For Error For Ohio State Now

Steve Patterson — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:36:09 GMT

Little Room For Error For Ohio State Now

After a heart breaking and near season ending loss to the Purdue Boilermakers on Saturday, Head Coach Jim Tressel remained upbeat and felt the team can still win the Big Ten even with a loss to one of the worst teams in the conference. Brandon Saine also felt the team could move past the loss and get something out of the year.

By Steve Patterson

Head Coach Jim Tressel admits the team has an uphill battle going forward after losing two early games in the 2009 season. “You have to take your hat off to Purdue. They won the turnover margin, they did a nice a job on special teams and they did what they needed to do.” He said after the loss. “For us, the true test of a team is how they handle difficult situations, and we're in that right now.”

Purdue’s kicker Carson Wiggs made 4 out of 5 field goal attempts on Saturday with a long of 55 yards. Coach Tressel knew they couldn’t give the Boilermakers good field position with such a weapon at kicker. “Any time you give them field position, especially with their kicker, you give them scoring opportunities and you can't expect to win.” he explained.

Many fans had hoped to see Joe Bauserman in the game after starting Buckeye quarterback Terrelle Pryor turned the ball over four times but Coach Tressel never considered the change. “I didn't think he was rattled, and I didn't consider sitting him.” Coach Tressel said about taking Pryor out. “We just weren't executing, and at the beginning of the game, we weren't protecting the quarterback.”

Coach Tressel was impressed with starting Purdue quarterback Joey Elliott. “I like the way he got rid of the ball, and he had great protection. That's how he was able to find open receivers.” Ohio State has had mixed results against the spread but wasn’t able to get to Elliott to disrupt his play during the game.

Even with the loss Coach Tressel feels the team can win the Big Ten. “We're still in it, but there's very little margin for error. We need to worry about getting better every day, and not worry about the next five games as a whole.”

Terrelle Pryor had his worst day as a Buckeye on Saturday and credits the Purdue defense. “We didn't have as much intensity in the first half. We tried not to get too frustrated, just keep fighting and trying. Purdue's defense did a great job, and I have to give them credit.”

He also felt the offensive line didn’t handle the defense the way they could have. “[Purdue] brought pressure from a whole different level. It was nothing like I saw on film. They just kept jumping the line. That pressure was totally unexpected, and I couldn't quite get a handle on them.”

Brandon Saine also struggled on Saturday getting only 32 yards on 7 carriers. He commented on the Purdue defense after the game. “Purdue played great defense. My hat goes off to them. They had a game plan, and they executed it to perfection.”

But Saine liked the up-tempo play calling in the fourth quarter when it was required. “It was something we had to do. It was all-or-nothing. We had to score, or we lose the game.” And he feels the team can move on after the loss. “We have to realize there's still a lot more games to play. We're only halfway through the season. We have to get back to practice and focus on our next game.”

Ohio State falls in the polls to #18 in the AP Poll while entering the just released BCS poll at #19. They will face Minnesota at home at Noon on Saturday.

No 7 Ohio State Buckeyes at Purdue

Steve Patterson — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 02:02:43 GMT

#7 Ohio State at Purdue

Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, In

Kickoff: 12noon

TV: BTN

The Buckeyes are in trouble. The offensive line again failed to protect quarterback Terrell Pryor and did not hold blocks long enough to open holes for the running backs. Darn good thing the Buckeye defense is really scary good and was able to bail out the sputtering offense. Purdue is a big disappointment this season at just 1-5 and despite their offensive numbers, can’t seem to catch a break. The Boilermakers have the leading quarterback in the Big Ten, a running back ranked among the best in the conference and one of the top wide receiver in the country. Purdue just can’t hold on to the ball. The Buckeyes are on a three game “easy street” playing Purdue, Minnesota and New Mexico State before ending the season with a rough stretch of contests against Penn State, Iowa and Michigan. This offense has three games to get it together because if it doesn’t, ending the year 0-3 is a real possibility.

OSU “O”

Here’s a question to stir the pot: No one questions the talent of Terrell Pryor so why isn’t he improving? Is he a bust or is the coaching staff doing a lousy job teaching and developing him into the quarterback he should be? Hard to say if the crappy offensive line continues to leak linebackers like a sieve. I think these kids are trying their best and giving full effort, so what’s holding back their success. Youth? Coaching? All we can hope for is a fast turnaround or the season will end on a sour note.

OSU “D”

Purdue’s record is misleading. Quarterback Joey Elliot leads the Big Ten in passing, running back Ralph Bolden is second in the conference in yards per game and wide receiver Kevin Smith is second in the Big Ten in receptions and yards per game. The Boilermaker’s problem is they can’t hold on to the ball and have turned the ball over 20 times so far on the season. The Buckeye defense has 14 takeaways this year are will be looking for more. Purdue has lost four of the last five games by less than four points but his weekend they face a scary…really scary Buckeye defense.

Summary

The game comes down to the Boilermaker’s 410.2 yards of total offense per game against the Silver Bullet’s 271.8 yards of total defense. The Buckeye defense will keep the Purdue offense off the field giving the OSU offense control of the game.

Prediction: OSU 37 – PU 6

Why OSU will win:

Purdue is a turnover machine. The Silver Bullet will score at least one touchdown.

Purdue can’t stop anyone and the Buckeye offense is talented enough to put up some big numbers.

Why OSU will lose:

Turnovers and poor offensive execution.

Purdue finally catches a break and wins a close one.

Bold prediction for the game:

Not really a “bold prediction” but Coach Tressel could keep this game close with some ultra-conservative play calling. The score will either be 37-6 or 13-6.

Crazy stat of the game:

Think things are bad in Columbus? Purdue is going into this contest with a 19 game losing streak against Top 25 teams.

Last time they met…

The OSU offense sputtered in a sad looking 16-3 victory in Columbus. Purdue did not allow the Buckeye offense a touchdown.

Boilermaker players to watch:

Senior QB #14 Joey Elliot

Sophomore RB #23 Ralph Bolden

Junior WR #8 Kevin Smith

Senior WR/KR #17 Aaron Valentin

Sophomore K #37 Carson Wiggs

Junior DE #94 Ryan Kerrigan

Senior CB #9 David Pender

Senior DT #92 Mike Neal

Ohio State Wide Receiver Ray Small Makes the Most of a Kick Off Return

Steve Patterson — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:55:57 GMT

Ohio State Wide Receiver Ray Small Makes the Most of a Kick Off Return

Ray Small’s big moment finally came when he returned a kick off for 96 yards and a touchdown this past Saturday against Wisconsin in the Horseshoe. This score came immediately after Wisconsin attempted to get back in the game after early turnovers that resulted in touchdowns for the Buckeyes. Small worried if there was a penalty on his team but the Buckeyes were in the clear.

By Steve Patterson

Ray Small had mostly been returning punts or playing the fourth string wide receiver position. But with Daniel Herron out for the later part of Ohio State’s 31-13 victory over the Badgers, Small got his opportunity to return a kick and showed the blazing quick speed that all fans knew he possessed. The return put Ohio State on top by 15, limiting Wisconsin to mostly pass the ball which was not easy against a pass rushing defensive line that has disrupted passing quarterbacks all season long.

Ray Small came to Ohio State from Cleveland Glenville and everyone was sure they had the next Ted Ginn Jr in hand. But some slight academic issues and lapses in making team meetings on time have led to disciplinary actions against Small for most of his career. As a freshman he caught 8 passes for 68 yards with one catch resulting in a touchdown. As a sophomore he scored twice and finished the year with 267 yards. As a junior he returned a punt for a touchdown 69 yards but only put up 149 yards without a score.

del.icio.us Tags: ray small,ohio state football,wisconsin badgers,buckeye football,cleveland glenville,ted ginn jr,daniel herron

Ohio State Football 2009 Depth Chart - October 11, 2009

Steve Patterson — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 19:50:18 GMT

Ohio State Football Depth Chart - October 11, 2009

The Ohio State 2009 Depth Chart was updated this past weekend after the win against Wisconsin will very little movement across the two deep. The offensive guard position lacks some depth but Andy Miller is hoping to return from the flu while Jim Cordle is close to fully recovered which will provide depth across a number of offensive line positions. Dexter Larimore remains out after an injury two weeks ago but true freshman John Simon has begun to rotate into the games late while Garret Goebel also gets playing time. And with Kurt Coleman back from suspension, Anderson Russell gets the nickel back position when the team plays against passing downs and spread formations.

