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- Thread starter Buckskin86
- Start date
the sidelines one wasn't the greatest pass, and the 4th down pass he got raped. I'll wait until he drops an easy one before making the comparisons... Steve Breaston on the other hand has been a drop-machine this year on fly patterns.
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0
WaitingforKickoff
Legend
I think you can compare all the individual matchups all you want, but recent contests have been determined by great performances from one or two players. Smith owns Michigan, thats all you need to know! 
Honestly though, things do not look great for Michigan. Everything about their defense is average at best, which is puzzling considering that they do have some decent players. Offensively, Henne is definitely looking more and more like the next Navarre. Hart is ok, but injury prone. And even when he has been healthy, what has he really done against us or really solid defenses? Not much. The WRs are excellent but unachieving. The whole team including the coaching staff is unachieving. Gotta love it! :osu:
Honestly though, things do not look great for Michigan. Everything about their defense is average at best, which is puzzling considering that they do have some decent players. Offensively, Henne is definitely looking more and more like the next Navarre. Hart is ok, but injury prone. And even when he has been healthy, what has he really done against us or really solid defenses? Not much. The WRs are excellent but unachieving. The whole team including the coaching staff is unachieving. Gotta love it! :osu:
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0
NightmaresDad
Woody Rules!
What, was it 6 inches off?
It was right out in front of him - hit him right in the hands, and he wasn't even extending his arms all the way out. His main problem was that he didn't turn his head soon enough. he also didn't look the ball in.
Same thing that TG II does when he drops one.
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0
LightningRod
Legend
Michigan must redefine itself.
Friday, December 30, 2005
<!-- end edit_folio --> <!-- begin Main Image --><!-- end Main Image --> <!-- begin Title --> Bob WojnowskiRobin Buckson / The Detroit News
Quarterback Chad Henne made some of the best plays, and some of the worst, for Michigan in the Alamo Bowl.
Wojo: U-M must redefine itself
Wolverines must establish running game, consistent defense to rebound from 7-5 season.
By Bob Wojnowski / The Detroit News
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Who is most to blame for Michigan's Alamo Bowl loss?
<table border="0" width="150"> <form action="http://info.detnews.com/poll/multipoll.cfm" method="post"></form> <tbody> <tr> <td class="sans-2" align="right"><input value="1" name="vote" type="radio"></td> <td class="sans-2" align="left">Officials</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="sans-2" align="right"><input value="2" name="vote" type="radio"></td> <td class="sans-2" align="left">Chad Henne</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="sans-2" align="right"><input value="3" name="vote" type="radio"></td> <td class="sans-2" align="left">Lloyd Carr</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="sans-2" align="right"><input value="4" name="vote" type="radio"></td> <td class="sans-2" align="left">Defensive coordinator Jim Herrmann</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="sans-2" colspan="2"> <input name="topic" value="Blue_blame_game" type="hidden"> <input class="sans-2" value="Click here to vote" type="submit">Get results and comments </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <!-- Set a test cookie --> <script language="JavaScript"> <!-- // Use this function to save a cookie. function setCookie(name, value, expires) { document.cookie = name + "=" + escape(value) + "; path=/" + ((expires == null) ? "" : "; expires=" + expires.toGMTString())+ "; domain=.detnews.com"; } // Create a new date object, store it in the variable exp // Time is measured in milliseconds, thus, in the equation below: //milliseconds * seconds * minutes * hours * days var exp = new Date(); exp.setTime(exp.getTime() + (1000 * 60 * 60 * 24 * 1)); setCookie("dn", 615, exp); //--> </script>
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SAN ANTONIO — The image will be replayed, again and again and again, the rest of the bowl season. Michigan players running frantically, pitching the ball, not sure where to go or how to get there, as another game ends in stunning defeat.
It was an amazing sight, and an appropriate metaphor.
The Wolverines lost their way in a 32-28 loss to Nebraska in the Alamo Bowl, just as they lost their way in a 7-5 season, the program's worst in 21 years. Now, as the pressure rises, they must reestablish who they are, because in a season that featured a mediocre running game, a shaky offensive line and a woefully inconsistent defense, you sure couldn’t tell.
