TRON;652863; said:
Why? so we can have a chance to lose?
No, I think he had two goals. First, this is the best defensive line we have seen in some time and the best we will see before TSUN. A MAC team showed that TSUN is very vulnerable to a passing attack today but if we can't establish the run against them, they can defend the pass. So, Tressel was attempting to run the ball.
Second, he wants this team to get a bit of a fright. I suspect he heard some things this week that made him think the guys were growing complacent. So, he did put them in that position purposely.
The thing to remember is this. This was a good, but still 2-7, team we played today. They have lost some really close ones and given some good teams fits. Even if the play-calling was predictable. This is the #1 team in the country. They should have been able to execute. To be very frank, on offense we didn't.
We would have done better on offense if Beanie had been available but I also agree to sit him down. He's got to stop fumbling now. That was a silly "unforced error" today.
So, all in all, I found this very stressful to watch but I think the guys will have learned some important lessons today that may not be immediately apparent. One of those lessons is that they better execute or they are going to leave their national championship on the field in Columbus. I think the team will have learned what they need to learn by next week. I also think you can expect Tressel to run right at Northwestern next week. He's playing for a national championship and the games and scores are now inconsequential.