Quarterback

2 Terrelle Pryor So
14 Joe Bauserman So

Tailback

1 Boom Herron So
3 Brandon Saine Jr
29 Jordan Hall Fr

Fullback

44 Zach Boren Fr
49 Adam Homan Fr

Tight End

86 Jake Ballard Sr
11 Jacob Stoneburner R-Fr

Wide Receiver

12 Dane Sanzenbacher Jr
8 DeVier Posey So
9 Duron Carter Fr
82 Ray Small Sr
7 Lamaar Thomas So

Offensive Guard

65 Justin Boren Jr
70 Bryant Browning Jr

Offensive Tackle

74 Mike Adams Fr
76 JB Shugarts So
64 James Cordle Sr
55 Andy Miller Jr
79 Marcus Hall Fr

Center

50 Michael Brewster So
66 Andrew Moses Sr (Walk-on)

Defensive Tackle

84 Doug Worthington Sr
92 Todd Denlinger Sr
9 Robert Rose Sr
72 Dexter Larimore Jr
54 John Simon Fr
53 Garrett Goebel Fr

Defensive End

97 Cameron Heyward Jr
90 Thaddeus Gibson Jr
87 Lawrence Wilson Sr
43 Nathan Williams So
98 Solomon Thomas So

Outside Linebacker

51 Adam Homan Jr
38 Austin Spitler Sr
42 Andrew Sweat So
6 Etienne Sabino So

Middle Linebacker

36 Brian Rolle Jr
32 Storm Klein Fr

Cornerback

5 Chimdi Chekwa Jr
10 Devon Torrence Jr
13 Andre Amos Sr
18 Travis Howard Fr

Safety

4 Kurt Coleman Sr
7 Jermale Hines Jr
21 Anderson Russell Sr
19 Orhian Johnson Fr

Kicker

20 Aaron Pettrey Sr
12 Devin Barclay So (Walk-on)

Punter

48 Jon Thoma Sr
17 Ben Buchanan Fr

Long Snapper

96 Jacob McQuaide Jr
53 Patrick Howe Jr (Walk-on)

Ohio State Buckeyes Rely on Defense for Wisconsin Win

Steve Patterson — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 02:52:33 GMT

Ohio State Buckeyes Rely on Defense for Wisconsin Win

If you saw the statistics from the Ohio State v Wisconsin game this past weekend you would think the Badgers won the game as they had more first downs, more third down conversions, more fourth down conversions, double the total yards, more than double the total plays, more yards rushing, more yards passing, and less punts. But when you get to the interceptions and the fumbles, the 2 interceptions by the Buckeyes (both returned for touchdowns) and the 2 fumbles by the Badgers gives you most of the details that determined the final score.

By Steve Patterson

Wisconsin was consistently able to move the ball on the Ohio State team Saturday in Ohio Stadium while the Buckeyes had trouble gaining yardage for most of the game. But big plays made the difference including a Ray Small 96 yard kick return for a touchdown and two interceptions returned for touchdowns by OSU. Ohio State moves into the top spot in the Big Ten after the win with Wisconsin slipping to third behind Iowa.

Kurt Coleman Returns

The excitement began in the first quarter when starting Safety Kurt Coleman returned an interception from Scott Tolzien 89 yards for a touchdown. Kurt Coleman returned from a one game suspension for a late hit against Illinois to make his presence felt early. His defensive teammates created a great wall of blockers to allow Coleman to score with some ease.

Wisconsin Fights Back

The Badgers came back and scored on a long drive with a Chris Maragos run from 9 yards out to tie the game at 7-7. Another Wisconsin drive in the 2nd quarter resulted in a 50-yard field goal by Phillip Welch. The three point deficit spurred the most competitive drive by the Ohio State offense on the day as DeVier Posey made a number of nice catches from Terrelle Pryor including a 32 yard touchdown pass. The teams went into half-time at 14-10, Buckeyes.

Big Plays Benefit Buckeyes

The second half continued with the same type of Buckeye big play ability as the first half displayed with Jermale Hines intercepting a Scott Tolzien pass and returning it 32 yards for a touchdown. Another Badger drive resulted in a field goal which produced the kick off that Small returned for a touchdown and put the nails in the coffin for a Wisconsin team that had hoped to upset their Big Ten foes on the road.

No 9 Ohio State Buckeyes vs No 25 Wisconsin Badger

Steve Patterson — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 21:04:08 GMT

#8/9 Ohio State v. #25 Wisconsin

Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

Kickoff: 3:30pm

TV: ABC

Wisconsin is enjoying a great start and come into Columbus with a 5-0 record and a national ranking. Ohio State is steadily rising up the rankings in their quest for a shot at the national title. Both teams are in control of their Big Ten title destiny and a win on Saturday will give some separation to the victor. Ohio State and Wisconsin seem to is always a classic game to watch and with early Big Ten title implications, this one will surely live up to the hype.

OSU “O”

Is Terrell Pryor maturing? Sometimes it looks like has finally has it down and other times you see him throwing off his back foot or “shot-putting” the football. He showed some signs of maturation last week but he still has a long way to go. The tough Wisconsin defense lead by sack machine O’Brien Schofield will eat up the offensive line and send Pryor into scramble mode if the line can’t establish itself. Chris Maragos has a nose for the ball and leads the Badgers with three of the team’s eight interceptions this season. Pryor will have to continue to mature and make good decisions or the Badgers will burn him. Running back Brandon Saine looked great last week and Jordan Hall is showing that he belongs on the field. The running game must be effective if OSU is going to win this game. If the Buckeyes can’t keep the chains moving and score in the red zone on the ground they will have to play catch up all day.

OSU “D”

Wisconsin has always been a “run first ask questions later” team and running back John Clay seems to fit that mold however quarterback Scott Tolzien is having a spectacular year and could be the decisive piece of the puzzle to put the Badgers on top. Clay is averaging 116 yards per game and is coming off a 184 yard game against Minnesota last week. Tolzien is having a fantastic season for his first full year starting. He is averaging 208 yards per game with 9 touchdowns and only 3 interceptions for the year. The OSU secondary will have to keep their heads on a swivel as Tolzien spreads the ball out nicely to his three favorite receivers, Issac Anderson, Nick Toon and Garrett Graham, who all average more than 50 yards per game. The OSU defense is ranked 10^th nationally against the run and will have to rely on it if they have a hope of winning the game on Saturday.

Summary

Wisconsin is scoring a lot of points but is also giving up quite a few; 24.6 per game. The Badgers have won 4 of its five games by eight points or less and had to go to double overtime to put Fresno State away, but Wisconsin is no pushover. The Buckeyes and the Badgers always play a nasty physical game and this seasons contest should be no exception. It’ll be a tight game but the Buckeyes will pull this one out in the end.

Prediction:

OSU 23 – Wisconsin 13

Why OSU will win:

The Buckeyes need to create and capitalize on turnovers.

The Buckeyes have to score touchdowns in the red-zone.

Defense must stay stout and be prepared for both a hard hitting ground attack and long passes.

Why OSU will lose:

Badger running back John Clay is 6-1 248 pounds. The Buckeyes haven’t seen a running back like this guy all season.

The flu bug might keep Buckeye lineman Mike Brewster out of the game. This would be a big hit for the running game and Pryor’s safety.

Crazy stat of the game:

Wisconsin has only allowed two sacks so far this season.

Last time they met was…

2008: Terrell Pryor led the Buckeyes to a late fourth quarter touchdown for a 20-17 final.