As always, the scrutiny will fall on the coach and the quarterback, both of whom had rough seasons, both of whom are capable of rebounding.
Lloyd Carr — along with defensive coordinator Jim Herrmann — will feel the most heat, rightly so. That’s part of the job and they know it. By anyone's standards, 7-5 is unacceptable, even when accounting for injuries. But this season's stumbles don't foreshadow a total collapse, not as far as I can see. An angry, motivated Carr can be an effective Carr, if he's willing to make adjustments in his staff and his philosophy.
Which brings us to quarterback Chad Henne, who made many of the best plays and many of the worst plays in the Alamo Bowl. Pretty much as he had all season. If you can take a slice of encouragement out of U-M's crushing losses to Ohio State and Nebraska, it's that Henne was willing to run, willing to step out of his comfort zone and make something happen.
Carr and his staff and other players need to do the same for the Wolverines to jump back into Big Ten contention next season, as they should. With key starters returning, U-M should be improved, but it better not act like it assumes it'll be improved because the conference competition keeps getting fiercer.
As much as we gripe that the Wolverines aren't tough enough (I'm sorry, they’re not) and the offensive line, wracked by injuries, doesn't punish anyone, and offensive stars such as Mario Manningham and Steve Breaston aren't always dependable, U-M has other issues. The days of simply lining up and beating opponents the same ol' way are over in college football.
Carr, Herrmann and offensive coordinator Terry Malone must get more creative, quicker to adjust. Against the Huskers, the Wolverines unleashed their blitz, sacking Zac Taylor five times, but it made them vulnerable to the run, and Cory Ross rambled for 161 yards. Herrmann must keep searching and find a way to fix the late-game breakdowns, or Carr must consider other options.
Henne also looked for other ways, scrambling for 38 yards, including a 7-yard touchdown, and passing for three touchdowns. But he was 21-for-43 and committed two turnovers. His efficiency rating during the season was seventh among Big Ten quarterbacks, much too low.
On offense, it starts with the line, of course. With tackle Jake Long healthy, that might correct itself, and U-M finally could reestablish its power running game. But if it doesn't, we don't want to hear any excuses.
Find a way.
"This was definitely a great year to learn from," said Henne, who will be a junior and must lead more next season. "We have to fix the mistakes, because we definitely don’t want to be the same team next year."
Henne is not an efficient game-manager in the mold of U-M quarterbacks Brian Griese or Tom Brady. But he has a great arm and legitimate guts. You can only assume his decision-making will improve with experience.
This team showed flashes, winning four straight after a 3-3 start, including road victories against Iowa and Northwestern. The Wolverines nipped Penn State and won twice in overtime, so anyone who says they can't win clutch games isn't being fair.
But with all their talent, they should find ways to finish more games. They led Nebraska by 11 in the fourth quarter, then lost two fumbles. Their five losses were by a total of 21 points, a trend that goes back a few years. U-M has lost at least three games every season since a 10-2 record in 1999.
"Certainly, it was our inability to close out games," said Carr, who will enter his 12th season as head coach. "If there's one wonderful thing to come out of this (Nebraska) game, it's Chad's mobility, and his ability to make things happen with his feet. It's all part of his maturity. It's easy to forget, this kid has just completed his sophomore season."
Yes, the Wolverines were young in key places, injured in key places. You wonder what they would have become if tailback Mike Hart had stayed healthy. He'll be back, as will Breaston, always brilliant in bowl games. They need him healthy and brilliant more often. They need defensive players LaMarr Woodley, Alan Branch, Prescott Burgess and Shawn Crable to become dominant.
There have been too many of these seasons lately, capped by frantic finishes and wild celebrations by the opposition. A year ago, Texas was propelled by its 38-37 Rose Bowl victory over U-M. This time, U-M’s seven-lateral, final-play near-miracle — which ended with Tyler Ecker getting bumped out of bounds at the 13 — was fun to watch, but ultimately futile.
These classics remind the Wolverines what they're capable of doing, and undoing.
