t_BuckeyeScott
Hall of Fame
So I woke up this morning and Though "Only 5 more days until The Game". Here I am at 1:00 pm CST and there's still 5 more days. Damn it.
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i was watching the NW game at my dad's house and one of the neighbors stopped by and said he was nervous about THE Game - when asked why - what about _ichigan is so good, he just froze.
my question to anyone that doesnt think the buckeyes will win is what can _ichigan do that we can't stop and what can they stop that we do?
my question to anyone that doesnt think the buckeyes will win is what can _ichigan do that we can't stop and what can they stop that we do?
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ESPN
Wolverines finally can focus on Ohio State
By Ivan Maisel
ESPN.com
Archive
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Linebacker David Harris didn't admit to it. Cornerback Leon Hall gave the company line. Wide receiver Steve Breaston wouldn't confess. Michigan coach Lloyd Carr almost gave it up.
Someone asked whether, before No. 2 Michigan completed its 34-3 rout of Indiana, the coach's thoughts veered toward No. 1 Ohio State and the showdown of undefeateds next Saturday.
"I don't think I'd talk about that if it happened," Carr said, a grin stealing upon his lined face.
"There was a time in there when we were able to begin to substitute that, uh, um, yeah, there are some thoughts that -- they're there and you try to get rid of them," Carr said.
Say it, Lloyd. Say it!
Leave it to junior tailback Mike Hart, with his 100-watt grin and a tongue nearly as fast as his feet, to say the obvious.
Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Mike Hart and Michigan can turn their attention to the top-ranked Buckeyes.
"Of course you're thinking about it," said Hart, who gained 92 yards on 19 carries, only one of them after halftime. "Probably when we got up 28 points. I wasn't sitting there talking about O-State, but you're happy. You're thinking about it."
As the Wolverines trotted off the field Saturday evening, their fans in the northeast corner of Memorial Stadium chanted, "Beat the Buckeyes! Beat the Buckeyes!" The players responded with raised helmets. They held their confidence high, too.
A week after a lackluster 34-26 defeat of Ball State, the Wolverines had something to prove to themselves. They left the locker room at full speed on both sides of the ball.
? The offense took the opening kickoff and drove 10 plays for a touchdown.
? The defense held the Hoosiers to a three-and-out for minus-8 yards.
? The offense drove 11 plays for a touchdown.
? The defense held the Hoosiers to a three-and-out for minus-1 yard.
Michigan scored on long drives. Michigan scored on a big play, a 62-yard pass from Chad Henne to Breaston. Michigan scored on special teams, an 83-yard punt return by Breaston. Both are career highs for the senior.
The defense didn't score, but it also didn't let Indiana inside the Wolverines 20-yard-line. That's not unusual. In Michigan's 11 games, opponents have reached the red zone only 17 times.
Indiana had a victory of sorts for a little while. The Hoosiers rushed for 33 yards in the first half, nearly 3 more than the Wolverines' average of 30.3 rushing yards allowed. Alas, Indiana had minus-7 yards rushing in the second half and finished with 26 yards on the ground. Michigan's average lowered to 30.0.
In so many ways, the victory over Indiana provided ideal preparation for Ohio State. Wide receiver Mario Manningham caught his first pass in five weeks. The Michigan defense got a game's worth of work against a Troy Smith-like quarterback. Kellen Lewis tried to scramble, but the Wolverines sacked him five times and hurried him so often that his longest completion gained 12 yards.
In other words, not to worry, Michigan fans. Your team begins The Week in great shape.
Wolverines finally can focus on Ohio State
By Ivan Maisel
ESPN.com
Archive
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Linebacker David Harris didn't admit to it. Cornerback Leon Hall gave the company line. Wide receiver Steve Breaston wouldn't confess. Michigan coach Lloyd Carr almost gave it up.
Someone asked whether, before No. 2 Michigan completed its 34-3 rout of Indiana, the coach's thoughts veered toward No. 1 Ohio State and the showdown of undefeateds next Saturday.
"I don't think I'd talk about that if it happened," Carr said, a grin stealing upon his lined face.
"There was a time in there when we were able to begin to substitute that, uh, um, yeah, there are some thoughts that -- they're there and you try to get rid of them," Carr said.
Say it, Lloyd. Say it!
Leave it to junior tailback Mike Hart, with his 100-watt grin and a tongue nearly as fast as his feet, to say the obvious.
Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Mike Hart and Michigan can turn their attention to the top-ranked Buckeyes.
"Of course you're thinking about it," said Hart, who gained 92 yards on 19 carries, only one of them after halftime. "Probably when we got up 28 points. I wasn't sitting there talking about O-State, but you're happy. You're thinking about it."
As the Wolverines trotted off the field Saturday evening, their fans in the northeast corner of Memorial Stadium chanted, "Beat the Buckeyes! Beat the Buckeyes!" The players responded with raised helmets. They held their confidence high, too.
A week after a lackluster 34-26 defeat of Ball State, the Wolverines had something to prove to themselves. They left the locker room at full speed on both sides of the ball.
? The offense took the opening kickoff and drove 10 plays for a touchdown.
? The defense held the Hoosiers to a three-and-out for minus-8 yards.
? The offense drove 11 plays for a touchdown.
? The defense held the Hoosiers to a three-and-out for minus-1 yard.
Michigan scored on long drives. Michigan scored on a big play, a 62-yard pass from Chad Henne to Breaston. Michigan scored on special teams, an 83-yard punt return by Breaston. Both are career highs for the senior.
The defense didn't score, but it also didn't let Indiana inside the Wolverines 20-yard-line. That's not unusual. In Michigan's 11 games, opponents have reached the red zone only 17 times.
Indiana had a victory of sorts for a little while. The Hoosiers rushed for 33 yards in the first half, nearly 3 more than the Wolverines' average of 30.3 rushing yards allowed. Alas, Indiana had minus-7 yards rushing in the second half and finished with 26 yards on the ground. Michigan's average lowered to 30.0.
In so many ways, the victory over Indiana provided ideal preparation for Ohio State. Wide receiver Mario Manningham caught his first pass in five weeks. The Michigan defense got a game's worth of work against a Troy Smith-like quarterback. Kellen Lewis tried to scramble, but the Wolverines sacked him five times and hurried him so often that his longest completion gained 12 yards.