Wisconsin players to watch:

Junior QB #16 Scott Tolzien

Sophomore RB #32 John Clay

Senior TE #89 Garrett Graham

Sophomore WR #1 Nick Toon

Junior WR #6 Isaac Anderson

Senior DE #50 O’Brien Schofield

Senior S #21 Chris Maragos

del.icio.us Tags: ohio state football,buckeyes football,ohio state schedule,wisconsin university,ohio state university,wisconsin football,ohio state wisconsin

Flu Bug Continues to Affect Ohio State Football

Steve Patterson — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:39:21 GMT

Flu Bug Continues to Affect Ohio State Football

Head Coach Jim Tressel admitted today at his weekly press conference that the flu has affected the Buckeyes another week with left tackle Mike Adams taking some time away from the team to recover. Other players to miss games so far include Ray Small, Jon Thoma, and Andrew Miller.

By Steve Patterson

Ray Small caught a flu bug on a Friday night before the season opener and missed the Navy game where he was set to start as Ohio State’s primary punt returner. He has been full go every since but the flu continues to place players on the bench and away from the team.

Ohio State Campus

Jon Thoma missed a game and left tackle Andy Miller missed the game against Indiana allowing Mike Adams to take over the position on the depth chart. Michael Brewster was the first offensive lineman to miss time midweek with a flu but returned for the Saturday kick-off according to Coach Tressel. "I don't think it's under control because the problem is, it's not under control with the general population." he explained. As players mix with the rest of the students at Ohio State, they are exposed and could catch something at any time.

Left Tackle

Now Mike Adams could miss the Wisconsin game as he has come down with the flu mid-week. The team is hoping Andy Miller is back although he has not made it to the practice facility since his illness. And they hope Adams can recover before the game on Saturday. Marcus Hall got time last Saturday against Indiana and could provide additional depth if both players do not return.

Ohio State Players of the Week Vs Indiana

Steve Patterson — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:43:53 GMT

Ohio State Players of the Week Vs Indiana

Ohio State’s 33-14 win over the Indiana Hoosier was impressive and so was the performance of a number of players on offense, defense, and special teams. The Buckeyes released the Player of the Week awards today.

By Steve Patterson

Anderson Russell

The Defensive Player of the Week was Anderson Russell who had a great game with a fumble recovery, an interception and 6 tackles. This is after being benched two games ago in place of Jermale Hines. He got his opportunity with Kurt Coleman suspended for the game and made the most of it.

Jim Thoma had a great game punting for Ohio State if you failed to notice. Every punt of his was within the the 20 yard line, backing up the Hoosiers on each drive they started. He was the Special Teams Player of the Week with his 3 punts.

Jim Parker Lineman

Austin Spitler is the Attack Force Player of the Week with Bryant Browning getting the Jim Parker Lineman of the Week Award. Marcus Hall got on the field for the first time against Indiana and was the lead blocker on a number of plays. After the Zach Boren touchdown he expressed his great enthusiasm for being on the field and getting his shot. But it was his Glenville Tarblooder teammate that received the weekly award.

Jack Tatum Hit

Scout team Players of the Week include James Georgiades, Jamie Wood, and Ryan Schuck. The Jack Tatum Big Hit of the Week has not been decided yet although Duron Carter is holding out hope that he gets the award. After the game Carter spoke about the hit he put on an Indiana cornerback who was trying to make a downfield tackle on Terrelle Pryor. Carter felt the hit was more exciting than the touchdown he scored in the first quarter.

Ohio State Defeats Indiana With a Balanced Attack

Steve Patterson — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 18:31:13 GMT

Ohio State Defeats Indiana With a Balanced Attack

The Buckeyes traveled to Bloomington Indiana and took care of business while getting some good experience in the passing game and the running attack. Does Ohio State’s win mean Ohio State is the best team in the Big Ten or does it mean Michigan isn’t as good as their record indicates? With Michigan’s struggle against Indiana last week, it’s very possible the answer is the Wolverines still need improvement.

By Steve Patterson

Best Team in the Big Ten

Although the best team in the Big Ten will not be known for some time, Ohio State made a solid case yesterday defeating Indiana 33-14 on the road. Ohio State came out early and scored 10 points before Indiana had an opportunity to get close to scoring. A couple of missed field goals by OSU kicker Aaron Pettrey and a nice drive primarily to IU wide receiver Tandon Doss made the game close at one point (10-7). But Ohio State put another 14 points on the board before half-time putting the game out of hand for the Hoosiers.

Freshmen Score

After the Tandon Doss score, Ohio State moved quickly down the field and in three plays scored again with a 23 yard pass to DeVier Posey in the end-zone. An Indiana turnover led to another OSU score with a 8 yard completion to freshman fullback Zach Boren for his first score of the season. One of the stories of the game is the freshman that got on the board for the first time. In addition to Boren scoring, freshman Duran Carter scored his first touchdown with a 5 yard catch early in the first quarter.

Offensive Balance

Ohio State finished the game with 159 yards passing and 219 yards rushing. Most of the rushing yards came from Brandon Saine who rushed for 113 yards with his first start of the season as Daniel Herron did not play while he recovers from an ankle injury. Terrelle Pryor added 63 yards and a rushing score while Jordan Hall got 11 carries for 37 yards. Saine averaged 6.6 yards per carry against the IU defensive which has been poor at run stopping for years.

Buckeye Injuries

Two Buckeyes were injured during the game. Jonathan Newsome limped off the field after a special teams coverage play. He was incorrectly referred to as Andrew Miller when the injury happened by the Big Ten announcing crew. More worrisome was the leg injury to Dexter Larimore, a starting defensive tackle, that took him out of the game and could sideline him for a number of weeks.

Ohio State Buckeyes 2011 Class Prospects and Offers

Steve Patterson — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 19:24:20 GMT

Ohio State Buckeyes 2011 Class Prospects and Offers

With colleges making early offers to juniors starting in September, Ohio State has jumped on earlier with offers to 15 high school juniors who could make up their 2011 class. A lot can change between now and when 2011 recruits sign their letters of intent in February 2011, but at the current time there should be 14 scholarships available for the class as 14 seniors will be leaving the program to graduation.

By Steve Patterson

Here is the list of current 2011 recruits with offers from Ohio State. The Buckeyes have a good distribution of offers across all positions with only the tailback position not present in the current offer list.

QB Everett Golson
6-0 170
Myrtle Beach, SC

QB Braxton Miller
6-2 185 4.47
Huber Heights (Ohio) Wayne

WR Shane Wynn
5-8 160 4.43
Cleveland (Ohio) Glenville

WR Karlos Williams
6-0 187 4.5
Davenport Ridge (FL)

TE Ben Koyack
6-5 230 4.75
Oil City, Pa.

OT Tyler Moore
6-5/280
Clearwater Countryside (FL)

DE Kenny Hayes
6-5 230
Toledo (Oh.) Whitmer
Committed to Ohio State

DE Steve Miller
6-4 205
Canton (Oh.) McKinley
LB Trey DePriest
6-1 215 4.5
Springfield, Ohio

LB James Vaughters
6-2 215 4.6
Tucker, GA

CB Doran Grant
5-11 175 4.45
Akron (Ohio) St. Vincent-St. Mary

CB Keelin Smith
6-3 185
Port St. Lucie Treasure Coast (FL)

S Jeremy Cash
6-2 185
Plantation (FL)

S Eilar Hardy
6'0 175
Pickerington (Ohio) Central

S Lamarcus Brutus
6-1 185 4.6
Port St. Lucie Treasure Coast (FL)

Daniel Boom Herron Injury Gives Brandon Saine a Start

Steve Patterson — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 20:03:16 GMT

Daniel Boom Herron Injury Gives Brandon Saine a Start

Running back Daniel ‘Boom’ Herron will not get the start this coming weekend for Ohio State against Indiana as his sprained ankle has limited his participation in practice this week. Herron was a big part of the Buckeye victory last Saturday as new starter Brandon Saine and himself run for 156 yards on the Illini.

By Steve Patterson

Brandon Saine to Start

Head Coach Jim Tressel made the announcement today that Brandon Saine will get the start over Boom Herron and freshman Jordan Hall for the 7pm start this weekend in Bloomington. “Brandon Saine and Jordan Hall will get the bulk of the work,” Coach Tressel stated. An ankle sprain suffered during the Illinois game has limited Herron in practice this week although Coach Tressel feels Herron is 85% at this time. Herron will travel with the team and looks to be a part of the running attack.

