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

[G-FORCE]

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.

cocky you are.

You don't know just how good Garrett Wolfe is. And for you, a fan of a team who lost 7 or 8 starters to be so "confident", it isn't confidence it is arrogance.

Do I think NIU will win this game? No probably not. Do I think NIU will scare you Ohio State fans? Yes we will, we have done it to every BCS team we have played the last 4 years. It may be a half, it may be 4 quaters, but more then likely it will happen.

 

[G-FORCE]

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.

Thanks for the welcome.

Ginn and Smith scare the shi!t out of me. There is nobody in our secondary that can stay even remotely close to Smith. We have a very undersized D-Line which means you will have alot of time to throw (one of the fatal flaws of the Michigan game last year).

I agree with you that 'the Shoe will be harder to play in then scUM was. Quite frankly I didn't think it was possible for 100,000 to be that quiet.

I really feel we will be able to score points on your D because we have one of the most athletic offenses we have ever had. We have Britt Davis who is 6-3, has a 38' vertical leap and runs a 4.4 40. Wolfe is well is Wolfe, and we have both of our QBs from last year back. Offense I don't think will be a problem, but I don't think we will be able to remotely stop you.

I would be surprised if we held you under 30, but I think we will have to if we are going to win.

 

[scarletngrey11]

cocky you are.

You don't know just how good Garrett Wolfe is. And for you, a fan of a team who lost 7 or 8 starters to be so "confident", it isn't confidence it is arrogance.

Do I think NIU will win this game? No probably not. Do I think NIU will scare you Ohio State fans? Yes we will, we have done it to every BCS team we have played the last 4 years. It may be a half, it may be 4 quaters, but more then likely it will happen.

The defensive line is the most important when it comes to stopping the run. We return both of our defensive tackles:

1. Quinn Pitcock (6'3" 295) SR
2. David Patterson (6'3" 290) SR

Both of them are two year starters, and this will be their third.

We also return two defensive ends that have starting experience:

1. Jay Richardson (6'6" 275) SR
2. Lawrence Wilson(6'6" 270) SO

Richardson has a lot of starting experience, while Wilson started the Fiesta Bowl last year.

We return 6 of our top 8 defensive lineman.

 

[G-FORCE]

The defensive line is the most important when it comes to stopping the run. We return both of our defensive tackles:

1. Quinn Pitcock (6'3" 295) SR
2. David Patterson (6'3" 290) SR

Both of them are two year starters, and this will be their third.

We also return two defensive ends that have starting experience:

1. Jay Richardson (6'6" 275) SR
2. Lawrence Wilson(6'6" 270) SO

Richardson has a lot of starting experience, while Wilson started the Fiesta Bowl last year.

We return 6 of our top 8 defensive lineman.

Of course you guys are good. You're freakign Ohio State. You are big, you are fast, you are strong. You're backups on D would probably start at almost every position for us.

There is really nothing I can tell you or show you to convince you NIU has a shot at being in this game, and thats fine by be. However coach Novak has a way of somehow getting this team to hang in with the big boys. And for a team that is supposed to be one of our best in school history, I don't expect this to be any different.

All I can do on this board is tell you alitte about us, and what to expect from us.

 

[OregonBuckeye]

I gotta' say it's great to have you here. It gets a little old talking about an opponent we know little about with eachother. I'd like to know your expectations not only for this game but for the season for NIU.

 

[G-FORCE]

I gotta' say it's great to have you here. It gets a little old talking about an opponent we know little about with eachother. I'd like to know your expectations not only for this game but for the season for NIU.

For the game:
Stay respectable. Don't do what our MAC breathern Miami did last year and get dominated start to finish. Would love to see Wolfe have a very good day. As long as we keep it respectable and have everyone come out healthy, I am fine. A win, and I would poop.

As for the season, the expectations are MAC Title. No reason why shouldn't win it this year. There is not a better MAC team for Ohio State to be facing then us. We should be the class of the conference this year. Anything less then a trip to the MAC Title game and a bowl is a dissapointment. I think we will be a good test for you guys.