In other words, not to worry, Michigan fans. Your team begins The Week in great shape.
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ESPN
Nothing stands between Ohio State and Michigan
By David Albright
ESPN.com
EVANSTON, Ill. -- The Bucknuts got their money's worth.
More than 20,000 scarlet-clad Ohio State fans invaded Chicago's North Shore in part because it's infinitely easier to find a ticket at Ryan Field (capacity: 47,130) than it is to find one at Ohio Stadium (102,329).
The other reason: a chance to see the No. 1-ranked Buckeyes in their final tune-up before next Saturday's regular-season finale against No. 2 Michigan (ABC, 3:30 p.m. ET).
And thanks to three first-quarter Wildcats turnovers that quickly were converted to three touchdowns, Ohio State rolled to a 54-10 win over Northwestern.
In addition to a complete recovery from the hangover that followed a 17-10 win at Illinois on Nov. 4, Ohio State now can turn its complete attention to Michigan -- which won 34-3 at Indiana.
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Troy Smith had no problems Saturday with a thumb injury.
The 103rd meeting -- and most important in decades -- between the Buckeyes (11-0) and the Wolverines (11-0) is now fair game to discuss because it's finally the next one of the schedule.
Let the countdown to Columbus -- and the accompanying cacophony of hype -- begin.
"The Ohio State-Michigan game is always the biggest game," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. "It doesn't matter what the records are or what's on the table for the outcome. The fact that it's 1 vs. 2, we think that's the way it should be.
"This is the Ohio State-Michigan game. It really isn't about the BCS or anything else. It's about the Big Ten Conference and playing against your rival."
The good news for the Buckeyes is that they will enter The Game with a lot of momentum.
Heisman front-runner Troy Smith, who earlier in the week admitted to playing with an injured thumb on his throwing hand, showed no ill effects and tied a career high by throwing four touchdowns (to three receivers) on 12-of-19 passing for 185 yards.
"This is the Ohio State-Michigan game. It really isn't about the BCS or anything else. It's about the Big Ten Conference and playing against your rival." -- Ohio State coach Jim Tressel
In addition to reliable outlets Ted Ginn Jr. (2-40, 1 TD) and Anthony Gonzalez (2-34, 1 TD), Smith (24-2 as a starter) also found Brian Hartline (3-47) for the first two TDs of the freshman's career.
Ohio State also put up 231 rushing yards, led by Chris Wells (99 yards, 1 TD) and Antonio Pittman (80 yards, 1 TD), who went over the 1,000-yard mark for the second straight season -- the first Buckeye to do that since Eddie George in 1994-95.
"It just shows you how many weapons we have on this offense," Pittman said. "There's so many guys who deserve the ball, but there's only one football and you have to wait your turn."
The better news for Tressel and his staff is that there is still plenty to work on this week, so that should help to keep the players' attention.
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Antonio Pittman went over the 1,000-yard mark for the second straight season Saturday.
"Obviously, we turned it over a couple of times, which we've got to straighten out," Tressel said. "That can't happen next week."
And the Buckeyes' defense, which came in giving up just 258 yards a game, surrendered 235 to Northwestern in the first half.
But it's hard to complain too much about a defense that came up with five turnovers.
"It was real hard for us to not look forward," said strong safety Brandon Mitchell, who picked off a C.J. Bacher pass in the first quarter and returned it 46 yards for a TD to give the Buckeyes that 21-0 lead. "We all know the importance of this game, and we know it's the biggest game that probably anyone on the team will ever play in -- at least we're going to approach it that way."
"It's called The Game for a reason," center Doug Datish said. "It's a privilege and an honor to be able to play in that game. It's going to be everything that it's made up to be and everything that's going to be talked about."
Game on.
Nothing stands between Ohio State and Michigan
By David Albright
ESPN.com
EVANSTON, Ill. -- The Bucknuts got their money's worth.
More than 20,000 scarlet-clad Ohio State fans invaded Chicago's North Shore in part because it's infinitely easier to find a ticket at Ryan Field (capacity: 47,130) than it is to find one at Ohio Stadium (102,329).
The other reason: a chance to see the No. 1-ranked Buckeyes in their final tune-up before next Saturday's regular-season finale against No. 2 Michigan (ABC, 3:30 p.m. ET).
And thanks to three first-quarter Wildcats turnovers that quickly were converted to three touchdowns, Ohio State rolled to a 54-10 win over Northwestern.
In addition to a complete recovery from the hangover that followed a 17-10 win at Illinois on Nov. 4, Ohio State now can turn its complete attention to Michigan -- which won 34-3 at Indiana.
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Troy Smith had no problems Saturday with a thumb injury.
The 103rd meeting -- and most important in decades -- between the Buckeyes (11-0) and the Wolverines (11-0) is now fair game to discuss because it's finally the next one of the schedule.
Let the countdown to Columbus -- and the accompanying cacophony of hype -- begin.
"The Ohio State-Michigan game is always the biggest game," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. "It doesn't matter what the records are or what's on the table for the outcome. The fact that it's 1 vs. 2, we think that's the way it should be.
"This is the Ohio State-Michigan game. It really isn't about the BCS or anything else. It's about the Big Ten Conference and playing against your rival."
The good news for the Buckeyes is that they will enter The Game with a lot of momentum.
Heisman front-runner Troy Smith, who earlier in the week admitted to playing with an injured thumb on his throwing hand, showed no ill effects and tied a career high by throwing four touchdowns (to three receivers) on 12-of-19 passing for 185 yards.
"This is the Ohio State-Michigan game. It really isn't about the BCS or anything else. It's about the Big Ten Conference and playing against your rival." -- Ohio State coach Jim Tressel
In addition to reliable outlets Ted Ginn Jr. (2-40, 1 TD) and Anthony Gonzalez (2-34, 1 TD), Smith (24-2 as a starter) also found Brian Hartline (3-47) for the first two TDs of the freshman's career.