Jordan Hall Gets Reps

The running attack for Ohio State this season has been a combination of Herron, Saine, Hall and sophomore quarterback Terrelle Pryor. Hall has reportedly been a big benefactor of the Herron injury this week in practice. Hall has had a couple good performances late in the game against Toledo and again in the fourth quarter against Illinois.

Jaamal Berry Still Out

There was hope true freshman Jaamal Berry would be able to compete the week and also add to the mix at running back this weekend. But Coach Tressel does not feel Berry will travel with the team as he was not able to practice with the team due to his lingering injury. The coaching staff is still hopeful Berry will see the field before the season is over.

No 9 Ohio State Buckeyes at Indiana

Steve Patterson — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 03:03:21 GMT

#9 Ohio State at Indiana

Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Indiana

Kickoff: 7pm

TV: BTN

The question of the day will be: How will Indiana react to getting jobbed by the Michigan friendly referees in the “Big House” last week. That was one of the biggest BS calls I have seen in my many years of watching college football. Indiana should file a formal protest with the Big Ten and remove those referees from ever calling a Big Ten game again. That said, will the Hoosiers come out with a chip on their shoulders or will they pack it in for the rest of the season? The Buckeyes have one of the best defenses in the country having held USC to only 19 points and posted back to back shut-outs. On paper, Indiana just doesn’t have the horses to keep up with the Buckeyes but with their outstanding performance against Michigan one might wonder.

OSU “O”

The game plan was simple for the Buckeyes, it’s raining…a lot…keep it on the ground. They did and the Buckeyes controlled the game from start to finish. With Indiana, it shouldn’t be too different as the Buckeyes will try to minimize injuries while giving the offensive line a lot of practice run blocking. Quarterback Terrell Pryor is starting to get comfortable in the pocket which should send a collective chill down the backs of the other schools in the Big Ten. He’s got work to do yet but it’s starting to show. Hoosier linebacker Matt Mayberry leads the team in tackles with 26 and fellow linebackers Tyler Replogle (24) and Will Patterson (22) aren’t far behind. Lineman Greg Middleton is a sack machine with three so far on the season. However, the Indiana defense has not been able to keep opposing offenses out of the endzone and is giving up and average of 22 points and 327 yards per game. This game will be another boost for Pryor’s confidence. Eclipsing the 372 total yards of offense Pryor had last week is not something that is expected but it could be a huge day for the young man.

OSU “D”

It might not be the biggest surprise but this Buckeye defense is shaping up to be something special. Linebacker Brian Rolle is taking full advantage of the outstanding play by Thaddeus Gibson, Cameron Heyward, Dexter Larimore and a carousel of defensive linemen. Through four games, Rolle has a 39 yard interception, an interception for a safety on a two point conversion and leads the team in tackles. He’s the newest OSU star linebacker and he’s only going to get better. Indiana quarterback Ben Chappell is having a very good year with 944 yards passing and three touchdowns on the season. Chappell’s favorite target is wide receiver Tandon Doss who is averaging just shy of 120 yards per game while running back Darius Willis had a breakout game against Michigan last week with 152 yards rushing. The game plan should be pretty straight forward for the defense; stop the run and put pressure on the quarterback. Two things this defense is very good at so far this season. Expect to see Chappell running for his life on a frequent basis this Saturday.

Summary

This should be just another day at the office for the Buckeyes. It’s a night game and I can’t remember the last time Bloomington hosted a game under the lights. The players and student body will be frothing at the mouth (could be the liquor, could be the excitement, could be both) but after a quarter or two the Buckeyes will have let the entire stadium know who’s the biggest dog in the Big Ten. Don’t be surprised to see Indiana score first but after that they won’t be able to muster much offense against the Buckeye Silver Bullet defense.

Prediction: OSU 28 - Indiana 10

Why OSU will win:

Offensive ball control.

No turnovers.

Swarming, disruptive defense.

Hoosier turnovers leading to points (hopefully touchdowns).

Why OSU will lose:

The team misses their exit and end up in West Lafayette.

The Indianapolis Colts show up in Hoosier uniforms.

Bold prediction for the game:

After having a fantastic 152 yard game against the Wolverines, Darius Willis will get held to under 100 yards by the Buckeye defense.

Crazy stat of the game:

The Buckeyes have won 14 straight contests against Indiana dating back to a 41-7 Hoosier smack down in 1988.

Last time they met…

2006, OSU 44-3

Indiana players to watch:

Junior QB #4 Ben Chappell

Freshman RB #28 Darius Willis

Sophomore WR #2 Tandon Doss

Sophomore WR #88 Damarlo Belcher

Senior LB #34 Will Patterson

Junior LB #46 Tyler Replogle

Senior LB #43 Matt Mayberry

Senior S #20 Austin Thomas

Andrew Sweat fills in for Ross Homan after Concussion

Steve Patterson — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 02:49:22 GMT

Andrew Sweat fills in for Ross Homan after Concussion

Ross Homan didn’t play the full game against Illinois this past weekend due to a concussion allowing Andrew Sweat to get some quality minutes at the weak linebacker position for Ohio State. Homan finished the game with one assisted tackle and Sweat made two solo tackles with three assisted.

By Steve Patterson

Ross Homan To Play

Junior Ross Homan is expected to play on Saturday against Indiana and did play a good number of plays after the concussion according to Head Coach Jim Tressel. “Ross got dinged a little bit there early in the game and played about 16 plays after the fact, which was a little frightening, but he seemed to be feeling fine,” Tressel reported earlier this week. Homan was held out of practice one day but resumed practicing with the team after the day without contact.

Andrew Sweat Gets Experience

Sophomore Andrew Sweat secured a sack in addition to the 5 tackles he made. “Andrew Sweat stepped in and obviously had prepared and is a talented kid,” Coach Tressel said about Sweats play on Saturday. Coach Tressel also felt it was a good experience for Sweat and for the team which needs to developed more depth at certain positions.

Sweat is a 6’2” 220 lbs sophomore from Washington Trinity Pennsylvania. He played entirely on special teams as a true freshman but has seen time in his second year at the weak side linebacker position in addition to punt and kickoff coverage.

Kurt Coleman Out For Indiana v Ohio State Game

Steve Patterson — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 02:07:55 GMT

Kurt Coleman Out For Indiana v Ohio State Game

Jim Tressel didn’t want to comment more on the Kurt Coleman one game suspension but did with some more details today when speaking with reporters. The Senior Safety will not be able to play this Saturday when Ohio State plays Indiana due to a late hit to the head of the Illinois quarterback, Eddie McGee, in the last few minutes of last week’s game. A 15 yard penalty was called at the time and the Big 10 added the suspension on Monday.

By Steve Patterson

Moving On

According to Coach Tressel, Coleman took the news well but the feeling among the coaches and the team is to let the suspension be yesterday’s news and to move on with game planning. “Our directive was to make sure that it's yesterday's news and not comment further,” he said. Coleman will not practice with the scout team nor will he travel with the team as they go to Bloomington. Tressel didn’t give a reason why Coleman was still playing with most of the first team defense already done for the day.

Replacements

The opening allows Anderson Russell to regain his starting position along side Jermale Hines with 2nd string safety Orhian Johnson getting on the field when there is need for additional defensive backs in a nickel formation. Also of note is the return of Zach Domincone from injury to provide depth on special teams.The team hopes a similar penalty will not incur for the remainder of the season.

Ohio State Buckeyes Put a Shutout on Illinois

Steve Patterson — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:12:50 GMT

Ohio State Buckeyes Put a Shutout on Illinois

Ohio State defeated Illinois on Saturday in a rain socked battle in Ohio Stadium 30-0. This is their second shutout in a row following a defensive dominating performance against Toledo last weekend. The running game was back in force with Daniel ‘Boom’ Herron and Brandon Saine having very good performances and Terrelle Pryor scrambling for extra yards when needed.

