Buckeye Outpost

I must admit that I was surprised at how well Braxton Miller ran last weekend and I was equally surprised at how little passing was actually displayed.   I realize that they were trying to ease him into the QB role, but it would have been nice to develop a rhythm for both him and the dropsie wide receivers we have.  While this strategy will work against Colorado, it won't do much for any team in the Big12.  We got to get a passing game established or it will be a very long year.  Of the guys suspended, Posey is really the only guy we desperately need back.  We need his presence to open things up for the other receivers and Stoneburner.  If we can somehow beat MSU, we should be in much better shape.

The Oline was opening wide holes for the entire running game and there really wasn't a reason to throw.  The last time we saw holes this big was against Akron and we know how good a team they are.  I think this was more a function of how bad Colorado is and not how good our Oline played.

I am especially concerned about the defense now.  We have had way to many missed tackles over the first few games and this is quite uncharacteristic of a OSU defense.  We haven't really been dominating the line as much as in years past and you begin to wonder if Williams and Simon are as good as advertised. 

Overall,  the MSU game is critical for this team.  A victory will demonstrate that we can overcome adversity.  A loss will most likely cost Fickel his job.  Because more losses are sure to follow.

Technorati Tags: Adversity, Big12, Games, Holes, Last Time, Losses, New Era, Oline, Osu Defense, Passing Game, Posey, Presence, Reason, Rhythm, Running Game, Shape, Stoneburner, Tackles, Victory, Wide Receivers

Tags: Announcements by swjessen
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Well folks, it wasn't pretty by any means. From the get go, we were in trouble and before you knew it we were down 21-0 and reeling from the beating we were taken by UW. Herein lies the problem with Tressel ball, it isn't designed to overcome huge deficits. It's predicated on defense and special teams and we had neither last Saturday.

I was surprised by 2 items: how poorly the defense played and how well the offensive line run blocked. You've heard me harping all year about our lack of a push off the offensive line. It appeared that the Oline finally received the memo and started to make some holes. Of course, we didn't establish this until the second half and we had to abandon it to try and score some points.

The inability to score on our two opportunities in the first half doomed us. If you intercept a pass in the opponents territory and you are down by 3 scores, you have to capitalize on it. that right there probably sealed the game for us.

The defense flat out got whipped by Wisconsin. They were knocking our highly rated Dline on their collective asses. If you think about it, they have neither played or practiced against an Oline that can run block. Day in and day out they face our Oline which can only pass block. This causes complacency. Our Dline just was in no way prepared to handle this onslaught.

Any chance of a National Championship showing are gone. The best we can hope for is a Big 10 title at this point. We have to wait and see how things fall with MSU, Iowa and Wisconsin. Based on what we've seen, we were never a number 1 team to begin.

Technorati Tags: Books, Collective Asses, Complacency, Dline, Game, Holes, Last Saturday, Msu, National Championship, Number 1, Offensive Line, Oline, Onslaught, Opponents, Score, Second Half

Tags: Announcements by swjessen
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Regardless of anything else I might write in this posting, this is the best opening performance I've seen from a Tressel lead Buckeye Team.  This was a ginormous victory when you consider that Tressel views a 28-7 score as a blowout.  We definitely came ready to play and there was a lot more working then not working.  Also uncharacteristic of a Tressel team, was the poor play of the special team units.   Normally that is the only thing which goes right in our first game.  Giving Tressel's track record for special teams, this will be straightened quickly and hopefully a nonconcern moving forward.

As you know from my writing, everything starts and ends with TP.  Our paradox of savior and nemesis appeared to be the former in this game.  I remain skeptical that he has improved enough to take us to the Natty.  As always, there were some nice throws where only the receiver could get it and there were some "what the hell is he thinking"  throws to keep you worried.  This night the nice plays outweighed the bad by far.  Unfortunately, Pryor had all night to throw the ball (with the exception of one play where he was forced to throw off balance into coverage) and wasn't really tested.  It's that one play which keeps one worried.  He will have pressure next week and will need to make quick decisons and that is his one major weakness.  The Miami dbacks are one of their weaknesses, so maybe he'll have a repeat of the Rose Bowl.   I still don't see the progression from last year where he's shown he is Heisman caliber.  Hopefully, we'll see this moving forward.

