Game Thread Game One: #1 Ohio State 35, Northern Illinois 12 (9/2/06)

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

<H1 class=red>Four things I think about Saturday's game

</H1>

Sunday, September 03, 2006


1. Ohio State's athleticism at defensive end -- Vernon Gholston, Jay Richardson, Alex Barrow and Lawrence Wilson -- is game-changing, the one place where this defense is better than last year. The Buckeyes had four sacks Saturday, but it felt like they had about twice that many.

2. The running back balance Saturday -- 19 carries for 111 yards for Antonio Pittman, 10 carries for 50 yards for Chris Wells, five carries for 15 yards for Mo Wells -- was about perfect. Pittman's the guy, but Wells came in on short yardage and for a few series of his own. Happy, fresh and effective.

3. Don't forget Troy Smith's feet. Jim Tressel said the Buckeyes didn't design many run plays for him Saturday because of Northern Illinois' defensive scheme. And Smith is very good passer, in the pocket and on the move. But Smith can't ignore the runs that come naturally, especially against a defense as good as Texas. Just a friendly reminder.

4. Losing the turnover battle has to catch up with the Buckeyes someday. Really. They lost two fumbles Saturday and picked off just one pass, and won the game. Last year, Ohio State won the turnover edge in just three games, and had an equal number in two other games, yet went 10-2. And they actually won the turnover battle against Texas, and lost that game. Weird. Jim Tressel loves the turnover stat. And it will eventually bite the Buckeyes if this continues.

-- Doug Lesmerises

CPD

OHIO STATE 35, NORTHERN ILLINOIS 12
FIRST BURST


Sunday, September 03, 2006 Doug Lesmerises
Plain Dealer Reporter
Columbus- The way Ohio State played for the first 20 minutes of the 2006 season on Saturday, you could take that show anywhere - Ohio Stadium, Texas, maybe even Cleveland Browns Stadium.
As Ryan Pretorius lined up to attempt a long field goal early in the second quarter, Ohio State had scored touchdowns on its previous four possessions, quarterback Troy Smith had thrown for 189 yards and the young OSU defense had recorded an interception and two sacks and had forced four Northern Illinois punts.
The Buckeyes were playing like the No. 1 team in the country that everyone said they were.
"We hit them real hard at first," left tackle Alex Boone said. "We were saying, 'Stay up, don't relax, keep going.' And then we just fell off a little bit."
Ohio State emerged with a 35-12 victory over the Huskies, the Buckeyes unable to maintain their furious first-quarter pace. To keep up would have been nearly impossible, but there's enough to improve on to keep a question mark behind that No. 1. The Buckeyes' final six full possessions included two missed field goals, two fumbles, a punt and a touchdown.
"It was average," offensive coordinator Jim Bollman said. "That's my feeling right now. The first quarter was great."
The defense, rotating players at every position throughout the game, chased the ball and got a big interception from new linebacker Larry Grant, but gave up three plays of more than 30 yards to Huskies running back Garrett Wolfe.
"Sometimes you get in these types of games and you get an early lead, you get a little bit sloppy," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. "We can't miss tackles. We missed some tackles. Despite how good Garrett Wolfe is, there are some guys we play in the next 11 weeks that are pretty darn good as well."
Wolfe, a 177-pound senior, was exceptional, rushing 26 times for 171 yards, catching five passes for 114 yards and gaining 285 of the 343 yards Northern Illinois posted in the game. He also broke three tackles on a fourth-and-4 swing pass to score the Huskies' only touchdown in the fourth quarter.
He was, however, one offensive bright light against a galaxy of stars.
Smith kicked off his Heisman Trophy campaign by completing 18 of 25 passes for 297 yards and three touchdowns. The only thing missing was his running game. He was credited with just one rush for negative-1 yard.
"The time I called a run where he had a chance to run, he looked like me running out there," Tressel said, drawing a sideways glance from Smith. "We're going to have to get a little bit better at that maybe."
Ted Ginn Jr. caught four of Smith's passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns, while No. 2 receiver Anthony Gonzalez grabbed four receptions for 53 yards and a touchdown. In the running game, Antonio Pittman carried 19 times for 111 yards and a touchdown, while freshman Chris Wells bulled his way to 50 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries. Overall, the Buckeyes passed for 315 yards and rushed for 173.
Most intimidating was the variety, from five receivers one play, to two tight ends and two fullbacks on another.
"We try to get all our playmakers balls," Smith said.
All the options weren't in full effect for the Huskies but should be for the Texas Longhorns next week, with the Buckeyes out to avenge last year's 25-22 defeat and the No. 1 ranking on the line.
"I don't want to say we didn't bring it all, but we know what they did to us last year," Boone said. "We remember that, so I think there's a lot more we can bring out."
Texas will be much more capable of handling it. The Buckeyes figured they had to speed to burn against the Huskies, who often tried to single cover Ginn, and they were right. On defense, occasional lapses from nine new starters and their younger backups were often overcome by talent and aggression.
"If we make mistakes, we want our identity to be 11 guys giving full effort to the ball," middle linebacker James Laurinaitis said. "That first quarter, we had 11 guys flying to the ball on every play."
Oh, that first quarter. If the Buckeyes bring that to Austin for four quarters, there may be no more questions about who's the best team in the country.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
[email protected], 216-999-4479

 

[Buckin' A]

I can't? I just did.

It's his job to put his players in the best position possible to succeed. By unnecessisarily putting Zwick in the game in the middle of a drive, he deserves some of the blame just as Zwick does for coughing up the ball. Subbing for your QB in mid-drive in any situation other than an injury is BAD.

I agree that it was a poor idea to switch them out during a drive in the red zone. I'm simply saying that it's Zwick's fault that he couldn't take 2 steps and hand off without fumbling.

 

[timBUCK2]

Not a valid argument. Who's to say that had we scored that NIU wouldn't have fumbled the subsequent kickoff or turned it over on their drive or shanked their next punt anyway or Ginn have a big punt return? You can't say that we wouldn't have got the ball back at their 20 (or maybe even better) had Wells not lost the fumble. That fumble cost us seven points, period.

Gotta agree with Mili here. Who's to say that NIU wouldn't have won if only they had won the coin toss?

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

I agree that it was a poor idea to switch them out during a drive in the red zone. I'm simply saying that it's Zwick's fault that he couldn't take 2 steps and hand off without fumbling.

Actually, he had a little help by the offensive lineman on that play, it happens.

telegraph-forum

Ohio State's defense still looks tough

By DAVE PURPURA
Gannett News Service

Marcus Freeman had Garrett Wolfe dead in his sights on Northern Illinois’ second play Saturday.

The Huskies’ preseason All-American running back juked Ohio State’s sophomore linebacker and caught a 31-yard screen pass, a feat he’d repeat late in the second quarter and again for a 4-yard touchdown in the fourth — the score coming against Freeman.

That was pretty much all that worked for the Huskies, who were overwhelmed at the onset and swarmed under thereafter in a 35-12 loss to the top-ranked Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium.

“We noticed that really the only thing defensively we weren’t consistent on were mistakes when we were making big plays,” lineman Quinn Pitcock said. “A lot of times it’s not all 11 players doing their job consistently, which is what we need to do every week.”

A lot more than 11 players contributed Saturday.

Within the first 10 plays, Ohio State’s no-name defense had become every man’s defense.

Sixteen Buckeyes recorded tackles, led by safety Brandon Mitchell’s nine — eight solo. Freeman had 6.5, four solo.

Sophomore Vernon Gholston had a team-high 1.5 sacks; senior Jay Richardson and sophomore Lawrence Wilson had one apiece.

For a unit that returned only two starters, defensive linemen Pitcock and Richardson, holding the Huskies to 12 points and 343 yards was a reminder that Ohio State didn’t lose everything when linebackers A.J. Hawk, Bobby Carpenter and Anthony Schlegel went to the NFL.

“It was so hard to keep track of who was in because we played so many guys. That was one of the real good things about today,” Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. “No one panicked and no one had those big saucer eyes and all that. I’d say the grade was good.”

All but 42 of Northern’s yards could be credited to Wolfe. He ran for 187 yards — 51 on one carry in the fourth quarter — and caught five passes for 114 yards and a touchdown with 10:27 left.

“This year it is just 11 guys flying around the ball and finding the ball on every play,” said linebacker James Laurinaitis, a sophomore who saw time in last year’s Michigan game and Fiesta Bowl win over Notre Dame. “There is a lot of competition and that is a good thing. It makes people step up.”

And that led to a huge if not surprising lead. Northern punted three times and didn’t gain a rushing yard before Ohio State took an 28-0 lead five seconds into the second quarter.

The Huskies’ only scoring drive, 10 plays and 71 yards, came after the game was long since decided. By then, the Buckeyes were thinking about next Saturday night’s game at No. 2 Texas.

“We wanted to show the nation what we could accomplish,” said freshman linebacker Ross Homan, who had 3.5 tackles — one for a two-yard loss. “I think we did that.”


Originally published September 3, 2006

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Link

Buckeye blitz
Ohio State offense clicks into high gear to defeat Northern Illinois

By JON SPENCER
For The Advocate




COLUMBUS -- Brian Hartline knew exactly how the besieged Northern Illinois defense must have felt Saturday afternoon. "I didn't even have time to think," said Hartline, whose 31-yard catch on Ohio State's opening play set a torrid early pace in the Buckeyes' 35-12 season-opening victory. "The ball was coming to me so quickly. I guess I'd better get used to it."
The Huskies never did, not in the first half anyway. Top-ranked Ohio State scored on its first four possessions and then shifted into cruise control as minds apparently wandered to next weekend's showdown at No. 2 Texas.

"We took a step," coach Jim Tressel said after the dress rehearsal, "but the next step is higher."
Ted Ginn Jr. looked ready to take that leap after catching four passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns. Can he be this year's go-to receiver? Quarterback Troy Smith provided a definitive answer by going to his former Glenville teammate for scoring passes of 5 and 58 yards on the first two possessions.
On the latter, Ginn shook the bump-and-run tactics of flat-footed cornerback Adriel Hansbro and left him helplessly in his wake. Safety Mark Reiter, covering slot back Anthony Gonzalez down the middle, arrived too late to assist.
"I've played people of similar speed, but he was fast," Hansbro said of Ginn. "That is the name of the game. We tried to cut his angles and tried to get our hands on him as much as possible.
"We made a lot of mistakes -- things we can't do, let alone against a No. 1 team."
If Ginn was Ohio State's only weapon, NIU might have had more of a chance, especially since it had a speed freak of its own in Garrett Wolfe. A young, unproven OSU defense kept him out of the end zone until the fourth quarter, but the shifty 5-7 senior made an impact and raised some red flags for the Buckeyes with 171 yards rushing and 114 in receptions.
OSU tackle Quinn Pitcock had to catch himself while praising Wolfe.
"I wish him the best of luck with the Heisman race," Pitcock said, "... but we've still got my buddy here next to me I'm (rooting) for."
Pitcock was referring to Smith, a Heisman frontrunner and one of several reasons Wolfe found himself outnumbered.
Thanks largely to his collaborations with Ginn, Smith threw for 297 yards -- 208 in the first half -- and three first quarter touchdowns. An 11-yard punt set up a 15-yard scoring strike to Gonzalez, one of nine receivers to hook up with Smith.
"We have two Heisman candidates (Smith and Ginn) and so many weapons ... I don't know where to start," Hartline said, almost breathlessly. "That's why we came out striking."
The Buckeyes also moved the ball the old-fashioned way. Antonio Pittman rushed for 111 yards on 19 carries and 225-pound freshman Chris Wells dragged three defenders into the end zone on the first play of the second quarter, scoring from eight yards out.
"I can't speak enough about the offensive line," Smith said. "They did exactly what the gameplan called for us to do ... getting a 100-yard rusher and protecting the quarterback.
"Defensively, I think we did a good job of holding them under 13 points, which is one of our goals. All around, I think we played good."
Handling the Longhorns' stable of tailbacks becomes a Texas-sized concern after Wolfe's 185-yard afternoon, but the Buckeyes snuffed out NIU's biggest first half threat at the 12 on a 49-yard interception return by junior college transfer Larry Grant.
Northern Illinois' only turnover resulted in Wells' bullish TD run, bumping the lead to 28-0.
"I'm sure emotionally that was a big play for their offense," Tressel said. "That was a heckuva play and gave our defense a life.
"I'm sure some of the guys are going to be on Larry for running out of gas there. I'm not sure who caught him, but I think it was their left tackle."
It will be interesting to see if Tressel still is cracking one-liners after Game 2.

Originally published September 3, 2006

 

[Best Buckeye]

Game

I liked the game. Two points 1 the starting LB's had ten total tackles and didnt pursue wide well. 2. Mitchell made 9 tackles. bad news when a safety is the leading tackler and misses about 6 more. I'm looking for better D next week, and i'm sure the coaches will address what they need to.

 

[ScarletNGry]

I think we saw only enough from the offense to get the lead then we just sat on it will very bland calls to not tip our hand for next week. We really gave Texas no film of our offense to look at that will give them anything to prep for specifically.

I know we did very minumal blitzing and the stuns were very vanilla as well. I am fine with giving up all those yards. What I am not happy with is the bad tackling, poor pursuit angles, and all the out of position players. THese were fundamentals that we were not doing. I think the coaches made a conscience effort to not blitz and play base defense. At least there is a week to work on tackling before we get to Texas, if we tackle that same way against Texas we will be in a shoot out, and shoot outs favors the home team and teams that can kick field goals...

Good start in that is shows us what we need to work on and still allowed us to get some confidence with both our offense and defense.

Go Bucks! Here we come Texas!

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Toledo-Blade

Notebook: Defense answers some questions

By MATT MARKEY
BLADE SPORTS WRITER


COLUMBUS - The most pressing questions surrounding the Ohio State Buckeyes going into this season involved the defense. Nine new starters, and nine former starters who wound up in pro camps. They would be a tough act to follow.

After Ohio State's convincing 35-12 win over Northern Illinois in front of 103,896 fans yesterday, the jury might still be out on the defense, but after initial deliberations, the Buckeyes appeared to do a satisfactory job of bottling up the offense of the Mid-American Conference's pre-season favorite.

The Huskies scored just one touchdown, and Ohio State held Northern Illinois's power running game to just 43 yards on 15 carries in the first half, when the game was still being contested. The Huskies, who averaged 444 yards per game in 2005, finished the game with 343 yards of offense, but Ohio State coach Jim Tressel got a look at a lot of his young defenders before this one was over.

"It was so hard to keep track of who was in there, because we played so many guys," Tressel said. "But we kept them under the goal, which is 14 points. The effort was good, and if the huddle dynamic was good, the grade for the defense will be good."

Ohio State senior defensive tackle David Patterson, one of the two returning starters on that side, said the Buckeyes' approach was solid.

"I'm happy with the effort we showed out there," Patterson said. "We did make some mistakes, but we rallied to the ball, and I was impressed with how the young guys handled adversity."

COMING ATTRACTIONS: The Ohio State staff got a prolonged look at the future yesterday, and how big a role some of their youngest players might play immediately. Freshman tailback Chris Wells was in the backfield in the first quarter, and finished the game with 10 carries for 50 yards and a touchdown. Freshman wide receiver Ray Small had three receptions for 19 yards, while sophomore Brian Robiskie caught three passes for 32 yards.

FOR KICKS: Redshirt freshman Aaron Pettrey, who won the kicking job after a close battle with sophomore Ryan Pretorius during pre-season camp, was perfect on five extra point kicks, and missed wide on his only field goal try, from 44 yards out. Pretorius missed short on a 51-yard field goal try, his only kick of the night.

"We went into the game with the idea they'd both have opportunities," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. "It wasn't the ideal day for a guy being out there for the first time, since kicking is all about your plant foot, and you couldn't really attack the ball due to some slippage on the wet surface."

FOR OPENERS: Ohio State has now won 28 straight home openers. The last loss on opening day came to Penn State in 1978.

100 YEARS & COUNTING: With the win over Northern Illinois, the Buckeyes are 21-1 overall in games against teams now in the MAC. Ohio State's only loss came to Akron, 14-6, in 1895.

D'ANDREA UPDATE: It looks like yet another session under the knife is on the schedule for Mike D'Andrea, one of the stars of the banner recruiting class of 2002 who has had injuries repeatedly block his path to stardom at Ohio State. The fifth-year senior, considered the best linebacker in the country as a senior at Avon Lake in 2001, tore his ACL early in 2004 after suffering a separated shoulder in 2003.

D'Andrea attempted to come back last season, but played just four minutes due to continued discomfort with his knee. D'Andrea had been practicing in preparation for this season, but Tressel announced prior to yesterday's opener that D'Andrea would not be able to compete. Tressel said an additional round of surgery is necessary to give D'Andrea a decent "quality of life." Tressel said D'Andrea had exhausted his options rehab-wise, but still held out hope that he could someday play professionally.

"He could have something to contribute at the next level," Tressel said.

DOAKIES: Ohio State junior tailback Antonio Pittman, and Northern Illinois senior running back Garrett Wolfe, are both listed in the field of candidates for this year's Doak Walker Award, won in 2005 by USC's Reggie Bush. Yesterday, Pittman had 11 yards on 19 carries while Wolfe, the top returning running back in the country, had a 171 yards on 26 carries.

Now in its 17th year, the award is named for former Southern Methodist three-time All-American running back Doak Walker, and is the only major collegiate award that requires all candidates to be in good academic standing and on schedule to graduate, in addition to on-field excellence. The 2006 award will be presented in December.

Toledo-Blade

Quick and easy: Buckeyes rip Huskies, keep Texas in the dark

By MATT MARKEY
BLADE SPORTS WRITER


COLUMBUS - Before the charcoal grills had cooled at the tailgate parties outside Ohio Stadium, and even before the first long lines had formed at the restrooms inside, Ohio State was already in position to vary its game plan.

The Buckeyes no longer had to follow a well-rehearsed text on how to beat Northern Illinois here yesterday, and could concentrate instead on a "let's not show Texas anything" scenario. A quick four-touchdown lead allowed Ohio State to thump Northern Illinois 35-12, and in the process not reveal much of what it will likely need this weekend when the No. 1 Buckeyes visit No. 3 Texas, the defending national champions.

Ohio State coach Jim Tressel, whose team got touchdowns the first four times it had the ball, said Ohio State might have backed off a little once it had the quick cushion, but he was pleased with the Buckeyes' overall performance.

"Sometimes when you get an early lead, you get a little sloppy," Tressel said in reference to several penalties and a couple of turnovers that kept this one closer than it might have been. "But we took a step today. The next step is going to be higher, but we definitely took a step in the right direction."

Tressel said the Buckeyes, who had a methodical 488 yards of offense against Northern Illinois, were focused on the present, and not next Saturday night in Austin.

"Usually, your play book has a little bit of everything in it, depending on who you are playing," Tressel said after the Buckeyes had 173 rushing yards and 315 more through the air. "I haven't watched any Texas film yet, and I can't remember all the way back to last year when we played them. Our design and what we did today was based upon what defense Northern brings."

Northern Illinois, the pre-season favorite in the Mid-American Conference, got overwhelmed quickly on both sides of the ball. After a sack by Vernon Gholston stunted the Huskies' first possession, the Buckeyes restarted the offense that had put up 617 yards in the Fiesta Bowl win over Notre Dame in January.

Quarterback Troy Smith hit Brian Hartline for a 32-yard completion, tailback Antonio Pittman pounded the middle for 16 yards, and Smith found Anthony Gonzalez for nine more yards. A five-yard TD pass to Ted Ginn Jr. started the barrage.

After the Buckeyes stuffed Northern Illinois again, Smith found Ginn wide open behind the defense on a 58-yard scoring pass that made it 14-0 after the second of five extra points from Aaron Pettrey.

Gonzalez caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Smith with about three minutes to play in the first quarter, and when freshman Chris Wells scored on an eight-yard touchdown run on the opening play of the second quarter, Ohio State led 28-0, and it was time to play it close to the vest and not show Texas any trump cards. Pittman was the workhorse with 19 carries for 111 yards, while Smith threw for 297 yards and three scores.

"That's a credit to everybody around me," Smith said about Ohio State's offensive production. "For the most part, we did a good job, and the guys up front did exactly what the game plan said to do. Without the offensive line playing like that, the game plan doesn't get done. Without them, I can't start the way I started. It was all a collaborative effort."

Northern Illinois got a couple of field goals to make it 28-6 early in the third quarter, but after an apparent OSU scoring drive got derailed by a Wells fumble at the Huskies 2, the Buckeyes pushed the ball back down the field and scored on a one-yard run by Pittman on the first play of the final period for a 35-6 advantage.

Garrett Wolfe, the nation's leading returning rusher at 175 yards per game last season, broke a 51-yard burst to the Ohio State 20, and then scored eight plays later on a four-yard pass from quarterback Phil Horvath by splitting the two OSU defenders in his path. Wolfe finished with 171 yards rushing on 26 carries, and his touchdown cut the Ohio State lead to 35-12.

The Buckeyes wasted another opportunity midway through the fourth period after a Smith-to-Ginn bomb covered 56 yards and set up Ohio State at the Huskies 9. From the 5, backup quarterback Justin Zwick got his foot tangled up with one of his blockers and fumbled as he attempted to hand the ball off to Wells, and Northern Illinois recovered the botched exchange.

Contact Matt Markey at: [email protected] or 419-724-6510.

 

[Buckin' A]

Actually, he had a little help by the offensive lineman on that play, it happens.

Yea, I wasn't trying to bash Zwick, just pointing out to JLB that you can't blame the head coach when soemthing like that happens. Blame JT for when he switched them, but not for execution.

 

[iambrutus]

why OSU is different that most schools....

if we had any coach other than JT, we would have put 60 on the board. JT will only score 60 if the other team has 50 - and thats classy. Our offense is SICK, our Defense showed lots of positive signs, they got a bit sloppy when they were up, but thats bound to happen with a young team when its considered an "easy" game.

I think the boys will put it together next week and we'll walk out of Austin 2-0

 

[Best Buckeye]

Game

Blame JT for when he switched them, but not for execution.

I agree with that . when i saw zwick go in then I thought wow they're about to score , and that continuity would be effected.
:osu:

 

[Buckin' A]

"I haven't watched any Texas film yet, and I can't remember all the way back to last year when we played them."

If anybody believes that JT has not watched any Texas film yet, I have some beautiful ocean front property for sale in Arizona.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

Buckeyes notebook
Sunday, September 3, 2006


OUCH Referee Dave Witvoet left the game near the end of the first quarter with an apparent dislocated left shoulder. Witvoet’s feet were tangled with a Northern Illinois player’s on Larry Grant’s 49-yard interception return.
SMALLISH It’s no wonder Ohio State moved the ball so well against Northern Illinois on Saturday. The Huskies starting linebackers averaged just 207 pounds. The smallest was 193-pound freshman David Bryant. The Buckeyes’ starting linebackers went 242 pounds, 244 and 233. Northern Illinois’ defensive ends were 243 pounds and 236. Ohio State’s starting defensive ends are 276-pound Jay Richardson and Vernon Gholston, a 260-pounder.
BIG BAND The Ohio State Marching Band had its 38th reunion with more than 600 former members returning. More than 500 of them marched in pregame, and the oldest was a 90-year-old trumpet player.
FAMILIAR FACE Stark County resident and longtime Big Ten official (now retired) Henry Armstead worked the replay booth Saturday. Armstead has worked the replay system the last two years.
NEW DO Senior right tackle T.J. Downing (GlenOak) shaved his head in a mohawk for the start of the season. Downing and Kirk Barton (Perry) make up the right side of the offensive line, which is the side Ohio State converted most of their third-and-short running plays on.
LUKENS HURT Hoover High School graduate Curt Lukens was on the Buckeye sideline wearing his jersey and sweat pants. Lukens re-injured his shoulders. Lukens moved from defensive back to wide receiver this offseason in an effort to preserve his career, which has been hampered by shoulder injuries.
ZWICK’S LUCK Senior QB Justin Zwick came in the game in the fourth quarter, two plays after Troy Smith connected with Ted Ginn Jr. on a 56-yard pass to the Northern Illinois 9. Zwick tripped after taking the snap and missed the handoff with Chris Wells. The result was a fumble inside the Northern Illinois 10, recovered by the Huskies. Wells also lost a fumble inside the Northern Illinois 5 earlier in the game. Zwick played a second series and completed his two passes for 18 yards, including one third-down conversion.
WOLFE HUNTING Northern Illinois running back Garrett Wolfe had more than 100 yards rushing and receiving in the same game for the first time Saturday. Wolfe ran for 171 yards on 26 carries and caught five passes for 114 yards and a TD.
OFFENSIVE Ohio State opened the game with touchdowns on each of its first four possessions. It is the first time the Buckeyes have done that since September 2002 vs. Kent State. ... Ohio State has scored at least 35 points in seven of its last eight games, dating back to last season’s Michigan State game.
CAREER FIRSTS Wide receiver Brian Hartline (GlenOak) made his first career start and caught the first pass of the game, a 31-yard reception. Wide receiver Brian Robiskie, defensive end Vernon Gholston, linebacker John Kerr, linebacker Marcus Freeman, cornerback Antonio Smith and safety Nick Patterson all made their first college football career starts as well. Gholston had the first two sacks of his career, and defensive end Lawrence Wilson recorded his first career sack. BUCKEYES Members of the 1996 Rose Bowl Championship team were honored during halftime. The 11-1 Buckeyes were co-Big Ten champs and defeated Arizona State, 20-17, for Ohio State’s last Rose Bowl appearance. ... Ahmed Plummer was the honorary captain. ... Kickers Ryan Pretorious and Aaron Pettrey each missed field goals. “It wasn’t the ideal day for kickers,” Tressel said. “With kicking, it’s all about your plant foot, and there was a little bit of slippage out there.” ... Ohio State is 101-12-4 on opening day, winning its last 28 home openers. ... The Buckeyes are 53-9-1 when ranked No. 1. ... The average college football game last year had 141 plays. Because of new rules, games are shorter. On Saturday, the Buckeyes and Huskies combined for 126 plays.

 

[Best Buckeye]

Game

"I haven't watched any Texas film yet, and I can't remember all the way back to last year when we played them."

If anybody believes that JT has not watched any Texas film yet, I have some beautiful ocean front property for sale in Arizona.

How much?? hahahaha kiddinnng
Things I did like: Gholston Barrow Patterson:osu:

 

[LordJeffBuck]

Make no mistake, Wolfe is the real deal. I was at NIU's game against Northwestern last year. Tyrell Sutton is a really good RB too, though it was a little hard to tell because our tackling was, well, less than ideal. Since I'm biased I'll give Wolfe the slight edge since I think he has more big-gain potential and he makes phenomenal cuts, not sure though, he had more room to run than I expected today.

I think Wolfe is among the top 5 or 6 RBs in the country, and I don't think G-Force overstated his case. I haven't seen Sutton enough to say, but he really looks good too from what I saw.

Wolfe has "the slight edge"? Surely, you jest. Wolfe is the real deal, and Sutton is just an undersized back who benefits from NW's goofball offense. Wolfe reminds me of former NY Giant RB Joe Morris, and I wouldn't be surprised if Garrett has similar NFL success. I was really impressed by his vision, ability to run between the tackles, bounce outside, and to accelrate in the open field; definitely not a one-dimensional "scat back". Ohio State knew that Wolfe was getting the ball on almost every play, and he still put up 300+ yards (187 rushing, 114 receiving) against them. If he stays healthy all year, he should put up 2,000 yards rushing, 500 receiving. Definite Heisman candidate. Impressive.

Best of luck to Wolfe and the Huskies the rest of the way.