By Steve Patterson

Revenge on Illinois

Two years ago, Illinois was able to steal one in the Horseshoe from the Buckeyes to upset their perfect season but this year, a great defensive effort from Ohio State led to a clear victory and improved the confidence of the young OSU team. Dan Herron scored twice on the ground in addition to gaining 75 yards on 14 carries. Brandon Saine added another 81 yards on his 13 carries while quarterback Terrelle Pryor scrambled for 59 yards when his receivers were covered and the protection began to give.

Defense Dominates

The defense was the story of the game with Ohio State not allowing Illinois to gain more than 170 yards total and intercepting three passes from the Illini quarterbacks. Juice Williams finished the day with only 52% accuracy and 2 interceptions and Eddie McGee was about the same with 50% accuracy and 1 interception during the late stages. Senior Defensive Tackle Todd Denlinger felt great about the shut-out after the game. "It feels great to shut them out. Illinois has a high-powered offense. They're going to win a lot of games this season." he told reporters. "We knew we had to take the game out of Juice's hands. He's a great player and killed us in 2007. I'm sure the rain probably played in our favor." he explained.

No 13 Ohio State Buckeyes v Illinois

Steve Patterson — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 02:20:53 GMT

#13/11 Ohio State v Illinois

Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

Kickoff: 3:30

TV: ABC

The Buckeyes were #1 in the country when the Fighting Illini came into Columbus in November of 2007. The Buckeyes tasted defeat for the first time that season as the Illini shocked OSU 28-21. It’s been two years since the teams have faced off but the sting of that loss is still fresh in the minds of Buckeye Nation. The Illini are coming off a much needed early season bye week. Several key players sat out their last game and the week off allowed them to heal up. Illinois owns Ohio State in the ‘Shoe winning 4 of the last five and seven out of the last ten. It’s time to buck this trend.

OSU “O”

Quarterback Terrell Pryor continued to improve but still displayed poor decision making by throwing into traffic and getting picked off twice. I’m also a little worried about Pryor’s mechanics. He still doesn’t look confident in his arm and jumped or threw off his back foot more than once. He also tried to throw the ball too much. On a broken play, an athletic quarterback needs to tuck the ball and get the first down and not sort of think about throwing the ball. Be decisive. The Illinois defense hasn’t been world beaters but they are a disciplined unit and will find holes in the soft and squishy Buckeye offensive line. If the line does its job the Buckeyes will control the clock and win handily. If the offensive line continues its recent tradition of missed assignments, implosive effort and weak play, Pryor will be running for his life and the running backs won’t have a chance to move the ball. This is the start of Big Ten season and this unit better get its act together. The Big Ten Championship and the Rose Bowl are still in our future and Saturday kicks it all off.

OSU “D”

This defense is shaping up to be something special. Yes it was Toledo but anytime you get a shut out against a Division 1 team is an accomplishment. Toledo came into the game ranked the number one offense in the country and the Buckeye defense made them look silly. Illinois is coming off a bye week and it’s a good thing it happened so early. Quarterback Juice Williams was banged up in the second game of the season and had to sit out and watch backup Eddie McGee put up some good numbers. Along with Juice, the Illini have seen injuries across the board including wide receiver Arrelious Benn, running backs Dan Dufrene and Jason Ford, and linebacker Matez Wilson. All but Wilson are expected to play this Saturday. The defensive key to the game for the Buckeyes is to get to Juice and knock him out of his game. He’s a serious threat on the ground and if he gets into a throwing rhythm he can be unstoppable.

Summary

The Illinois offense sinks or swims depending on Juice Williams and with the way the Ohio State defense has played so far this season the edge has to go to the Buckeyes. As long as Ohio State doesn’t beat themselves they should be able to handle the Illini and bring the Illibuck back to Columbus.

Prediction: OSU 30 – Illini 17

Why OSU will win:

Terrell Pryor is maturing each game into a great quarterback.

Defense shuts down Juice.

Why OSU will lose:

The only way the Buckeyes lose this game is if they beat themselves with turnovers and a hurried offensive attack.

Bold prediction for the game:

The Illibuck is coming home to Columbus. Hopefully we won’t keep him in a bathtub again.

Crazy stat of the game:

The Illini own Ohio State in Columbus winning 7 of the last 10 games in Columbus.

Last time they met…

It’s been a few years but the memory of last time these two teams played still stings many Buckeye faithful. In 2007, Illinois defeated #1 ranked Ohio State in Columbus, 28-21.

Illini players to watch:

Senior QB #7 Juice Williams

Junior WR #9 Arrelious Benn

Sophomore RB #21 Jason Ford

Senior WR #16 Michael Hoomanawanui (I just like the name)

Junior WR #11 Jarred Fayson

Sophomore LB #38 Ian Thomas

Junior DB #20 Garrett Edwards

Ohio State Buckeyes to Face Illinois on Saturday

Steve Patterson — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 20:23:36 GMT

Ohio State Buckeyes to Face Illinois on Saturday

Getting ready for the Illinois game this Saturday in the Horseshoe, Head Coach Jim Tressel spoke with the media on Thursday about the excitement on campus, injuries, the running back position, and rotation on the offensive line.

By Steve Patterson

When speaking about the atmosphere this week on campus Coach Tressel stated “that there is more of an electric feel this week because the students are back on campus going to class and the Big Ten is opening play this week.” Indiana will play Michigan, Michigan State at Wisconsin, Minnesota plays at Northwestern, and Iowa is at Penn State.

Jim Cordle is better than expected after a foot scope this week while Jamaal Berry, Zach Domicone, and Aaron Gant are all out with injuries. Gant has been out the season so far and won’t be back as soon as the others Tressel reported.

Jordan Hall should see the field against Illinois with Bandon Saine and Dan ‘Boom’ Herron seeing the most time. There is a possibility that Terrelle Pryor could be the leading rusher for the team when the season is complete. But the tailbacks would like to see as much action as possible and allow Pryor to focus more on passing.

The offensive line is going to see 6 or 7 different players rotate in this weekend. And the left tackle is going to feature a mix of both Andrew Miller and Mike Adams with Miller more than likely getting the start Tressel said. The other tackles are JB Shugarts and Bryant Browning. JB Shugarts will get the start at right tackle with Browning seeing time at the position also. The three guards that will play are Justin Boren, Bryant Browning, and Andrew Moses.

OSU Buckeye Players of the Week for Toledo

Steve Patterson — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:04:59 GMT

OSU Buckeye Players of the Week for Toledo

Ohio State announced the players of the week for the week against Toledo. Winners included Ross Homan, Dane Sanzenbacher, Ben Buchanan, Cameron Heyward, and Bryant Browning.

By Steve Patterson

Ross Homan was the Defensive Player of the Week as he completed the game with a fumble recovery and 6 tackles. Dane Sanzenbacher was on all the highlight shows with his two touchdown catches in the first quarter. He finished the game with 5 catches for 126 yards.

Ben Buchanan got the start at punter after Jon Thoma came down with an illness before the game. He finished the game with 4 punts and averaged 42.8 yards per punt. The coaches awarded Ben the Special Teams Player of the Week award.

Cameron Heyward got the Attack Force Player of the Week as a member of a Buckeye defense that completely shut down a very good Toledo offense. While Bryant Browning received the Jim Parker Lineman of the Week award. The line continued to shift and rotate players trying to find a good combination after the loss of Jim Cordle to an ankle injury.

Scout Team Players of the Week included Chris Fields, Jordan Whiting, and Tony Harlamert.

Ohio State Buckeyes Over The Toledo Rockets 38-0

Steve Patterson — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 21:21:19 GMT

Ohio State Buckeyes Over The Toledo Rockets 38-0

In a nice ‘get healthy’ and ‘feel good about yourselves again’ kind of game, Ohio State regained their swagger after a loss to Southern California with a fairly dominate win over a MAC team from Toledo. The defense continued to completely shut down their opponent similar to the way they stopped the top ranked Trojans one week ago.

