Ohio State vs. Marshall, 2004

[MililaniBuckeye]

I haven't read all the posts in this thread...in fact, I ain't read shit, but rather I'm just going off the thread title. I watched the game from opening kickoff to game-winning field goal. I expected us to punish Marshall, big time. After our first TD (80 TD pass to Holmes) I thought that would come to fruition. However, reality set it. Whether we like it or not, the 85/25 rule (85 scholarships max, no more than 25 per year) has closed the gap between the first and second (and even third) tier teams. I hate Marshall, from the time YSU played them in '91 for the I-AA title until now. Fuck Marshall. However, you can't ignore the fact that they came in with a mission to make a statement. They played their balls off. They are not as bad as their loss against Troy last week implied...you can tell that by Troy's win against Missouri and Marshall's effort against us. That all being said, we turned the ball over four times, without getting a turnover ourselves, against a solid team that just happens to be in the MAC, and yet still won. Our team had flashes of brilliance, and periods of ineptitude. The coaching staff will work this out. The main thing is that the days of 72-0 and 70-7 wins against mid-tier OOC teams (ala against Rice and Pittsburgh in '95) are long gone. Just look at the number of no-name teams playing tough, and even winning, against storied programs. No one was yelling at their TV more than I was today, but after the brews have worn off, I can seriously look back and say that we did well to win today. Marshall played their all-time game against us, and we still won despite giving them four turnovers without taking one ourselves. Bottom line...a win is always a win. Mark it.

Fuck this...time to go to sleep.

 

[KillerNut]

Lydell fell into some bad habits again this season of not HITTING the hole. He tries to dance in it or slows down to go through it. Its almost like he is scared of getting hit. If he would just run like a 225 lb RB should he would be fine.

Pittman was hurt last week, I have a good feeling we will see him a lot against NC State.

 

[KillerNut]

This was a good experience for this team, especially to have this situation at home before they play two road games, one against a team that will be gunning for them big time. Zwick made the plays at the very end to take care of the game, we found out that Santonio Holmes is definetly capable of being the go to guy. Offensively and Defensively there is a lot to learn about this game, and the next two teams we play will run likely a very similar attack against us, with more talent in NCST's case.

 

[gold_pants]

This was a good experience for this team, especially to have this situation at home before they play two road games, one against a team that will be gunning for them big time. Zwick made the plays at the very end to take care of the game, we found out that Santonio Holmes is definetly capable of being the go to guy. Offensively and Defensively there is a lot to learn about this game, and the next two teams we play will run likely a very similar attack against us, with more talent in NCST's case.

Correct a ton to work on but it is all correctable. Must be able to reduce the turnovers and have our defense begin to cause them. The running game is still a major concern for me (Lydell just does not do it). The thing I take a way is we won and this was Justin's 2nd game. Wow!!

 

[KillerNut]

This game will bring us closer. Although JT made some boneheaded calls in this game, what he does best is use these types of games to build, form, and shape his team.

 

[Brutus1]

I'm still waiting for the part where you disagree. All I said was Nugent didn't singlehandedly win the game while everyone else stunk up the field. What you just said sounds quite a bit like that.

Well, thats good then. I thought maybe I was giving him more credit than you, but after re-reading your post, we reached the same conclusions.

Hope you're feeling better.

 

[Brutus1]

Another area we haven't touched on is that drive when we used no huddle with 4 or 5 wr. I never understood why we never went back to it much because Marshall had no clue what to do. Maybe that's something we'll use more in the future. It worked very well and JZ seemed rather comfortable running the O that way.

 

[Jaxbuck]

The no huddle spread attack is a good change up and I am glad we finally have the ability to run it effectively, but by no means is it something we want to run as a base offense.

 

[Jaxbuck]

I posted my feelingsand the stats on the "will ross break 1,000 yds" vcash thread but in a nutshell what you saw today is what you get from Ross. He's a career sub 4ypc back period. He lacks vision and burst.

Three different years, two different OL's and I don't even want to hear people seriously questioning a coaching staff thats 27-2 over the last 29 games. The common denominator in our running game woes is Ross.

That being said, he's a Buckeye, a leader, by all accounts a great kid, has given all he has and deserves our respect. I will cheer him till the last snap of 2004 and then, much like Bellisari I won't shed a tear when he's gone. He's giving his best, but his best is just average.

 

[bucknut11]

Tressel pointed out that the team gave up only 13 yards for 14 of the 21 total points. i guess they did better than most of us thought.

 

[HiFiver25]

JaxBuck,

I wholeheartedly agree with you on Ross. I tried to say as much, albeit phrased somewhat differently, under that other thread.

May I add a few words about the OL? I am seriously beginning to doubt whether we will ever have an OL good enough to create running room for less than a stud running back under the present S&C program. In 2002, we had five people on the OL who were in their fourth year. We did do quite well but that was solely due to a phenomanal freshman TB. All other TBs had a mediocre showing. In 2003, we heard that they would get better now that it was their fifth year. But in reality, their ability to create holes for RBs actually deteriorated. So then we heard everything will be different in 2004 because then we would feature leaner and more athletic OL guys that were recruited by Tressel himself. I have not seen any of that at least for the first two games. In addition, these new-fangled OL was unable to dominate two undersized DLs, thus creating serious doubt how effective they would be against bigger DLs when we enter the conference phase of our schedule.

I hope I am wrong. But I don't want to spend every year desperately groping for rationale why our OL will be better the next year!

 

[scooter1369]

My MU Game Pics

This week, I got in in time to get front row center in section 39AA (south stands). Here we go....

Looking out to the RV lot from the west side of Fred Taylor Drive.

Red cups are in heavy use as the lot was full of undercover liquor agents. Holbrook must stopped.!!!! :teeth:

Future Buckeyeplanet.com members living it up. Note more red cups. :teeth:

Marshall's cheerleaders are ready and quite good looking I must say.

Robert Smith is in town and took in the game as only former players can.

Ramp entrance. Brutus takes center stage in the Block O.

Here come the Buckeyes!!!

Old Glory is lowered in honor of the third anniversary of 9/11 as the Troopers salute.

Jeff Hogan and Basketball Head Coach Thad Matta discuss nuclear fission and maybe a little sports.

H

Santonio Holmes takes the opening kick. Marshall would keep the ball away from Mo Hall all day. They watched game film.

Respecting the speed, the DB gives not a cushion, but a full body pillow to TG2.

De-fense!!! De-fense!!!

Go Bucks Go!! O-H-I-O

The crowd gathers around the replay officials after the fumble.

The cheerleaders celebrate a stop on third down.

Roy Hall scores on perfectly executed slant.

Brian Hartline is in good spirits and out of the wheelchair.

Lady Liberty makes an apperance at midfield during halftime.

The numbers at the bottom look good. The numbers in the upper left could use a lot of improvement.

Carmen Ohio. The teams gives an "O" and Dustin gives us "C" with his healthy paw.


I won't be making the trip to either of the up coming away games.

Go Bucks!!! Beat the Pack!!!

 

[Gamebreaker]

My Pictures from the Marshall Game from 22A

Here are my pics from 22A from the Marshall game. Some of the pictures are blurry because of the excitement after Nugents game winning FG.

Go to this link:

OSU Marshall Pics

 

[EdgeBuck]

Anyone with game tape?

I would much appreciate if someone could swing me a copy if they recorded it. Either pm or email if possible at [email protected]
Thanks a bunch.

 

[stxbuck]

I don't think it is the S&C program, at least under Al Johnson. When he was at WVU, the Mountainqueers consistently had big, strong, nasty OLs that included future NFL players. I'm sure he is using the same techniques on our guys that he used at WVU.