Game Thread Illinois 28, Ohio State 21 (final)

[BuckeyeNation27]

He got those 63 yards on 20 carries (3.2 ypc), with one run of 22 yards. Take that 22-yard run away and he's 19 carries for 41 yards (barely over 2 ypc). Third-string RB or not, I'll take that rush defense performance any day...

I will too....and I don't necessarily think we have a weakness on Run D. But our Run D stats are really inflated because of the sacks.

 

[lvbuckeye]

What are the stats if you take out sacks?

892 yards on 265 carries for a 3.37 YPC average.

for comparison, LSU is giving up 3.11 YPC on 263 carries with sacks factored out...

 

[Coqui]

Jarvis isn't #1 in the NCAA... Tulane's Mike Forte is with 259 carries for 1642 yards (182 ypg). Jarvis is #5 behind McFadden (1314 yards), Hart (1188 yards), and UCF's Kevin Smith (1448 yards).

Maybe Jarvis was #1 up to the week we played them...

Yes....was.

 

[pianobuck46]

I was watching BTN this morning and they were talking about what Illinois and Michigan need to do to beat us. I can't think of the guys name but he has consistently picked against the Bucks all year. Someone mentioned on a different thread that BTN had to bring in Tomzack to counter this guy since he was so anit-OSU....anyhoo......the OSU hater broke down the 30 yard run that Whisky had coming out from their own end zone and used that play to show why Mendenhall and Hart will have a field day on us. I'm pretty sure that was the only run over 10 yards they had all day.

I was mildly amused by the discussion.

I think I know the guy you mean........the same one who says we can't play up to LSU, right?

:gobucks3::osu2::gobucks4:

 

[cjmik_75]

I can't see why our run D is even being discussed. This game is going to come down to our TEAM playing well, not just our run defense.

Special teams is where it starts this week, our kick coverage will be key to the field position which in turn helps both our offense and defense. I know it sounds cliche but if this team focuses on the little things, this will be a "tune up" before The Game. Sure, Illinois will hang around in the first half but they do not have the depth to hang with the Buckeyes.

Don't think for a second these guys don't remember last years game in Champaign and how the fighting Illini tried to ruin their perfect season and knock off #1. It's also the senior's final home game in that stadium in front of their friends and family. The last time they'll walk on that field in their Scarlet Jersey's as players and when it's time to strap on those helmets adorned with Buckeyes it will be too much for the fighting illini to handle. It will be quite a scene on saturday but when it's all said and done it comes down to the biggest cliche in football: blocking and tackling.
And nobody does it better than this TEAM!!!
Nobody has more heart than this TEAM!!!
They continue to hear they're over rated, but refuse to listen.
This is the year they shut the critics up and bring home the National Championship.

Illinois is just another stepping stone for this TEAM.

Go Bucks!!!!

:osu:

 

[Waller]

so 63 yards from a 3rd string RB at best. that might have something to do with the thought that we have struggled against the run.

Pretty weak evidence that we are not as strong as once thought against the run. Good RBs run behind good lines. Though Hill wasn't running, the line was the same. So the fact that the 3rd string RB got some yards is more indicative of the strength of UWs line than any weakness on our run D.

GO BUCKS!

 

[Nordberg]

Special teams is where it starts this week, our kick coverage will be key to the field position which in turn helps both our offense and defense. I know it sounds cliche but if this team focuses on the little things, this will be a "tune up" before The Game. Sure, Illinois will hang around in the first half but they do not have the depth to hang with the Buckeyes.

Don't think for a second these guys don't remember last years game in Champaign and how the fighting Illini tried to ruin their perfect season and knock off #1. It's also the senior's final home game in that stadium in front of their friends and family. The last time they'll walk on that field in their Scarlet Jersey's as players and when it's time to strap on those helmets adorned with Buckeyes it will be too much for the fighting illini to handle. It will be quite a scene on saturday but when it's all said and done it comes down to the biggest cliche in football: blocking and tackling.
And nobody does it better than this TEAM!!!
Nobody has more heart than this TEAM!!!
They continue to hear they're over rated, but refuse to listen.
This is the year they shut the critics up and bring home the National Championship.