Ohio State also put up 231 rushing yards, led by Chris Wells (99 yards, 1 TD) and Antonio Pittman (80 yards, 1 TD), who went over the 1,000-yard mark for the second straight season -- the first Buckeye to do that since Eddie George in 1994-95.
"It just shows you how many weapons we have on this offense," Pittman said. "There's so many guys who deserve the ball, but there's only one football and you have to wait your turn."
The better news for Tressel and his staff is that there is still plenty to work on this week, so that should help to keep the players' attention.
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Antonio Pittman went over the 1,000-yard mark for the second straight season Saturday.
"Obviously, we turned it over a couple of times, which we've got to straighten out," Tressel said. "That can't happen next week."
And the Buckeyes' defense, which came in giving up just 258 yards a game, surrendered 235 to Northwestern in the first half.
But it's hard to complain too much about a defense that came up with five turnovers.
"It was real hard for us to not look forward," said strong safety Brandon Mitchell, who picked off a C.J. Bacher pass in the first quarter and returned it 46 yards for a TD to give the Buckeyes that 21-0 lead. "We all know the importance of this game, and we know it's the biggest game that probably anyone on the team will ever play in -- at least we're going to approach it that way."
"It's called The Game for a reason," center Doug Datish said. "It's a privilege and an honor to be able to play in that game. It's going to be everything that it's made up to be and everything that's going to be talked about."
Game on.
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SI
State of Michigan
Steady Wolverines bring it with businesslike approach
Posted: Monday November 13, 2006 11:26AM; Updated: Monday November 13, 2006 11:38AM
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- As the Michigan Wolverines walked off the field at Indiana's Memorial Stadium last Saturday following their rousing 34-3 victory over the Hoosiers, the shivering pocket of Wolverines fans seated nearest to the exit quickly reminded their team what's next, chanting "Beat the Buckeyes (clap, clap, clap-clap-clap). Beat the Buckeyes ..."
Several of the players acknowledged them with a wave, but they weren't exactly jumping with joy. Michigan got to 11-0 in large part due to its businesslike attitude, and the Wolverines weren't about to change even with the Game of the Millennium now officially on deck.
"We just need to have a good week of practice," said linebacker David Harris.
No kidding. Running back Mike Hart's eyes lit up, however, when the first questioner in his postgame news conference asked him, point-blank, to "talk about O-State."
"It's going to be the biggest game in everyone's life," he said of Saturday's winner-take-all national-championship play-in. "I don't think you can have a bigger game."
No one better personifies these Wolverines than their junior tailback. No, he's not a Steve Slaton-type speedster who can break off an 80-yard run at any moment. He doesn't garner the same kind of admiration as an Adrian Peterson. He isn't shooting up draft lists like Darren McFadden.
What he is, however, is a model of consistency. Hart has rushed for at least 91 yards in every game this season. He's gotten between 19 and 31 carries in all 11 games, and he's averaged 124.8 yards in those games and he's scored a touchdown in all but three.
Not only does Michigan ride its star to success, but it also emulates his model. The scores haven't always been overwhelming, performances haven't always been flashy but, with the exception of one unnecessary scare against Ball State two weeks ago ("We were looking ahead to O-State that week," admitted Hart), you can't say Michigan hasn't gone out and taken care of business. Only two teams, Penn State and Ball State, have stayed within single-digits against them, and Saturday's Indiana win marked the eighth time the Wolverines have held a foe to two touchdowns or less.
"To be in this position -- they've earned it," said head coach Lloyd Carr. "Going back to January, this has been an extremely motivated group of people."
Hart is one guy who figures to be particularly motivated against Ohio State. By any measure, the junior has been extremely successful in his three years at Michigan -- a 28-8 record, 18 100-yard games, 24 touchdowns -- but he's thus far he has been stymied in his appearances against the Buckeyes, both of them heartbreaking losses. As a freshman, he managed just 61 yards on 18 carries in Columbus. Nursing an ankle injury, he carried just nine times for 15 yards a year ago.
"I don't even care about all that," he insisted.
Maybe so, but if Michigan hopes to keep its perfect record in tact, it will need a vintage Hart performance on Saturday. Because the nation's most consistent team can't expect to stay that way without a big game from its most consistent player.
Here's a breakdown of Michigan heading into Saturday's showdown:
WHAT'S CLICKING: The defense. The Wolverines have been suffocating opposing offenses all season, so all those uncharacteristic mistakes against Ball State didn't sit well. Michigan went into Bloomington last weekend looking to make amends, and it did, holding the offensively potent Hoosiers to just 131 total yards. Indiana's opening series was emblematic of the game. QB Kellen Lewis tried to go deep to Jahkeen Gilmore on the first snap, but likely All-America CB Leon Hall was there to break it up. Chased on the next play, Lewis threw it away. And on third down, another likely All-America, DT Alan Branch, sacked Lewis for a 6-yard loss.
Michigan's D is stacked from front to back, but its success starts with a dominating front line (ends LaMarr Woodley, Rondell Biggs and Tim Jamison, tackles Branch and Terrance Taylor and hybrid LB Shawn Crable). Lewis, Indiana's freshman sensation, is extremely quick on his feet, but even he couldn't elude the Wolverines' pass-rushers but for a few plays.
"They've been telling us how good [Michigan's front seven] are, but until you get on the field between the lines with them, you really realize that's the case," said Indiana coach Terry Hoeppner.
That front seven makes Michigan better equipped than any team in the country -- and certainly better suited than they were the past two years -- to contain Ohio State star QB Troy Smith.
PRIMARY CONCERN: Mario Manningham's health. Michigan's star receiver, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery following the Michigan State game on Oct. 7, returned to the starting lineup for the first time against Indiana and caught his first two passes (for 11 yards) since before the injury. "I told him it's about time he caught a ball," joked Carr. The state of Manningham's health has been kept under strict wraps, but Carr said he expects the receiver "will be at full speed as we go into this week."
Just having their big-play threat on the field clearly opened up the Wolverines' previously struggling offense against Indiana. Early in the second quarter, quarterback Chad Henne stared down Manningham as he streaked down the left sideline, goading the Hoosiers' safeties, then turned and fired a 62-yard strike to Steve Breaston down the other sideline. "The safeties have to worry about him," said Hart. "They can't come into the box to get me." Still, it would greatly benefit Michigan if they can use the sophomore -- who had nine touchdowns of 20 or more yards in his first six games -- as more than just a decoy.
