That’s what six years of beating Michigan looks like–2,191 days. The next time Michigan steps up for their annual beat down, they will have gone 2,191 days without knowing what it is like to win The Game.
And while it was great to see the Buckeyes win, in typical Buckeye fan fashion, the game was not without concerns. We won and that’s what counts but there certainly weren’t any style points. It’s not that we didn’t beat the spread–besides, I got in at 11 so I broke even. Maybe its just that there wasn’t enough pain inflicted.
My biggest frustration comes with the play calling (again). The Wolverine defense fronts one of the worst secondaries in the Big Ten if not college football yet we failed to take advantage. I’m not even sure we tried. I could probably count the number of passing plays up the middle on one hand. As usual, Trees was playing it way conservative and when we gave up an interception, which was not Pryor’s fault, he pulled it in even closer. It worked against Michigan but will it play in the Rose Bowl.
Maybe he knows something we don’t. Maybe he still doesn’t have faith in his young quarterback. Maybe, since Michigan pretty much sucks, he was holding back the real stuff for the Rose Bowl…sort of surprise attack. Maybe he wanted to keep it close in an attempt to keep D Rod around as long as possible. He knows he’s got a softy sitting across the field–why knock a good thing.
For now, I’m going with surprise attack and keep D-Rod as long as possible. With that here’s some quick thoughts on the weekend:
Let Pryor throw the ball
Buckeyes put up a total 67 yards passing with Pryor going 9/17 averaging a measly 3.9 yards per play. I’m not going to knock him for the interception. The pass may have been a little high but it had some heat on it and it should have been caught. Meanwhile Forcier threw for 226 yards. Sure, he also threw four interceptions but Ohio State should have been putting up numbers like that.
I would have loved to see Tress abuse the Michigan secondary. It would have given Pryor a much needed confidence boost and it would have been a lot more fun to watch. Open up on them quick. If it doesn’t work, go back to the conservative, three-yards-and–a-cloud-of stuff. Instead of putting them away early and playing from a position of power, we let them stick around way too long. I don’t know who’ll we’ll play in the Rose Bowl but that stuff won’t play against Oregon.
Enjoy the turnovers
Add a fumble to the four interceptions and yeah, Michigan looked pretty bad. While they didn’t get any help from our defense, they didn’t do themselves any favors either. Our defense is good but I’m not going to count on that type of action in the Rose Bowl. Sure would be nice if we did though.
Pressure and Contain/Zone Coverage
Is it me or did it seem like the defense was holding back. They needed to paste Forcier a good one early — put the fear in him. Would have been a different game if they had. Also don’t know what was up with that coverage in the secondary. It wasn’t working but we kept doing it over and over.
Michigan is young
With a young team like this, you would think that they will be a threat in the next couple of years. I don’t see it though. Not with D-Rod at the helm. Chances are they won’t send him packing this year but it’s coming.
Anybody want to make book on Forcier
I’m thinking he announces he’s gone before the first bowl game. Michigan’s got two quarterbacks coming in behind him. There’s been plenty of talk that he and D-Rod aren’t getting along. From what I hear, Rice would love to have him.
Maybe they can get Les Miles
Anybody see Miles blow the game against Old Miss? I haven’t looked but I can’t believe the fans aren’t calling for his head. Not only did he sit back and watch about two plays tic off the clock, when presented with an opportunity to chip it in for the win, the coaching staff wasn’t ready. For the record, you can’t spike the ball without moving the clock. Talk about snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
Go UConn
This has nothing to do with Ohio State/Michigan but what a game. By the time it was over, both teams were in tears. One because they finally pulled out a win in what has been a very difficult season. The other because they lost in what has been a very difficult season. You’ve really got to feel for UConn. After losing a teammate in a violent crime, they’ve lost their last five games by less then four points each. As much as I enjoy watching ND lose, it was great to see UConn win for all the right reasons. After the game, their coach could barely talk he was so overwhelmed.