"We had a lot of ups and downs but we never gave up," Breaston said. "You could tell on that last play, we fight to the end. All the situations we’ve been in should make us mentally tough. We should be ready for anything now."
They should be motivated to show who they really are, and how tough they can be. That's the mandate, if the Wolverines don't want to end up as foils on yet another highlight reel, replayed over and over, until they can't stand it.
You can reach Bob Wojnowski at [email protected]
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Cleveland PD
1/4
OHIO STATE FOOTBALL: A LOOK AHEAD
Buckeyes bringing back a lot of offense in 2006
Wednesday, January 04, 2006Doug Lesmerises
Plain Dealer Reporter
Tempe, Ariz.
-- The fears of Charlie Weis were realized Mon day night, but for teams attempting to stop Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith, the Notre Dame coach thinks the worst is yet to come.
"His best football is ahead of him," Weis said. "He's definitely on the rise."
With eight starters back next year for an offense that gained an Ohio State bowl-record 617 yards in a 34-20 Fiesta Bowl win, Weis' words hold true for the whole unit.
The defense returns just four starters, and possibly as few as two, with Ashton Youboty and Donte Whitner weighing their NFL options. Whitner, a Glenville graduate, should make his decision this week.
Either way, for the first time since Eddie George's Heisman Trophy season in 1995, the Buckeyes should be defined by their offense in 2006.
At the very least, for the first time in the Jim Tressel era, Ohio State truly will start with an "O."
"For three, four years now, we've been a defensive team," Smith said several days before slicing up the Irish for 408 total yards, Ohio State's best individual performance in a bowl. "I think next year we might be known as an offensive team."
His diplomatic skills evolving along with his quarterbacking skills this season, Smith made sure to praise the defense as well.
With A.J. Hawk, Bobby Carpenter and Nate Salley on the way out for the defense, and Smith, Ted Ginn Jr. and Antonio Pittman still here for the offense, the shift is obvious.
"Every year, you count on guys improving, and when you've got a number of guys coming back . . . yeah, [there are] quite a few guys coming back," offensive coordinator Jim Bollman said.
Junior Santonio Holmes' plan to enter the NFL draft hurts. After a slow start to his season, Ginn looks ready to be a No. 1 receiver, and Anthony Gonzalez, with the catch of the year against Michigan, has proven he can make plays. The running game, a question coming into this year, could be even better, with Antonio Pittman established and 228-pound recruit Chris Wells potentially offering the Buckeyes a legitimate second option they missed this year.
It all goes back to Smith.
"Troy is unbelievable," Gonzalez said after the game. "There's not a quarterback in the country, not [Notre Dame's] Brady Quinn, [Southern Cal's] Matt Leinart, [Texas'] Vince Young, anybody -- I don't take anybody over Troy Smith. He's that good."
There was a stat Tressel was fond of quoting in the buildup to the Fiesta Bowl. Monday night was Quinn's 33rd start at quarterback for Notre Dame. It was only the 15th start for Smith, now 13-2 at a position where experience equals trust equals success. Tressel obviously believes Smith's best is yet to come.
"The more comfortable anybody feels with another person in their relationship, the more things you can do," Smith said. "That's not just with football, that's with anything. If you have kids, the more and more you trust your kids, the more leeway you give them. In football, with your quarterback, the more and more you feel comfortable, the more you will assert him within the offense."
The growing pains are gone. Still, we're not talking about a USC offense. In their final six games, when they finally started rolling, the Buckeyes averaged 485 yards of offense. The Trojans averaged 580 yards all season, one of four teams in the country to top 500 yards per game.
Columbus never will be Los Angeles. The school record for yards per game is 497.6, set by quarterback Joe Germaine and the 11-1 1998 team. The record for points per game is 42.6 by the 1969 team, led by All-American Rex Kern. The 1995 team with George, Bobby Hoying, Terry Glenn and Rickey Dudley holds the record for total points and total yards.
Getting mentioned with those teams would be an accomplishment. Look how teams of Tressel, an offensive coach, have ranked nationally on offense and defense in his five years.
