• Follow us on Twitter @buckeyeplanet and @bp_recruiting, like us on Facebook! Enjoy a post or article, recommend it to others! BP is only as strong as its community, and we only promote by word of mouth, so share away!
  • Consider registering! Fewer and higher quality ads, no emails you don't want, access to all the forums, download game torrents, private messages, polls, Sportsbook, etc. Even if you just want to lurk, there are a lot of good reasons to register!

Game Thread Ohio State 30, Illinois 20 (Nov 15)

Good game for the Buckeyes! Could have been a little better, TD with 42 secs left cut the margin from 17 (my prediction in the methomps challenge :pissed:). Were it not for the Beanie fumble (which they never showed even one replay of) the game would have been more one-sided (no disrespect towards Beanie). Lots of great efforts. Moeller was making his presence known in substitute of Hines. That means we have two players who are ready to make an impact next year in the SLB/NB role. I like it. Abdallah continued to show how much improvement he's made since the first game. He's really coming on. The D-line has gone from being percieved as a liability to making an impact in the last few games. Good to see. Nate Williams is going to be a monster, Cam is making plays, Worthington too (Thad's been kind of quiet lately). The D-line has been within inches of being dominant. The best thing about this game is that we managed to get some good hits on their QBs. Chased Juice from the game, and then knocked his backup out. Brings back memories of when our D used to take on touted QBs and steal their souls. Hopefully, it's an indicator of things to come.

On a more obvious note, Beanie was an absolute beast. He's just a man amongst boys out there. He is one of the most complete RBs I've seen in quite a while. The number of times he picked up tough yards after conact was amazing. Add in the fact that he can break it wide open on any play, and he's invaluable. Vision, speed, power, moves, Beanie's got it all. TP had a grat game as well. His two (or more, if I forgot) big runs to the outside showed his running ability. I would still like to see more emphasis on the passing game, but if we win without it, who gives a shit? A few drops by WRs again, not making his job easier. Big game by Sanzo (when 2 catches is considered a good game), he will be a force in the future, he's a worker.

Huge game for the D, despite the missed tackles. INT, forced fumbles, sacks, TFLs, big hits, blocked punt. The team is really coming together. There are still breakdowns, but there are more positive plays than bad. The O-line continues to confound me. It's more noticeable when Beanie is spelled. Boom's going to be a very good RB, but there are too many times when he has to face an unblocked defender. Beanie has the ability to make the move or destroy them (most of the time). If Boom had holes on every play, he would look great. All things considered, we should look great next game, because our opponent sucks ass.
 
Upvote 0
CPD

ON THE CLOCK WITH DOUG LESMERISES
Walkthrough foretells run-over


Sunday, November 16, 2008
Champaign, Ill. -

Friday night:
During the team walkthrough at Memorial Stadium, Beanie Wells notices something.
"I just got the feeling that coach [Jim] Tressel was going to run the ball," Wells said, "because we were going over a lot of running plays in walkthrough. I was kind of excited about it."
The Buckeyes ran 62 offensive plays in their 30-20 win over the Illini on Saturday - 52 of them were running plays.
11:01 a.m. Central Standard Time:
Ohio State loses the coin toss and Illinois chooses to receive. It's the first time in 11 games the Buckeyes won't start with the ball. Danger ahead.

Continued..........
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0
Dispatch

The Bottom Line

Saturday, November 15, 2008 6:38 PM
By Ray Stein


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

One down, one to go on Ohio State's season-ending reunion tour with its oldest, deepest rivals. In terms of degree of difficulty, the Buckeyes probably cleared the much higher hurdle in breezy Illinois. Leaves are awarded on a zero-to-five basis.
Offense (three leaves)
That game plan was so old school, accounts should tell how the Bean got tackl'd after a smart gain. 'Tis the way it went, anyway, with 52 rushes, a mountain next to the molehill of 10 passes attempted. A Mike Leach fun house it ain't, but it works when the Big Ten wind is hard from the west.
Defense (three leaves)
As hideous goes, it doesn't get much uglier than this: Illinois ran 20 plays that gained double-digit yardage. Redeeming that mess is that the Illini had only one such play in the pivotal third quarter. All the Buckeye blitzing made for harried Juice; in the end, the unit was stout when it counted.

Continued...............
 
Upvote 0
Dispatch

Six points

Saturday, November 15, 2008 6:43 PM
By Tim May


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH


THE PLAY
Malcolm Jenkins' block of an Illinois punt late in the first quarter. It gave Ohio State the lead for good and led to an OSU touchdown after a short free kick.
THE STAR
Nickel back Tyler Moeller. He saw his first significant action because of the Jermale Hines injury, and he was the straw that stirred OSU's defense. He had two tackles for loss and a QB hurry that led to an interception.
THE STAT
OSU's season-high 305 yards rushing compared with Illinois' 241 passing. It was a day for running. Chris "Beanie" Wells and Terrelle Pryor each topped 100 yards.

Continued...............
 
