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Game Thread Game Five: #1 Ohio State 38, #13 Iowa 17 (9/30/06)

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Ian Smith - The Daily Iowan

Each week, The Daily Iowan will dissect game tape of Iowa's opponent, revealing tendencies and trends. No. 1 Ohio State invades Kinnick Stadium on Saturday night for the most anticipated home game in over 20 years. Let's see if Ohio State's sloppy 28-6 victory over Penn State gives any hints to stopping the Buckeyes.

Troy Smith must be contained:

There's no argument necessary - Troy Smith is the best quarterback the Hawkeyes will face all season. The senior is averaging 221 yards passing per game and has connected for touchdowns eight times already this season. His rare abilities can be summed up by watching two plays from the Penn State contest. The first occurred on third-and-13 from deep in Buckeye territory. Smith patiently waited for his receivers to get open, and when no when did, he took off for a 17-yard gain, juking at least two defenders. The second play was Smith's one man highlight reel, as he scrambled around for years before throwing a perfect strike to his receiver for a 37-yard touchdown.

Smith didn't have his best game against the Nittany Lions - he was just 12-for-22 passing - but it rained throughout the contest, certainly forcing a few miscues. The Nittany Lions might have given Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz a couple clues to containing Smith. The 6-1, 215-pound signal caller is most effective when wreaking havoc scrambling outside the pocket. It will be critical for the Iowa defensive line to contain him and force him to throw while stationary. Secondly, it is important for the Iowa d-line - even if they're not going to get pressure - to get their hands up. Penn State was able to bat a couple of balls and even pick off two. Iowa will need these types of turnovers to win this game.

Talented Ohio State receivers:

Ted Ginn Jr. and Anthony Gonzalez form the most dynamic receiving duo in the Big Ten. Ginn Jr. provides the lightning quick speed, able to go the distance every time he touches the ball. On the other side, Gonzalez might be more polished, and the junior burned the Hawkeyes last season for 90 yards and two touchdowns. Penn State shut the duo down, allowing for only a combined four catches.The Hawkeyes must funnel the receivers into the middle of the field and away from the outside, where they can get one-on-one coverage versus cornerbacks Adam Shada and Charles Godfrey. If Iowa can do this, it will give them a better chance to keep the receivers in check.

Buckeyes strong on the ground:

If the Buckeyes have a secret weapon - I'm not even sure that's possible - it is running back Antonio Pittman. Against Penn State, the junior displayed the workman like attitude necessary to win bruising games in the Big Ten. He ran tough on 20 carries for 110 yards - many times lining up with Smith in the shotgun. The 5-11, 195-pounder scored Ohio States first touchdown, when he bulldozed a Nittany Lion defender and scampered 12-yards.

Besides containing OSU's other extremely talented offensive players, the Hawkeyes have to stop Pittman from racking up yards on the ground. It is way too easy for the Buckeyes offense, if they're clicking on all cylinders, to score points.

Defense flies all over the field:

Who said the Ohio State defense would suffer without A.J. Hawk, Bobby Carpenter, and seven other starters from last season? Probably not a whole lot of people, because a program like Ohio State doesn't rebuild - they reload. The Buckeyes are as fast as any team in the country, and last week, they forced Penn State to play on their heels, all day long. Three times, the Ohio State defense picked off Nittany Lion quarterback Anthony Morelli, including two that went back for touchdowns with less than three minutes to play.

If Texas and Penn State can only muster seven and six points against the Buckeyes, the Hawkeyes offense must play close to perfect to win. One area the Hawkeyes might be able to exploit is the Ohio State run defense. The Buckeyes are surrendering 115.2 yards per game on the ground and were embarrassed by Northern Illinois' Garrett Wolfe for 187 yards. If Albert Young, Damian Sims, and Shonn Greene can put it all together this week, it gives the Hawkeyes a much better chance of winning.

This game likely won't be forgotten for a long time. Senior Drew Tate's veteran leadership and the Kinnick Stadium home crowd give Iowa a chance. But, for all the reasons to go with the Hawks, the Buckeyes are just far too talented.