By Steve Patterson

The only things that could draw a shadow over the nice win is the loss of Jim Cordle during the week of practice and Washington beating USC. But the play of the running backs, the wide receivers, and the whole defense for the Buckeyes makes all of Ohio feel good once again about their team. Brandon Saine (45 yards on 9 carries), Dan Herron (42 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown), and Jordan Hall (44 yards on 7 carries) all saw action at the tailback position and looked solid independently.

Just how bad is Colorado to lose to a Rocket team that couldn’t do a thing all day against the stingy Ohio State squad. Ohio State held Toledo to only 9 first downs, converting 3-15 on third down, for a total 210 yards on the day. This is in comparison to Ohio State’s 23 first downs, 11-17 on third down, and 522 net yards. That is about as lopsided a game as they come. Ohio State had the ball 14 more minutes than the Rockets to boot.

Terrelle Pryor looked great at times completing touchdown passes to Dane Sanzenbacher twice and once to DeVier Posey. He finished with 262 yards through the air with the three touchdowns but threw away two pass to the defense. When the pocket wasn’t stable for the Buckeyes is when Pryor improvised. If he ran forward you could expect really good results. As he finished with the most rushing yards on the day at 110 yards and one touchdown. But when he scrambled to pass is when things went bad.

The kicking game was also slightly a miss for the Buckeyes on a day that otherwise was excellent in all possible ways. Starting punter and holder Jon Thoma was unable to play with a reported illness. This led to Sanzenbacher holding for both field goal attempts with kicker Aaron Pettrey missing a chip shot from near 25 yards away. And Ben Buchanan got to make all punts on the day averaging 42.8 yards a punt with none inside the 20. Good experience for the backups at these positions.

Ohio State Football Depth Chart 2009 - Toledo

Steve Patterson — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 14:56:35 GMT

Ohio State Football Depth Chart 2009 – Toledo

The latest depth chart for the Ohio State Buckeyes has been released prior to the Toledo game this coming Saturday at Noon. One of the changes present on the chart compared to past weeks is Jermale Hines from Cleveland Glenville moving ahead of Anderson Russell at the Free Safety Spot.

By Steve Patterson

Other Changes on the Depth Chart include Aaron Gant falling off the Strong Safety position in favor of Kurt Coleman and red-shirted freshman Orhian Johnson. Devon Torrence is listed as a possible starter sharing a cornerback spot with Andre Amos opposite Chimidi Chekwa. And Dane Sanzenbacher is listed as a Punt Returner along with Ray Small and DeVier Posey.

DEFENSE

DT
84 Doug Worthington
53 Garrett Goebel
9 Rob Rose

DT
72 Dexter Larimore
92 Todd Denlinger
54 John Simon

DE
90 Thaddeus Gibson
43 Nathan Williams

DE
97 Cameron Heyward
87 Lawrence Wilson
98 Solomon Thomas

WLB
51 Ross Homan
42 Andrew Sweat

SLB
38 Austin Spitler
6 Etienne Sabino

MLB
36 Brian Rolle
41 Tony Jackson

S
7 Jermale Hines
21 Anderson Russell

S
4 Kurt Coleman
19 Orhian Johnson

CB
13 Andre Amos
10 Devon Torrence

CB
5 Chimdi Chekwa
18 Travis Howard

OFFENSE

QB
2 Terrelle Pryor
14 Joe Bauserman

TB
1 Dan Herron
3 Brandon Saine

FB
44 Zach Boren
49 Adam Homan
37 James Georgiades

WR
8 DeVier Posey
9 Duron Carter
82 Ray Small

WR
12 Dane Sanzenbacher
5 Taurian Washington
7 Lamaar Thomas

TE
86 Jake Ballard
11 Jake Stoneburner

RT
64 Jim Cordle
79 Marcus Hall

RG
70 Bryant Browning
66 Andrew Moses

C
50 Mike Brewster
74 Jack Mewhort

LG
65 Justin Boren
71 Corey Linsley

LT
55 Andrew Miller
76 J.B. Shugarts

SPECIALISTS

PK
20 Aaron Pettrey
12 Devin Barclay

P
48 Jon Thoma
17 Ben Buchanan

LS
96 Jake McQuaide
53 Patrick Howe

H
48 Jon Thoma
12 Dane Sanzenbacher

PR
12 Dane Sanzenbacher
82 Ray Small
8 DeVier Posey

KR
3 Brandon Saine
1 Dan Herron
7 Lamaar Thomas

No 11 Ohio State Buckeyes vs Toledo Rockets

Steve Patterson — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 14:30:33 GMT

#11 Ohio State v Toledo

Browns Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

Kickoff: 12noon

TV: ESPN Plus

It felt like you were standing there minding your own business and someone turned around and punched you in the stomach without warning. The Bucks had that game won but the defense failed to stop the Trojans fourth quarter ending drive (see 2009 Fiesta Bowl versus Texas). The defense isn’t all to blame; Terrell Pryor and that soft pasty junior varsity offensive line left plenty of points off the board due to poor drives and lousy execution. The coaching staff is also under the microscope for not making any adjustments at half-time and not getting the team motivated to rise to the occasion. Overall, what could have been a tremendous victory just turned into the old song and dance. For as long as Jim Tressel is in charge, the Buckeyes will play not to make a mistake, which means a lot of close games and few big game wins.

Ohio State meets up with a high scoring Toledo Rocket team in Cleveland Brown Stadium this Saturday for their first “road trip” of the season. This will be a nice recruiting trip…um…game for the Buckeyes since an unbelievably high percentage of OSU football players come out of North East Ohio. It was also a nice payout for the Rockets as they are trying to raise funds for a new stadium and facilities. Now after the first two games, I’m not so sure this will be the cakewalk it was once viewed as. With the Western Michigan victory over the Michigan State Spartans and the poor offensive showing from Ohio State in the last two games, you know the Rockets are thinking that an upset isn’t such a ridiculous notion.

OSU “O”

I’m going to ride the offensive line and its coach Jim Bollman until something changes for the better. OSU consistently is blessed with much ballyhooed blue chip offensive line recruits that have performed well UNDER expectation since the Troy Smith era. They are soft. They look weak. They are not explosive. They don’t show a killer instinct that good offensive line units typically have. Until the Buckeyes can either get some talent on that line or get a new coach that can develop the young men to their full potential, we as Ohio State fans will continue to see a below average rushing attack and a quarterback who has to run for his life. Toledo isn’t a juggernaut when it comes to defense as they have allowed 493 total yards and 45 points per game. However, I believe the offense’s ineptitude will keep Toledo in the game. Prove me wrong boys.

OSU “D”

The Buckeyes have their hands full with a high powered passing attack lead by Toledo quarterback Aaron Opelt. The Rocket offense is averaging a whopping 42.5 points and 558.5 yards per game. If you missed it last Friday the Rockets just destroyed Colorado 54-38 and the Buckeye defense is next on the menu. Opelt is a duel threat quarterback with 742 yards, 7 touchdowns through the air AND 133 rushing yards with 2 touchdowns on the ground. His top two targets are wide receivers Eric Page and Stephen Williams who combine for 451 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns. In two games so far this season, Opelt has dished the ball off to 10 different receivers and all but three have double digit yards. The Rocket running game is effective also as running back DaJuane Collins averages 93.5 yards per game. Just add cherry on top of the Toledo sundae, the Rocket’s leading rusher from 2008, Morgan Williams, is back after a two game suspension. The Buckeye defense will have to play smart on Saturday to hold the Rockets under 30 points.

Summary

First year head coach and former Ohio State quarterbacks coach Tim Beckman wants to win this game badly and will pull out all the tricks in the book to try for the upset. This is Toledo biggest game of year and they are no strangers to beating Big Ten teams (see UT v Michigan 2008). This game is not the gimme it seemed to be at the start of the season and the Buckeyes have had their difficulties with the MAC in recent memory. This one will be closer than Buckeye Nation wants it to be.

Prediction: OSU 24 – UT 14

Why OSU will win:

Sustain long offensive drives and keep the high scoring Rocket offense off the field.

Don’t get hung up on last week.

Pryor will loosen up and stop thinking about making a mistake. Just be yourself.

Defensive secondary locks down the wide receivers.

