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Morning Journal
Big Ten has no room for comfort
Jason Lloyd, Morning Journal Columnist
09/19/2006
http://www.zwire.com/site/printerFriendly.cfm?brd=1699&dept_id=46370&newsid=17215095
BEFORE Saturday, Ohio State was starting to look like a runaway train rolling downhill in the Big Ten.
Iowa needed overtime to beat Syracuse, Michigan's Chad Henne couldn't complete a pass and Michigan State, well, at some point every year, the Spartans punch out and go home well before they run out of games to play.
Then a funny thing happened on the way to a conference championship. Drew Tate got healthy last week and the Hawkeyes beat Iowa State, the in-state rival that always gives them fits. Michigan State's defense fought back, for once, when Pitt held a 10-0 lead in the first quarter and had possession after recovering a surprise onside kick.
Now the Spartans are 2-0, as usual, and preparing to welcome a Notre Dame team that is more black than blue and full of lumps following what Michigan did to them.
Of all the teams Ohio State needs to worry about, Michigan State is quietly creeping to the top of that list. Quarterback Drew Stanton is looking like the best Big Ten quarterback not named Troy Smith, if not for a botched field goal attempt at the end of the half, the Spartans probably should have beaten Ohio State last year in Columbus, and now the players and coaches realize they're probably playing for coach John L. Smith's job.
Then there is Michigan, which looked no better than mediocre through the first two games. Now the Wolverines are going old school and winning with defense, a sound running game and a few big plays.
That was all Big Ten football used to be, before the spread offense, the scrambling quarterbacks and the zone blitzes became common in the Midwest and everywhere else.
So what does it all mean? Ohio State is obviously the favorite to win an outright Big Ten championship, something the Buckeyes haven't done since 1984, but it won't come without a fight. And the first fight will happen long before Nov. 18.
As Big Ten play opens this weekend, here is a look at the top three most dangerous games left for Ohio State, plus why they will and why they won't win all three.
Sept. 30 at Iowa
Why Ohio State will win: The Hawkeyes can't score enough to keep up. Drew Tate joins Stanton and Smith as the Holy Trinity of Big Ten quarterbacks, but someone has to catch what he's throwing. And thus far, Iowa's passing game hasn't been what it should be with a guy like Tate flinging it.
Why Ohio State will lose: They got past their phobia of night games with the win over Texas, but believe it or not, the scene at Kinnick Stadium might be even crazier. Texans certainly know how to have a good time, and the whole weekend surrounding Texas-Ohio State had the feel of a national championship, but the structure of Royal-Memorial stadium keeps the Longhorns from having a real home-field advantage. Even when the crowd is roaring, it's not deafening on the field.
That's not true of Kinnick, which joins Wisconsin's Camp Randall Stadium as two of the Big Ten's toughest venues for road teams. The fans are just a few feet from the benches and the crowds know how to use it to their advantage. Iowa has won 32 of its last 35 at home, including a school-record 22-game streak that ended last year. Bottom line: Iowa is difficult to beat at home, and doubly difficult to do it at night.
Oct. 14 at Michigan State
Why Ohio State will win: Because the Spartans almost always fold against adversity. It has been their trademark since Smith replaced Bobby Williams as head coach.
Need proof? After starting 4-0 last year, including a stunning overtime win in South Bend, the Spartans ended the season by losing six of their last seven. They have plenty of glitz and they can score with any team in the country, but as soon as they get pushed, they don't know how to shove back. Ohio State is a team that likes to push ... hard.
Why Ohio State will lose: Stanton and his receivers could cut apart the Buckeyes young secondary, which really hasn't been tested by a veteran quarterback yet. Tate will be the first, but Stanton might be the best test.
Matt Trannon, who also plays on Michigan State's football team, set a school record by catching 14 passes in a game earlier this year. The Spartans can, and will, score points in bunches. In order to beat them, you have to outscore them. Ohio State has clearly shown that ability, but doing it on the road, against a team that learned how to fight back in last week's win over Pitt, will be difficult.
Nov. 18 vs. Michigan
Why Ohio State will win: Because it's Michigan and Jim Tressel has the same kind of voodoo magic on Lloyd Carr that Carr held over John Cooper. And because Tressel has Troy Smith, who has proven he plays his best in big games. While it's still entirely too early to start projecting, the way Michigan played Notre Dame over the weekend, it's not too far of a stretch to imagine both teams entering The Game unbeaten and untied. That hasn't happened since 1973.