Illinois is just another stepping stone for this TEAM.

:osu:

I don't think this year's team has to worry about keeping their focus. I think JT learned a lot from last year's National Champ game. I think he re-evaluated how he was preparing his teams mindset. JT has this team hungry and will keep them hungry.

Now I agree that these next two games will key on special teams and turn-over free football. As long as we go back to playing Tressel Ball by playing solid special teams (winning field position game) and not turn the ball over, there is no doubt that this team will be great.

 

[osugrad21]

DDN

Illinois has plenty of respect for No. 1 OSU

The Buckeyes will play host to a team riding a wave of confidence during a 7-3 season.

​

By Kyle Nagel
Staff Writer

Tuesday, November 06, 2007
With an improved record and a bowl game in its future, the University of Illinois football team has more self-confidence than at this point last season.
Or had, anyway.


"I was feeling good," said linebacker J Leman, "until I watched (Ohio State) on film."
The Illini (7-3) will take on the top-ranked Buckeyes on Saturday at Ohio Stadium in one of two remaining hurdles for Ohio State's run to the national championship game. The same was true last season, when OSU traveled to Illinois and got its toughest test to that point in the season in a 17-10 victory.



Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

Canton

OSU now facing its trap game Illinois is contest before Michigan
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
By Todd Porter
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

COLUMBUS As the rest of college football stares at Ohio State - half in scorn, half in admiration - the Buckeyes aren't concerning themselves with who's No. 2.

Oregon? Kansas? LSU? Yes, give us a college football playoff, you demand.

Kirk Barton, a fifth-year senior from Perry High School who anchors the right side of the Buckeye offensive line, said it's already here.

"It's like we won the first round of the playoffs, and now we have to move on to round two," Barton said. "And don't you guys (media) say this is a trap game before Michigan? Illinois gave us all we wanted last year. It's going to be a battle in the second round of the playoffs."

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

Dispatch

OSU notebook: Laurinaitis has Juice's attention
Illinois quarterback praises linebacker's style of play
Tuesday, November 6, 2007 3:27 AM
By Tim May


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH



Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis raked in two more awards the past two days -- Walter Camp Foundation national defensive player of the week and Big Ten co-defensive player of the week -- and Illinois quarterback Juice Williams said he understands why. He went face to face with Laurinaitis a few times last season in the Buckeyes' 17-10 win in Champaign, Ill., and he's watching him on video as the Illini prepare for Saturday's game at No. 1 OSU.



Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

Dispatch

Illinois no longer bottom feeder

Tuesday, November 6, 2007 3:27 AM
By Shawn Mitchell


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Since winning the Big Ten in 2001, Illinois had been a conference bottom feeder in football. It seemed odd, then, that coach Ron Zook was upbeat and loose a few days before his 2-7 Illini were to face No. 1 Ohio State last season.
A thrashing at the hands of Troy Smith and Co. loomed, but Zook didn't see it that way and neither did his players.
"We're coming along as a football team," safety Kevin Mitchell said then. "We can be dangerous."



Cont...

 

[MD Buckeye]

I'm so excited. I should be able to make it to the game

 

[FCollinsBuckeye]

I'm so excited. I should be able to make it to the game

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

I was watching BTN this morning and they were talking about what Illinois and Michigan need to do to beat us. I can't think of the guys name but he has consistently picked against the Bucks all year. Someone mentioned on a different thread that BTN had to bring in Tomzack to counter this guy since he was so anit-OSU....anyhoo......the OSU hater broke down the 30 yard run that Whisky had coming out from their own end zone and used that play to show why Mendenhall and Hart will have a field day on us. I'm pretty sure that was the only run over 10 yards they had all day.

I was mildly amused by the discussion.

Probably the ex NU player(forget his name). He's been picking against us all year.

I think I know the guy you mean........the same one who says we can't play up to LSU, right?

:gobucks3::osu2::gobucks4:

That would be Chris Martin. About a month or so ago he said that Illinois would "go into Columbus and take it to the Buckeyes". He's like Lee Corso's black grandson--once he starts picking us to win then we need to start worrying...

 

[Nordberg]

Maybe he is Mark May's half brother's Sisters husband...or something like that.