Upvote 0
CPD

Ohio State Buckeyes' beat Illini with smashmouth football but with UM up next, something's awry, writes The Plain Dealer's Bud Shaw

Share of Big Ten title would still be cool, right?
Sunday, November 16, 2008 Bud Shaw
Plain Dealer Columnist


Champaign, Ill.- Bragging rights in the Big Ten leave a lot to be desired but at least Ohio State still has half a chance at some.
Another example of the downturn in conference fortunes over the past few years came Saturday when - in an attempt to salvage something out of a 30-20 loss to the Buckeyes - Illinois fans mocked the Ohio State cheering section with chants of "U-S-C."
Ouch?
When the fans of a team that lost to the Trojans by 32 points in last year's Rose Bowl go hard after the fans of a team that lost to them by 32 earlier this season, that's not much of an insult.
It's a free commercial for the Pac-10 is what it is.
The best football isn't being played there either this year. The Big 12 and SEC argue that distinction.
But in a season that lost its drum roll in September and its cymbals against Penn State, nobody could blame the Buckeyes for turning their attention Saturday to how best to keep hopes alive for a share of their intramural championship.

Continued.............
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0
Dispatch

Opposite sideline

Saturday, November 15, 2008 8:08 PM
By Rob Oller and Tim May


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH



Facts of the matter
Illinois has irritated Ohio State the past two seasons, primarily behind quarterback Juice Williams. But the magic disappeared as Williams threw an interception deep in OSU territory and also lost a fumble. His final act was a 24-yard TD pass with 42 seconds remaining, but that was after he returned from a second-half "timeout" (aka benching), and only because backup Eddie McGee suffered a toe injury. The mistakes marred an Illini offense that looked better on paper - 455 yards, 25 first downs - than in reality. Defensively, Illinois had no answer for the one-two punch of Chris "Beanie" Wells and Terrelle Pryor, who combined for 253 yards rushing.
Shining moment
The Illini's first touchdown. It turned out to be a big moment for Brookhaven product Jeff Cumberland. The receiver worked his way to the back of the end zone, then crossed into wide-open spaces to haul in Williams' 7-yard fling. It tied the score at seven midway through the first quarter, and for a fleeting moment made the Illini think they could make a game of it.

Continued................
 
Upvote 0
ToledoBlade

TAKING THE HIGH ROAD
Buckeyes stay focused: Ohio State sticks to ground



By MATT MARKEY
BLADE SPORTS WRITER

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Before they could talk about playing for the Big Ten championship, or even utter that forbidden word - Michigan - the Ohio State Buckeyes had to first navigate four quarters against Illinois, the most explosive team in the conference.

Yesterday the Buckeyes (9-2, 6-1) held Illinois to one touchdown while the outcome was being contested, and supplemented that defensive effort with more than 300 yards rushing. That added up to a 30-20 win.

The victory puts Ohio State in position to clinch at least a share of the Big Ten title if it can defeat its rival in the final game of the season Saturday. And it gave the Buckeyes formal permission to talk about playing Michigan.
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0
I...O...

- Bar Stocked- Check
- Potato Skins and Chilli Ready - Check
- Chips and snacks - Check
- Victory Cigars - Check
- OSU putting that a$$ Whooping on those co(K sniffs who came into our house last year and physically beat them and embarrased them- Check

Interesting game for sure..... Man I am going to miss Beanie and Jenkins talent next year. Those two really play at a different level then anyone on the field.
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0
Link

OSU plows through Illini

Sunday, November 16, 2008 2:27 AM EST
By Jason Lloyd Journal Register News Service
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. ? It shouldn't be surprising Beanie Wells is hurdling people again, seeing how he admitted after Saturday's 30-20 victory over Illinois that he's athletic enough to dunk a basketball.

An average man standing 6-foot-1 and weighing 237 pounds isn't dunking if you spot him a trampoline and an 8-foot rim. Then again, Wells proved long ago he was slightly above normal.

His hurdle of Illinois defensive back Donsay Hardeman in the third quarter illustrated the type of day it was for Ohio State's offense.

On a blustery day in central Illinois, when the rain never came but gusting 20 mph winds made passing nearly impossible, the Buckeyes rushed for 305 yards, their most since a 317-yard performance against Northwestern in 2005. Terrelle Pryor threw just 10 passes, while Wells rushed for 143 yards and Pryor had 110.

Continued..................
 
Upvote 0
I thought the D played pretty "soft" especially in the first half.
Didn't see alot of guys flying around and throwing their bodies into it like normal. Alot of avoiding blocks and not taking them on and trying to shed them. Grabbing and arm tackling instead of hitting and wrapping up.

IL, on the other hand, was bringing the wood. A little late sometimes, too.

I really liked our power formations running the ball - again. Second TE really makes a difference for this team, especially with the defensive fronts we've been seeing. Ballard definitely gets my vote for this week's Jim Parker award.

Oh yeah, and that kid Pryor gets better and better each week!
 
Upvote 0
I think we will see more of a spread type offense next season. We prepared all off season for Boeckman. Drop back pass or hand to Beanie. We see a spread style with Boom/Sanie in the game, not Beanie. IMO Beanie isn't fit for the spread, hes also our best player right now. So we're playing to HIS strengths. He's the typical NFL back. I haven't seen any Berry film but assuming his speed I'm guessing he's good in the spread. I love Boom but I don't think he can take the workload Beanie has taken the last couple of games, maybe he can. But this has been kind of a run-on post so I'm gonna end it.
 
Upvote 0
Back
Top