Game Thread Illinois 28, Ohio State 21 (final)

[osugrad21]

Dispatch
Big Ten notebook
Mendenhall's success mirrors that of Illinois

Wednesday, November 7, 2007 3:43 AM
By Shawn Mitchell


The Columbus Dispatch

Jim MoneAssociated Press
Rashard Mendenhall rushed for 201 yards and two touchdowns in Illinois' 44-17 win over Minnesota last Saturday.


Illinois running back Rashard Mendenhall does not have the notoriety of some of his more popular Big Ten counterparts, but what he has that the others don't is far more important. Mendenhall has more rushing yards than any other back in the conference. He has carried 192 times for 1,314 yards (6.8 average) and is the main reason the Illini have the Big Ten's top-ranked rushing offense.



Cont...

 

[Tonyank]

That's correct. No matter where you live, you can watch the tOSU game on ABC or ESPN.

Sweet!!!!! Thank god for slingbox and wireless internet. I will be in New Jersey at ATCO raceway for an event.

Go Bucks@!!!@!!@!

 

[MD Buckeye]

Sweet!!!!! Thank god for slingbox and wireless internet. I will be in New Jersey at ATCO raceway for an event.

Go Bucks@!!!@!!@!

I'll be in section 24C for an event

 

[utgrad73]

Against Minnesota last Saturday, Mendenhall rushed for 201 yards and scored twice, breaking the Illinois record for touchdowns in a season with his 16th. The 5-foot-11, 224-pound junior needs 17 yards to set the school record for rushing yards in a season. And with six 100-yard games this season, he needs one more to set that school mark.

I doubt if we will hold him to less than 17 yards, but maybe keep him under 100. Their offense looked good against Minny, but what will it do against ours?

I see this game as an equal to the Wisky game of last week in terms of threat.

Zook's perspective on the game:

FIGHTINGILLINI.COM // THE OFFICIAL SITE OF UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS ATHLETICS

...on the feelings going into the game: "This is an exciting thing for our program and for our players. Just like coaching against coach Paterno or Lloyd Carr. You are coaching against guys that are arguably the best in our profession. Now you get an opportunity as a football team to go play the best in our game. What more can you ask for if you are a competitor? I look at it as a great opportunity and we are going to have to play extremely well. Ohio State has one thing in mind, and that's get back to the national championship game and prove to people that they are better than they were last year."

That last statement may be easily argued, but I think Tressel has one thing on his mind and he won't let the team look that far down the road. Zook may think the Buckeyes will be distracted with the NC game, but our next opponent is going to fall on Saturday and then Michigan. Then we eat Turkey and plan for a NC game.

Go Bucks

 

[rocketman]

Their offense looked good against Minny, but what will it do against ours?

I think it's worth mentinoing that Minnesota has the worst defense in college football...

 

[Gatorubet]

Dispatch
Big Ten notebook
Mendenhall's success mirrors that of Illinois

Wednesday, November 7, 2007 3:43 AM
By Shawn Mitchell


The Columbus Dispatch

Jim MoneAssociated Press
Rashard Mendenhall rushed for 201 yards and two touchdowns in Illinois' 44-17 win over Minnesota last Saturday.


Illinois running back Rashard Mendenhall does not have the notoriety of some of his more popular Big Ten counterparts, but what he has that the others don't is far more important. Mendenhall has more rushing yards than any other back in the conference. He has carried 192 times for 1,314 yards (6.8 average) and is the main reason the Illini have the Big Ten's top-ranked rushing offense.



Cont...

IOW......a test??

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

Mendenhall had some big games against rushing defenses like Western Illinois (I-AA), Syracuse (#102), Indiana (#67), Ball State (#112), and Minnesota (#115), but against teams with a good/decent rushing defense he wasn't all that great:

Penn State (#9) .. : 18 carries for 76 yards (4.22 ypc)
Iowa (#28) ....... : 15 carries for 67 yards (4.47 ypc)
Michigan (#46) ... : 18 Carries for 85 yards (4.72 ypc)

 

[daveeb]

By no means, however, are his numbers necessarily bad. The only game where he has had sub-par numbers running the ball for yardage was the Missouri game. And even then, he scored two rushing touchdowns, caught 3 balls out of the backfield for 59 yards, and one of his backups, Daniel Dufrene, ran the ball 6 times for 58 yards.

 

[Tlangs]

By no means, however, are his numbers necessarily bad. The only game where he has had sub-par numbers running the ball for yardage was the Missouri game. And even then, he scored two rushing touchdowns, caught 3 balls out of the backfield for 59 yards, and one of his backups, Daniel Dufrene, ran the ball 6 times for 58 yards.

We stopped Ringer but MSU tended to run right at us. Illinois will use misdirection and option to try to get their yards kinda like Washington. I can't wait for the game. 48 hours til I leave for C-bus.

 

[MD Buckeye]

We stopped Ringer but MSU tended to run right at us. Illinois will use misdirection and option to try to get their yards kinda like Washington. I can't wait for the game. 48 hours til I leave for C-bus.

Sammmmmmmmmme here

 

[ytownbuckeye]

it will look something like this saturday night

[FONT=Verdana,Arial]November 16, 2002[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial]OSU vs. Illinois[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Illini split end Walter Young can only think about what might have been as the triumphant Buckeyes celebrate.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]

4 of 10 ​

[/FONT]

 

[MD Buckeye]

Anyone else think that JT & the Bucks will try and strike early & often (deep passes) as they attempted vs. Purdue? Since obviously, the Illini secondary isn't very good.

Also, out of all the QBs that this Buckeye defense has faced over the past two years, who would you compare Juice Williams to? (as being a dual threat QB)

 

[NFBuck]

We've struck early and often against nearly everybody the last 6 or 7 games. I don't know that Juice compares to really anybody we've seen, but his lack of accuracy will be his downfall.

 

[Best Buckeye]

Anyone else think that JT & the Bucks will try and strike early & often (deep passes) as they attempted vs. Purdue? Since obviously, the Illini secondary isn't very good.

Also, out of all the QBs that this Buckeye defense has faced over the past two years, who would you compare Juice Williams to? (as being a dual threat QB)

Nothing JT would do to start they game would surprise me.
Part two. what was that kid's name from Fla?

 

[Buckeneye]

Kinda like that kid from Washington

Hit him hard, hit him early....