1. Beanie
I am one of those arguing Beanie will be splitting carries equally with Pittman before the season is over and get more yards as a result. Nothing has changed my mind.
When you are fourth and short and hand the ball to a true Frosh a statement has been made.
Some may argue his TD run was about great blocks – and there was a nice opening. But I didn’t see a nervous teenager dancing around looking for a hole (anybody see the heralded Lorenzo Booker Monday night?). I saw a bull put his head down and charge through the hole – taking three defenders over the goal line at the end.
Add to the equation that many of Beanie’s runs were in short yardage situations. In fact, on 5 of his 10 carries OSU needed 2 yards or less for the first down or TD – situations that make yards very difficult. (Pittman carried 13 times on 1st and 10 or 2nd and ten.)
Nothing against Pittman - he is special. But Beanie is extra special.
2. Wolfe
Early on I thought I would get my wish of addressing a ‘told you so’ post to the NIU fans who kept telling us we couldn’t stop Wolfe. Didn’t turn out that way. Kid took a ton of solid hits and kept on coming. Gotta give him the credit he deserves.
That said, if I were drafting players from yesterday’s game to play a Big Ten schedule he would not be the first RB from that game that I would pick.
3. I may burn in hell for this….
So, I get my season tickets and I am all excited. Not only C-deck (my favorite section), but the front row!
I forgot I had sat there once before. The bar at the top of the railing obstructs your view for portions of the field.
Well, just before kickoff I notice that the lady behind me has a kid with her who is about 7 or 8 years old. I offer to give her my front row seats so he can see.
Second row of C-Deck is PERFECT (especially when the guy in front of you is 3 feet tall).
4. Defensive Lapses
Been reading a lot about how bad the D looked yesterday. Not buying it.
On their first drive Wolfe had a 31 yard pass play. At the end of their third series NIU had 30 yards total offense.
Then the shuffling started. I recall a particular series where NIU ran three plays for 15 or more yards giving them a first down at the OSU 13. At that point FIVE defensive players left the field. Four plays later NIU kicked a FG on 4th and 15.
Once this game was decided – and it was decided in the first quarter – it became a scrimmage. If you don’t believe it try finding Malcolm Jenkins (our only experienced player in the back 7) on the replay. He was there – but not as often as one might expect to see your only returning starter from the back seven.
Don’t get me wrong. Inexperience is a concern and we can’t afford the mistakes we saw Saturday against Texas. But things are not nearly as bad as they looked on the field.
This D is solid.
5. Nacho report
I always try to include a report on the ‘state of the nachos’ at the Shoe in each of these threads. Well, my cholesterol has been steadily climbing over the years and my doctor finally put me on Zocor.
Damned if I am going to let him go to all that trouble and not see if this new drug works.
So I got the usual – super nachos with cheese on both sides and lots of hot peppers. The bad news is I got there just as the machine was running out of cheese. They squeezed the last of the bag into my serving. I hate that. It was cold and very disappointing. Only the extra hot peppers made it palatable. Once those ran out I offered the rest to that kid.
6. QB Controversy
Fess up. We all remember. It was only a year and a half ago. We all took sides and argued vehemently for either Zwick or Smith. I was a Zwick man myself – most folks were at one time or another. We ALL were when he first committed.
And even after two years in the program Smith kept pulling the ball down and running – didn’t give the receivers a chance. When he did throw it wasn’t anything spectacular.
And when the argument was settled and Smith started putting up big numbers I never thought he would develop into the type of QB I saw Saturday. Those were some sweet throws. Confident throws. And did you see the size of those arms? Looks more like Young every day.
So here is the controversy. If Smith continues on this path till the end of this season how will you answer this question:
“Who is the most talented QB in the history of Ohio State football?”
7. Participation
I noticed that Lyons, Dublin and Olson all came onto the field in street clothes – a bit of a surprise to me.
Anyone else shocked to see Larimore in on some plays? With all the depth we have on the DL I thought he was a lock to RS. And if any Frosh DL played it was sure to be Rose. Go figure.
And where was Jim Cordle?
8. Orcas, and Eagles, and Bears – Oh My!
I am coming into this season a bit unprepared. The wife and I just returned Saturday from a three week vacation in Alaska. (Arranged the whole thing to make sure I was back for Saturday’s game.)
Anyhow, I saw all of the above, but what I really wanted to see was a penguin in the wild (ever since I saw them marching in that movie).
Well, once they found out I was from Ohio (I was wearing my colors) they tried to convince me that there were no penguins in Alaska. Told me they are only in the Southern Hemisphere. Right! I didn’t two years of Botany classes at OSU for nothing. So I gently reminded them that the earth rotates and that means at some time every day the Southern Hemisphere IS the Northern Hemisphere.
After my explanation they were only too happy to tell me where the penguins might be. Never did see any, but it I doubt they will be trying to fool any Buckeyes for quite some time.
9. Fast Starts
Regardless of the opponent and the talent we take to the field I am hard pressed to remember the last time we did not stutter in our first few possessions. Even in games where we destroyed the other guy we managed to make some mistakes and settle for a punt or FG on one or both of the first couple ofdrives.