Saine does look like he earned the title of starter and showed his speed as being difficult to handle in the open field.  He definitely doesn't have the size to bruise or show he can "make holes", but his speed makes up for it when he has an open hole.  I was also impressed with Berry, he showed both speed and "hole making" ability and it will be interesting to see how he much playing time he gets moving forward. 

The Oline looks much better this year compared to last year's opener.  It's hard to tell if this is related to the quality of the opponent or is true improvement.  This should be one of our better lines in years with many new faces added.

The only two issues I have with the defense are lack of pressure on the QB and apparent holes deep in the middle of the field.  I know Marshall had a quick strike offense, so that probably offset the apparent lack of pressure by our D line.  Getting Nathan Williams back should improve our pressure and depth on the line.  Our starting safeties allowed a lot of crossing patterns to work for large gains and that has to be a concern for the defense moving forward.  Tyler Moeller is a linebacker playing safety and looks like a beast. 

Everything still hinges on TP's performance.  Saine still doesn't look like a back who can take over a game and the only way to get the ball to our very talented receiving corp is through Pryor.  Maybe down the road Berry will develop into something special, but it wouldn't be till much later this year or next.  I am still more than a little worried about the safetys and hope they'll be able to produce some INTs next week against UM.  For the 4th year in a row,  our Natty chances rest on our performance in the 2nd game of the year.  I was very pleasantly surprised by our defensive play last year against SC and UM isn't SC.  Everything really rests on whether Pryor lays an egg again in a big game.

Technorati Tags: Blowout, Caliber, Dbacks, Decisons, First Game, First Impressions, Hell, Holes, Nemesis, Open Hole, Paradox, Playing Time, Plays, Rose Bowl, Savior, Score, Victory

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This is by far the best week of the year!   We've been patiently waiting and waiting for what seems like eons for the football season to finally begin.   In our minds are thoughts of winning big games, winning the conference and winning the natty!  We all rationalize that this will be our year and things will be different and better.  I even convinced myself that we would be better this year.

Well, I am starting to already burst my bubble with reality.  I really think we'll be fortunate to win the Big 11 this year and keep that streak alive.   When you start looking at things on paper, it sobers you up real fast.   Sure everyone in the country is talking about Terrelle Pryor and his great potential, but theres the rub, he's an unproven commodity and no one is talking about anyone else on the team.  In a nutshell the whole team is an unproven commodity.  Until we actually see Pryor in the big game, we won't know for sure if he is it.  There are too many holes to fill the void which is left from last year's team.

Last year, it was clear that our greatest weakness' were the Lines.  This year everyone is saying the strength of our team is the defensive line.   Wait a second here, that was the weakness last year?!? Here's the paradox, if our strength this year was last year's great weakness, we could be in lots of trouble! 

Our O-line is supposed to be quicker and leaner with a complete overall from last year's unit.   You take the core of that excellent recruiting class last year and add the Michigan xfer Boren into the mix and we are revamped, but not a unit which has played together a long time.   With all the mixing around this spring and the injuries this camp, you need to be worried about how this gels together.

Granted Beanie Wells was a killer when he was healthy, but that was only 50% of the time, so we already have some experience in having to play without Beanie.   Herron and Saine looked good in the Spring and throw in Freshman Berry and we are alright at RB.   Unfortunately these guys are all the same type of runner, so there isn't going to be a change of pace.

Who will step up at WR is the biggest question on offense.  We have the incredibly skilled, but head case WR in Small.   He makes you say O my gosh what a play in the same breath as what a knucklehead.  Duron Carter has come in as a freshman and appears to be the real deal.   We just have to see how Washington, Thomas, Sanzenbacher and Posey perform.

We supposedly will be able to reload at linebacker, but there are really big shoes to fill and there may still be the same problems for our LBs this year as last year in that the Dline (our strength)  can't stop the run or rush the passer.

Safeties should be strong but you have to worry about the corners.  Chekwa makes me nervous as our top DB.

Navy has all the makings of a trap game.   Their offense is so different then anyone elses, it's the first game of the season and our biggest game of the year is the following weekend.   I expect a close game well into the third quarter with both the offense and defense looking bad until our dpeth just wears out Navy.   This will be a typical Tressel lead first game back with a lot of rust being shaken off.   The only question is whether we can shake it off quick enough.

I honestky think we are in for a rebuilding type year.  USC will most likely give us one of our worse home losses in history.  Both Penn State and Illinois may very will add to our misery forcing us to play in the Capital One Bowl if we are lucky.   As always, I hope I am wrong and will gladly take any abuse for being a doubter.   I am just happy to have football back!   Go Bucks!