Why Ohio State will lose: Because Carr is 1-4 vs. Tressel, and you figure sooner or later he's due. Beyond karma, Michigan's defense is the best it has been in years, running back Mike Hart is healthy and the Wolverines have adopted a run blocking scheme this year that allows Hart to choose which hole to hit. This is an angry Michigan team full of players tired of hearing about last year's 7-5 season and tired of defending Carr's status in Ann Arbor. Nothing will silence all of that like a win in Columbus, regardless of what happens between now and then.
So who will win and who will lose these three?
How should I know? I picked Texas.
Big Ten has no room for comfort
Jason Lloyd, Morning Journal Columnist
09/19/2006
http://www.zwire.com/site/printerFriendly.cfm?brd=1699&dept_id=46370&newsid=17215095
BEFORE Saturday, Ohio State was starting to look like a runaway train rolling downhill in the Big Ten.
Iowa needed overtime to beat Syracuse, Michigan's Chad Henne couldn't complete a pass and Michigan State, well, at some point every year, the Spartans punch out and go home well before they run out of games to play.
Then a funny thing happened on the way to a conference championship. Drew Tate got healthy last week and the Hawkeyes beat Iowa State, the in-state rival that always gives them fits. Michigan State's defense fought back, for once, when Pitt held a 10-0 lead in the first quarter and had possession after recovering a surprise onside kick.
Now the Spartans are 2-0, as usual, and preparing to welcome a Notre Dame team that is more black than blue and full of lumps following what Michigan did to them.
Of all the teams Ohio State needs to worry about, Michigan State is quietly creeping to the top of that list. Quarterback Drew Stanton is looking like the best Big Ten quarterback not named Troy Smith, if not for a botched field goal attempt at the end of the half, the Spartans probably should have beaten Ohio State last year in Columbus, and now the players and coaches realize they're probably playing for coach John L. Smith's job.
Then there is Michigan, which looked no better than mediocre through the first two games. Now the Wolverines are going old school and winning with defense, a sound running game and a few big plays.
That was all Big Ten football used to be, before the spread offense, the scrambling quarterbacks and the zone blitzes became common in the Midwest and everywhere else.
So what does it all mean? Ohio State is obviously the favorite to win an outright Big Ten championship, something the Buckeyes haven't done since 1984, but it won't come without a fight. And the first fight will happen long before Nov. 18.
As Big Ten play opens this weekend, here is a look at the top three most dangerous games left for Ohio State, plus why they will and why they won't win all three.
Sept. 30 at Iowa
Why Ohio State will win: The Hawkeyes can't score enough to keep up. Drew Tate joins Stanton and Smith as the Holy Trinity of Big Ten quarterbacks, but someone has to catch what he's throwing. And thus far, Iowa's passing game hasn't been what it should be with a guy like Tate flinging it.
Why Ohio State will lose: They got past their phobia of night games with the win over Texas, but believe it or not, the scene at Kinnick Stadium might be even crazier. Texans certainly know how to have a good time, and the whole weekend surrounding Texas-Ohio State had the feel of a national championship, but the structure of Royal-Memorial stadium keeps the Longhorns from having a real home-field advantage. Even when the crowd is roaring, it's not deafening on the field.
That's not true of Kinnick, which joins Wisconsin's Camp Randall Stadium as two of the Big Ten's toughest venues for road teams. The fans are just a few feet from the benches and the crowds know how to use it to their advantage. Iowa has won 32 of its last 35 at home, including a school-record 22-game streak that ended last year. Bottom line: Iowa is difficult to beat at home, and doubly difficult to do it at night.
Oct. 14 at Michigan State
Why Ohio State will win: Because the Spartans almost always fold against adversity. It has been their trademark since Smith replaced Bobby Williams as head coach.
Need proof? After starting 4-0 last year, including a stunning overtime win in South Bend, the Spartans ended the season by losing six of their last seven. They have plenty of glitz and they can score with any team in the country, but as soon as they get pushed, they don't know how to shove back. Ohio State is a team that likes to push ... hard.
Why Ohio State will lose: Stanton and his receivers could cut apart the Buckeyes young secondary, which really hasn't been tested by a veteran quarterback yet. Tate will be the first, but Stanton might be the best test.