Great field position didn’t hurt, but it was sweet to see a team firing on all cylinders from the get-go. The phrase “Well Oiled Machine” never seemed more appropriate. And the absence of a flag on OSU until late in the first half (holding on US if you can believe that) was icing no the cake. (BTW - was this the only game in the country that did not have a couple of delay of game calls resulting from the worst rule change in the history of sports?)
I also picked this up from the official site:
Last time OSU scored TDs on 4 straight possessions (not necessarily the FIRST four possessions) was in 2002 against Kent St. But guess who we were playing the last time was we scored on four straight possessions if you include FGs?
I will give you a hint, it happened last season.
And it was against Texas.
10. Uniforms
Can someone remind me what the fuss was all about?
11. My favorite stat of the day.
I recall a game last seasons where only FOUR offensive players touched the ball. Yesterday nine different players caught passes. Much more better.
12. Weather
I dread the weather for the opener. It is generally hot and humid in the open – let alone sitting in stadium with 100,000+ sweaty bodies. Saturday was as pleasant as it gets
I just hope that doesn’t come back to bite us. Forecast for Austin on Saturday is a high of 96 with scattered T-storms. Perhaps a scorcher would have had its benefits.
13. The OL
Good lord, did you see some of those holes? Was Smith ever seriously pressured? Granted, NIU was small but there is a fine line - and it is wearing S&G.
In fact, if games really are won in the trenches OSU is in very good shape on both sides of the ball. I have seen better OLs ('95) and better DLs ('02), but this could well be the best combination of lines since Woody Hayes patrolled the sidelines. And we have depth to boot.
14. On a personal note….
I once had a lady try to convince me that football was a zero sum game. For every winner there was a loser so there was no net benefit in the end.
I turned 57 last week – 47 years after becoming an OSU football fan. I lost both my parents last Winter. Saturday as I was leaving for the game it hit me that for the first time in my life I would not be able to talk about the game with my Dad.
Ultimately sports are just sports, and I know that quite well. But one of the threads that wound through my relationship with both Mom and Dad revolved around OSU football. The traditions, the anticipation, the celebrations, the disappointments, even the silly necklaces – we shared them all at some level. Dad and I talked OSU football when I was 10 and we talked about it in one of the last conversations we had just days before he died.
Mom was 86 and Dad 93. Their loss was sad, but not tragic. I was blessed with great parents who were with me for a long time. OSU football was a small part of our relationship – but it made it richer. It was anything but zero sum.
I am one of those arguing Beanie will be splitting carries equally with Pittman before the season is over and get more yards as a result. Nothing has changed my mind.
When you are fourth and short and hand the ball to a true Frosh a statement has been made.
Some may argue his TD run was about great blocks – and there was a nice opening. But I didn’t see a nervous teenager dancing around looking for a hole (anybody see the heralded Lorenzo Booker Monday night?). I saw a bull put his head down and charge through the hole – taking three defenders over the goal line at the end.
Add to the equation that many of Beanie’s runs were in short yardage situations. In fact, on 5 of his 10 carries OSU needed 2 yards or less for the first down or TD – situations that make yards very difficult. (Pittman carried 13 times on 1st and 10 or 2nd and ten.)
Nothing against Pittman - he is special. But Beanie is extra special.
2. Wolfe
Early on I thought I would get my wish of addressing a ‘told you so’ post to the NIU fans who kept telling us we couldn’t stop Wolfe. Didn’t turn out that way. Kid took a ton of solid hits and kept on coming. Gotta give him the credit he deserves.
That said, if I were drafting players from yesterday’s game to play a Big Ten schedule he would not be the first RB from that game that I would pick.
3. I may burn in hell for this….
So, I get my season tickets and I am all excited. Not only C-deck (my favorite section), but the front row!
I forgot I had sat there once before. The bar at the top of the railing obstructs your view for portions of the field.
Well, just before kickoff I notice that the lady behind me has a kid with her who is about 7 or 8 years old. I offer to give her my front row seats so he can see.
Second row of C-Deck is PERFECT (especially when the guy in front of you is 3 feet tall).
4. Defensive Lapses
Been reading a lot about how bad the D looked yesterday. Not buying it.
On their first drive Wolfe had a 31 yard pass play. At the end of their third series NIU had 30 yards total offense.
Then the shuffling started. I recall a particular series where NIU ran three plays for 15 or more yards giving them a first down at the OSU 13. At that point FIVE defensive players left the field. Four plays later NIU kicked a FG on 4th and 15.
Once this game was decided – and it was decided in the first quarter – it became a scrimmage. If you don’t believe it try finding Malcolm Jenkins (our only experienced player in the back 7) on the replay. He was there – but not as often as one might expect to see your only returning starter from the back seven.
Don’t get me wrong. Inexperience is a concern and we can’t afford the mistakes we saw Saturday against Texas. But things are not nearly as bad as they looked on the field.
This D is solid.