X-FACTOR: Breaston. Despite the fact he'd never eclipsed even 500 receiving yards in any of his first three seasons, Michigan's senior receiver entered this year on the watch lists for the Biletnikoff, Maxwell and Walter Camp awards. Because of his supreme playmaking abilities as a return man, it was always assumed he would eventually emerge as the Wolverines' go-to receiver, but it never happened, not even in his first 10 games this season.
Last weekend, however, Breaston finally channeled the sophomore version of himself, that budding star who once posted 315 all-purpose yards in the Rose Bowl. He scored his first two touchdowns of the season, one on the 62-yard catch from Henne, the other on an electrifying 83-yard punt return. Michigan already had no shortage of weapons at its disposal, but there's no question they're a more dangerous team when Breaston makes his presence felt. "I like Steve Breaston," said Carr. "I think he's a had a great year all year, doing some things that maybe aren't appreciated." Another touchdown or two against the Buckeyes would certainly be appreciated.
MOMENTUM METER: Coming off the unnecessarily close call against Ball State and sluggish offensive outputs against Penn State, Iowa and Northwestern before that, the Indiana game was exactly the kind of confidence-builder Michigan needed headed into the Ohio State game. The Wolverines had a nearly flawless performance in all three areas of the game. "Some of the mistakes we made against Ball State proved to be very helpful to us because they really focused us," said Carr. "We came into the game with great intensity."
Carr doesn't have to worry about intensity this week. The Wolverines will certainly bring their "A game" to Columbus -- the question is will it be enough. Michigan's defense has yet to exhibit the slightest sign of weakness, but Smith, Ted Ginn Jr., Antonio Pittman and Anthony Gonzalez will be the most athletic group they've faced. And while Michigan's offense isn't meant to be flashy, it is slightly alarming that Henne hasn't thrown for 200 yards just once in his past six games. Overall, however, this is without question the most complete Michigan team since that 1997 squad which won the national championship.
To get a shot at another one, the Wolverines will need a consistent, businesslike effort.
State of Michigan
Steady Wolverines bring it with businesslike approach
Posted: Monday November 13, 2006 11:26AM; Updated: Monday November 13, 2006 11:38AM
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- As the Michigan Wolverines walked off the field at Indiana's Memorial Stadium last Saturday following their rousing 34-3 victory over the Hoosiers, the shivering pocket of Wolverines fans seated nearest to the exit quickly reminded their team what's next, chanting "Beat the Buckeyes (clap, clap, clap-clap-clap). Beat the Buckeyes ..."
Several of the players acknowledged them with a wave, but they weren't exactly jumping with joy. Michigan got to 11-0 in large part due to its businesslike attitude, and the Wolverines weren't about to change even with the Game of the Millennium now officially on deck.
"We just need to have a good week of practice," said linebacker David Harris.
No kidding. Running back Mike Hart's eyes lit up, however, when the first questioner in his postgame news conference asked him, point-blank, to "talk about O-State."
"It's going to be the biggest game in everyone's life," he said of Saturday's winner-take-all national-championship play-in. "I don't think you can have a bigger game."
No one better personifies these Wolverines than their junior tailback. No, he's not a Steve Slaton-type speedster who can break off an 80-yard run at any moment. He doesn't garner the same kind of admiration as an Adrian Peterson. He isn't shooting up draft lists like Darren McFadden.
What he is, however, is a model of consistency. Hart has rushed for at least 91 yards in every game this season. He's gotten between 19 and 31 carries in all 11 games, and he's averaged 124.8 yards in those games and he's scored a touchdown in all but three.
Not only does Michigan ride its star to success, but it also emulates his model. The scores haven't always been overwhelming, performances haven't always been flashy but, with the exception of one unnecessary scare against Ball State two weeks ago ("We were looking ahead to O-State that week," admitted Hart), you can't say Michigan hasn't gone out and taken care of business. Only two teams, Penn State and Ball State, have stayed within single-digits against them, and Saturday's Indiana win marked the eighth time the Wolverines have held a foe to two touchdowns or less.
"To be in this position -- they've earned it," said head coach Lloyd Carr. "Going back to January, this has been an extremely motivated group of people."
Hart is one guy who figures to be particularly motivated against Ohio State. By any measure, the junior has been extremely successful in his three years at Michigan -- a 28-8 record, 18 100-yard games, 24 touchdowns -- but he's thus far he has been stymied in his appearances against the Buckeyes, both of them heartbreaking losses. As a freshman, he managed just 61 yards on 18 carries in Columbus. Nursing an ankle injury, he carried just nine times for 15 yards a year ago.
"I don't even care about all that," he insisted.
Maybe so, but if Michigan hopes to keep its perfect record in tact, it will need a vintage Hart performance on Saturday. Because the nation's most consistent team can't expect to stay that way without a big game from its most consistent player.
Here's a breakdown of Michigan heading into Saturday's showdown:
WHAT'S CLICKING: The defense. The Wolverines have been suffocating opposing offenses all season, so all those uncharacteristic mistakes against Ball State didn't sit well. Michigan went into Bloomington last weekend looking to make amends, and it did, holding the offensively potent Hoosiers to just 131 total yards. Indiana's opening series was emblematic of the game. QB Kellen Lewis tried to go deep to Jahkeen Gilmore on the first snap, but likely All-America CB Leon Hall was there to break it up. Chased on the next play, Lewis threw it away. And on third down, another likely All-America, DT Alan Branch, sacked Lewis for a 6-yard loss.
Michigan's D is stacked from front to back, but its success starts with a dominating front line (ends LaMarr Woodley, Rondell Biggs and Tim Jamison, tackles Branch and Terrance Taylor and hybrid LB Shawn Crable). Lewis, Indiana's freshman sensation, is extremely quick on his feet, but even he couldn't elude the Wolverines' pass-rushers but for a few plays.
"They've been telling us how good [Michigan's front seven] are, but until you get on the field between the lines with them, you really realize that's the case," said Indiana coach Terry Hoeppner.