Technorati Tags: Big Game, Big Games, Boren, Commodity, Defensive Line, Dose Of Reality, Eons, Football Season, Gels, Great Potential, Greatest Weakness, Herron, Holes, Long Time, Lots Of Trouble, Nutshell, Paradox, Recruiting, Terrelle Pryor, Xfer

Tags: Announcements by swjessen
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Wow, what a nice game played by the Buckeyes!  All I can think is where the heck has this been all year?  

Granted it was against Northwestern, but they were a top 25 team.  Northwestern tried initially to do the same thing that Penn State did to us which was make Pryor beat you with the pass.   However, this time he delivered some incredible passes showing how much of a dual threat he is.  Could it be that Pryor is just now getting acclamated to the college game or just that Tressel decided that we had nothing to lose and just let it all hang out.   Either way the results were impressive.

The O Line played pretty well, but again there weren't huge holes for Wells to run through.  This week, though, Wells created something out of nothing.  Where was that against Penn State as well?   There were enough incredible plays between Wells and Pryor that I left the game scratching my head.... what could we have been if these two played like this the earlier part of the year?

The Defense had some issues with the mobile QB, but it still was a dominating performance.   

Way too many personal fouls by seniors who should have known better.  I guess they needed to vent their frustration?!?

All in all, we still have a shot at the Big Ten title thanks to Iowa and a shot at a BCS bid.

Technorati Tags: Buckeyes, College Game, Dominating Performance, Dual Threat, Frustration, Heck, Holes, Nice Game, Penn State, Personal Fouls, Qb, Seniors, Something Out Of Nothing, Wow

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Well folks its the halfway mark for this season and so far the Buckeyes haven't lived up to their potential!   This last game against Purdue just emphasized what we've been discussing this whole year.

1. Offensive Line was offensive.   Granted their were some plays where I saw holes big enough for a Mack truck to drive through (and Pryor optioned not to give Wells the ball), but there were too many missed blocks.   Rehring in particular looked bad.   The line has been shifted around a lot this year due to poor play and the lack of cohesion is evident from these switches.   To make matters worse, super freshmen Shugarts and Brewster are out for the next few games at least (Shugarts for the year probably). 
2. No spark in the offense.   Neither Pryor or Wells had good games.   We're basically down to Wells as the only productive back.   Please keep Mo Wells out of any more games.   He is worthless.   Hopefullty Saine (hamstring) and Herron (concussion) are able to come back.   But neither back has wowed me this year.   Pryor is showing that he is a true freshman.   I was hoodwinked into thinking he was Superman, but he is Superman with a conscious.   He's just thinking too much on the field.  He's a perfectionist and that has kept him from being anything but perfect.   He just needs to commit and not second guess it.  If he continues to play this way the next few games, we'll be stuck with Boeckman (and he has no problem chucking the ball into double coverage).  I swear I saw the slightest smirk on Boeckman's face when they pained to him during Pryor's troubles against Purdue.   I'm still waiting for the spark from a speedy receiver.  Bottom line is either you have speed or you dont and, folks, we ain't got it.
3. Defense finally played like the defense we've been expecting all year.   Maybe the light finally turned on for the D Line and we have turned the corner.   If so, then we will have a good couple of games.   Unfortunately, I think it's not.   We lost Wilson for the season.   With Rose filling in the gap, you can expect that light to dim significantly.  We'll need the same performances out of the secondary we just saw for the remainder if the year to have any hope of coming out of the next 2 games alive.   We also need to hear more from Lauranitis.  He has to show he is top 5 draft pick in these next few games.

This is the hump.   Our last two ranked opponents are before us and if destiny has us repeating for a third consecutive National Championship loss, then we have to rise against MSU and PSU.   If, somehow, we beat MSU convincingly and beat the media favorite Penn State, then the country will once again be forced to acknowlege us.   It makes no sense that we are consistently top 5 recruiting class year in and year out and not have the ability to simply reload.

Technorati Tags: Boeckman, Bottom Line, Buckeyes, Cohesion, Concussion, D Line, Double Coverage, Freshmen, Good Games, Holes, Last Game, Mack Truck, Offensive Line, Perfectionist, Purdue, Shugarts, Smirk, Superman, Switches, True Freshman

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