Game Thread Ohio State 34, Minnesota 21 (Sep. 27)

[Buck Kid 66]

He needs to stay in his rush lane. Do think he has a bright future though. Just needs experience.

 

[bukIpower]

Yeah I think Williams rushing style was fine, but just Weber was spinning out and finding ways to evade him thats all.

I am also a fan thats pissed we didn't crush this team. It's pretty telling when even JT says that all the subsitution was the cause of a rocky ending for us. The game was never in doubt and with our starting defense in I will say I never felt like they would threaten us (especially for touchdowns). Also I thought the offense with Pryor was just starting to roll and then we threw Todd out there. Todd played well and I'm happy for it but I thought it also threw a wrench in our offensive chemistry.

As for Herron? He's far better than Saine IMO and will be a Michael Wiley or Pepe Pearson type of talent before its all done. Not as good as Pittman, but he's a good one. I wouldn't say he lacks "IT" but just the fact he's physically not like a Beanie/MoC/Pittman. Pittman is a whole lot faster than Herron, and Herron just doesn't have the size of Beanie/MoC. I told ya'll though Herron would be our next guy in line.

I think offensively we're going to be devistating by the end of the year. However, I just don't know what else to say about the defense that hasn't already been pointed out. They play poorly in spurts and it bothers me. One second we're defending the option perfectly and causing a fumble at the same time, and then at others people are finding room to run. I think Consistency is the key to our defense and also the rush from the front 4. While the pressure from our front was better today it still has to improve. I'm not seeing much from Wilson this year and I don't know why? sure he did a fine job against Akron but we needed him to be that pressure guy and so far I'd say that title belongs to Gibson hands down.
Also I'd like to see LESS of Animal running into the gaurds while on a blitz. It's so retarded that he shows where he's going to blitz and then gets smothered as the play starts. I don't think James has had a good game yet but i'm sure that'll change.

 

[MajesticTurkey]

I am also a fan thats [censored]ed we didn't crush this team.

We're trying to win a championship. Point differentials are for the ego, wins are for the championship. As long as we win, it can be by 1 or 21.

 

[Zander42]

Eh, maybe I've been spoiled with MoC and Beanie these past few years, but I just don't see "it" with Herron. It looks like he's running hard and making pretty good reads (unlike Saine), but Herron just can't seem to turn the 3-yard runs into 7-yard runs, which is what separates the good backs from the great backs ... and keeps offenses in 2nd-and short instead of 2nd-and-long.

---snip--

I know what you're saying, but remember that Beanie didn't start breaking his runs until the end of '06. His run in 'the game' was kind of like a "hello" from Beanie. Until then, he would typically run into the backs of his blockers and had a bit of fumble problems. We had high expectations, but it took time. I think that having Beanie around is going to help Boom greatly. Boom can look up to him in games, practice, weight room, etc. The greatness from Beanie (as well as any running back) comes from vision. For Boom, that will come with time. I'm optomistic with Boom, I'm seeing good things. His long run in the 3rd or 4th quarter was just what he needed. That will help him develop the vision he needs. You can never predict how far he'll go, but to me, the early signs are very good.

Having JB and Saine pushing him for PT next year will only help all of them.

-z

 

[billmac91]

Also I'd like to see LESS of Animal running into the gaurds while on a blitz. It's so retarded that he shows where he's going to blitz and then gets smothered as the play starts. I don't think James has had a good game yet but i'm sure that'll change.

I still CANNOT figure out why we show our blitz so frequently. I really haven't seen a good answer thus far either.

It continues to baffle me....I just don't see other good defenses showing where their blitz is coming from like OSU does on a very consistent basis.

 

[Worm02]

Eh, maybe I've been spoiled with MoC and Beanie these past few years, but I just don't see "it" with Herron. It looks like he's running hard and making pretty good reads (unlike Saine), but Herron just can't seem to turn the 3-yard runs into 7-yard runs, which is what separates the good backs from the great backs ... and keeps offenses in 2nd-and short instead of 2nd-and-long. Beanie has great power and is surprisingly nimble and very fast for a man his size ... and MoC had unreal vision and timing to go along with great leg drive and body lean ... and he had moves that could make DB's look positively silly in the open field. But what quality does Herron have that takes him to the next level?

Herron is a poor man's Pittman ... and Pittman wasn't all that great ... he was the beneficiary of a very potent offense that had two great individual playmakers (Smith, Ginn) that kept defenses very honest ... not to mention a really solid offensive line.

Was Ohio State a great tailabck away from a national championship in 1996 (Pepe Pearson) and 1998 (Michael Wiley)? I'd sure hate to see the Buckeyes in that position again in 2009 and 2010 with Herron and/or Saine....

After Beanies first 5 games, he had 176 yards & 1 TD on 39 carries, averaging 4.5 ypc. After Boom's first five games, he has 262 yards & 1 TD on 59 carries, averaging 4.4 ypc. He hasn't fumbled yet, something that even Beanie can't say this year. He was even playing well against USC, but Ohio State abandoned the run once they got down.

Boom is still learning, but we have already seen flashes of what he brings to the game. Hard running, good blocking, nice hands out of the backfield, etc. He held down the fort while Beanie was out and he made solid contributions in a backup role today. He will only continue to get better.