That front seven makes Michigan better equipped than any team in the country -- and certainly better suited than they were the past two years -- to contain Ohio State star QB Troy Smith.
PRIMARY CONCERN: Mario Manningham's health. Michigan's star receiver, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery following the Michigan State game on Oct. 7, returned to the starting lineup for the first time against Indiana and caught his first two passes (for 11 yards) since before the injury. "I told him it's about time he caught a ball," joked Carr. The state of Manningham's health has been kept under strict wraps, but Carr said he expects the receiver "will be at full speed as we go into this week."
Just having their big-play threat on the field clearly opened up the Wolverines' previously struggling offense against Indiana. Early in the second quarter, quarterback Chad Henne stared down Manningham as he streaked down the left sideline, goading the Hoosiers' safeties, then turned and fired a 62-yard strike to Steve Breaston down the other sideline. "The safeties have to worry about him," said Hart. "They can't come into the box to get me." Still, it would greatly benefit Michigan if they can use the sophomore -- who had nine touchdowns of 20 or more yards in his first six games -- as more than just a decoy.
X-FACTOR: Breaston. Despite the fact he'd never eclipsed even 500 receiving yards in any of his first three seasons, Michigan's senior receiver entered this year on the watch lists for the Biletnikoff, Maxwell and Walter Camp awards. Because of his supreme playmaking abilities as a return man, it was always assumed he would eventually emerge as the Wolverines' go-to receiver, but it never happened, not even in his first 10 games this season.
Last weekend, however, Breaston finally channeled the sophomore version of himself, that budding star who once posted 315 all-purpose yards in the Rose Bowl. He scored his first two touchdowns of the season, one on the 62-yard catch from Henne, the other on an electrifying 83-yard punt return. Michigan already had no shortage of weapons at its disposal, but there's no question they're a more dangerous team when Breaston makes his presence felt. "I like Steve Breaston," said Carr. "I think he's a had a great year all year, doing some things that maybe aren't appreciated." Another touchdown or two against the Buckeyes would certainly be appreciated.
MOMENTUM METER: Coming off the unnecessarily close call against Ball State and sluggish offensive outputs against Penn State, Iowa and Northwestern before that, the Indiana game was exactly the kind of confidence-builder Michigan needed headed into the Ohio State game. The Wolverines had a nearly flawless performance in all three areas of the game. "Some of the mistakes we made against Ball State proved to be very helpful to us because they really focused us," said Carr. "We came into the game with great intensity."
Carr doesn't have to worry about intensity this week. The Wolverines will certainly bring their "A game" to Columbus -- the question is will it be enough. Michigan's defense has yet to exhibit the slightest sign of weakness, but Smith, Ted Ginn Jr., Antonio Pittman and Anthony Gonzalez will be the most athletic group they've faced. And while Michigan's offense isn't meant to be flashy, it is slightly alarming that Henne hasn't thrown for 200 yards just once in his past six games. Overall, however, this is without question the most complete Michigan team since that 1997 squad which won the national championship.
To get a shot at another one, the Wolverines will need a consistent, businesslike effort.
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rocketman
flying low
iambrutus;660287; said:
I don't know why, but I'm still anxious and worried. I grew up during Cooper's tenure. 1988-2000 were my formitive years. Childhood memories of my beloved Buckeyes losing to TSUN over and over again...the pain runs deep for my generation. If we bitchslap Michigan on Saturday, any and all Cooper-Era conditioning will be forever banished from my psyche.
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SI
State of Ohio State
Smith, Buckeyes regain confidence, focus on Michigan
Posted: Monday November 13, 2006 11:15AM; Updated: Monday November 13, 2006 1:51PM
EVANSTON, Ill. -- He was bundled up almost beyond recognition, his head hidden under a white stocking cap, and his No. 10 jersey buried inside a long, Ohio State coat to keep out the Lake Michigan chill. And yet the lingering, Buckeye-dominated crowd had no trouble identifying Troy Smith when he emerged from the locker room following Buckeyes 54-10 rout of Northwestern on Saturday. Halting their chant of "One More Week" -- an ode to the epic, 1-vs.-2 duel that awaits in Columbus -- they serenaded him with "Heisman, Heisman," nearly drowning out his interview with ABC.
The previous two weeks, Smith hadn't looked like a Heisman candidate. He threw for a total of just one touchdown -- and one pick -- in those wins, a 44-0 rout of Minnesota and a much more troubling 17-10 squeaker over lowly Illinois. He had admitted to nursing a sore thumb on his throwing hand, and people were quietly wondering whether he was backing into the Nov. 18 Michigan game instead of peaking at the right time.
That was, until he dismantled the Wildcats. Smith completed his first four pass attempts Saturday to four different receivers, leading OSU on a pair of first-quarter touchdown drives. He finished with four touchdowns and one pick, 12 (of 19) completions spread between seven receivers, and 185 yards in three quarters. As much as Saturday was about beating Northwestern to improve to 11-0, it was more about re-awakening a struggling offense and setting the tone for the opponent everyone cares about: the Wolverines.
And this kind of performance? "It helped Troy out a lot," said Smith's best buddy, receiver Ted Ginn Jr. "It brought his composure back."
Composure is what has separated Smith from opponents on the biggest of stages. It's what helped him leave Texas in the dust back in September -- the last time he played a 1-vs.-2 game -- by throwing three touchdowns and no interceptions. It's what allowed him to have blockbuster games in the Buckeyes' past two, BCS-clinching wins over Michigan. It's what kept him calm in the pocket, checking off to little-used receivers like Brian Hartline (zero career touchdowns coming into Saturday) for two scores against Northwestern.
And it gives him the confidence to make Heisman-highlight-reel plays like the pass he threw with three seconds left in the first half on Saturday: a 34-yard, three-quarter-armed bomb to Ginn down the right sideline. Ginn, who only looked up at the last second, saw the ball fall into his arms for a touchdown, giving OSU a 33-10 lead. Smith, meanwhile, had a good excuse for missing its beautiful conclusion: "I was getting hit -- in the mouth."