Video Verdict: Ohio State 28, Iowa 21
 
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Who is Ohio State's biggest threat?

Anthony Gonzalez

At this moment, Ohio State is the nation's No. 1 team. Yes, the Buckeyes have two of the biggest playmakers in all of college football, with quarterback Troy Smith and receiver Ted Ginn, Jr., but if you want to talk about who Ohio State's biggest threat is Saturday against Iowa, the guy who scares me most is receiver Anthony Gonzalez.

Last season, when Iowa got destroyed in the Horseshoe, two things really demoralized the Hawkeyes when the Buckeyes had the ball: Ohio State's ability to get yards on the ground and milk clock and Gonzalez.

Even with both Santonio Holmes and Ginn, it was Gonzalez who scored two touchdowns against the Hawkeyes last season, in Ohio State's 31-6 win.

Don't get me wrong - Smith is probably the front-runner for the Heisman, and when Ginn gets in the open field, no one can catch him. But whenever Ohio State goes to the air, it's pick your poison. Teams that worry more about keeping Smith in the pocket and containing Ginn end up getting burned by Gonzalez.

Ginn leads all receivers in touchdowns and average yards per catch. Meanwhile, Gonzalez leads the team in both receptions (19) and receiving yards (296). Bottom line, he makes a huge difference.

One of the biggest reasons why nobody mentions him nearly as much as the other two is because he doesn't make the highlight reel plays like those other two guys. He just does his thing and leaves it at that.

For some reason, Ohio State always seems to save its workhorse players, such as Gonzalez and running back Antonio Pittman, for when they play Iowa. So, unless Ginn returns a punt for a touchdown Saturday night, don't expect as big a game out of him, in contrast to Gonzalez and Pittman, if the Buckeyes escape from Iowa City unblemished.

I actually hope Iowa forces both Smith and Ginn to be Ohio State's biggest threats on Saturday, because making these two have to prove they are college football's version of "Batman and Robin" will make Jim Tressel's face redder than his road-game sweater vest.If Gonzalez ends up being a non-factor and those other two guys have to carry the scarlet and gray by themselves, then either Ohio State will be viewed as the most vulnerable top-ranked team ever if it wins or the most massive celebration to ever take place in Iowa City will start around 10:30 p.m.

- by Brendan Stiles


Troy Smith

Quick, who's the best college football player in the country?

I hope it didn't take that long - it's Troy Smith.

It's so obvious I almost feel stupid saying it, but Smith is definitely the best weapon Ohio State can wield come Saturday's Kinnick Stadium showdown.

From his name to his game, he's the best the Buckeye's have got.

Any quarterback named Troy is automatically good. What's better than being named after a taled warrior city from mythology?

Not only is the Trojan � er, Buckeye, named like a soldier, he competes like one, too.

Smith puts up points like the Coralville strip puts up Christmas wreaths - pushing the line beyond gaudy. The senior tallied 16 touchdowns en route to a 162.7 passer rating in 2005, and is on pace for 24 scores this season, sporting a 159.86 rating.

Beyond the touchdowns, Smith has thrown countless ropes to now-Pittsburgh Steeler Santonio Holmes, Ted Ginn, and Anthony Gonzalez, making big play after big play like a human highlight reel. Even when the ball's in the air, Smith makes it looks pretty. His spiral is so compact, you'd think it was a Honda advertisement.

Much like former Hawkeye stud Brad Banks, the threat goes beyond the aerials.

Smith took it to the house 11 times on the ground in '05, including two scores against Iowa.

And in the last couple seasons, Smith is the only Buckeye to individually make the Hawks look like Cyclones.

He marched the Buckeyes right down the heart of Kinnick like it was a St. Patty's Day Parade in Boston, as a backup in 2004. And, even though it was against the second-stringers, the Buckeye's first-team couldn't put up even one point, let alone six.

In addition to the two rushing touchdowns and 127 rush yards form last year's match against Iowa, Smith threw for two more scores on 13-of-19 passing.

Without Smith, the Buckeyes would have no way to mobilize their receiving corps, leaving defenses one focal point, the slightly above average Antonio Pittman.

