Game Thread (2004) Game Seven: Indiana - 10/23/04 (W, 4-3/1-3)

[Clarity]

Whomever it is though, I'll cheer for them because they are a Buckeyes !!!

If there's one theme I'm trying to get across today, that represents it pretty well. It comes back to wanting success for the silver helmets, not just for the individuals inside them.

Collectively, we do ourselves no favor as fans with the more divisive QB1 vs. QB2 talk. I'm not referencing anything here, but none of us would have to travel far to find some really inappropriate rhetoric. I'm happy not to see any of the extremist garbage here, and want to reiterate something I said months ago. I'd rather shut this place down, than let it be a platform for some of the things that lead players and coaches to hate their own fanbase.

There are fans that seem more vested in position 'battles' than the very players being debated are themselves. Which isn't to suggest they aren't interested enough in their own performances and roles, but rather that some fans just take it way the hell too far, and way too personally. The practice of building gigantic pedestals for players, only to tear them down violently when it's time to build a different player up -- I just don't see the upside there. If I ever find myself running a virtual PR campaign for a single player, and a smear campaign against anyone who disagrees, I know it's well past the time where I should stop posting entirely, because I've lost all perspective.

Where some might see me being negative about Smith, I couldn't disagree more. I'm excited about him, as I am about almost all of our younger guys just starting to find opportunities to apply themselves on the field. I just make a point to try and temper that excitement with reason and as objective a look at the realities that I can manage. Doesn't mean I am always reasonable and/or objective, but that's the goal.

So yeah, coming full circle so that I can finally force myself to go to bed (literally, and figuratively on the Smith/Zwick issue), I believe more of us should be about the silver helmets rather than the individuals. But I could be wrong. Here's hoping both Smith and Zwick experience no small amount of success in their respective careers. Then a bit more grounded, here's hoping one of them really steps forward and comes into their own over the rest of this season, and enters the offseason as the clear starter. Don't really care which. I'd just love to have one of those veteran "franchise" (wrong term, but you know what I mean) QBs that's around a few years, and other teams have to gameplan around.


--edit--
Lest anyone misunderstand what I'm saying because I've drawn it out too painfully far and the theme is lost, I'll summarize;

Go Buckeyes.

 

[JXC]

One thing that I think needs mention. We were on a 3 game losing streak...and playing Indiana. At the begining of the game...the crowd was flat. Probalby the worst crowd i've seen since Tressel came to Ohio State.

After the first play...a long incomplete pass by Smith...the whole stadium gave a standing ovation...almost louder than the cheer for the team as they came on the field just five minutes before. Troy Smith got really pumped up by that...and tried to pump up the crowd even more (this is the first time i've seen a QB pumping up the crowd...usually it's the defense) From then on, the crowd was really electric while the team was on offense...more than when the team was on defense...I can not remember the last time that happened. Smith sparked the crowd, and the crowd plus Smith sparked the offense. Ginn's play made it even more electric...and after that you would have though we were an undefeated team with a powerful offense the way the crowd was into the game and into the offense. T

roy Smith, Antonio Pittman, and Ted Ginn, Jr. sparked this crowd more than ANY offense has since MoC. I'm now sitting here antzy about getting to see what the offense can do next week. Hasn't been that way in a long while. Smith and Pittman put the crowd in the game today. Zwick and Hall have taken them out of the game earlier in the year.

I realize that it's Indiana...but there was just a spark there. Everyone seemed to feel it today in the crowd. We all know it was Indiana...but yet it seems we all can feel that there was something more there today.

 

[wdg01]

Its just Indiana? I could have sworn that about half the people on the pickem contest picked Indiana to cover the spread. :2004:

 

[chuck_jax]

Possible Mutany?

Horrible for OSU if true. If players had not been giving 100% to send a message, or to make Zwick look bad, it speaks loud and clear that, to some extent, the coaching staff has lost control of some of those kids.

Sigh.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

Troy Smith had a good game overall, but he missed nearly as many open WRs as Zwick had been missing. He's accurate when he zips the ball, but when he tries to put touch on the ball, he's as about bad as Zwick. I do like the energy he brings, however.

 

[IronBuckI]

I didn't really see much difference in todays performance, except for one thing. It was Indiana. Running backs were still getting met, at or behind the line of scrimmage. They just broke those tackles, instead of going down on first contact. Smith did miss just as many open receivers, and against better DB's, the Teddy Ginn toss, would've been a pick six for the bad guys.

The one thing that I got out of this game, that encouraged me, was the post game interviews. To a man, every player interviewed talked about how Smith was a leader out there. Something that this team has been sorely lacking, since the departure of CK.

Mutiny? I don't think so. Direction? Yes.

 

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

Smith did miss (in the never saw him, didn't throw it that way sense) a hugely wide open Holmes on a 3Q pass play that ended up being a 1st down catch or a drop... I can't recall exactly, but I do know that Holmes was on a post and had his man beat by 5 yards with no deep help. Oh well.

as a matter of fact.. I just remembered... the very next play was a deep ball to Holmes that was over-thrown....

 

[gold_pants]

Troy Smith had a good game overall, but he missed nearly as many open WRs as Zwick had been missing. He's accurate when he zips the ball, but when he tries to put touch on the ball, he's as about bad as Zwick. I do like the energy he brings, however.

The other side I liked other than the energy was is abiliity to make a play with his legs. With a struggling team it sure helps having a QB who can sramble 10 yards for a 1st down...

