Rose Bowl Recap

[LordJeffBuck]

Don't forget Nebraska's 11-1 record and #3-ranking in 1993 (better than what they finished in 1996). If you include that year in their run, then from 1993-1997, they went a staggering 60-3. Absolutely mind-boggling...

That one loss in 1993 was to Florida State, 18-16, in the Orange Bowl. It was the last of the string of seven straight bowl losses.

LJB, great stuff. One correction: next season kicks off in 8 months, not 9.

One correction - Blount fumbled when down 19-17, so Oregon could not have gone up by 2 scores.

Both correct - I made the changes.

 

[Mike80]

1. Pryor played (mostly) within both himself and the offense. That was maturity showing through.

2. The defense easily could have played BETTER, as scary as that sounds.

3. Oregon might win the Pac 10 next year, but their passing game isn't up to snuff unless the players are WIDE open and the QB doesn't have anyone in his face.

4. Jake Ballard is a stud.

5. The over/under on how long ESPN will be complimentary of Ohio State is the middle of May. Anyone???\

I think we've seen this team turn the corner mentally. Outside of the Iowa game, this team had, at times, shown a surprising lack of toughness in the previous big games against Floriduh, Texas and LSU. This time they stepped up and executed when it mattered most. And it wasn't a group of seniors doing it, there are quite a few Sophs and Juniors who will still be around next year.

 

[ScriptOhio]

I haven't read through this thread, I don't have time but I just want to say that Ballard's catch was the play of the game, he answered an absolute prayer. If he doesn't catch that or it's intercepted the outcome of this game could've been much different. If they make a DVD of this season, if a still photo exists of him high in the air making that grab exists, it should be on the cover.

That could have been "the play of the entire season".

 

[buckeyebri]

The one thing that stood out to me the most last night was the offense's ability to take control of the ball at the end of the game, get some first downs and run out the clock.

I can't remember the last time the offense was able to do this in a game of this nature. It always seemed that we would go three running plays and out. Thereby putting the game squarely back on the defense.

I was just enthralled and ecstatic as they continued to run on obvious running plays and the Oline did what they needed to do to open up the holes.

 

[dav713]

I just want to say that Ballard's catch was the play of the game...if a still photo exists of him high in the air making that grab exists, it should be on the cover.

Look at the elevation

From ESPN:

 

[scarletngray]

Look at the elevation

From ESPN:

Look at the Oregon playa in the background. "YES, I got me a INT baby. Oh, crap........"

:osu:

 

[BuckFan38]

Just seen Rece Davis say

"Oregon was dominated by Ohio State although the score was unreflective there was no doubt who the dominate team was".

Which is absolutly true, if Tressel were less of a man we could have stomped right down the field and tacked on a TD, to make it 33-17, at the end of the game.
It was obvious at that point in the game Oregon could not stop us. However Tressel doesnt do style points and took knees.

 

[Zem]

I haven't read through this thread, I don't have time but I just want to say that Ballard's catch was the play of the game, he answered an absolute prayer. If he doesn't catch that or it's intercepted the outcome of this game could've been much different. If they make a DVD of this season, if a still photo exists of him high in the air making that grab exists, it should be on the cover.

Exactly what I thought at the time and still do, "play of the game." But I thought if Ballard had missed it, Sanz would have got it. He isn't in the photo but he's right there in the replay. Ohio State ends BCS struggles, captures first Rose Bowl win since '97 - NCAA College Football Recap - ESPN

So I think some folks are overestimating the riskiness, or at least the prayer factor, involved in that throw. The Bucks had two guys who could have caught it, the Ducks maybe had one.

 

[buckiprof]

10. Even though he took a huge step forward last night, Pryor is still prone to inconsistency. A perfect example was Ohio State's final touchdown drive, in which the Buckeyes took over possession at their own 19-yard line with 13:03 left in the game. Pryor got two first downs with an 11-yard run and an 11-yard pass to Dane Sanzenbacher. Then, with the ball near midfield, Pryor inexplicably began to unravel. On a first down pass play, he scrambled to the left and had room to run, but he was a bit indecisive, and his split-second delay cost him a two-yard sack. On second-and-12, Pryor slipped to the turf on an option play, losing another yard. Finally, on third-and-13, Pryor scrambled right, panicked, and made an ill-advised lob downfield.

Excellent, excellent write up LJB! "Media" outlets could learn so much from this site!

In reference to what I have in bold. I remember that play oh so well. As TP was scrambling his eyes were fixed down field, looking for a receiver. That is very nice to see, yet at the same time, if he broke out sprinting, he had plenty of green grass in front of him. TP already has the "looking down field" part down; when his game progresses to the point where he develops that "sense", (almost an instinct from experience if you will), that a defender is tracking him and he needs to tuck and run, he will be quite special indeed.

 

[DaveyBoy]

great write-up....wow

also...I was happy to see Pryor finally pitch the ball on the option to Saine. TP seems to want to keep it too long or not give it up at all. I think the threat of him actually pitching it will force teams to cover Saine and give TP more room up the middle.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

That one loss in 1993 was to Florida State, 18-16, in the Orange Bowl. It was the last of the string of seven straight bowl losses.

Oh sure, make your stance actually fit your original point, even though it was correct...

 

[IYE2]

I dont think I could ever get tired of reading your posts, great job.

And I have to add it felt pretty good catching some brakes yesterday opposed to how things have went the last couple yrs (and really even this yr vs SC).

 

[sandgk]

3. As I mentioned above, props to all of the BP staff who prepared the Rose Bowl preview that currently appears on our front page. But special props to DaddyBigBucks (DBB) and his Differential Statistical Analysis (DSA). Now don't ask me to explain the math behind the DSA, but just look at the results: using his DSA, which "compares each team's results on both offense and defense to the average results of the other games played by their opponents," DBB predicted that Ohio State would score between 24 and 27 points, and that Oregon would score between 17 and 19 points. The actual score: Ohio State 26, Oregon 17. Now don't you wish you could see that kind of analysis on ESPN instead of some babbling buffoon bellowing about Pac 10 speed?

So true.

The DSA part of the Rose Bowl preview (Behind the Numbers) nailed down the scenario that blossomed in front of of our eyes - DBB nailed it.

 

[muffler dragon]

Maybe there was something to that argument that the Pac 10 teams play no defense ... or maybe that big "O" on the Ducks helmets stands for "Overrated".

To me, the use of "overrated" pisses on the quality of win. That's the only portion of your post that I'm not particularly keen on. Other than that, thank you for sharing.

I think we've seen this team turn the corner mentally. Outside of the Iowa game, this team had, at times, shown a surprising lack of toughness in the previous big games against Floriduh, Texas and LSU. This time they stepped up and executed when it mattered most. And it wasn't a group of seniors doing it, there are quite a few Sophs and Juniors who will still be around next year.

You bring up something that I recall thinking of during the game last night. It was refreshing (to me) to not see any stupid penalties like we had seen in the two NC games. There was no complaining by the players on any calls. They appeared to be courteous and mindful of the officials, and took everything in stride. The entire team exuded class last night. It was wonderful.

 

[OSUBeav]

Look at the elevation

From ESPN:

Eddie Pleasant is trying to make things a little "Un-Pleasant" for Mr. Ballard there... look at that left hand...