When the scarlet and gray come out of the tunnel on Saturday, I will fear one person, and one person only, and his name is definitely not Anthony Gonzalez.

- by Alex Johnson
 
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Dispatch

OHIO STATE NOTEBOOK
Buckeyes had attitude change after loss to Hawkeyes in ?04
Friday, September 29, 2006
Tim May and Ken Gordon
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Troy Smith threw his second touchdown pass as a collegian two years ago at Iowa, but that was about the only highlight in coach Jim Tressel?s worst loss at Ohio State.
Many things changed for the Buckeyes during and soon after the 33-7 loss to the Hawkeyes, not the least of which was the switch from Justin Zwick, who suffered a separated shoulder that afternoon, to Smith as the starting quarterback. But Smith remembered more the change of attitude by the team as a whole in the wake of the loss.
"The most significant thing we did grab and think about was the feeling, the understanding that as a team, we can?t put up another fight like that," Smith said. "We can?t get into a situation where we are possibly shut out again.
"Through all things, through all adversity, we?ve got to keep fighting and stay strong."
No. 1 Ohio State, going into a return trip to No. 13 Iowa, has lost just three games since then.
Scoot over , Hawkeyes

The Buckeyes stay in a hotel just south of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, about 30 miles from Iowa?s campus in Iowa City, when they make the trip to play the Hawkeyes. But the Hawkeyes won?t be that far away tonight, maybe just down the street.
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said that with the late kickoff, he wanted to get his team away from the madness that might envelop Iowa City tonight and much of Saturday. He said the team will spend tonight in a hotel in Cedar Rapids.
Ohio State will fly to Cedar Rapids this afternoon and will stage a walkthrough of Kinnick Stadium later in the evening, then bus back to the hotel.
Iowa - Glenville pipeline

Ohio State has seven players from Cleveland Glenville, including Smith and receiver Ted Ginn Jr., but Iowa signed its first two in February, quarterback Arvell Nelson and defensive back Derrick Smith.
Troy Smith said he has known Nelson since both were in the Cleveland youth leagues.
"I was the quarterback in the eldest division and he was the quarterback in the youngest division for the same team (Glenville A?s)," Smith said. "He?s a great kid, and I?m happy he got the opportunity to play Division I football."
He saw this coming

Running back Antonio Pittman said the success of Ohio State?s defense this season was not a surprise to him. The Buckeyes lost nine starters from last year, but are ranked seventh in the nation in scoring defense, giving up just 8.0 points per game.
"I?m not surprised at all, because in (fall) camp, the defense really took it to us," Pittman said. "It kind of had me worried going into the season, because we had all this talk about being a young defense and our offense was supposed to be all this and that, and we really couldn?t move the ball. I knew they were going to be ready from that point on."
[email protected]

[email protected]
 
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I am wondering what new wrinkle that JT will unveil on Saturday night. He normally will pull out a new game plan for this type of a big game.

Move Troy and let him run a bit more? It looks like the staff has told him not to leave the pocket for the first 4 games.

Shot Ginn?

More of the WV style run out of the spread than we have seen?

Beenie?

I am pumped already.
 
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Folanator;620821; said:
I am wondering what new wrinkle that JT will unveil on Saturday night. He normally will pull out a new game plan for this type of a big game.

Move Troy and let him run a bit more? It looks like the staff has told him not to leave the pocket for the first 4 games.

Shot Ginn?

More of the WV style run out of the spread than we have seen?

Beenie?

I am pumped already.
Click to expand...