It was Indiana. Running backs were still getting met, at or behind the line of scrimmage. They just broke those tackles, instead of going down on first contact.

I think this is a necessity for a RB. It should be something you expect out of a RB, the abiliity to make plays. It always picks up a young OLine and makes them try harder.

 

[scooter1369]

My IU Game Pics

Here is the latest installment of pics from the stadium. I didn't get into the game until almost midway into the 1st quarter due to the lot not filling up. Indiana had virtually no fans here to speak of and not a one brought an RV for tailgating.

Anyhoo, here we go:

Block O performs a "card stunt".

Troy Smith returns to the huddle.

Holmes scores in the corner. (I'll have to remind Fred to keep his hands down)

Troy is flanked by Mo Hall in the shotgun

I dig her...

HEY!!

TAZ IN DA HOUSE!!!!

The cheerleaders prepare for the second half.

Sure am glad we have that whole "No Fly Zone" thing.

Roy Hall is soooo close to blocking this thing. AAARRRRGGGGHHH!!!

A scene I hope we see a whole lot more of this year. Pittman in the back field.

 

[ohiobuck94]

I think the offensive players are tired of watching the game from the bench while the defense plays the whole game.

 

[UpNorthBuckeye]

re: the running game & the OL

One of the things that was said by, I think, Tressel before the Indiana game was that the OL was not only pushing people up field, they just weren't pushing people anywhere. What I saw in the Indiana game quite a bit was offensive linemen hitting their blocks, and then regardless of which direction the rusher went, they pushed them SOMEwhere... I mean, they were at least HITTING people. A good runner like Pittman, then, reads the blocks, runs where the defensive linemen AIN't and gains good yardage.

I think with Lydell, if the hole did not open up exactly as diagrammed he could not read the changing scenery in front of him and he would just run into the wall and fall down.

The point is, I saw our offensive linemen HITTING people and PUSHING them -- pushing them somewhere but still, pushing them.

one quick comment re: Zwick vs. Smith: With Zwick, we would have won the game.. but, we would have won 13-7, with 18 yards on the ground, 3 interceptions, and somewhere along the line a punt return for a TD. And people would have said, well, that's Tressel-ball. Personally, I like the 30-7. no turnover, 200+ yards rushing type of victory!!

Go Bucks!

 

[kn1f3party]

It all comes together. My thread was blasted so hard because Zwick loyals feel 6 interceptions and 6 fumbles with only 5 touchdowns are growing pains.

Personally, I think we stick with Smith until he loses the job. There is an obvious difference between the two. Smith wants to win and Zwick doesn't want to lose. You can discern that from their quotes following the game. Smith may be able to bring some leadership, only time will tell.

I think it applies after Saturdays game as well, nevermind actually listening to the players.

On mutiny: I have thought about this and would be extremely disappointed if it happened to us. However, I think what we see as mutiny or a lack of effort revolves around enthusiasm. These kids half tried against Wisconsin and didn't try at all when we were in Iowa City. That, to me, suggests they were hitting rock bottom and had absolutely no confidence. Hopefully the enthusiasm and leadership Troy brought to the game will carry over against Penn St. Some players are great but mediocre leaders. Others are good and great leaders. I know which one I would like dictating the offense. The same applies to the defense.

 

[KillerNut]

It is easier for me to try to be negative after a win because I know we should be playing better. With that said.

Troy Smith should have had an interception when he threw that long TD pass to Ginn. That would have severely changed the stats, -50 from his passing total, -1 TD, and a lot of confidence I believe would have been lost. That is just luck (or maybe Indiana), which has been avoiding us all season. He also did throw behind recievers a lot, or miss wide open WR's all day. His passing skills are certainly no better than Zwick's but if I were guessing I would say they are worse

The offensive line's performance was better when you look at results, but a lot of that was the ability of our backs to pick out a hole today. Also I would say it is Indiana. When Mo Hall looks good on some runs, and he has never looked good before, it shows that the level of competition has dropped. Pittman looked good too, but I think it has more to do with how bad Indiana is defensivly than our offense I saw a little more aggrestion as the game went on, so if nothing else, maybe they got some confidence but I wouldn't say we have had a breakthrough. I will be more impressed if we do the same thing vs. Penn State.

The RB's once again did use better vision, but I think they got there yards mostly because of the level of competition. Mo Hall looked good making plays, but Pittman looked better. I still think we will have problems running the ball next week.

The Defensive results were better, but again, I would say some of this again has to do with who we were playing. A lot of our blitzes still did not create a pass rush consistantly. We still didn't stop the run on some key plays, We didn't get off the field well on 3rd down.

Overall although it is nice to get a win, I don't think we are any better. I would favor Penn State next week, based on their performance vs. Iowa and our performance vs. Indiana.

 

[kn1f3party]

When Mo Hall looks good on some runs, and he has never looked good before, it shows that the level of competition has dropped.

Maybe we're being too hard on a player with knee surgeries? When people bring up the "should have had an interception" I remember the dropped pick 6 against Northwestern that would have made that game a lot worse. Instead of an OT effort from our guys we may have been blown out Iowa City style. That is precisely why we can't concentrate on "should have."

 

[buckeyebri]

I would have to agree with Killer on this one. I kept waiting for OSU to put the game away. They finally did late in the fourth quarter, but for the most part all of the third quarter and most of the fourth was a push.

I think a better team would have stayed in the game against us and we would have been in the same scenario that has typfied OSU football for a couple of years now.

I'm waiting to see how we play the next few weeks. This will really tell us where this team and the IU game stars stand.