Iowa Post Game Thoughts

[Meyer]

Hey, just win. I think a lot of this angst is because of the kick return and terrible play calling following the return when we were in Iowa territory. It was 24-10. We had them by the throat. I know you can't say to take away the kick return. But that is something that just DOES NOT happen here (usually). Take away that return and Ohio State probably wins this one 31-10 and no one is saying anything bad at all. Oh well, what ifs don't matter and who cares we are going to the Rose Bowl..but first...

BEAT MICHIGAN!!!!!!!!!

can't ever take this game for granted!

 

[NateG]

Just sitting here thinking...I know scary... but the games that we have been beaten up in... UF 07/ LSU 08/ USC 08/ Pur 09... we went away from the run and went to strictly trying to pass our way back into the game. Especially when D line's were playing well we stopped trying to slow a pass rush with the run. UF 07 our only TD drive was a rushing laden drive. Pick your poison. Just saying.

 

[Merih]

Just sitting here thinking...I know scary... but the games that we have been beaten up in... UF 07/ LSU 08/ USC 08/ Pur 09... we went away from the run and went to strictly trying to pass our way back into the game. Especially when D line's were playing well we stopped trying to slow a pass rush with the run. UF 07 our only TD drive was a rushing laden drive. Pick your poison. Just saying.

I can see it now

We have a [censored]ing winner folks.

We definately have been struggling to form an identity since UF '06

 

[NateG]

There was a coaching performance that was worse this weekend.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFuVuVcOHuw]YouTube - 4 minutes with the Colts 11-15-09[/ame]

 

[Woody1968]

This is what happens when you play an excellent d-line (better than ours IMO), packing the box, and relying on your outstanding cornerbacks to keep the wideouts from getting behind them. I was mightily impressed with Iowa's defense, and I think scoring 24 against them is a very good performance. The long runs are what you can get if you can spring a back into the secondary, especially one with Saine's magnificent speed.

Our problem on Saturday was not the offense, IMO. Special teams failures and a couple of long pass plays we gave up were the problem. OTOH, special teams success was what won it in OT, so we end up with a net positive.

I now look back at the Iowa win feeling much better about the Buckeyes than I did when I left the stadium.

Yes, special teams play was poor in regulation, and we were still able to win because we overcame some lucky breaks for Iowa (speaking of the dropped INT for the reception). Play calling did not fail. The only thing I disagree with in your post is that Iowa's Defensive line is better than ours. In fact, I think it is their weakness defensively (although not a bad unit), which is why we were able to run successfully. If the game plan "failed," it was due to special teams, and not play calling on offense.

 

[lvbuckeye]

i read about the first 30 comments. then quit. because the vast majority what i read was ABSOLUTE HORSESHIT.

how about you people acknowledge the fact that Iowa was a valiant opponent, give some credit to the coaches on the other side of the field, and celebrate winning the Big Ten title with some class?

cripes we've got some spoiled fans! WE JUST WON THE BIG TEN. and you people are bitching like we just watched another John F. Cooper late- season swoon. Ohio State fans are like the children of Israel in the Bible: deliver them from slavery, make bread appear from heaven every day to feed them, make water come from rocks to slake their thirst, lead them to the promised land, AND ALL THEY DO IS COMPLAIN. just shut the fuck up already, you whiny bunch of ingrates. no wonder the rest of the college football world hates us.

LJB: you owe yourself an infraction. you gave me one earlier this season for less.

 

[3074326]

I don't get the blind faith. I mean, I'm a fucking Buckeye to the core, but I don't think that anything should be above criticism. Nothing wrong with airing out your grievances, especially if it's done in a healthy way. I don't recall anyone going to far in this thread. Maybe I'm wrong.

We're all happy for the Big 10 championship and the Rose Bowl, but many are concerned that if we play like we did on Saturday that we might not have the chance to play in OT.

It's great that we're dominating the Big 10 and scUM. I do not take that for granted. BUT - there is another game after the Big 10 season, and that game shouldn't be just swept aside and treated like just another game. (I'm not saying the team does this)

 

[peteschweaty]

A win's a win

Having attended the game, and being somewhat critical of the play calling this season, I felt that the game was called masterfully by Tressel. The negative comments from some of the unappreciative fans at this game sickens me. The conservative late game plays were made in order to win the game, not to please the fans. I would love it if we could put together a late game peyton manning style drive to win the game, but you have to play within your limits. Iowa's secondary has been among the best in the big ten this year and booing the up-the-gut running plays because a 40 yd pass play is more exciting is childish. Consider how throwing it long when TP is not comfortable or successful when forced, has panned out this season. He trusts the defense because they have been solid, so he was forced to put it on their back and they delivered a rose bowl. Tressel is and will be our man for many years to come because he knows his team and knows how to win games, style points don't show up on the scoreboard or stat book.