Grill shots aside, the Northwestern game could not have gone better for the Buckeyes' offense. Smith helped them capitalize on all five of the Wildcats' turnovers, and is looking dangerous (and certainly not hampered by the thumb) heading into the biggest rivalry game of his life. He used his scrambling skills effectively, running twice to set up OSU's seventh touchdown midway through the third quarter, and only threw one pick, a bomb to Ginn that the wideout claims got caught up in the wind.
"I thought he was in charge the whole time," OSU coach Jim Tressel said of Smith. "Sometimes he looks like he ad-libs, but he's only ad-libbing because he knows what [the defense is] doing and he knows where to find someone."
The rest of the Buckeyes, meanwhile, are happy Smith is on their side. Defensive tackle David Patterson said, "I just enjoy getting to watch the best player in the country when I'm off the field." And center Doug Datish, before exiting Saturday's postgame press conference, gave Smith a startling slap on the behind. Smith turned away from the podium, raised his eyebrows, and laughed.
The Big Game -- the biggest one ever -- will soon be here. And life in Ohio State's camp is good. Here's a breakdown of Ohio State heading into Saturday's showdown.
WHAT'S CLICKING: The Buckeye Turnover-Forcing Machine. They entered the game ranked ninth in the nation in turnover margin, having scored 93 points off of takeaways, and got five against the Wildcats. They caused two of NU's fumbles (the third was dropped by quarterback C.J. Bacher), picked off two passes (including one which Brandon Mitchell took to the house) and also blocked a punt. Those five turnovers, plus the big special teams play, were converted into 42 of their 54 points.
"Our defense did a great job of putting the pressure on," said Tressel. "We always talk about having a relentless defense no matter what's happening. That's the way our defense is, they just keep coming after you, and eventually, they're going to put some pressure on you and cause something to happen."
PRIMARY CONCERN: The defense. The turnovers masked the fact that NU, which isn't exactly an offensive juggernaut this season, had plenty of success with Tyrell Sutton, who carried 12 times for 57 yards and had seven catches for 75 yards and a touchdown. At halftime Bacher had out-passed Smith 212 yards to 148.
"We moved the ball pretty well in the first half," said Bacher. "It might have been a whole different ballgame if we didn't turn the ball over."
NU wideout Shaun Herbert, who had four catches for 57 yards -- and was stripped by OSU linebacker James Laurinaitis for the game's first fumble -- had a more blunt assessment: "Northwestern beat Northwestern today."
Against a team that takes care of the ball, like, say, Michigan, can the Buckeyes count on their bend-before-stealing approach? The Wolverines are No. 1 in the Big Ten in turnover margin and have a running back in Mike Hart who simply does not fumble.
X-FACTOR: Chris "Beanie" Wells. Some wondered if the vaunted freshman running back would be phased out of the Buckeyes' rotation altogether due to his penchant for coughing up the ball. He lost his fourth fumble of the year in last week's win over Illinois and sat out the second half. But Wells exploded against the 'Cats on Saturday, running for 99 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries -- and didn't fumble. (First-string back Antonio Pittman, meanwhile, had 19 carries for 81 yards and a score.) "[Wells] is going to need to be a part of something big if we're going to be the best we can be," said Tressel. If Wells, who had been averaging just 41.2 yards per game coming into Saturday, stays hot against Michigan, he adds a scary second dimension to the Buckeyes' backfield.
MOMENTUM METER: Northwestern may have felt like it gave this game away -- coach Pat Fitzgerald said, "You can't gift-wrap it for them; Christmas isn't for a month and a half, and Merry Christmas" -- but the Buckeyes also turned in an impressive performance. They topped their previous high score (44, against both Indiana and Minnesota) by 10, and posted a season-high in takeaways. After the Illinois game, in which they played flat and conservative against one of the league's worst teams, Ohio State needed this.
"We came out and just tried to be perfect all across the board," said Ginn. "To jump off to that 21-0 start with the help of us and our D ... showed that we can play as hard as we can and just be unstoppable."
What comes next won't be as easy. But No. 2 Michigan is what everyone at Ohio State -- even if the Buckeyes, like Smith, claim to take the season "game by game" -- has been waiting for. And it has finally arrived. As one Buckeyes assistant remarked while running off of Ryan Field, "Now, the week begins."
State of Ohio State
Smith, Buckeyes regain confidence, focus on Michigan
Posted: Monday November 13, 2006 11:15AM; Updated: Monday November 13, 2006 1:51PM
EVANSTON, Ill. -- He was bundled up almost beyond recognition, his head hidden under a white stocking cap, and his No. 10 jersey buried inside a long, Ohio State coat to keep out the Lake Michigan chill. And yet the lingering, Buckeye-dominated crowd had no trouble identifying Troy Smith when he emerged from the locker room following Buckeyes 54-10 rout of Northwestern on Saturday. Halting their chant of "One More Week" -- an ode to the epic, 1-vs.-2 duel that awaits in Columbus -- they serenaded him with "Heisman, Heisman," nearly drowning out his interview with ABC.
The previous two weeks, Smith hadn't looked like a Heisman candidate. He threw for a total of just one touchdown -- and one pick -- in those wins, a 44-0 rout of Minnesota and a much more troubling 17-10 squeaker over lowly Illinois. He had admitted to nursing a sore thumb on his throwing hand, and people were quietly wondering whether he was backing into the Nov. 18 Michigan game instead of peaking at the right time.
That was, until he dismantled the Wildcats. Smith completed his first four pass attempts Saturday to four different receivers, leading OSU on a pair of first-quarter touchdown drives. He finished with four touchdowns and one pick, 12 (of 19) completions spread between seven receivers, and 185 yards in three quarters. As much as Saturday was about beating Northwestern to improve to 11-0, it was more about re-awakening a struggling offense and setting the tone for the opponent everyone cares about: the Wolverines.
And this kind of performance? "It helped Troy out a lot," said Smith's best buddy, receiver Ted Ginn Jr. "It brought his composure back."