FWIW, being a close friend of Boom's (he's like a little brother to me), I can tell you that people have been doubting him since high school in regards to Ohio State, and some still are. First, they said that he wasn't good enough to be a Buckeye. When he became a Buckeye, they said that he wasn't good enough to play. When he played, they said that he wasn't good enough to start. Once he started, some people, though not as many as before, said that he'll never amount to much. What more does he have to do? He's not perfect, but who is? When he makes a mistake, he learns from it. He always moves forward, he holds on to the ball, he gives up his body to protect the quarterback, etc. Being from Warren, he looked up to Warren Harding's runningbacks such as Maurice Clarett (he garduated with Boom's older brother David in 2002), Richard Davis (used to play for Toledo), Delbert Ferguson (plays LB for Cincinnati), Deryck Toles (played LB for Penn State from 1999-2003), Carl Diggs (played LB for Michigan from 99-03), etc. Now that he's at Ohio State, he looks up to Beanie. He learned a lot from all of them, but being on the same team as Beanie has been even more beneficial to him because it's more "hands on."

Boom has traveled a long road to get to where he is, but I promise you that he's not satisfied yet.

 

[BUCKYLE]

After Beanies first 5 games, he had 176 yards & 1 TD on 39 carries, averaging 4.5 ypc. After Boom's first five games, he has 262 yards & 1 TD on 59 carries, averaging 4.4 ypc. He hasn't fumbled yet, something that even Beanie can't say this year. He was even playing well against USC, but Ohio State abandoned the run once they got down.

Boom is still learning, but we have already seen flashes of what he brings to the game. Hard running, good blocking, nice hands out of the backfield, etc. He held down the fort while Beanie was out and today he made solid contributions in a backup role today. He will only continue to get better.

FWIW, being a close friend of Boom's (he's like a little brother to me), I can tell you that people have been doubting him since high school in regards to Ohio State, and some still are. First, they said that he wasn't good enough to be a Buckeye. When he became a Buckeye, they said that he wasn't good enough to play. When he played, they said that he wasn't good enough to start. Once he started, some people, though not as many as before, said that he'll never amount to much. What more does he have to do? He's not perfect, but who is? When he makes a mistake, he learns from it. He always moves forward, he holds on to the ball, he gives up his body to protect the quarterback, etc.

Boom has traveled a long road to get to where he is, but I promise you that he's not satisfied yet.

I for one, think Boom is gonna be a good one. I love the way he runs downhill at all times. And he does remind me of Pitt in the way he may not necissarily look the part, but he lowers his shoulder and delivers the hit. I absolutely love a RB that thinks it's his duty to initiate the contact.

Boom! goes the dynamite!

 

[morbitzerker]

I for one, think Boom is gonna be a good one. I love the way he runs downhill at all times. And he does remind me of Pitt in the way he may not necissarily look the part, but he lowers his shoulder and delivers the hit. I absolutely love a RB that thinks it's his duty to initiate the contact.

Boom! goes the dynamite!

Happened earlier in this game, Boom had a great burst broke a few tackles, lowered the shoulder and knocked a Sota defender on his ass, then got a few more yards. I like his attitude. And I like that he has time to develop.

 

[billmac91]

I really don't see the comparison to Pittman. I think Boom has better vision, but less power.

He's a very solid player, and you can count on his consistency, which is more than most have provided. I like his game, and I look forward to seeing him play alongside Terrelle for several years.

 

[Buckeyecty4]

We're trying to win a championship. Point differentials are for the ego, wins are for the championship. As long as we win, it can be by 1 or 21.

Actually in college football, point differentials arent just for the ego.. it also shows pollsters who dont watch full games (who decide the rankings and title contenders) that your team is playing at a high level

If a pollster checks the score of our game, they'll say "OSU is still having some issues, only beating a bad team by 13, at home"

 

[BUCKYLE]

Actually in college football, point differentials arent just for the ego.. it also shows pollsters who dont watch full games (who decide the rankings and title contenders) that your team is playing at a high level

If a pollster checks the score of our game, they'll say "OSU is still having some issues, only beating a bad team by 13, at home"

Fuck the pollsters. We can control the B10. Everything else, if applicable, will take care of itself. We continue to win, and they'll all be drooling over Pryor by The Game. Count on it.

 

[Gatorubet]

Great win Guys. I looked at the stat that says "W".

I am impressed tonight that it is the only one that counts.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

We just need to show more crispness, sure some things up, like stupid penalties, missed reads, missed assignments...

 

[sparcboxbuck]

I can't really blame Minnesota for pushing forward. That is the attitude their coach has instilled in them, and I respect that. It is just a simple fact that they were points that didn't matter.

There is one positive out of all of this: Our backups know what it is like to be scored on, and they won't want to let it happen again.

Credit coach Brewster and staff for keeping them going. That's a sign of a program that is on it's way up. (OK, seriously... after a 1-11 season, where else do you have to go... ) There's no doubt in my mind that those kids knew that the game was out of reach but they just kept going. BUT they knew that their play today IS going to be the difference in a couple of games later in the year and they showed some real grit. I know you hate to get one in the L-column, but they played with honor.

Congrats to those young men for not giving up, regardless of the outcome or the likely outcome.

I hope that our young men take pause to refect on that kind of attitude. The way Minnie played today should have a chapter in the second edition of "The Winner's Manual."

 

[Mike80]

Which bothers me to a degree.....the defense got burned for late scores and the end result is a final score that looks much closer than it was.

1) OSU was playing guys on Defense that I was having issues even identifying.

2) JT probably couldn't give a shit less about the polls at this point in time.