Realistically: What can we take from today's game?

[ArtilleryBuck]

We can take a "W" from today's game. That's good enough for me. I didn't see the game, but did listen to it on the computer. From everything I heard, I believe those guys earned another start. It would really surprise me if Justin and Lydell started next week. But, I've been surprised before. Penn State should provide a tougher challenge for our young offense. Should be a fun game.

 

[Folanator]

Agreed. I still would like to see DA as an end to see if he could get any pressure on the QB. We need help there.

Good point about Kudla. Forgot about him. He did a nice job today.

someone above mentioned "the boar hunter".......i am sorry that dandrea is injured.....

but schlegal is a major, major, major upgrade as the mike.....

 

[Clarity]

All good ones, to a last. My only addition is that Teddy is awesome now. He just figures to improve on 'awesome' with time.

I'll take out that Anthony Shlagel (sp) is getting better and better every game. He did very well.

I'll take out that who ever they put on the D line in the last series GOT A PUSH! They need to play more because our D line is average at best right now.

I'll take out that Pittman is better but I am not sure he is going to lead us to the promise land. Maybe, maybe not.

I'll take out that Troy stayed in the pocket, followed JT's rules and deserves to start until he does otherwise.

I'll take out that Touchdown Teddy will be awsome some day.

I'll still remember that hit by Salley. He stepped up today.

 

[Sdgobucks]

We can take away from this game that the backups at QB and RB played better than their counter parts did at NW, however it was still IU. I agree that they both deserve the start and most of the playing time until they prove otherwise. The most important thing to take away from this game is that IU still sucks, and they are still the worst team in the big ten.

 

[wdg01]

I saw a lot of things that I liked today. The defense was flying to the ball for the first time in several games. It looked like we mixed up the coverages as well. I didn't pay too much attention to the offensive line, but they seemed to attack right away. Did anyone see a sidestep they they were doing in the past? Pittman is the best rb we have this year. Smith looks good, hit a lot of 3rd down passes, went through his progressions nicely. Overall good game...lets see how they do against Penn St.

 

[SanClementeBuck]

Of all today's stories, Pittman is the most significant one.

Our still-learning QBs will sort out between now and next fall.

Ginn is a given.

More Freshman playing is a big step for next year's performance.

If this game allows us to grow and retain team respect, the remaining season will be much better than first 6 games.

All of these are wishes, of course.

 

[BuckBackHome]

Things I liked:

* Taking advantage of missed tackles and opportunities by Indiana. RB's bouncing to the outside when the holes were not there and also them fighting for the extra yards.

* Players beginning to play up to their hype.

* NUGE!

* Hawk not having to appear to be the only guy making plays. Everyone seemed to be chipping in today.

* Coaches not afraid to shake things up a bit and burn some redshirts. Helps performance on the field and in recruiting.

* Beating a team soundly we were supposed to beat.

* Defense seemed to make better adjustments.

* Ginn breaking tackles and making crazy moves. Glad to know he is more than just a burner.

* Zip on the ball. Some of the long ones were a bit too long, but they all had some mustard on them. (Sidenote - TS may have to let up a bit, but that touch will come with experience)

* TS did not put up the perfect score, but he played Tressel-ball - Minimize mistakes on the offensive side. Great decision making by TS.

* Finally saw some intensity and emotion.

Things I Did Not Like:

* Dumb penalties.

* More touches to Ginn. I keep waiting for a reverse as his speed is written all over that play. Glad to see Holmes with one, but Ginn needs some.

* Too many missed tackles by the D. I am still spoiled from the last two years and how those defenses never gave up unnecessary yards.

* Still want more dominant lines. It all starts there, on both sides of the ball. Better performance today and hopefully signs of improvement for the future.

 

[OSUsushichic]

Did Freeman see any time at LB?

 

[StoRMinBrutus]

A big thing taken from this game was that Troy Smith didn't get antsy and he used his feet to scramble in the pocket; all the while looking downfield for an open receiver. He wasn't trying to do too much by himself. When he did run, it was when there weren't any open receivers downfield at all, and/or on a designed play with some success.