A few players you should look out for:

Wolfe, RB

Davis, WR

Brown, LB

Utch, S

We also have a 1st round OL prospect in the name of Doug "Freak" Free.

We have a QB controversy this year. Phil Horvath (senior) was really good for us when he started. He was Top 5 in completions and QB rating when healthy. Why is there a controversy then? Well Horvath was only 5-4 as a starter, and a kid named Dan Nicholson stepped in for him. Nicholson, as a freshman, led us to our 3 toughest biggest wins of the year (@ Central Michigan, @ Toledo which was the 1st time we beat them since like 1990 and the 1st time we one win in Toledo since the 70s, and then finally the clincher vs. WMU), He threw for over 300 yards against Central Michigan, and started out 10/10 against Toledo in his 1st career start. He led us to our 1st MAC Championship Game apperance EVER, struggled alittle in that one, but he still was amazing.

The 2 QBs are almost polar opposites. Horvath doesn't have a big arm and is more of a short passes, high completion precentage type of guy. Nicholson has the sexy arm, and likes to air out. Horvath is a senior, Nicholson a sophmore. I am more then comfortable with either guys starting, but I think Nicholson has a leg up because our recievers are fast and can stretch the field. I would like to see Phil start.

Btw I posted a picture so you cann actually see our players before you play them.
Hope that helps.

 

[rocketman]

Of course you guys are good. You're freakign Ohio State. You are big, you are fast, you are strong. You're backups on D would probably start at almost every position for us.

There is really nothing I can tell you or show you to convince you NIU has a shot at being in this game, and thats fine by be. However coach Novak has a way of somehow getting this team to hang in with the big boys. And for a team that is supposed to be one of our best in school history, I don't expect this to be any different.

All I can do on this board is tell you alitte about us, and what to expect from us.

Welcome to BP! That clip of Wolfe scoring on scUM makes me happy on many levels (getting on the good side of Ohio State fans isn't really a secret). As OregonBuckeye said before, I hope you stick around cause the off season is boring as shit and anything to stirr up some conversation is greatly appreciated.

I think the general consensus over here is that our defense will be tested (they better be if they should have a chance against Texas a week later). We're just kinda sick of the "you lost 9 starters" argument around here so some of the guys could be a little annoyed. Do you got any more clips of Garrett Wolfe? From what I've read and seen, that man can ball.

 

[G-FORCE]

Welcome to BP! That clip of Wolfe scoring on scUM makes me happy on many levels (getting on the good side of Ohio State fans isn't really a secret). As OregonBuckeye said before, I hope you stick around cause the off season is boring as shit and anything to stirr up some conversation is greatly appreciated.

I think the general consensus over here is that our defense will be tested (they better be if they should have a chance against Texas a week later). We're just kinda sick of the "you lost 9 starters" argument around here so some of the guys could be a little annoyed. Do you got any more clips of Garrett Wolfe? From what I've read and seen, that man can ball.

Haha I figured you guys would like that one.

Yep I have a ton.

http://www.huskiemobile.com/wolfe.mp4 (scUM)
http://www.huskiemobile.com/wolfe2.mp4 (clincher vs. Toledo)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGLSYvwNhYM&search=Garrett%20Wolfe (3 minutes of his amazing MAC Title Game)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWqBGPctXPk (Silicon Valley Bowl)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2LaUFytRoc (1st time seeing action)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Eprolr3uUo (same games as above)

and here is one of Britt Davis/Dan Nicholson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_IyHjqCKhg

 

[OregonBuckeye]

I'm really impressed with how quickly he hits those holes.

 

[buckeye247]

dan nicholson looks like a deer i hit a while back.

 

[IronBuckI]

cocky you are.

You don't know just how good Garrett Wolfe is. And for you, a fan of a team who lost 7 or 8 starters to be so "confident", it isn't confidence it is arrogance.

Do I think NIU will win this game? No probably not. Do I think NIU will scare you Ohio State fans? Yes we will, we have done it to every BCS team we have played the last 4 years. It may be a half, it may be 4 quaters, but more then likely it will happen.