2001: Offense 65th. Defense 33rd.
2002: Offense 70th. Defense 23rd.
2003: Offense 93rd. Defense 10th.
2004: Offense 98th. Defense 30th.
2005 (before the bowl games): Offense 33rd. Defense 4th.
The defense always has led the way.
When it's time to think about Ohio State football for 2006, even if you're not Charlie Weis, who may well be haunted by Smith for a few months, it's hard not to think offense first. It's hard not to think about Troy Smith, and to do otherwise is at your own risk.
"The guys that don't give Troy Smith credit as a quarterback, they get shredded as a quarterback," Smith said before the game, riled up by a question about how he's perceived as a player. "The guys that see that he can do it in the passing game, they get shredded in the running game. And the guys that don't respect him the whole way around, they just get a mix of both."
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
[email protected], 216-999-4748
1/4
OHIO STATE FOOTBALL: A LOOK AHEAD
Buckeyes bringing back a lot of offense in 2006
Wednesday, January 04, 2006Doug Lesmerises
Plain Dealer Reporter
Tempe, Ariz.
-- The fears of Charlie Weis were realized Mon day night, but for teams attempting to stop Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith, the Notre Dame coach thinks the worst is yet to come.
"His best football is ahead of him," Weis said. "He's definitely on the rise."
With eight starters back next year for an offense that gained an Ohio State bowl-record 617 yards in a 34-20 Fiesta Bowl win, Weis' words hold true for the whole unit.
The defense returns just four starters, and possibly as few as two, with Ashton Youboty and Donte Whitner weighing their NFL options. Whitner, a Glenville graduate, should make his decision this week.
Either way, for the first time since Eddie George's Heisman Trophy season in 1995, the Buckeyes should be defined by their offense in 2006.
At the very least, for the first time in the Jim Tressel era, Ohio State truly will start with an "O."
"For three, four years now, we've been a defensive team," Smith said several days before slicing up the Irish for 408 total yards, Ohio State's best individual performance in a bowl. "I think next year we might be known as an offensive team."
His diplomatic skills evolving along with his quarterbacking skills this season, Smith made sure to praise the defense as well.
With A.J. Hawk, Bobby Carpenter and Nate Salley on the way out for the defense, and Smith, Ted Ginn Jr. and Antonio Pittman still here for the offense, the shift is obvious.
"Every year, you count on guys improving, and when you've got a number of guys coming back . . . yeah, [there are] quite a few guys coming back," offensive coordinator Jim Bollman said.
Junior Santonio Holmes' plan to enter the NFL draft hurts. After a slow start to his season, Ginn looks ready to be a No. 1 receiver, and Anthony Gonzalez, with the catch of the year against Michigan, has proven he can make plays. The running game, a question coming into this year, could be even better, with Antonio Pittman established and 228-pound recruit Chris Wells potentially offering the Buckeyes a legitimate second option they missed this year.
It all goes back to Smith.
"Troy is unbelievable," Gonzalez said after the game. "There's not a quarterback in the country, not [Notre Dame's] Brady Quinn, [Southern Cal's] Matt Leinart, [Texas'] Vince Young, anybody -- I don't take anybody over Troy Smith. He's that good."
There was a stat Tressel was fond of quoting in the buildup to the Fiesta Bowl. Monday night was Quinn's 33rd start at quarterback for Notre Dame. It was only the 15th start for Smith, now 13-2 at a position where experience equals trust equals success. Tressel obviously believes Smith's best is yet to come.
"The more comfortable anybody feels with another person in their relationship, the more things you can do," Smith said. "That's not just with football, that's with anything. If you have kids, the more and more you trust your kids, the more leeway you give them. In football, with your quarterback, the more and more you feel comfortable, the more you will assert him within the offense."
The growing pains are gone. Still, we're not talking about a USC offense. In their final six games, when they finally started rolling, the Buckeyes averaged 485 yards of offense. The Trojans averaged 580 yards all season, one of four teams in the country to top 500 yards per game.