Composure is what has separated Smith from opponents on the biggest of stages. It's what helped him leave Texas in the dust back in September -- the last time he played a 1-vs.-2 game -- by throwing three touchdowns and no interceptions. It's what allowed him to have blockbuster games in the Buckeyes' past two, BCS-clinching wins over Michigan. It's what kept him calm in the pocket, checking off to little-used receivers like Brian Hartline (zero career touchdowns coming into Saturday) for two scores against Northwestern.
And it gives him the confidence to make Heisman-highlight-reel plays like the pass he threw with three seconds left in the first half on Saturday: a 34-yard, three-quarter-armed bomb to Ginn down the right sideline. Ginn, who only looked up at the last second, saw the ball fall into his arms for a touchdown, giving OSU a 33-10 lead. Smith, meanwhile, had a good excuse for missing its beautiful conclusion: "I was getting hit -- in the mouth."
Grill shots aside, the Northwestern game could not have gone better for the Buckeyes' offense. Smith helped them capitalize on all five of the Wildcats' turnovers, and is looking dangerous (and certainly not hampered by the thumb) heading into the biggest rivalry game of his life. He used his scrambling skills effectively, running twice to set up OSU's seventh touchdown midway through the third quarter, and only threw one pick, a bomb to Ginn that the wideout claims got caught up in the wind.
"I thought he was in charge the whole time," OSU coach Jim Tressel said of Smith. "Sometimes he looks like he ad-libs, but he's only ad-libbing because he knows what [the defense is] doing and he knows where to find someone."
The rest of the Buckeyes, meanwhile, are happy Smith is on their side. Defensive tackle David Patterson said, "I just enjoy getting to watch the best player in the country when I'm off the field." And center Doug Datish, before exiting Saturday's postgame press conference, gave Smith a startling slap on the behind. Smith turned away from the podium, raised his eyebrows, and laughed.
The Big Game -- the biggest one ever -- will soon be here. And life in Ohio State's camp is good. Here's a breakdown of Ohio State heading into Saturday's showdown.
WHAT'S CLICKING: The Buckeye Turnover-Forcing Machine. They entered the game ranked ninth in the nation in turnover margin, having scored 93 points off of takeaways, and got five against the Wildcats. They caused two of NU's fumbles (the third was dropped by quarterback C.J. Bacher), picked off two passes (including one which Brandon Mitchell took to the house) and also blocked a punt. Those five turnovers, plus the big special teams play, were converted into 42 of their 54 points.
"Our defense did a great job of putting the pressure on," said Tressel. "We always talk about having a relentless defense no matter what's happening. That's the way our defense is, they just keep coming after you, and eventually, they're going to put some pressure on you and cause something to happen."
PRIMARY CONCERN: The defense. The turnovers masked the fact that NU, which isn't exactly an offensive juggernaut this season, had plenty of success with Tyrell Sutton, who carried 12 times for 57 yards and had seven catches for 75 yards and a touchdown. At halftime Bacher had out-passed Smith 212 yards to 148.
"We moved the ball pretty well in the first half," said Bacher. "It might have been a whole different ballgame if we didn't turn the ball over."
NU wideout Shaun Herbert, who had four catches for 57 yards -- and was stripped by OSU linebacker James Laurinaitis for the game's first fumble -- had a more blunt assessment: "Northwestern beat Northwestern today."
Against a team that takes care of the ball, like, say, Michigan, can the Buckeyes count on their bend-before-stealing approach? The Wolverines are No. 1 in the Big Ten in turnover margin and have a running back in Mike Hart who simply does not fumble.
X-FACTOR: Chris "Beanie" Wells. Some wondered if the vaunted freshman running back would be phased out of the Buckeyes' rotation altogether due to his penchant for coughing up the ball. He lost his fourth fumble of the year in last week's win over Illinois and sat out the second half. But Wells exploded against the 'Cats on Saturday, running for 99 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries -- and didn't fumble. (First-string back Antonio Pittman, meanwhile, had 19 carries for 81 yards and a score.) "[Wells] is going to need to be a part of something big if we're going to be the best we can be," said Tressel. If Wells, who had been averaging just 41.2 yards per game coming into Saturday, stays hot against Michigan, he adds a scary second dimension to the Buckeyes' backfield.
MOMENTUM METER: Northwestern may have felt like it gave this game away -- coach Pat Fitzgerald said, "You can't gift-wrap it for them; Christmas isn't for a month and a half, and Merry Christmas" -- but the Buckeyes also turned in an impressive performance. They topped their previous high score (44, against both Indiana and Minnesota) by 10, and posted a season-high in takeaways. After the Illinois game, in which they played flat and conservative against one of the league's worst teams, Ohio State needed this.
"We came out and just tried to be perfect all across the board," said Ginn. "To jump off to that 21-0 start with the help of us and our D ... showed that we can play as hard as we can and just be unstoppable."
What comes next won't be as easy. But No. 2 Michigan is what everyone at Ohio State -- even if the Buckeyes, like Smith, claim to take the season "game by game" -- has been waiting for. And it has finally arrived. As one Buckeyes assistant remarked while running off of Ryan Field, "Now, the week begins."
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BuckeyePlanet Wallpaper Contest 4 is now posted for voting...
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SI
Quick Hits
Bill Frakes/SI
Living On The Edge
Which one-loss team has the best shot at the title game?
Boring.