Matt Trannon, who also plays on Michigan State's football team, set a school record by catching 14 passes in a game earlier this year. The Spartans can, and will, score points in bunches. In order to beat them, you have to outscore them. Ohio State has clearly shown that ability, but doing it on the road, against a team that learned how to fight back in last week's win over Pitt, will be difficult.
Nov. 18 vs. Michigan
Why Ohio State will win: Because it's Michigan and Jim Tressel has the same kind of voodoo magic on Lloyd Carr that Carr held over John Cooper. And because Tressel has Troy Smith, who has proven he plays his best in big games. While it's still entirely too early to start projecting, the way Michigan played Notre Dame over the weekend, it's not too far of a stretch to imagine both teams entering The Game unbeaten and untied. That hasn't happened since 1973.
Why Ohio State will lose: Because Carr is 1-4 vs. Tressel, and you figure sooner or later he's due. Beyond karma, Michigan's defense is the best it has been in years, running back Mike Hart is healthy and the Wolverines have adopted a run blocking scheme this year that allows Hart to choose which hole to hit. This is an angry Michigan team full of players tired of hearing about last year's 7-5 season and tired of defending Carr's status in Ann Arbor. Nothing will silence all of that like a win in Columbus, regardless of what happens between now and then.
So who will win and who will lose these three?
How should I know? I picked Texas.
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Photo by Jim Davidson [/FONT]
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Football
Defensive Line Living Up to Expectations for OSU Defense
By John Porentas
Defensive Line Living Up to Expectations for OSU Defense
By John Porentas
OSU watchers continue to fret over the young OSU defense as young linebackers and defensive backs struggle to find their identities and round into effective units.
Nobody is doing that about the Buckeye defensive line.
The OSU defensive line was considered to be a strength heading into the season. Three games into it, that has definitely proven to be true.
OSU's defensive front has been all you could ask for thus far this season. The interior play has been stellar, headed by Quinn Pitcock and David Patterson, and the defensive end play has probably been better than expected, with at least five players contributing to a very effective group at defensive end. It's a combination that has left OSU defensive coordinator and defensive line coach Jim Heacock smiling because the effectiveness of that defensive line has not only led to plays, but has given the young back seven some time to develop. For Heacock, the key has been the play of his interior guys, Patterson and Pitcock.
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Jim Heacock [/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Photo by Jim Davidson [/FONT]
"I'm really high on Dave and Quinn," said Heacock.
"I think those guys are really doing a good job in there.
"A lot of times you feel like you have to cover up for inside guys. I think it's (their superior play) allowed us to not blitz as much, maybe not zone pressure as much, allow our front four to be the pressure and be the guys who are getting after it and hopefully keep seven guys back in coverage and run a little bit more change ups in the coverage area and not have to send five, six or seven to get pressure on the quarterback," Heacock said.
That has given that back seven a comfort zone as they gain experience this season, and Heacock gives Patterson and Pitcock much of the credit for that.
"If you have a couple of guys up front that can do that it really helps," Heacock said.
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Quinn Pitcock [/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Photo by Jim Davidson [/FONT]
Pitcock recently turned some heads with a dominating performance against Cincinnati in which he registered three sacks and simply blew up the Bearcat offense at the line of scrimmage. Some may have been surprised by Pitcock's effectiveness, but not Heacock.
"He's dominating. If you can dominate the line of scrimmage you have a chance in most games," said Heacock.
"If you watch the film, spend some time and watch the film of Quinn Pitcock playing you'll never ever see him not play well. You'll never ever see him not be dominant, physical, taking on two blockers.
"From my standpoint, he's as good as we've had around here," Heacock said.
"I don't know how many tackles he had last year and how many sacks and I don't care. I know he's a very valuable football player on our football team that can go down inside and take on three guys or four or five whatever it takes, and he's dominant, and he really helps the linebackers make plays," Heacock said.
Pitcock's interior linemate, David Patterson, is a big fan and was not at all surprised by Pitcock's big sack day against Cincinnati.
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]David Patterson [/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Photo by Jim Davidson [/FONT]
"Quinn is an amazing player," said Patterson.
