Now that the technicality of the Buckeye opener against Marshall is out of the way, it is now officially acceptable to place all focus on Miami’s upcoming visit to the Shoe. And although at first, I didn’t like the idea of a Thursday night game, there are certain advantages for us bloggers. First and foremost, I’ve got three extra days to share my opinion of “The U” and let me assure you, it won’t be pretty.
But before we get into that, let’s take a look at the 45-7 win over Marshall.
Moeller’s a beast
Man it was good to see him back. No signs of a dangerous head injury here. Meoller racked up five tackles including a hit from behind that made poor Marshall quarterback Tyler Anderson look like a rag doll. Moeller’s showing some serious speed and there’s no question he will be a force to recon with.
What kind of speed do ya got? We got inSaine speed
I’m tellin’ ya boys…I’m liking Brandon Saine. One-hundred and three yards and two touchdowns of lightening. Screw SEC speed. We’ve got Big Ten speed baby. Saine averaged 12.9 yards in only nine carries before Tressel pulled him. Jamal Berry also put up some impressive numbers averaging 11.4 yards per carry in only 7 trips down the field. It’s so good to see that sort of running game emerging from the Buckeye backfield. Boom, Zoom, Pryor and Berry? I’m liking it.
Like parting the red sea
And how about that O-line. Not only did they open some huge holes, they gave Pryor time to do his job. We also got to see some depth in the offensive line. These guys are light years ahead of where they were last year at this time.
Did he just pass it to a tight end?!
I shit you not. We’d heard that Pryor and Stonebrenner were clicking and Thursday night we saw a sampling. Pryor found Stonebrenner three times for a total of 41 yards. And while Sanzenbacher and Posey may have made the highlight reels, nine different receivers helped Pryor go 17-25. Might be proof that Pryor is maturing in the pocket, seeing more of the field and making better decisions.
Still hints of the old Pryor
But before I get too excited, when I was a kid we used to play a game called five dollars. The kid with the strongest arm would toss the ball as high and as far as he could. The rest of us would gather down field and try to pull in the hail Mary style throw. At least twice last night, it looked like Pryor was playing five dollars. Against a better team, those might have made for some dangerous turnovers.
In all though, I shouldn’t complain. You know that Pryor spent the better part of the day reviewing those films. He’ll learn from them. When he did connect on the long ball though…what a beautiful thing. And there was at least one more where we were one hesitant step from making the score 52-7.
We also didn’t see much of the Pryor running game. Pryor carried the ball eight times for a total of 17 yards. That’s a good thing though right?
Special teams…special teams…
When you open the game with a fumble recovery that leads to a quick touchdown, we really shouldn’t get too upset. However, a 60 some yard return and two blocked kicks does give one reason to pause. Sure, one of the kicks managed to sneak through but still. I’m not sure who was in at center for the blocked kick/touchdown return but if you watch that one again, the mistake is obvious. As he snapped the ball, he formed a perfect ramp for the Marshall defender to climb right up. It was like he climbed a ladder right up the center’s back to block the kick.
Comparing to Miami
I don’t know if Florida A&M is a bigger cup cake or not but the two games did look a lot alike. Both teams put up six touchdowns and a field goal. Miami threw for 250 yards, the Buckeyes 249. Miami thinks their performance demonstrates that they’re going to beat us next week. Ohio State knows that their performance was just practice for the beat down we’re going to put on the Hurricanes come Sept. 11.
And with that, let the games begin.
I’ve posted my keys to the Ohio State/Miami game. Be sure to check it out.
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After watching and re-watching Thursday nights game, I have to say that I agree with pretty much all you’ve said – but I nervous about special teams… quite a bit. Special teams has the ability to make or break you, and in close games, it can make all the difference.
Our Buckeyes looked so great out there last night though!
Fall in Columbus cannot be beat. Welcome to the most wonderful time of the year, Buckeyes!
One weak sister out of the way. The score was even worse than I predicted. Great play all around withthe exception of special teams. Maybe were spoiled with punts going out at the 5 yardline and in and kick offs going into the end zone. We miss ray small on punt returns Jordon Hall doesn’t quite cut it yet. We got get Chimdi healthy, he’s our best cover man. The rest of the team looked awesome, defense was gang busters. The offence was awesome. Bring the Cances to the Shoe and the Buckeyes will show them some good northern hospitality.
Prior will get SERIOUSLY hurt, If he tries to run through a HURRICANE!!!!!! LOL!!! He will not last though the second quarter. The Hurricanes are back! Like the Hurricanes from the 80′s. It’s ALL ABOUT THE U!!!!
The Canes only played their starters for less than 2 quarters had they played all 4 quarters it would have been 100-0. for them it wasn’t even a warm up.
Too bad the “buckeye blog” is written by such a naive homer. You’ve got some things to say about the Canes? Let’s here ‘em. If you post a video of a Miami brawl, don’t forget the game against Colorado in 1993. How about the 1990 Cotton Bowl. The NCAA had to change its policies on bench clearing brawls due to the “U”. At least our coach wasn’t taking sucker punches at players. How about that Buckeye History.
The only national title you’ve won in the last 40 years was controversial. All but one of your national titles came when the bravest and best athletes were fighting wars.
You’ve got a rude awakening on Saturday. The Canes have consistently churned out more NFL players over the last 30 years than any other program. OSU? Ted Ginn, Jr. ?? Eddie George?? Joey Gallaway?? David Boston?? I’ll give you Orlando Pace.
The Canes had the #1 ranked recruiting class of 2008, and those boys are grown up now. When the Canes are ranked high and NFL scouts are buzzing, it’s for a reason. There will be several NFL scouts watching on Saturday, and it’s not to see Terrelle Pryor. It’s to see the talent that has finally returned to the “U” after years of mismanagement by Larry Coker. They’re ready to make their mark. Get ready college football… The bad boys are back. We don’t mind being disrespected, hated, insulted, cause it all goes with the territory. It’s called jealousy.
Buy the number… OSU should win. They’re supposed too. What a shock and embarrassment if the lowly, young, thug Canes come into the Shoe and upset the Buckeyes. Come on. What a scandal. I can see two great thefts by Miami …… First LaBron, then the hearts of the Buckeye faithful. Could be a tough year for Miami – Ohio relations.
Too bad the “buckeye blog” is written by such a naive homer. You’ve got some things to say about the Canes? Let’s hear ‘em. If you post a video of a Miami brawl, don’t forget the game against Colorado in 1993. How about the 1990 Cotton Bowl. The NCAA had to change its policies on bench clearing brawls due to the “U”. At least our coach wasn’t taking sucker punches at players. I know… this is all “buckeyes”, couldn’t post that video of Woody. If you want to talk about x’s and o’s on on your blog, you’d gain a lot more respect. Instead your talking ignorant one-sided garbage and taking cheap shots. And you talk about class? You think that’s the way to show it?
The only national title you’ve won in the last 40 years was controversial. All but one of your national titles came when the bravest and best athletes were fighting wars.
You’ve got a rude awakening on Saturday. The Canes have consistently churned out more NFL players over the last 30 years than any other program. OSU? Ted Ginn, Jr. ?? Eddie George?? Joey Gallaway?? David Boston?? I’ll give you Orlando Pace.
Jim Kelly, Bernie Kosar, Michael Irvin, Warren Sapp, Cortez Kennedy, Ed Reed, Sean Taylor, