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

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I think this will be one of the easiest games in which to scheme for defensively. NIU finished 16th in total offense last year with 444 ypg and 6.54 ypp (more than our 422 ypg and 6.27 ypp). NIU rushed for 206.67 ypg (16th) and averaged 5.19 ypp. They passed for 237.4 ypg and averaged 8.45 ypa. While on the surface this seems pretty balanced, there's no doubt in my mind that this was all set up by Garrett Wolfe who rushed for 1580 yards on 242 carries (6.53 ypc) and 16 TDs, averaging over 175 yards per game. His running set up the pass. To illustrate what he meant to their offense, in the three games he missed, NIU went had the following results:

@Kent State: 34 points, 408 yards (252 rushing, all by backup Davis on 39 carries)
Ball State: 17 points, 229 yards (101 rushing)
@Central Michigan: 31 points, 441 yards (6 rushing, 435 passing)

None of those three teams were defensive juggernauts:

Ball State #112 in scoring defense (37.8 ppg)
Kent State #87 in scoring defense (30.1 ppg)
Central Michigan #46 in scoring defense (23.6 ppg) but #108 in passing defense

If Michigan's defense can hold them to 10 points through 3 quarters (17 total), even with Wolfe, I see no problem in us doing the same.

By the way, although NIU was #34 in scoring defense (22.8 ppg), they gave up 31+ points five times (33 to scuM, 38 to NW, 42 to Akron in regulation, 31 to Ball St, 31 to Akron again). A 38-17 OSU victory is a very reasonable result.
 
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defense will be shaky since its the first game with a young defense but offense is just too strong.


Ohio State - 49
Northern Ilinios - 20

i thin the D needs time,they will give up 20 but offense will make up for it by far.

after they play together in an acual game on D they will be set tho and show better signs in Texas.
 
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MililaniBuckeye said:
I think this will be one of the easiest games in which to scheme for defensively. NIU finished 16th in total offense last year with 444 ypg and 6.54 ypp (more than our 422 ypg and 6.27 ypp). NIU rushed for 206.67 ypg (16th) and averaged 5.19 ypp. They passed for 237.4 ypg and averaged 8.45 ypa. While on the surface this seems pretty balanced, there's no doubt in my mind that this was all set up by Garrett Wolfe who rushed for 1580 yards on 242 carries (6.53 ypc) and 16 TDs, averaging over 175 yards per game. His running set up the pass. To illustrate what he meant to their offense, in the three games he missed, NIU went had the following results:

@Kent State: 34 points, 408 yards (252 rushing, all by backup Davis on 39 carries)
Ball State: 17 points, 229 yards (101 rushing)
@Central Michigan: 31 points, 441 yards (6 rushing, 435 passing)

None of those three teams were defensive juggernauts:

Ball State #112 in scoring defense (37.8 ppg)
Kent State #87 in scoring defense (30.1 ppg)
Central Michigan #46 in scoring defense (23.6 ppg) but #108 in passing defense

If Michigan's defense can hold them to 10 points through 3 quarters (17 total), even with Wolfe, I see no problem in us doing the same.

By the way, although NIU was #34 in scoring defense (22.8 ppg), they gave up 31+ points five times (33 to scuM, 38 to NW, 42 to Akron in regulation, 31 to Ball St, 31 to Akron again). A 38-17 OSU victory is a very reasonable result.
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Ok NIU fan here, and you need to learn a few things about us.

A. Michigan's defense did hold us to 10 points through 3 quaters, but we had the ball 1 time in the 1st quater due to each team going on extremely long drives. Then in the 2nd quater, Wolfe started it with a 76 yard TD run which you can see here http://www.huskiemobile.com/wolfe.mp4. Then Michigan went down on another long drive and scored to make it 20-10. NIU was on there way to the endzone to make it a 3 point game at the half, but Michigan forced a fumble. So in the 1st half we had a grand total of 3 possesions, and took it inside the Michigan 30 all 3 times. We turned the ball over 5 times in that game; Michigan didn't hold us to 10 points through 3 quaters, NIU held themselves to that.

B. The 3 game stretch without Wolfe. The Kent State game was played in 40 degree temps, in a rain storm, with 35 MPH winds. Not ideal wind conditions. The Ball state game, well I can't explain that, that was just awful. As for the CMU game, I don't know how you can say that is a bad thing. That game was when our freshman stud QB (Dan Nicholson) made his 1st career apperance and threw for over 300 yards in 3 quaters. You say Wolfe's run sets up the pass, but in the CMU game we didn't have Wolfe's running and still passed.

It is easier said then done to stop Garrett Wolfe. Of the 3 years he has been the starter, there has not been one game where has played at least 3 quaters in that he hasn't had at least 100 rushing/recieving passing yards. To say we can just gameplan to stop him and it will work, just isn't very realistic.
 
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G-FORCE said:
It is easier said then done to stop Garrett Wolfe. Of the 3 years he has been the starter, there has not been one game where has played at least 3 quaters in that he hasn't had at least 100 rushing/recieving passing yards. To say we can just gameplan to stop him and it will work, just isn't very realistic.
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Going to take some creative license here:

It is easier said then done to stop ____________. Of the __ years he has been the starter, there has not been one game where has played at least 3 quarters in that he hasn't had at least ___ passing/rushing/receiving yards. To say we can just gameplan to stop him and it will work, just isn't very realistic.


Fill in the blank with any number of players from the last 5 years....

Feel confident, I like that.
 
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G-FORCE said:
Ok NIU fan here, and you need to learn a few things about us.

A. Michigan's defense did hold us to 10 points through 3 quaters, but we had the ball 1 time in the 1st quater due to each team going on extremely long drives. Then in the 2nd quater, Wolfe started it with a 76 yard TD run which you can see here http://www.huskiemobile.com/wolfe.mp4. Then Michigan went down on another long drive and scored to make it 20-10. NIU was on there way to the endzone to make it a 3 point game at the half, but Michigan forced a fumble. So in the 1st half we had a grand total of 3 possesions, and took it inside the Michigan 30 all 3 times. We turned the ball over 5 times in that game; Michigan didn't hold us to 10 points through 3 quaters, NIU held themselves to that.

B. The 3 game stretch without Wolfe. The Kent State game was played in 40 degree temps, in a rain storm, with 35 MPH winds. Not ideal wind conditions. The Ball state game, well I can't explain that, that was just awful. As for the CMU game, I don't know how you can say that is a bad thing. That game was when our freshman stud QB (Dan Nicholson) made his 1st career apperance and threw for over 300 yards in 3 quaters. You say Wolfe's run sets up the pass, but in the CMU game we didn't have Wolfe's running and still passed.

It is easier said then done to stop Garrett Wolfe. Of the 3 years he has been the starter, there has not been one game where has played at least 3 quaters in that he hasn't had at least 100 rushing/recieving passing yards. To say we can just gameplan to stop him and it will work, just isn't very realistic.
Click to expand...

First of all welcome to Buckeyeplanet.

Secondly, NIU hasnt seen athletes as good as the ones at Ohio State. We did lose a ton of talent and experience, but these guys are faster and hungry to prove that our defense will again be among the nations best. The Horseshoe is a harder place to play than the Shit House up North, and they dont really play defense up there anymore.

There are 2 areas on defense that worry me:

1. MLB. Great defenses need at least a good middle linebacker. Kerr is solid, but doesnt have typical OSU 'backer speed. Mike D'Andrea, whom was rated above Hawk and Carpenter in high school, could solve this problem if he becomes healthy. He hasnt been healthy for over a year, so im not banking on that. Freshman Ross Homan might see significant action in this game.

2. Secondary. Malcom Jenkins started last year as a true freshman, and looks to be the next great OSU corner. The safety spots are up in the air, with Nick Patterson, Jamario O'Neal, Brandon Mitchell, and Anderson Russel all in play. This unit needs to gel quickly.

Normally I would expect NIU to give us a scare, but I cant see it this year. The difference is that we have an explosive offense. Troy Smith consistently moves the chains both with his arm and his feet. Antonio Pittman is a returning 1331 yard rusher as a true sophomore. Ted Ginn is the most explosive player in the nation. Our offense line is huge, they average 6'6" 314 lbs. Throw that in with the fact that running back Chris Wells(6'1" 230) was the top rated recruit in the nation last year, and I cant see us putting less that 40 on the board. Our defense is motivated to shut people out.
 
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