"People build you up to what they think you are. I see Quinn every day in one-on-one pass rush. I know he has moves. Quinn is a beast. People might slot you as a certain type of player, but I knew that Quinn is capable of those type of plays, that he's very capable of getting pressure on the passer, so when people say he's a run-stopper I kind of laugh sometimes because he's an all-around good player," Patterson said.
OSU offensive lineman Doug Datish, who goes against Pitcock on a regular basis in OSU practices, was also not surprised by his sack outburst.
"I'm glad he doesn't get stats for practice, because he's pretty good," Datish quipped.
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Doug Datish [/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Photo by Jim Davidson [/FONT]
"He was telling me all week that he was going to get single blocked (against Cincinnati). I told him that that guy (blocking him) was in for a world of hurt because Quinn's pretty good. That guy had a tough game. I'm sure he was trying as hard as he could. Quinn just had dominance," Datish said.
While Pitcock, Patterson and Joel Penton are holding down the middle of the defensive line of scrimmage, at least five players currently figure into Heacock's plans at defensive end. Veteran Jay Richardson has thus far had his best year as a Buckeye, while newcomer Vernon Gholston has come on this season and proved himself a force at the other end opposite Richardson. Gholston, a redshirt sophomore who sat out last year and did not begin his football career until midway through high school, is a diamond in the rough that is acquiring more polish every week.
"I think when he got here he was a little bit raw, there's no question about that and probably good to redshirt last year," said Heacock.
"It gave him a year to work with the scout team and he had an injury also, but he was raw fundamentally.
"I'm excited about the way he came on in the spring and thought he had a chance, then each game he's gotten a little bit better I think.
"He's still fundamentally got a long way to go but he goes hard and has good strength and good skills. He's got good arm strength and long arms and good acceleration to the ball. He's got tools and hopefully that's why he's improving each week. As he develops those fundamentals and develops some moves and techniques he's going to get better," Heacock said.
Backing up Richardson is sophomore Lawrence Wilson who has shown himself to be a playmaker, as has Gholston's backup Alex Barrow who also has flashed when on the field. The fifth member of the defensive end group is true freshman Robert Rose who, like Gholston, Heacock sees as a future star.
"We just think he's a potentially outstanding football player and fits in with those four and he gives us another dimension," said Heacock.
"He can play both sides and can play Leo so we actually have two ends and two Leos and he's a guy who can swing back and forth and he gives us another guy who can rush the quarterback that we can put in at the end of the game or put in in the second quarter and get some pressure. He's strong and very talented, and like Vern he's fundamentally got a ways to go, but he's a strong kid and a good kid and he's going to be a great football player."
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OSU_Buckguy
Head Coach
can you imagine how disruptive our defensive ends will be in two seasons, if not one, with gholston and rose? though there is much time between now and a couple years from now, it's hard not to see something really special brewing with our defense. last year's defense was spectacular; nonetheless, next year's and especially the following year's defenses could be just as exemplary.
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OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
Dispatch
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Buckeyes defense feasts on turnovers
Youngsters have knack for producing takeaways
Friday, September 22, 2006
Ken Gordon
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
</IMG>
The 2005 Ohio State defense featured a Hawk, but this year the Buckeyes have more ball hawks.
At least that?s how it appears after three games. As good as the defense was in 2005, when it came to forcing turnovers, it was downright lousy.
Led by Lombardi Award-winning linebacker A.J. Hawk, OSU ranked No. 1 against the run nationally and fifth overall. But they forced just 12 turnovers and were 104 th in turnover margin (minus-.75 per game).
In the process, the Buckeyes turned one of coach Jim Tressel?s maxims on its ear. Tressel always talks about the difficulty of winning when a team loses the turnover competition, but they were 6-1 in such games, including a win in which they were minus-4 against Michigan State.
Despite replacing nine defensive starters, Ohio State already has forced six turnovers this season and is tied for 12 th nationally in margin (plus-1.33 per game).
How could this be? Is it possible that the Buckeyes? youth actually has helped them create turnovers?
"Maybe teams are thinking, ?Hey, these guys are young, we?ll take more chances on them, see what they?re really made of,? " said linebacker James Laurinaitis, who has two interceptions and two forced fumbles. "Last year, I think everyone really knew how good our defense was, so they?re like, ?We know we can?t just throw the ball up.? "
Laurinaitis isn?t the only one floating the idea. Defensive end Vernon Gholston said the technically sound players last season made tackles. This year, young players might be out of position, but when they finally do get there, they are attacking the ball better.