The contrast across the field was disturbing. Coach Wies and his seniors were also choking up but for different reasons. UConn players and coaches who are still mourning the death of a teammate. Notre Dame just lost another game. Chances are it was Wies’ last and the entire program has felt the heat. Apparently Weis spent most of Saturday night consoling crying players.
I’m sorry but I don’t feel a lot of sympathy. It will take around $18 million to buy out Wies’ contract not to mention the assistant coaches who will need to be bought out. Naturally, just because they’re Notre Dame, they still have an outside shot at a BCS game.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Great season so far with a need in the worst way to finish with a bowl game victory. Reflecting back on the season, it should’ve been 11-1 (OSU-USC really should have been a win, while OSU deserved to lose to Purdue with 5 turnovers – you have to learn something from mistakes). Now the Buckeyes have the agonizingly long lay off before the bowl game to contend with while other teams still have one or two games left to stay sharp for a bowl. Go Bucks!!
There’s no doubt that the score could have been much higher. I thought Woody was back on the sidelines with his three yards and a cloud of dust. TP was over throwing his receivers all day when he was allowed to throw. It’s been a tough year for TP, lets hope he learns and gets better.
When TP ran the ball he sure was looking for the side lines. Seems to me there were some plays when he could have lowered his shoulder and gained some yardage especially on his third down runs that came up short.
Yes after the first series when the defense forced the fumble the defence seemed to be going thru the motions and not really putting any extra effort into the game. What was with the soft zone the secondary played all game. Giving up those easy passes 10 to 15 yards in the middle. they were making me cuss and screem with their play. Hope my nieghbors had their windows closed.
That type of play will not get the job done against Oregon. Then theres the long layoff. When will the Big Ten get the message and either add a team and a playoff for the Big Ten title or start the games a few weeks later? Oh well we won and were going to Passadena, sure hope we can get a quality win this year.
I think the lay off is a serious issue. Instead of starting Labor Day weekend, why not open a week later and throw in a bye. That brings them into the first week in Dec. Without looking it up, didn’t we used to go later in the season?
Although I know a play off would probably help the Big Ten, I don’t want to give up the last game against that team up north. If you put them in different divisions in an attempt to get the match up, you could have them not meeting. If you put them in the same division, and if Michigan someday returns to the team they once were, you could have very lopsided divisions.
Instead of a play off, I think I rather see them add a game (do NCAA regs allow this) so that we play more of the conference. I’m not sure of the math here but there’s something missing when you don’t play all the Big Ten teams.
While I would like to keep OSU and UM in the same division, if we add another team they should logically be split (depending on where the team is. If east than MSU stays with us an UM leaves. If west then UM and MSU stay). However, if they do this like the SEC then each team can keep somebody from the other division, allowing UM and OSU to play every season.
As for the games, teams are capped at 12 reg season games, one bowl, and one CC. A CC will help the conference for this reason alone.
ABCs of Columbus Sports – All about the Buckeyes, Blue Jackets, and Clippers!
You’d have to go back a long time to find Ohio State playing a regular season game after Thanksgiving..
Total agreement on UM not rebounding under Rich-Rod. Asking 180 lb. quarterbacks to thrive outside the pocket in the Big Ten is not exactly a recipe for success. They will be lucky to survive. Rich-Rod had one of the best athletes in recent history in Pat White, and even in the Big East, he couldn’t make it thru the season withoug getting banged up..
Like it or not, in the Big Ten, you need to be able to run between the tackles and stop the other team from doing the same. If you want to compete with the elite programs, you also need speed all over the field. But even a team full of Pat Whites would not do Rich-Rod any good at UM if you can’t play good old fashion Big Ten Football when you need to.
We need michigan to be strong and good. Check this post out, and spread the word: for the sake of what’s left of the Big Ten’s prestige, we need Michigan to be an ass kicking machine that loses in November. We need them to be sons-a-bitches and not just, well, anyway.