Columbus never will be Los Angeles. The school record for yards per game is 497.6, set by quarterback Joe Germaine and the 11-1 1998 team. The record for points per game is 42.6 by the 1969 team, led by All-American Rex Kern. The 1995 team with George, Bobby Hoying, Terry Glenn and Rickey Dudley holds the record for total points and total yards.
Getting mentioned with those teams would be an accomplishment. Look how teams of Tressel, an offensive coach, have ranked nationally on offense and defense in his five years.
2001: Offense 65th. Defense 33rd.
2002: Offense 70th. Defense 23rd.
2003: Offense 93rd. Defense 10th.
2004: Offense 98th. Defense 30th.
2005 (before the bowl games): Offense 33rd. Defense 4th.
The defense always has led the way.
When it's time to think about Ohio State football for 2006, even if you're not Charlie Weis, who may well be haunted by Smith for a few months, it's hard not to think offense first. It's hard not to think about Troy Smith, and to do otherwise is at your own risk.
"The guys that don't give Troy Smith credit as a quarterback, they get shredded as a quarterback," Smith said before the game, riled up by a question about how he's perceived as a player. "The guys that see that he can do it in the passing game, they get shredded in the running game. And the guys that don't respect him the whole way around, they just get a mix of both."
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
[email protected], 216-999-4748
Upvote
0
DDN
1/4
Buckeyes return plenty of firepower
By Doug Harris
Dayton Daily News
TEMPE, ARIZ . | Ohio State junior quarterback Troy Smith was fielding questions about next season when he was asked whether he knew where the national title would be decided.
<!--endtext-->
<!-- inset --> <!--begintext--> "The national championship game is here next year," he said without flinching. "We like that."
What's not to like?
The Buckeyes have produced three impressive wins in the last four Fiesta Bowls and have visited this desert city with such regularity that they might want to think about investing in time-shares.
And while college football actually will crown its champion at a new stadium in nearby Glendale in 2006, adjusting to those new digs should be no problem for the Buckeyes if they have sufficient manpower to get there.
With seven defensive starters graduating — and two juniors thinking about pursuing NFL riches — the Buckeyes will have trouble keeping opponents on a choke-chain again next season. But coach Jim Tressel and his staff may have enough firepower on offense to withstand those blows.
The Buckeyes averaged a bountiful 38.3 points and 470.1 yards while winning their last seven games. And while gifted receiver Santonio Holmes and steady linemen Rob Sims and Nick Mangold will be missed, the offense will have plenty of playmakers and should be sound again.
"Next year, it sets up pretty good," Smith said. "You know, probably for the last four or five years, we have been known as a defensive team. I'm sure we will still be known as a defensive team, even though we lose key and major guys. But now it's going to be more of a balance."
The Buckeyes racked up 617 total yards in a 34-20 win over Notre Dame on Monday, shredding a defense that had grown increasingly miserly over the year.
The Irish had given up an average of only 292 yards in their last four games, but they were gashed for 301 in the first half.
Sophomore running back Antonio Pittman had 136 yards on 21 carries, giving him 1,331 this season — the most by a Buckeye back since Pepe Pearson's 1,484 in 1996.
Sophomore Ted Ginn Jr. had 260 all-purpose yards (167 receiving, 73 rushing and 20 on punt returns) and two touchdowns, including one on a riveting reverse that essentially kicked off his 2006 Heisman Trophy campaign.
But the Cleveland native may have dropped a hint about his plans after next season.
"I had a lot of fun," Ginn said after the win. "The point of the whole game was to play hard for the seniors. I have another year and the seniors don't."
Hawk speaks out
OSU senior A.J. Hawk was offended at how Tressel had been largely ignored while the media was christening ND coach Charlie Weis as the sport's resident genius.
"I was thinking about what everyone was saying about giving coach Weis four weeks to prepare (for the bowl game). But what about giving coach Tressel four weeks to prepare for you?" Hawk said. "He's four out of five in bowl games. That's where I think the focus should have been from you guys."
Hawk was bathed in adulation while being named defensive player of the game. His teammates flapped their elbows while chanting his name during the trophy presentation, and about 40,000 Buckeye fans joined in.