Another good thing taken today from this team as a whole was that they all looked more excited and emotional and they weren't worried about making mistakes. They were just flying around trying to knock the piss out of people. The Offensive line and the Defense especially seemed to be playing with a little more emotion.

Another good thing taken was that Fullback D. Johnson got some playing time. Whew he looks like he is going to hurt a few defensive players coming threw the line in the near future.

Bobby Carpenter stepped it up and put his tackling where his mouth was and showed alot of emotion as well as tackling, interceptions and sacks.

 

[NJ-Buckeye]

I'm not sure if the O-line played better.. or if Smith made it look like they were better because of his scrambling skills... similar for Pitman... again, not sure if it was the line or Pitmans ability to scramble... his relentlessness was a vast difference to Ross...

There definitely looked like there was more emotion... everywhere...

Maybe Schlagel is getting more comfortable.. because he looked much better today... IMO DeAndrea made the defense better... and fits better... but Schlagel looked very good today...

Overall, it appeared to me to be more like sandlot... but that just may be the type of talent that is there.. so if that works.. so be it... play to their strengths...

Just glad to beat someone we should beat... and the positive impact it should have on these fellas...

And my Fall Ball Babe Ruth Baseball team made it to the championship game tomorrow... so it was a helluva good Saturday...

 

[StoRMinBrutus]

didn't say the O-line did Awesome, just more emotional. They have a long way to go before I'd call them a great Offensive line.

 

[Jaxbuck]

Just rewatched the game on Tivo twice and what I take away from that game is that I'll believe they are better when they do it to someone other than IU.

What I saw were plays completely stuffed at LOS turned into big runs due to missed tackles and lack of speed/athleticisim of IU.

Its the same shit Ross has done to them his whole career. When Mo Hall does his usual colonoscopy of the OL and still bounces it outside for a gain you know you are playing a team with inferior athletic ability. Who else has he ever done that against?

-Troy Smith is still required to do the 7 step drop and spin before looking down field we have seen the past 4 years. A good defense will sack him. A good defense probably turns at least one of his two near INT's into a TD the other way. Zwick looked good against UC and Marshall too, IU is probably worse than both.

-The OL couldn't push the IU defense around, we have a serious problem.

-Still a lot of missed tackles and bad angles on defense. Also a continuation of the "no pass rush, soft man coverage behind it" theme on 3rd and long. Even IU was able to hurt us with the WR screen.

-Kick coverage is still weaker than well water.

All in all, I'm happy with a W at this point but considering how bad IU is and that it was only 23-7 untill 5 minutes left in the game, color me unimpressed.

Sorry to be so negative but I just have to get this off my chest, this team is terrible.

 

[KillerNut]

Jax hit it on the head. Not to break up the lovefest, or frustrate those who are happy with the win. I am happy with the win, but this is just a case of how bad Indiana is more than a show of improvement by Ohio State.

I said this on another thread, but if you looked at what Ohio State did vs. IU and what Penn State did vs. Iowa I would say the better performance was PSU even though they lost the game. If we play as well as we did yesterday, Penn State will give us a rough time.

The QB play was less than average, the RB play was okay, the defense played well enough. But that was against Indiana

Troy would have had at least one pick had we not been playing Indiana. The passes he completed Zwick would have gotten Boos over because they were overthrown, in the dirt, or behind the reciever.

Just not a very good performance

 

[Saw31]

When Mo Hall does his usual colonoscopy of the OL....

Bad visuals on that one.

 

[LloydSev]

I have 1 comparison stat.. I'm not for Zwick, and I'm not for Smith. I'm for Ohio State. But keep this stat in mind..

Justin Zwick has a 50% completion rate.
Troy Smith had a 50% completion rate against Indiana.

So, it is almost hard to say that Smith performed better, besides his few scrambles. The running game was totally better. Was that because of Smith? Or because of Indiana? After the last 2 years of Ross running well against them, it's hard to say it's not because of Indiana.