 

[3074326]

Having attended the game, and being somewhat critical of the play calling this season, I felt that the game was called masterfully by Tressel. The negative comments from some of the unappreciative fans at this game sickens me. The conservative late game plays were made in order to win the game, not to please the fans. I would love it if we could put together a late game peyton manning style drive to win the game, but you have to play within your limits. Iowa's secondary has been among the best in the big ten this year and booing the up-the-gut running plays because a 40 yd pass play is more exciting is childish. Consider how throwing it long when TP is not comfortable or successful when forced, has panned out this season. He trusts the defense because they have been solid, so he was forced to put it on their back and they delivered a rose bowl. Tressel is and will be our man for many years to come because he knows his team and knows how to win games, style points don't show up on the scoreboard or stat book.

Not a single damn person has said that they wanted a Peyton Manning-like drive or a 40-yard pass late in the game.

If you're referring to people not on this forum, okay.

 

[BengalMigration]

I feel sorry for you if you can't get excited about going to the Rose Bowl.


Indefensible? Certainly not. It's easy to blame the playcalling. That's why neanderthals like Gregg Doyel & Pat Forde do it. When they're agreeing with you, it's time to reassess your position.

Iowa is 6th in FBS in pass efficiency defense. They are 43rd in rushing defense. The Buckeyes were able to run for 100 yards more than Iowa's season average, and damn near had two 100-yd. rushers. Pryor was gimpy and had a cut on his throwing hand. Most of the pass plays that were run that night resulted in scrambles or checkdowns. With all that in mind, what kind of plays should Jim Tressel have been calling, and why would they have been successful?

This isn't one of those "it was right because they won" arguments. The Buckeyes have certainly won in spite of their offense before, but this was not one of those times. Nevermind the fact that Jim Tressel's offensive playcalling didn't give up those 14 Iowa points in the 4th quarter. Jim Tressel's offensive playcalling actually expanded the Buckeyes' lead in the 4th. He called the play that led to Brandon Saine going 49 yards for a TD. How were any of the play calls that Tressel made after that one any worse? Ohio State was abusing the Hawkeyes on the ground. They had the lead and were playing to run out the clock. If Jim Tressel's playcalling were any different, how might this game have ended. Sure, they could've scored again. What if they didn't? What if they didn't score again AND the clock stops a couple extra times? How much time does Iowa have on their final possession when the score is tied? How much more time would've been enough to get Kirk Ferentz to go for the win in regulation when all they needed was a FG? With the Ohio State defense on their heels, another 30-50 seconds for the Hawkeyes could've sent the Buckeyes to Orlando or Tampa in January. How unexciting would that be? Certainly not as exciting as a 5th straight conference championship and a trip to Pasadena.

It's like you're reading my mind...

You take out four different runs and OSU rushed 47 times for 5.34 YPC. Take out six plays and they would have rushed 45 times for 5.67 YPC.

Funny how the math works, isn't it?

It's so odd for me to see folks feel complacent about victories, or pounding an opponent to death on the ground. Do I like a bit of play action now and again? You bet your butt! But I remember how things were before Tressel got here all too well. It might not always look pretty, but a boring, ugly win beats an exciting loss any day of the week.

Especially this upcoming Saturday.

[censored] meatchicken.

 

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

As for being excited about the Rose Bowl, damn right I am. But, after that game, in that moment, I felt a lot more relief than jubilation.

Quite the opposite here. I was absolutely thrilled. The kids and I were exchanging high fives, hugs around... it was a good time and we all had smiles a mile wide.

Clinically... a dry analysis... nothing of what LJB and other have been saying is "wrong" I just don't agree. I'm not sick of winning big ten titles. I'm not "ho hum" about it in the least. If anything, I think this win was MORE exciting than some wins in years gone past. I'm not ho-hum about any bowl other than the BCS Title.

Vanilla schemes worked. Vanilla schemes were the plan. If Ryan Williams doesn't jump offsides, this game is 31-17. If Ohio State doesn't give up the long KO return, it's 24-10. If Ohio State didn't give up the KO return and Williams doesn't jump it's 31-10. I know that sounds like excuses... They did give up the KO and Williams did jump offsides... But, vanilla worked.. and given two slightly different results to these plays it could have looked like a fuckin blow out. Sure, I would have liked to see Ohio State stretch the field or run some play action.. Sure I would have liked to see Ohio State turn up the heat on the Freshman QB... so what?