"I didn't notice it until the very end," Hawk said. "But that's something the guys on the team started, and I guess it caught on. The media has been great to me and the fans have been great to me, and I'm going to miss them a lot."
Salley moved
Senior safety Nate Salley welled up in tears while contemplating the conclusion of his career.
"These guys mean a lot to me," he said. "I'm going to miss this so much."
1/4
Buckeyes return plenty of firepower
By Doug Harris
Dayton Daily News
TEMPE, ARIZ . | Ohio State junior quarterback Troy Smith was fielding questions about next season when he was asked whether he knew where the national title would be decided.
<!--endtext-->
<!-- inset --> <!--begintext--> "The national championship game is here next year," he said without flinching. "We like that."
What's not to like?
The Buckeyes have produced three impressive wins in the last four Fiesta Bowls and have visited this desert city with such regularity that they might want to think about investing in time-shares.
And while college football actually will crown its champion at a new stadium in nearby Glendale in 2006, adjusting to those new digs should be no problem for the Buckeyes if they have sufficient manpower to get there.
With seven defensive starters graduating — and two juniors thinking about pursuing NFL riches — the Buckeyes will have trouble keeping opponents on a choke-chain again next season. But coach Jim Tressel and his staff may have enough firepower on offense to withstand those blows.
The Buckeyes averaged a bountiful 38.3 points and 470.1 yards while winning their last seven games. And while gifted receiver Santonio Holmes and steady linemen Rob Sims and Nick Mangold will be missed, the offense will have plenty of playmakers and should be sound again.
"Next year, it sets up pretty good," Smith said. "You know, probably for the last four or five years, we have been known as a defensive team. I'm sure we will still be known as a defensive team, even though we lose key and major guys. But now it's going to be more of a balance."
The Buckeyes racked up 617 total yards in a 34-20 win over Notre Dame on Monday, shredding a defense that had grown increasingly miserly over the year.
The Irish had given up an average of only 292 yards in their last four games, but they were gashed for 301 in the first half.
Sophomore running back Antonio Pittman had 136 yards on 21 carries, giving him 1,331 this season — the most by a Buckeye back since Pepe Pearson's 1,484 in 1996.
Sophomore Ted Ginn Jr. had 260 all-purpose yards (167 receiving, 73 rushing and 20 on punt returns) and two touchdowns, including one on a riveting reverse that essentially kicked off his 2006 Heisman Trophy campaign.
But the Cleveland native may have dropped a hint about his plans after next season.
"I had a lot of fun," Ginn said after the win. "The point of the whole game was to play hard for the seniors. I have another year and the seniors don't."
Hawk speaks out
OSU senior A.J. Hawk was offended at how Tressel had been largely ignored while the media was christening ND coach Charlie Weis as the sport's resident genius.
"I was thinking about what everyone was saying about giving coach Weis four weeks to prepare (for the bowl game). But what about giving coach Tressel four weeks to prepare for you?" Hawk said. "He's four out of five in bowl games. That's where I think the focus should have been from you guys."
Hawk was bathed in adulation while being named defensive player of the game. His teammates flapped their elbows while chanting his name during the trophy presentation, and about 40,000 Buckeye fans joined in.
"I didn't notice it until the very end," Hawk said. "But that's something the guys on the team started, and I guess it caught on. The media has been great to me and the fans have been great to me, and I'm going to miss them a lot."
Salley moved
Senior safety Nate Salley welled up in tears while contemplating the conclusion of his career.
"These guys mean a lot to me," he said. "I'm going to miss this so much."
Upvote
0
USAToday
1/4
Ohio State is warm for return to desert By Greg Boeck, USA TODAY
TEMPE, Ariz. — Play it again, Buckeyes.
<table class="sidebar" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="4">
</td> </tr> <tr> <td rowspan="2">
</td> <td rowspan="2">
</td> <td class="sidebar" valign="top" width="75">Ohio State's plan for 2006 will be more touchdowns from Ted Ginn Jr. and a return to Arizona in the postseason.</td> <td rowspan="2">
</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="bottom">By Lenny Ignelzi, AP</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> That's Ohio State's mantra heading into the new year. After winning the third consecutive Tostitos Fiesta Bowl in which they played, the Buckeyes set their sights Monday on returning to the desert, which will host the next Bowl Championship Series title game.