"We?ve got more of a swarming mentality," Gholston said. "Last year, we had a bunch of great guys that were in the right spot all the time, so there were no opportunities like that. This time, we?re flying around. The ball goes up, you never know who?s going to jump in the way."
Players said creating more turnovers has been a major point of emphasis since last season. They ran drills in which one player held a ball carrier up while others went for the strip, or practiced how to go after a pass at its highest point.
"We put an extreme focus on it this past summer," cornerback Antonio Smith said. "That?s one area we felt like as a defense we needed to improve from last year."
Defensive end Jay Richardson said, "We looked at it in the offseason and we asked, ?How that could happen?? We kind of dedicated ourselves in the offseason to getting turnovers."
It appears to be paying off with players such as cornerback Malcolm Jenkins. He nearly had an interception Sept. 9 at Texas, then made one last week and almost had a second. Teammate Anderson Russell outwrestled him for it.
"Our coaches always tell us when the ball is in the air, it?s ours," Jenkins said. "And that?s how I see it. There is no receiver out there, it?s just me trying to get the ball."
But defensive coordinator Jim Heacock said he always preaches the importance of takeaways.
"I don?t think there is ever one year that you emphasize it more than any other year," he said. "In all the time that I?ve coached, sometimes you have a group that gets turnovers."
He smiled. When his players are successful, he?s not really concerned about why.
"I really don?t have an answer for it," Heacock said. "It?s nice, though. I like it."
Dispatch reporter Tim May contributed to this story
.
[email protected]
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Alex Boone fan
#1 Alex Boone Fan
Defense has arrived
I was getting tired of hearing echos of concern from the media about our defense. Every game the defense seems to be coming into their own. It started with the play of great line defense in the game against Northern Illionis then the pumped up play of the secondary against Texas. Linebacking crew started to come into their own against Cincinnati and now they seem to working as one great unit. Do they still have work to do...yes...I never feel you are good enough but it seems as though todays game clearly illustrated the cohesiveness of the defense and they are meshing and playing well...
I cannot wait for next week.
I was getting tired of hearing echos of concern from the media about our defense. Every game the defense seems to be coming into their own. It started with the play of great line defense in the game against Northern Illionis then the pumped up play of the secondary against Texas. Linebacking crew started to come into their own against Cincinnati and now they seem to working as one great unit. Do they still have work to do...yes...I never feel you are good enough but it seems as though todays game clearly illustrated the cohesiveness of the defense and they are meshing and playing well...
I cannot wait for next week.
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RhodeIslandBuck
This guy's a real jerk
Now if only the offense can live up to it's potential like it was for the first two games.
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Alex Boone fan
#1 Alex Boone Fan
RhodeIslandBuck;616064; said:
Its hard to be great every week especially when you're playing another big 10 team. I don't care what record Penn State has they are always tough and in some ways very similiar to Ohio State in that they build their team on a tough defense which is obvious. The test of a real champion is not if the offense can explode every week its that when one unit struggles the other unit steps it up like the defense did today and they find a way to win.
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Scheme compensates for inexperience...I will take our D staff and philosophy over any staff in the nation
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OhioState49
Hall of Fame
The defense won it today period. The offense could have done better. But That's a win, so we got to focus on the Hawkeyes. I am surprised with the defense this year. They are young and play like they are veterans! They are all great!
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EyesofMarch
Freshman
So it goes ...
THE DEFENSE WAS REALER THAN REAL DEAL HOLYFIELD!!!
:osu2: :scum3: :osu2:
THE DEFENSE WAS REALER THAN REAL DEAL HOLYFIELD!!!
:osu2: :scum3: :osu2:
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Through the Penn State game:
Rushing: 115.3 ypg (#53)
Passing: 167.00 ypg (#32)
Total: 282.25 ypg (#37)
Scoring: 8.0 ppg (#7)
EDIT:
We also are tied for #2 in interceptions with 8...
Rushing: 115.3 ypg (#53)
Passing: 167.00 ypg (#32)
Total: 282.25 ypg (#37)
Scoring: 8.0 ppg (#7)
EDIT:
We also are tied for #2 in interceptions with 8...
Last edited:
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