Far from "wanting more" I'm perfectly satisfied.

For the moment. Still gotta fuck up Michigan.

 

[osugrad21]

i read about the first 30 comments. then quit. because the vast majority what i read was ABSOLUTE HORSE[censored].

how about you people acknowledge the fact that Iowa was a valiant opponent, give some credit to the coaches on the other side of the field, and celebrate winning the Big Ten title with some class?

cripes we've got some spoiled fans! WE JUST WON THE BIG TEN. and you people are bitching like we just watched another John F. Cooper late- season swoon. Ohio State fans are like the children of Israel in the Bible: deliver them from slavery, make bread appear from heaven every day to feed them, make water come from rocks to slake their thirst, lead them to the promised land, AND ALL THEY DO IS COMPLAIN. just shut the [censored] up already, you whiny bunch of ingrates. no wonder the rest of the college football world hates us.

LJB: you owe yourself an infraction. you gave me one earlier this season for less.

Note to self: Buy scratch off lottery tickets today.

 

[matcar]

i read about the first 30 comments. then quit. because the vast majority what i read was ABSOLUTE HORSE[censored].

how about you people acknowledge the fact that Iowa was a valiant opponent, give some credit to the coaches on the other side of the field, and celebrate winning the Big Ten title with some class?

cripes we've got some spoiled fans! WE JUST WON THE BIG TEN. and you people are bitching like we just watched another John F. Cooper late- season swoon. Ohio State fans are like the children of Israel in the Bible: deliver them from slavery, make bread appear from heaven every day to feed them, make water come from rocks to slake their thirst, lead them to the promised land, AND ALL THEY DO IS COMPLAIN. just shut the [censored] up already, you whiny bunch of ingrates. no wonder the rest of the college football world hates us.

LJB: you owe yourself an infraction. you gave me one earlier this season for less.

I think those with level heads can do two things quite easily.

1) Be thrilled that we've just won the B10 AGAIN and are finally headed back for Roses.

2) Be concerned about some of the potholes on the road knowing that just because we got there, doesn't mean "all is well". It IS great to be a Buckeye fan...matter of fact, it's ALWAYS great to be a Buckeye fan, but one cannot help but watch this team and feel that we've yet to really put it all together. This ceiling for this team hasn't been approached yet, so while I'm jacked about the Rose Bowl and am actively looking at arrangements to get out there, I'm still concerned about further progress.

That said, Beat Michigan.

 

[NFBuck]

I guess I don't see why some people have such issues with some constructive criticism. It's not like anybody here is saying JT is a horrible coach or even diving headlong into the "OMG! We need an offensive coordinator!!!!11!!!1!!" tangent. Some people took issue with what was (correctly or not) some overly conservative playcalling when the game got tight. Again, my stance is when you have that much on the line, you go out and take the game...not sit back and try to escape with a win. Up 24-10, sure, button things up and try to control the tempo of the game. But, when they get a quick score, and they've been moving the ball pretty effectively on you for a large majority of the game, I think you need to go for the jugular. There's too much talent not to use it. If roles were reversed and we were the ones with the RS frosh QB making his first start and our third string QB, I would get the strategy that was employed. But, TP is now a veteran QB with a more than capable receiving corp. AT this point, you have to trust him to throw more than screens and 4-5 yard passes that aren't even close to the chains. I'm not bitching for the sake of bitching and I'm not looking a gift horse in the mouth, I'm just voicing some legit concerns. Different strokes for different folks and it sparks some good discussion. If you don't like that, don't read it.

That said, it is scUM week, so I'm moving on. I do have a gut feeling that JT has been holding some stuff back. There's blood in the water, so barring another bad weather game up in that shithole, I hope to see some offensive fireworks.

To lv: Settle down, this is a discussion board for Christ's sake. There's no slamming or "bitching" going on here. All I see is some constructive criticism and people voicing legit concerns. We laugh at scUM fans for many of their "blind faith" in fraudriguez. We shouldn't do the same thing. JT is a GREAT coach and I'd have no one else coaching my favorite program. But, he is not above criticism...even in victory.

 

[rocketman]

Can someone make this emoticon: :2004: Except the guy is bashing himself with a Big 10 Champions' trophy and call it :2009:?