Game Thread Ohio State 6, Penn State 13 (Oct. 25)

[3074326]

My take on the game and OSU/Tressel

1) Stop Beanie and you make OSU throw the ball to beat you.
2) Penn State did just that and won the game.
3) OSU Defense did a great job tonight.
4) Our offensive line, average at best
5) Our offensive is just that, offensive

I am totally not sold on having our Freshman QB taking over the team. Does he give us the best option? Really? Yes he has some attributes with his legs, but when you look at the total picture, we are now a one dementional offense. I don't see the arm strength, I don't see the accuracy. What I see is what I saw in his H.S films. Throwing the ball up or lofting the ball to his receivers. This is not H.S football. He has trouble following progressions. He is young and he will be a good one in a few years

Taking one of the leaders of the team, and captain completely out of the offense, has been a big mistake. He has arm strength, he at least can read a Defense, and throw the ball down field. His interceptions this year where costly, but to yank him completely out the system is a huge coaching blunder. Our offense has spuddered since our young QB has been in there. He is our Future, but we are now sacrificing any offense we have to get him up to speed.

Tonights offensive play calling was almost Cincinnati Bengal like. It was very Predictable. It was obvious that we should be thowing the ball on first down, and or throw the ball down field to loosen up the Penn State's defense. We did neither. Was it the lack of confidence that we have in our system?

Coach T has really shown some bad jugdement, time management, and offensive schemes since the BSC bowl last year. The Zone blocking on the O line is not working. If your going to change the QB then lets change everything to accomodate what he does best. You can't just change one without the other unless the QB's are similar.....Very frustrated this year with Coach T , and OSU inability to make adjustments and get on track. The Big Ten is just that, the Big Ten. Smash mouth football has passed us by, while other leagues and teams have innovated schemes and quick athletes.

Great job Defense..You guys played a heck of a game

I love Todd, but like others have said, imagine a QB who doesn't have much mobility behind our line. Pryor avoided at least three sacks tonight, probably a few more. That's based on his athleticism alone. TB gets beat up in that game.

I have to ask myself how much different peoples' comments would be if there had not been that fumble that resulted in PSU scoring the lone TD of the game.

 

[DABOPPS]

How exactly do you rebuild for the future with 22 freaking returning starters? Throw all the seniors under the bus?

There were high expectations (and rightfully so) coming into this season. There are ALWAYS high expectations at Ohio State when it comes to football.

Yes there were high expectations before the year began, but you cant tell me that your expectations didnt change at all after week one when Pryor took over after the loss to USC?

Based on your take here do you think that maybe the conservative play calling has something to do with having a subpar offensive line?

Play calling can be more aggressive even with a subpar offensive line. When Beanie and Sane were both in the back field to block, TP got time to throw the ball down field. We just didnt give TP enough chances to the throw the ball. It was pretty obvious.

 

[JCOSU86]

I have to ask myself how much different peoples' comments would be if there had not been that fumble that resulted in PSU scoring the lone TD of the game.

Good point

 

[Jake]

Just speaking for myself, this is the most frustrating season I can remember. The Bucks came into this season with a lot of star players coming back from a great 12-1 season. Fair or not, they have underperformed. Hopefully they will run the table, beating scUM in the process and play on New Years Day, probably in Florida vs an SEC team.

I think we overperformed last year. The truth is our OOC schedule was weak - not our fault UW sucked, but they did - and our win over scUM was a lot like tonight except they made the turnovers.

We played very well at PSU but our team, and our QB, peaked that night. This year's PSU team is much better than last year. We lost to a good, not great, Illinois team and almost blew the MSU game. Wisconsin took it to us most of the day last year, too, until Beanie exploded in the 4th quarter.

I think our expectations were a tad inflated this season based on falling backasswards into another NC game last year. We had flaws then and we have flaws now, but we're still one of the better teams in the country.

There's no shame in that, but we need to get better on the line of scrimmage. We got whupped there the last 2 NC games and it happened again tonight. Still, we had a chance to pull it off but we had no room for error and we made a fatal mistake.

 

[Buck Kid 66]

Originally Posted by 3074326
I have to ask myself how much different peoples' comments would be if there had not been that fumble that resulted in PSU scoring the lone TD of the game

Even if we would have won. Their still would have been the talk about the offensive line and how they struggle.

 

[3074326]

Even if we would have won. Their still would have been the talk about the offensive line and how they struggle.

No doubt about that, but the comments questioning the playcalling and move to a freshman QB would more than likely be different.

The playcalling in this game was exactly what it needed to be. We played a tough game. The team who won the field position battle and didn't turn the ball over was going to win. One play lost us both the turnover and field position battle, and we lost.

I thought the playcalling was perfect in a game like this. I was not a fan of the early TOs in the fourth quarter. Those are about the only bad things Tressel did tonight IMO.

 

[OregonBuckeye]

I think we overperformed last year. The truth is our OOC schedule was weak - not our fault UW sucked, but they did - and our win over scUM was a lot like tonight except they made the turnovers.