The Rocket defense gives up a LOT of points.

Why OSU will lose:

Offense line doesn’t attack the smaller UT defense.

No holes for the running backs.

Pryor runs for his life because of poor pass protection.

The Rocket offense scores a LOT of points.

Bold prediction for the game:

Brandon Saine will get more touches than Boom Herron and we will see a lot of Jamal Berry.

Crazy stat of the game:

Ohio State hasn’t lost to a MAC team since 1894. Back then there wasn’t a “MAC” (the MAC was founded in 1946) but the Buckeyes lost to Akron 12-6 on September 15, 1894.

Last time they met…

Joe Germaine and an OSU coached John Cooper trounced the Rockets 49-0 in 1998.

Rocket players to watch:

Sophomore WR #7 Kenny Stafford

Senior QB #11 Aaron Opelt

Senior RB #22 DaJuane Collins

Freshman WR #12 Eric Page

Senior WR #88 Stephen Williams

#8 Barry Church

#42 Archie Donald

#48 Brudzinski

#5 Daxton Swanson

Ohio State Walk-Ons Earn Scholarships

Steve Patterson — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 21:36:05 GMT

Ohio State Walk-Ons Earn Scholarships

A number of former walk-ons will now be on scholarship for their final one to two years of college courses at Ohio State. Jon Thomas may be the most recognizable as he has taken over the punting position this year with the departure of AJ Trapasso to the NFL. Thomas was the special teams Player of the Week against USC.

By Steve Patterson

Thoma is now in his fifth year with the Buckeyes and after handling the holder position on field goals the last two years is now also the starting punter. He will be on scholarship when the Fall Quarter starts at OSU. Other’s going on scholarship in the Fall include Andrew Moses and Marcus Williams. Moses has been a backup offensive lineman and Williams is a running back noted for his great running in the Spring Game this past April.

In the Winter Quarter three more walk-ons will become scholarship players including Ryan Schuck, Joe Gantz and Tom Ingham. Schuck is a Junior wide receiver who joined the Buckeyes in 2008. Senior Gantz is a running back for the Buckeyes who also played lacrosse last year. Ingham is a senior defensive tackle from Centerville Ohio.

Ohio State Coaches Not Pleased with Offensive Performance

Steve Patterson — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:38:13 GMT

Ohio State Coaches Not Pleased with Offensive Performance

The weekly Players of the Week were released today for the USC game and no offensive players were given the award. Mike Adams was given offensive Player of the Week for the scout team by the coaching staff. Adams was suspended for the first game of the season and might have been eligible for the game against USC but did not get on the field. Boom Herron received the Jack Tatum Hit of the Week award. It’s somewhat rare for a running back to receive this award, buck his nickname is Boom.

By Steve Patterson

Defensive Player of the Week was given to Devon Torrence and Cameron Heyward was the Attack Force Player of the Week. Torrence started for the first time in his career and was solid at the corner position. He had a number of tackles in addition to a late sack which put USC up against Ohio State’s goal line. Heyward was consistently in the back field against the USC offensive line, disrupted plays on a regular basis.

Others on the scout team given awards were Spencer Smith for the defensive and Nate Ebner for special teams. Jon Thoma was given the special teams Player of the Week for his punts within the 20 yard line which put USC in poor field position throughout the game.

An number of Offensive Players had good games including Boom Herron, DeVier Posey, and Dane Sanzenbacher but the Coaches didn’t feel the offensive provided the points needed to win the game after the defense played exceptionally most of the night.

Ohio State Captains Comment on USC Loss

Steve Patterson — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 15:00:08 GMT

Ohio State Captains Comment on USC Loss

In a very tight game in Ohio Stadium last night, Ohio State come up short for the 6th straight time against a top rank team. Head Coach Jim Tressel and the team captains spoke with the media after the game. Jake Ballard was the weekly captain for the offense with Austin Spitler, Kurt Coleman and Doug Worthington being the season captains and all defensive players.

By Steve Patterson

Austin Spitler talked about the final drive that gave USC the win after a Buckeye punt with near 7 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. “I mean, obviously it's a tough loss again, put on the big stage, we want to go out there and get the victory, we were feeling good and the last drive comes along and they just pounded it down our throats.” He explained. “Obviously it's a tough loss. We have to bounce back, though, and understand that we played a heck of a team and we've got a bright future.” Spitler said about moving forward after the loss.

Jake Ballard spoke from an offensive perspective. “We didn't take advantage of our opportunities. We just kept getting three and out.” He felt about Ohio State’s production. “ You can't do that when you get the ball.” Ballard stated about playing a game against a top ranked opponent.

Kurt Coleman was a little bit more emotional about the loss. “I'm really just physically drained and I know this whole team is just physically drained.” Is how he described his condition following the tough battle with Southern California. “We worked so hard and it's just tough coming off -- I mean, the offense did a great job of doing their job, as a defense we've got to get off the field. Especially we knew the ball was going to be the ball in our court and we had to stop them on that last drive and we knew that and it's just tough, man, I don't know, it's just tough.” Coleman displayed his upset about the difficult lose.

Doug Worthington felt good about the defensive play in the game and the ability of the special teams to get a safety late in the match. “Obviously it hurts. I commend the Trojans, they played a great game, a tough game, and it hurts, I mean, that's the bottom line. We went out there, I think the defense and special teams put it on the line and we came up a little short and got to get back to the drawing board.” Is how Worthington described resetting the season and getting ready for the next game.

Ohio State 2010 Recruits Latwan Anderson, Jordan Hicks, and Tyrone Williams

Steve Patterson — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 18:41:44 GMT

Ohio State 2010 Recruits Latwan Anderson, Jordan Hicks, and Tyrone Williams

The eScoutRoom.com continues to write about some of the top Ohio State recruits for their 2010 class. From recent offer to Latwan Anderson to the commitment of Tyrone Williams they cover a number of high school prospects you want to know more about. Also find corresponding video for many of the recruiting stories available.

By Steve Patterson

Latwan Anderson Finally With a Buckeye Offer

Cleveland Glenville has been a pipeline high school to Ohio State for the best athletes in the program since Jim Tressel took over the Buckeyes in Columbus. Very few Tarblooders with offers from Ohio State have gone elsewhere. 2010 was going to a year when only one Glenville player received an Ohio State offer until last night.

Buckeye Recruit Jordan Hicks Will Hold Weekly Teleconference

High School standout Jordan Hicks and his high school Athletic Director Todd Hummer have decided that the only way to handle the overwhelming requests from the press is to hold weekly teleconferences. This just demonstrates the overwhelming interest in recruiting. His first one was held on Monday, August 31.

Tyrone Williams Commits to Ohio State

Tyrone Williams has made his choice; he will become a Buckeye in 2010. He shared that he committed for one reason. “I couldn’t wait. I just like it down there. I like the school, the coaches, the players, Terrelle Pryor. I was ready.”

2010 Star Prospects Attending Ohio State vs. USC

Ohio State is bringing in as many high caliber prospects for the 2010 class as possible on September 11th for the weekend that could be the making of a historic year for the Buckeyes. That is of course if Ohio State can do to USC what the Trojans did to the Buckeyes last year in beating them at home and practically knocking them out of National Championship contention with one game.

Latwan Anderson Junior Highlights

Roderick Smith Highlights and Commitment

Jordan Hicks 2010 Linebacker Highlights

Ohio State 2010 Commit Chad Hagan

No 7 Ohio State Buckeyes v No 3 USC Trojans

Steve Patterson — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:48:29 GMT

#7 Ohio State v #3 USC

Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

Kickoff: 8pm

TV: ESPN

“Appalachian State…Appalachian State… Appalachian State…” was all that was going through my head as the Midshipmen lined up for the two point conversion. Thankfully, Brian Rolle came up with a timely interception to secure the win for the Buckeyes. Now the Bucks entertain superpower USC in the ‘Shoe for what hopes to be a classic showdown. USC was able to break in their true freshman quarterback in their commanding season debut win over San Jose State and looks poised to make a run at the national championship. On the other hand, the Buckeyes showed glaring weaknesses specifically on the offensive line, defensive line and secondary. The Trojans are the real deal and a victory for the Bucks would go along way in healing the national reputation of Ohio State and the Big Ten.