<table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td>
</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> The yet-to-be-named championship game will be played at a new stadium in Glendale on Jan. 8, 2007, a week after the 2007 Fiesta Bowl, which also is moving to the west Phoenix suburb after 35 years in Sun Devil Stadium. No matter. The desert has become Columbus West for the Buckeyes.
They won the 2002 national championship here with a dramatic 31-24 victory against Miami (Fla.). They capped the 2003 season here with a 35-28 win against Kansas State. They closed the 2005 season here with a 34-20 win Monday against Notre Dame.
No wonder Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel called this place "something special" after Ohio State finished 10-2 with an offensive outburst that hinted of something special for the 2006 Buckeyes, as well.
Although junior Santonio Holmes, the Buckeyes' top receiver, announced after the game that he would enter the NFL draft, Ohio State returns eight of 11 starters on an offense that totaled 617 yards against the Irish.
That included scoring plays of 56, 68, 85 and 60 yards — and a remarkable 67% third-down conversion rate, more than enough firepower to hand the Irish their eighth consecutive bowl loss.
Except for Holmes, all the big-play stars of the game return. Quarterback Troy Smith outplayed Brady Quinn, his more ballyhooed counterpart who was fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting, throwing for 342 yards and two touchdowns and running for 66 yards. A year after sitting out the Alamo Bowl for NCAA infractions, Smith won the offensive player of the game award. "Each day he's taking a step toward being a great quarterback," Tressel said.
Fleet flanker Ted Ginn Jr., a sophomore, totaled 260 all-purpose yards. They included a 56-yard scoring strike from Smith and a 68-yard, end-around touchdown run. Tailback Antonio Pittman, a sophomore, rushed for 138 yards, including a game-clinching 60-yard TD run in the final quarter.
Smith looked ahead and liked what he saw. "The national championship game is here next year," he said. "We like that. And hopefully next year it sets us up pretty good."
Defense long has been the staple of Ohio State teams. The Buckeyes finished fourth nationally and largely held Notre Dame's high-powered offense in check Monday. But that could change next season.
The Buckeyes lose Lombardi Award-winning linebacker, A.J. Hawk, who had nine solo tackles and two sacks to win defensive player of the game honors; only four starters return on defense.
"I'm sure we will still be known as a defensive team, even though we lose key guys," Smith said. "(But) now it's going to be more of a balance, hopefully."
Ginn is set up to replace Southern California's Reggie Bush as the next do-everything offensive star. A converted defensive back, he has clocked 10.5 seconds in the 100 meters. He's a touchdown waiting-to-happen, running, receiving or returning the football.
He can't wait for 2006 to kick off: "We're going to work hard and go back to square one and do everything right, come back and just try to make it out here. That will be our goal."
Despite the loss, Notre Dame also can entertain a return to the desert. Twelve of its 22 starters are back. That includes Quinn, the early Heisman favorite who threw for 3,919 yards this season; running back Darius Walker, who had 130 yards rushing and receiving and three TDs on Monday; and receiver Jeff Samardzija, who totaled 1,249 yards in receptions this season.
The loss was a temporary momentum-killer for the Irish, who rebounded back into the national limelight with a 9-3 record under first-year coach Charlie Weis.
"They know how bad this feels and how important it is to them," Weis said. "They're the ones who are going to have to make the strides and take it to the next level."
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Ohio State is warm for return to desert By Greg Boeck, USA TODAY
TEMPE, Ariz. — Play it again, Buckeyes.
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</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> The yet-to-be-named championship game will be played at a new stadium in Glendale on Jan. 8, 2007, a week after the 2007 Fiesta Bowl, which also is moving to the west Phoenix suburb after 35 years in Sun Devil Stadium. No matter. The desert has become Columbus West for the Buckeyes.