What about which one of those teams is in the biggest trouble? Behind Nos. 1 and 2 (Ohio State and Michigan) Arkansas, Florida, Notre Dame, Rutgers and USC are taking their claim for a chance to play in the BCS title game. But it's the Gators who look poised for a fall. Florida, which is sitting fourth in the BCS and third in the AP Poll, has lost its edge since losing to Auburn. The SEC East champions survived South Carolina after Jarvis Moss blocked a last-second field goal attempt and its last three games have been decided by a total of 14 points. The Gators offense is struggling, while their previously stout defense has taken a step back, allowing a combined 801 yards the last two weeks. I know, I know -- the SEC is a beast, but right now Florida doesn't look have the look of a national title contender. The Gators still have time to work out the kinks against Western Carolina and reeling Florida State, but right now they can't be too excited about a probable date with Arkansas in the SEC championship game. Michigan Impossible Remember when Lloyd Carr was on the way out? We have been so mesmerized by the collision course of Nos. 1 and 2 Ohio State and Michigan that lost in the hype has been that the Wolverines are coming off a 7-5 season -- the team's worst in 21 years -- which had many calling for Carr's job. Michigan had talent on offense in Mike Hart, Chad Henne & Co, so they're no surprise, but if you want to find the biggest reason UM is back on top, look no further than new defensive coordinator Ron English. He has infused the nation's third-ranked defense with a swagger that was missing in 2005. If Michigan makes it to Glendale, it will be behind LaMarr Woodley and the nation's best front seven, and English (who is rumored to be in line for the Michigan State job) should get major credit for UM's revival. This Dawg Has Bite See what happens when Mark Richt allows one quarterback to progress. Since the loss to Vanderbilt, freshman Matthew Stafford has been the only Georgia QB to take a snap and he's been able to finally build the cohesiveness the Dawgs' offense has been missing and it resulted in a stunning upset of Auburn. Stafford threw for 219 yards and a TD and ran for a score in ending AU's national title hopes. It makes you wonder what could have been had Stafford had time to grow instead of playing musical QBs as UGA slipped from the polls. Canes' Triumph In Tragedy Miami lost to Maryland, but simply being on the field four days after the shooting death of teammate Bryan Pata was a testament to the character of a team that has been vilified for not having any. Trailing 14-0, the Hurricanes fought back to cut the deficit to one before the comeback stalled on a fumbled punt. Make no mistake, in a season when we in the media have been ripping the Hurricanes to shreds, they showed resolve that commands respect.
November 18
Troy Smith made his name against Michigan, but can he do it against the best UM defense he's seen? The bigger question: will this one be so good we want to see it again Jan. 8 in Glendale?
Ohio State 21, Michigan 20
Quick Hits
Bill Frakes/SI
Living On The Edge
Which one-loss team has the best shot at the title game?
Boring.
What about which one of those teams is in the biggest trouble? Behind Nos. 1 and 2 (Ohio State and Michigan) Arkansas, Florida, Notre Dame, Rutgers and USC are taking their claim for a chance to play in the BCS title game. But it's the Gators who look poised for a fall. Florida, which is sitting fourth in the BCS and third in the AP Poll, has lost its edge since losing to Auburn. The SEC East champions survived South Carolina after Jarvis Moss blocked a last-second field goal attempt and its last three games have been decided by a total of 14 points. The Gators offense is struggling, while their previously stout defense has taken a step back, allowing a combined 801 yards the last two weeks. I know, I know -- the SEC is a beast, but right now Florida doesn't look have the look of a national title contender. The Gators still have time to work out the kinks against Western Carolina and reeling Florida State, but right now they can't be too excited about a probable date with Arkansas in the SEC championship game. Michigan Impossible Remember when Lloyd Carr was on the way out? We have been so mesmerized by the collision course of Nos. 1 and 2 Ohio State and Michigan that lost in the hype has been that the Wolverines are coming off a 7-5 season -- the team's worst in 21 years -- which had many calling for Carr's job. Michigan had talent on offense in Mike Hart, Chad Henne & Co, so they're no surprise, but if you want to find the biggest reason UM is back on top, look no further than new defensive coordinator Ron English. He has infused the nation's third-ranked defense with a swagger that was missing in 2005. If Michigan makes it to Glendale, it will be behind LaMarr Woodley and the nation's best front seven, and English (who is rumored to be in line for the Michigan State job) should get major credit for UM's revival. This Dawg Has Bite See what happens when Mark Richt allows one quarterback to progress. Since the loss to Vanderbilt, freshman Matthew Stafford has been the only Georgia QB to take a snap and he's been able to finally build the cohesiveness the Dawgs' offense has been missing and it resulted in a stunning upset of Auburn. Stafford threw for 219 yards and a TD and ran for a score in ending AU's national title hopes. It makes you wonder what could have been had Stafford had time to grow instead of playing musical QBs as UGA slipped from the polls. Canes' Triumph In Tragedy Miami lost to Maryland, but simply being on the field four days after the shooting death of teammate Bryan Pata was a testament to the character of a team that has been vilified for not having any. Trailing 14-0, the Hurricanes fought back to cut the deficit to one before the comeback stalled on a fumbled punt. Make no mistake, in a season when we in the media have been ripping the Hurricanes to shreds, they showed resolve that commands respect.
November 18
Troy Smith made his name against Michigan, but can he do it against the best UM defense he's seen? The bigger question: will this one be so good we want to see it again Jan. 8 in Glendale? Ohio State 21, Michigan 20
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SI
That there are only two national-title caliber teams this season ? and they're playing this Saturday. After watching Michigan in person Saturday for the first time since the Notre Dame game, I fully believe that The Game is a toss-up. This is not a slight against Ohio State, which is still quite clearly the team to beat. But the Wolverines are that good -- particularly their defense. Neither teams' Big Ten schedule has been particularly daunting this season, but they've both gone out and won convincingly every week. So when I see Florida barely surviving South Carolina (Big Ten equivalent: Penn State) or Texas losing to Kansas State (Big Ten equivalent: Purdue), it only reinforces that OSU and Michigan are in their own stratosphere this year.
That there are only two national-title caliber teams this season ? and they're playing this Saturday. After watching Michigan in person Saturday for the first time since the Notre Dame game, I fully believe that The Game is a toss-up. This is not a slight against Ohio State, which is still quite clearly the team to beat. But the Wolverines are that good -- particularly their defense. Neither teams' Big Ten schedule has been particularly daunting this season, but they've both gone out and won convincingly every week. So when I see Florida barely surviving South Carolina (Big Ten equivalent: Penn State) or Texas losing to Kansas State (Big Ten equivalent: Purdue), it only reinforces that OSU and Michigan are in their own stratosphere this year.
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Yes, that 2004 game that clinched us a BCS berth in the, uh ... Alamo Bowl.Some Douchebag (Luke Winn) That Writes for Sports Illustrated said:
Moron.
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daddyphatsacs
Let the cards fall...
All that I have to say is that everyone that has the privledge of being in that stadium on Saturday had better rock that fucking place like never seen before. The whole nation will be watching, let's show them how electric the shoe is against Michigan.
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