Cocky? Or just bored. I would venture to say that Grad21 has seen as many of your cookie cutter type of posts, on this board, than just about any other person. So you'll have to forgive him for thinking that there must be some better argument as to how NIU is going to scare Buckeye fans come game day.


Oh yeah. Welcome to the board.

 

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

Indeed. Remember how the Miami Hawk fans insisted that OSU had never seen the likes of Terna Nande and there was simply no way OSU could handle both Martin Nance and Ryne Robinson (who, I might add, was better than Ted Ginn and would score 1, maybe 2 TDs on returns)

Anyway, it's nice to have a fan of an opponant on the board for this game. Welcome. I don't know much about NIU. I do know they have had success in recent history running the ball, and they have gone toe to toe with some bigger DI schools. But, that's about it.

 

[osugrad21]

cocky you are.

You don't know just how good Garrett Wolfe is. And for you, a fan of a team who lost 7 or 8 starters to be so "confident", it isn't confidence it is arrogance.

Not cocky at all...just a very calm confidence. As I said, I love your confidence in your team and I haven't seen the usual hyperbole that most "underdogs" bring to the table. The fact of the matter is that while we maybe have never faced Garrett Wolfe, Garrett Wolfe has certainly never faced a defense like tOSU....even when reloaded. You see, that is the ticket here...reload, not rebuild.

See it however you wish to see it...most underdogs do need to look for malice in every little statement. However, I'd also ask you to search back the game threads over the past few years to see that you are not the first "Ohio State has never seen the talent of _______________" underdog to ever roll up on this porch and you definitely will not be the last to walk away saying "Damn that defense is fast...."

Good luck to you and welcome to BP.

 

[G-FORCE]

Indeed. Remember how the Miami Hawk fans insisted that OSU had never seen the likes of Terna Nande and there was simply no way OSU could handle both Martin Nance and Ryne Robinson (who, I might add, was better than Ted Ginn and would score 1, maybe 2 TDs on returns)

Anyway, it's nice to have a fan of an opponant on the board for this game. Welcome. I don't know much about NIU. I do know they have had success in recent history running the ball, and they have gone toe to toe with some bigger DI schools. But, that's about it.

Miami ran a gimmic offense, something NIU does not do. Miami's offense works in the MAC because it's throw the ball the entire game. One of the reasons NIU has been so succesful in OOC play is because it isn't a gimmic offense. It is pound the ball at you, and if they stop that then take to the air. We scored 72 points in our last 2 games, and we only threw the ball 34 times. In those games Wolfe ran for 547 yards and 7 touchdowns. However NIU's offense has shown it can throw the ball if they have to, evident by the 486 yard game against Akron (the 1st game) and the 435 yards against Central Michigan.

And just alittle fyi, don't think you will blow us out because of what you did to Miami last year. We up 28-7 on Miami at halftime, and you were up 20-0 at halftime. Miami's offense was nowhere near as dynamic as our's is, and they quite frankly just weren't as good as us.

As for the Ginn comments, aparently the Miami fan who said that was smoking some crack while posting on the boards

 

[OSUBuckeye4Life]

And just alittle fyi, don't think you will blow us out because of what you did to Miami last year. We up 28-7 on Miami at halftime, and you were up 20-0 at halftime. Miami's offense was nowhere near as dynamic as our's is, and they quite frankly just weren't as good as us.

I'm not trying to totally discredit this part of your post by any means but you are comparing the first game of the year for the Buckeyes [with Troy Smith NOT playing] to a mid season game.

Also, halftime is just that....halftime. The score ended up being 38-27 for you guys with them being within a score [and 2 pt conversion] with about 9 minutes to go. On the other hand Ohio State was up 34-0 in the 4th before Miami scored.

I respect Northern Illinois and actually am glad we play a team that has a potent rushing attack before we head to Austin...but if this game is withing 2 scores at half I'd be surprised. As you said though, Nothern Illinios is good for giving a scare.