They won the 2002 national championship here with a dramatic 31-24 victory against Miami (Fla.). They capped the 2003 season here with a 35-28 win against Kansas State. They closed the 2005 season here with a 34-20 win Monday against Notre Dame.
No wonder Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel called this place "something special" after Ohio State finished 10-2 with an offensive outburst that hinted of something special for the 2006 Buckeyes, as well.
Although junior Santonio Holmes, the Buckeyes' top receiver, announced after the game that he would enter the NFL draft, Ohio State returns eight of 11 starters on an offense that totaled 617 yards against the Irish.
That included scoring plays of 56, 68, 85 and 60 yards — and a remarkable 67% third-down conversion rate, more than enough firepower to hand the Irish their eighth consecutive bowl loss.
Except for Holmes, all the big-play stars of the game return. Quarterback Troy Smith outplayed Brady Quinn, his more ballyhooed counterpart who was fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting, throwing for 342 yards and two touchdowns and running for 66 yards. A year after sitting out the Alamo Bowl for NCAA infractions, Smith won the offensive player of the game award. "Each day he's taking a step toward being a great quarterback," Tressel said.
Fleet flanker Ted Ginn Jr., a sophomore, totaled 260 all-purpose yards. They included a 56-yard scoring strike from Smith and a 68-yard, end-around touchdown run. Tailback Antonio Pittman, a sophomore, rushed for 138 yards, including a game-clinching 60-yard TD run in the final quarter.
Smith looked ahead and liked what he saw. "The national championship game is here next year," he said. "We like that. And hopefully next year it sets us up pretty good."
Defense long has been the staple of Ohio State teams. The Buckeyes finished fourth nationally and largely held Notre Dame's high-powered offense in check Monday. But that could change next season.
The Buckeyes lose Lombardi Award-winning linebacker, A.J. Hawk, who had nine solo tackles and two sacks to win defensive player of the game honors; only four starters return on defense.
"I'm sure we will still be known as a defensive team, even though we lose key guys," Smith said. "(But) now it's going to be more of a balance, hopefully."
Ginn is set up to replace Southern California's Reggie Bush as the next do-everything offensive star. A converted defensive back, he has clocked 10.5 seconds in the 100 meters. He's a touchdown waiting-to-happen, running, receiving or returning the football.
He can't wait for 2006 to kick off: "We're going to work hard and go back to square one and do everything right, come back and just try to make it out here. That will be our goal."
Despite the loss, Notre Dame also can entertain a return to the desert. Twelve of its 22 starters are back. That includes Quinn, the early Heisman favorite who threw for 3,919 yards this season; running back Darius Walker, who had 130 yards rushing and receiving and three TDs on Monday; and receiver Jeff Samardzija, who totaled 1,249 yards in receptions this season.
The loss was a temporary momentum-killer for the Irish, who rebounded back into the national limelight with a 9-3 record under first-year coach Charlie Weis.
"They know how bad this feels and how important it is to them," Weis said. "They're the ones who are going to have to make the strides and take it to the next level."
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bucknut4life
even chuck norris fears laurinaitis
cant we talk to someone about getting the season started early LOL
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Adam Locked
Texas Buckeye
2006 tOSU Defense?
What do you guys think it will look like, losing our best Linebacking core ever? Good enough to stop the Mighty UT in Austin?
What do you guys think it will look like, losing our best Linebacking core ever? Good enough to stop the Mighty UT in Austin?
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Buckeye513
Stable Genius
I'm not very optimistic. Unless the offense opens up like they did in the Fiesta Bowl, which I think they can and will, 06 might just look like 04.
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OSU Rob
Senior
we'd have a good shot w/ troy but look at this year- yeah texas didnt face great defenses this year except us and SC, but look what Vince did to SC in a bigtime game. Despite our great D give him credit- he didnt run all over us like in the rose bowl but still led them to the game winning drive. Losing hawk, carp, schlegel will hurt a lot, more with inexperience than anything b/c freeman has been hurt the whole year as have d'andrea, while kerr has only gotten limited special teams action, so its like 2 of our LB's (only laurinatis is the exception) wouldn't have seen game action for two years when they would face him, and that spells disaster.
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