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Matthew Zemek is always worth posting as well as reading
Sept. 12, 2005
Monday Morning QB
Week Two
By Matthew Zemek | Week 1
I. Jim Tressel’s Unfair Crucifixion
My, my, how the vultures are out in Columbus. This makes precious little sense.
First, some minor but still relevant numbers:
Total Troy Smith passing yards: 78. Total Justin Zwick passing yards: 66. Total Smith completions: 5. Total Zwick completions: 9.
But now, some even more substantial facts: who made what should have been the biggest clutch play of the game, a decisive touchdown pass to tight end Ryan Hamby? Zwick. Blame Hamby for this loss, not Tressel or Zwick, who—let’s face it—played a very mature game in which he avoided any picks. This was not the same Justin Zwick who was so turnover-prone last season. He did what he could; his tight end let him down in a big way.
Smith had one perfect TD throw to Santonio Holmes (who, by the way, was the best player on the field for either team Saturday night, hands down), but otherwise did precious little to advance the Bucks’ cause.
Ohio State fans need to remember that stopping Vince Young actually wasn’t the foremost cause for concern going in. The biggest cause for worry in Columbus was the Bucks’ offense. With Smith suspended for the Miami-Ohio game, he was going to be rusty, and nothing could ever have changed or prevented that from being the case. Ohio State was going to face some inherent limitations in terms of its ability to throw lots of plays and packages at the Longhorns. Given this reality, it was not only comfortable but smart for Tressel to try to win this game the way he usually likes to win games: with defense, Andy Groom-style punting from A.J. Trapasso, and Josh Huston’s Mike Nugent-like field goal kicking. We’ve seen this movie before, and just because the Bucks didn’t win doesn’t mean that Tressel should feel heat.
Was it his fault Hamby didn’t snare that end zone pass from Zwick, who—as Gary Danielson noted—made both a great read and throw on the play?
Was it Tressel’s fault that Huston barely missed a long field goal that was struck well?
Was it Tressel’s fault that Smith didn’t play in the season opener, thereby creating a problematic situation under center?
The only thing Tressel should have done differently was to allow Texas to score with two minutes left to go up 30-22, but give the Bucks a legitimate shot at a tie with a not-too-hurried possession. All in all, though, Tressel played this game the way he wanted to, in terms of tempo and style. Why exactly he’s coming under fire from his fan base is beyond me.
Sept. 12, 2005
Monday Morning QB
Week Two
By Matthew Zemek | Week 1
I. Jim Tressel’s Unfair Crucifixion
My, my, how the vultures are out in Columbus. This makes precious little sense.
First, some minor but still relevant numbers:
Total Troy Smith passing yards: 78. Total Justin Zwick passing yards: 66. Total Smith completions: 5. Total Zwick completions: 9.
But now, some even more substantial facts: who made what should have been the biggest clutch play of the game, a decisive touchdown pass to tight end Ryan Hamby? Zwick. Blame Hamby for this loss, not Tressel or Zwick, who—let’s face it—played a very mature game in which he avoided any picks. This was not the same Justin Zwick who was so turnover-prone last season. He did what he could; his tight end let him down in a big way.
Smith had one perfect TD throw to Santonio Holmes (who, by the way, was the best player on the field for either team Saturday night, hands down), but otherwise did precious little to advance the Bucks’ cause.
Ohio State fans need to remember that stopping Vince Young actually wasn’t the foremost cause for concern going in. The biggest cause for worry in Columbus was the Bucks’ offense. With Smith suspended for the Miami-Ohio game, he was going to be rusty, and nothing could ever have changed or prevented that from being the case. Ohio State was going to face some inherent limitations in terms of its ability to throw lots of plays and packages at the Longhorns. Given this reality, it was not only comfortable but smart for Tressel to try to win this game the way he usually likes to win games: with defense, Andy Groom-style punting from A.J. Trapasso, and Josh Huston’s Mike Nugent-like field goal kicking. We’ve seen this movie before, and just because the Bucks didn’t win doesn’t mean that Tressel should feel heat.
Was it his fault Hamby didn’t snare that end zone pass from Zwick, who—as Gary Danielson noted—made both a great read and throw on the play?
Was it Tressel’s fault that Huston barely missed a long field goal that was struck well?
Was it Tressel’s fault that Smith didn’t play in the season opener, thereby creating a problematic situation under center?
The only thing Tressel should have done differently was to allow Texas to score with two minutes left to go up 30-22, but give the Bucks a legitimate shot at a tie with a not-too-hurried possession. All in all, though, Tressel played this game the way he wanted to, in terms of tempo and style. Why exactly he’s coming under fire from his fan base is beyond me.