5. Nacho report
I always try to include a report on the ‘state of the nachos’ at the Shoe in each of these threads. Well, my cholesterol has been steadily climbing over the years and my doctor finally put me on Zocor.
Damned if I am going to let him go to all that trouble and not see if this new drug works.
So I got the usual – super nachos with cheese on both sides and lots of hot peppers. The bad news is I got there just as the machine was running out of cheese. They squeezed the last of the bag into my serving. I hate that. It was cold and very disappointing. Only the extra hot peppers made it palatable. Once those ran out I offered the rest to that kid.
6. QB Controversy
Fess up. We all remember. It was only a year and a half ago. We all took sides and argued vehemently for either Zwick or Smith. I was a Zwick man myself – most folks were at one time or another. We ALL were when he first committed.
And even after two years in the program Smith kept pulling the ball down and running – didn’t give the receivers a chance. When he did throw it wasn’t anything spectacular.
And when the argument was settled and Smith started putting up big numbers I never thought he would develop into the type of QB I saw Saturday. Those were some sweet throws. Confident throws. And did you see the size of those arms? Looks more like Young every day.
So here is the controversy. If Smith continues on this path till the end of this season how will you answer this question:
“Who is the most talented QB in the history of Ohio State football?”
7. Participation
I noticed that Lyons, Dublin and Olson all came onto the field in street clothes – a bit of a surprise to me.
Anyone else shocked to see Larimore in on some plays? With all the depth we have on the DL I thought he was a lock to RS. And if any Frosh DL played it was sure to be Rose. Go figure.
And where was Jim Cordle?
8. Orcas, and Eagles, and Bears – Oh My!
I am coming into this season a bit unprepared. The wife and I just returned Saturday from a three week vacation in Alaska. (Arranged the whole thing to make sure I was back for Saturday’s game.)
Anyhow, I saw all of the above, but what I really wanted to see was a penguin in the wild (ever since I saw them marching in that movie).
Well, once they found out I was from Ohio (I was wearing my colors) they tried to convince me that there were no penguins in Alaska. Told me they are only in the Southern Hemisphere. Right! I didn’t two years of Botany classes at OSU for nothing. So I gently reminded them that the earth rotates and that means at some time every day the Southern Hemisphere IS the Northern Hemisphere.
After my explanation they were only too happy to tell me where the penguins might be. Never did see any, but it I doubt they will be trying to fool any Buckeyes for quite some time.
9. Fast Starts
Regardless of the opponent and the talent we take to the field I am hard pressed to remember the last time we did not stutter in our first few possessions. Even in games where we destroyed the other guy we managed to make some mistakes and settle for a punt or FG on one or both of the first couple ofdrives.
Great field position didn’t hurt, but it was sweet to see a team firing on all cylinders from the get-go. The phrase “Well Oiled Machine” never seemed more appropriate. And the absence of a flag on OSU until late in the first half (holding on US if you can believe that) was icing no the cake. (BTW - was this the only game in the country that did not have a couple of delay of game calls resulting from the worst rule change in the history of sports?)
I also picked this up from the official site:
Last time OSU scored TDs on 4 straight possessions (not necessarily the FIRST four possessions) was in 2002 against Kent St. But guess who we were playing the last time was we scored on four straight possessions if you include FGs?
I will give you a hint, it happened last season.
And it was against Texas.
10. Uniforms
Can someone remind me what the fuss was all about?
11. My favorite stat of the day.
I recall a game last seasons where only FOUR offensive players touched the ball. Yesterday nine different players caught passes. Much more better.
12. Weather
I dread the weather for the opener. It is generally hot and humid in the open – let alone sitting in stadium with 100,000+ sweaty bodies. Saturday was as pleasant as it gets
I just hope that doesn’t come back to bite us. Forecast for Austin on Saturday is a high of 96 with scattered T-storms. Perhaps a scorcher would have had its benefits.
13. The OL
Good lord, did you see some of those holes? Was Smith ever seriously pressured? Granted, NIU was small but there is a fine line - and it is wearing S&G.
In fact, if games really are won in the trenches OSU is in very good shape on both sides of the ball. I have seen better OLs ('95) and better DLs ('02), but this could well be the best combination of lines since Woody Hayes patrolled the sidelines. And we have depth to boot.
14. On a personal note….
I once had a lady try to convince me that football was a zero sum game. For every winner there was a loser so there was no net benefit in the end.
I turned 57 last week – 47 years after becoming an OSU football fan. I lost both my parents last Winter. Saturday as I was leaving for the game it hit me that for the first time in my life I would not be able to talk about the game with my Dad.
Ultimately sports are just sports, and I know that quite well. But one of the threads that wound through my relationship with both Mom and Dad revolved around OSU football. The traditions, the anticipation, the celebrations, the disappointments, even the silly necklaces – we shared them all at some level. Dad and I talked OSU football when I was 10 and we talked about it in one of the last conversations we had just days before he died.
Mom was 86 and Dad 93. Their loss was sad, but not tragic. I was blessed with great parents who were with me for a long time. OSU football was a small part of our relationship – but it made it richer. It was anything but zero sum.