OSU “O”

Head coach Jim Tressel did exactly what he should have against Navy; give Terrell Pryor a bunch of quality snaps and play calls. The gameplan was a refreshing as Tressel called a lot of pass plays that meant something and prepared Pryor for the season. Everyone, including the tight ends, saw good playing time. However, poor discipline caused several drive stalling penalties and the offensive line disappointed everyone by looking reactive, passive and squishy. USC has a fast, mean and deep defense and their aggressive style of attack will get them through the soft Buckeye offensive line if things don’t change between now and Saturday. If things don’t change with the attitude and execution of the offensive line, Pryor will be running for his life all day and the running backs will get stoned at the line of scrimmage. The Buckeye offense must be able to stay on the field, sustain long drives and keep the ball away from the high powered USC offense while minimizing mistakes and turnovers if they have any hope of winning this game.

OSU “D”

To my surprise, the OSU secondary really let everybody down. Even if they were looking hard at the run, Marcus Curry should never have burned them for an 85 yard touchdown reception. How slow do you think the secondary is going to look when going up against a receiving corps with real speed and talent? Saturday will be true freshman quarterback Matt Barkley’s second start and he looks to be the next Trojan great. Not only is Barkley a talented passer he also has the luxury of handing off the ball to three running backs that are NFL ready. The running back stable is lead by Joe McKnight who ran for 145 yards and two touchdowns on Saturday while the top three USC rushers averaged over 10 yards per carry. Along with the top notch running game, the OSU defense must also contend with a flock of tall and fast wide receivers. Wide receiver Damian Williams can stretch the field and will make the slow Buckeye secondary look even slower. The OSU defense is better equipped to handle an offense like USC but Navy pretty much had their way with the Buckeyes and it’s frightening to think of what a bigger and stronger Trojan team will be able to do.

Summary

USC has the luxury of having no pressure coming into this game. They have nothing to prove to the media, the country or themselves. Ohio State and Jim Tressel have the weight of the conference on its shoulders while enduring a tight scrutiny from the media and public opinion. If the Buckeyes can win on Saturday, some of that weight will be lifted but not all. OSU has dug itself a deep hole and if they hope to ever climb out of it they need to start winning these types of games. If the Buckeyes come out flat, it will be a long, horrible night for the OSU faithful.

Prediction:

USC 35 – OSU 13

Why OSU will win:

-The offensive line gets mean and aggressive and starts blowing the USC defense up.

-The secondary finds its speed.

-The defensive line and linebackers are able to contain the run and get lots of pressure on the freshman quarterback.

Why OSU will lose:

-USC will not respect the Buckeye running game and sit back in a soft flexible coverage watching and waiting to see what Pryor will do.

Bold prediction for the game:

If you’re a gambler put money on USC to cover the spread. The Trojans will win by no less than three touchdowns.

Crazy stat of the game:

-The last time Ohio State beat an opponent ranked above them in the polls was the 2002 National Championship game against the University of Miami (FL) at the Fiesta Bowl.

-Pete Carroll is 6-0 versus the Big Ten.

Last time they met…

9/13/2008; The Buckeyes sent the junior varsity squad out to Los Angeles and got thumped 35-3 in one of the least competitive games Ohio State has ever played in. The final score should have been 77-3 or worse as the Buckeyes embarrassed themselves, the Big Ten conference, their alumni and their fans.

Trojan players to watch:

Freshman QB # 7 Matt Barkley

Junior RB #4 Joe McKnight

Senior S #2 Taylor Mays

Junior WR #18 Damian Williams

Sophomore LB #54 Chris Galippo

Senior TE #86 Anthony McCoy

Another Chance at Redemption

Mark Silverman — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 21:20:58 GMT

Another Chance at Redemption

If last Saturday’s 31-27 victory over the Navy Midshipmen wasn’t an indication, Ohio State has plenty of work ahead of them as the Buckeyes head into their showdown with Southern California this weekend.

By Mark Silverman

A victory over the visiting Trojans would not only elevate Ohio State’s national respectability, but the Big Ten Conference as well. However, a performance similar to the showing against Navy could make USC’s 35-3 drubbing of Ohio State last season in Los Angeles déjà vu all over again.

Fortunately, the Buckeyes will not have to defend the triple-option unless USC head coach Pete Carroll has implemented the offense into the playbook, which may not be a bad idea. Ohio State gave up an uncharacteristic 186 yards against the run to Navy and with USC five to six running backs deep, headlined by Joe McKnight, the run defense must improve. What is more astounding is that the Buckeyes gave up 156 yards passing to a Navy team that averaged only 90 yards through the air in 2008. The secondary will need to step up their game with the offensive firepower the Trojans possess.

It appeared the Buckeyes were caught looking ahead to the USC matchup, so Buckeye fans shouldn’t worry too much. It is debatable whether Ohio State was ready to play in the season-opener against the Midshipmen, but that won’t be a question Saturday night.

The Buckeyes’ national reputation has taken a severe hit due to recent losses to Florida and LSU in the 2006 and 2007 national championship games along with defeats to USC and Texas a year ago. However, now the Buckeyes have their opponent on home turf. USC was a true road game and while the other three contests were held at neutral locations, the LSU matchup in New Orleans was a virtual home game for the Tigers.

There used to be a time when Ohio State defended the Horseshoe in night games to perfection. The Buckeyes have an opportunity to reverse their recent trends and erase some bad memories with a victory Saturday night. The Horseshoe will be rocking and if the Buckeyes can put together 60 minutes of consistent football, redemption will be a beautiful thing.

Ohio State Players of The Week For Navy

Steve Patterson — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 20:48:42 GMT

Ohio State Players of The Week For Navy

The university has announced the Buckeye Players of the Week for the Navy Midshipmen game this past Saturday. Of note are the many offensive scout players on the list with the difficult task of learning the triple option.

By Steve Patterson

Kurt Coleman is the defensive player of the week. This is not a surprise as he created the two turnovers late in the game that put Ohio State well in hand of a victory mid way through the fourth quarter. Nine tackles, one interception and a forced fumble were his statistics for the game.

Boom Herron had a good outing for his first time starting in the tailback position and he was awarded the offensive player of the week for his work. He had a total of 72 yards rushing with one touchdown. Nate Oliver shined on special teams and was given the Player of the Week award for special teams along with the Jack Tatum Big Hit of the Week.

Justin Boren gets his first award starting with the offensive line this past Saturday. He is the Jim Parker offensive lineman of the week. Scout team offensive winners were Zach Boren, KC Christian, Joe Gantz, Bo DeLande, Chris Malone, James Georgiades, Rocco Pentello, Scott Sika, Ryan Schuck, and Spencer Smith. The defensive Scout team award winner was Tony Jackson while Joe Gantz won the special teams award.

Ohio State and Jim Tressel honor the US Naval Academy.

Steve Patterson — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 16:45:52 GMT

Ohio State and Jim Tressel honor the US Naval Academy.

Being a graduate and an Ohio State fan, the University has provided a lot of reasons to be proud but Coach Tressel and the Administration added one today—The welcome given to the Naval Academy.

By Bill Smith

Local radio stations had covered the idea of giving the men from Navy a standing ovation not only for their play on the field but most of all for those they represent—the best and bravest men and women that have volunteered to protect all of us so that we can enjoy a football game in safety on a beautiful Saturday afternoon.

But OSU did the fans one better. For the first time in the 120 year history of the game at Ohio State, the two teams came on the field together as one.

There are a lot of things to be concerned about. The way that Navy ran on the Buckeyes D was disturbing. The fact that OSU could not run up the middle effectively was a major problem. The trouble the O line had in protecting the QB against the Navy pass rush is serious given the fact that USC will be here next week. Given the unusual style of Navy, it is hard to tell how much of the trouble was system rather than execution. But overall none of that matters much.

Ohio State and our fans gave a welcome to the Naval Academy. That is a memory that I will cherish for a long time.

That's what I think. Tell me what you think.