We played very well at PSU but our team, and our QB, peaked that night. This year's PSU team is much better than last year. We lost to a good, not great, Illinois team and almost blew the MSU game. Wisconsin took it to us most of the day last year, too, until Beanie exploded in the 4th quarter.

I think our expectations were a tad inflated this season based on falling backasswards into another NC game last year. We had flaws then and we have flaws now, but we're still one of the better teams in the country.

There's no shame in that, but we need to get better on the line of scrimmage. We got whupped there the last 2 NC games and it happened again tonight. Still, we had a chance to pull it off but we had no room for error and we made a fatal mistake.

Fine, maybe we did benefit from a weaker than normal schedule last year but we have underperformed greatly this year. Very few returning starters have stepped their game up on offense from last year. The OL looks especially shaky. Barton was a solid player but not an irreplaceable talent. His attitude and leadership is being missed in a bad way.

 

[JCOSU86]

I think we overperformed last year. The truth is our OOC schedule was weak - not our fault UW sucked, but they did - and our win over scUM was a lot like tonight except they made the turnovers.

We played very well at PSU but our team, and our QB, peaked that night. This year's PSU team is much better than last year. We lost to a good, not great, Illinois team and almost blew the MSU game. Wisconsin took it to us most of the day last year, too, until Beanie exploded in the 4th quarter.

I think our expectations were a tad inflated this season based on falling backasswards into another NC game last year. We had flaws then and we have flaws now, but we're still one of the better teams in the country.

There's no shame in that, but we need to get better on the line of scrimmage. We got whupped there the last 2 NC games and it happened again tonight. Still, we had a chance to pull it off but we had no room for error and we made a fatal mistake.

Those are good points too. But, fair or not, the expectations were high for this year and they have not lived up to them. Especially at the LOS (on both sides of the ball). I am of the opinion that the game is won or lost there.

 

[Buck Kid 66]

But, fair or not, the expectations were high for this year and they have not lived up to them. Especially at the LOS (on both sides of the ball).

I think u need to be fair to the defensive line. They are playing way better. Only got gashed on a couple of plays in the running game. They are young and some have been moved around a bit.

 

[JCOSU86]

I think u need to be fair to the defensive line. They are playing way better. Only got gashed on a couple of plays in the running game. They are young and some have been moved around a bit.

I'm looking at the entire year. Yes they are playing better.

 

[3074326]

I actually thought the defensive line looked pretty good tonight. Unfortunately, there were a couple key third downs that they couldn't stop. Similar to the Illinois game last year. Obvious running plays, but we couldn't stop them.

Aside from that, good game for the d-line.

Missed tackles tonight..

 

[billmac91]

Those are good points too. But, fair or not, the expectations were high for this year and they have not lived up to them. Especially at the LOS (on both sides of the ball). I am of the opinion that the game is won or lost there.

It feels like the D-line is making strides, especially Thaddeus, while the O-line continues to be the weakpoint of this squad. There was reason for optimisim after last week, but I guess you can keep in mind we had 2 defensive touchdowns.

Win or lose tonight, I still would have been disapoointed in the playcalling. We threw more on first down, actuall a lot on first down, but we strandedwhat has been our bread and butter. There needs to be an unpredictable mix to what we do.

 

[Buck Kid 66]

I didn't think royster was as good as they were making him out to be. I think he benifits from playing with a talented group on offense.

 

[O'Rourke]

Hate to say it but the biggest prize we've got left to play for is to win at IL and NW, beat TSUN and then break the SEC bowl loss streak against the #2-3 SEC team in the Capital One bowl. That is the best case scenario at this point. If we achieve that we will have the best stretch against TSUN and our first bowl win over an SEC team. Is that enough to motivate our guys who's goal was to get over the hump and win a MNC?

I am very intersted in how the team responds from this loss. These guys have been playing for the NC game the last two years and spent the entire 2006 season as the #1 team until The Debacle. In 2007 we were #1 for a while, and even with the IL loss we were playing for the B10 title and a Rose Bowl bid. The stakes have been drastically lowered now. Can this team bring the fire and intensity to win the next two road games and then put up an uprecedented 5th win in a row against TSUN?

Our seniors are facing a big test with everything they came back to win now realistically out of reach. I hope they can rally to go out on the right note.

 

[Clarity]

Hate to say it but the biggest prize we've got left to play for is to win at IL and NW, beat TSUN and then break the SEC bowl loss streak against the #2-3 SEC team in the Capital One bowl. That is the best case scenario at this point. If we achieve that we will have the best stretch against TSUN and our first bowl win over an SEC team. Is that enough to motivate our guys who's goal was to get over the hump and win a MNC?

How is going to the Rose Bowl with PSU going to the NC not our "biggest prize we've got left to play for?" I remember comments exactly like this one after we lost to Illinois last year. Which is not to say that I think we still have a reasonable shot at the NC (nor would I particularly want one), but it's still a little early in the season for people (I had a stronger word there, as those who speak in premature absolutes are something of a pet peeve, but I'll be nice) to be saying the Cap One bowl (or like is) is the best case scenario.