Notable "missing" JT staples over the past season and a half:

Reverses (Jet motion, short motion, and orbit motion)
Speed and Belly option
Slip Screens
TB Screens
 
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OSU Offense v. Defense?

osugrad21;620754; said:
Dispatch

OHIO STATE NOTEBOOK
Buckeyes had attitude change after loss to Hawkeyes in ?04
Friday, September 29, 2006
Tim May and Ken Gordon
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Troy Smith threw his second touchdown pass as a collegian two years ago at Iowa, but that was about the only highlight in coach Jim Tressel?s worst loss at Ohio State.
Many things changed for the Buckeyes during and soon after the 33-7 loss to the Hawkeyes, not the least of which was the switch from Justin Zwick, who suffered a separated shoulder that afternoon, to Smith as the starting quarterback. But Smith remembered more the change of attitude by the team as a whole in the wake of the loss.
"The most significant thing we did grab and think about was the feeling, the understanding that as a team, we can?t put up another fight like that," Smith said. "We can?t get into a situation where we are possibly shut out again.
"Through all things, through all adversity, we?ve got to keep fighting and stay strong."
No. 1 Ohio State, going into a return trip to No. 13 Iowa, has lost just three games since then.
Scoot over , Hawkeyes

The Buckeyes stay in a hotel just south of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, about 30 miles from Iowa?s campus in Iowa City, when they make the trip to play the Hawkeyes. But the Hawkeyes won?t be that far away tonight, maybe just down the street.
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said that with the late kickoff, he wanted to get his team away from the madness that might envelop Iowa City tonight and much of Saturday. He said the team will spend tonight in a hotel in Cedar Rapids.
Ohio State will fly to Cedar Rapids this afternoon and will stage a walkthrough of Kinnick Stadium later in the evening, then bus back to the hotel.
Iowa - Glenville pipeline

Ohio State has seven players from Cleveland Glenville, including Smith and receiver Ted Ginn Jr., but Iowa signed its first two in February, quarterback Arvell Nelson and defensive back Derrick Smith.
Troy Smith said he has known Nelson since both were in the Cleveland youth leagues.
"I was the quarterback in the eldest division and he was the quarterback in the youngest division for the same team (Glenville A?s)," Smith said. "He?s a great kid, and I?m happy he got the opportunity to play Division I football."
He saw this coming

Running back Antonio Pittman said the success of Ohio State?s defense this season was not a surprise to him. The Buckeyes lost nine starters from last year, but are ranked seventh in the nation in scoring defense, giving up just 8.0 points per game.
"I?m not surprised at all, because in (fall) camp, the defense really took it to us," Pittman said. "It kind of had me worried going into the season, because we had all this talk about being a young defense and our offense was supposed to be all this and that, and we really couldn?t move the ball. I knew they were going to be ready from that point on."
[email protected]

[email protected]
Click to expand...

For some reason, I don't find this to be surprising.
 
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Ian Smith - The Daily Iowan;620740; said:
In 2004, Smith's hotshot flare sparked three easy victories to begin the season. It appeared the 6-1, 215-pounder was destined to become another great Ohio State quarterback. Then Big Ten play started. The Buckeyes were thrashed in three straight games, including a 33-7 whipping at Iowa.
Click to expand...
Wow, this guy really knows his stuff.
 
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osugrad21;620833; said:
Notable "missing" JT staples over the past season and a half:

Reverses (Jet motion, short motion, and orbit motion)
Speed and Belly option
Slip Screens
TB Screens
Click to expand...

I'm at risk of exposing my football retardedness here, but what's a speed option and/or a belly option? Is that where the RB runs in front of the QB to take the handoff, with the QB going one direction and the RB going the other?
 
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R0CK3TM4NN;620916; said:
I'm at risk of exposing my football retardedness here, but what's a speed option and/or a belly option? Is that where the RB runs in front of the QB to take the handoff, with the QB going one direction and the RB going the other?
Click to expand...

I could be wrong but I think that is in the spread formation the option where the QB puts the ball in the RB's belly and then makes the read on the D end. If the end goes with the RB, then the QB keeps the ball. If not then he hands it off. I think there is a pass option also.

It is a modified version of what Texas did last year. It is what West Virginia does now.
 
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though we'll take a victory in virtually in any way, shape, or form; ohio state has an opportunity to set iowa's program back a few notches. well, maybe not the program but instead the perception of iowa as an upcoming big ten powerhouse. this game could be yet another reminder that the big ten is a stable of two thoroughbreds and a bunch of nags.

as much as i'd like to denigrate michigan, ohio state needs them to be a perennial powerhouse. each school helps define the other. although, tsun has truly been defined as scum during the tressel reign.
 
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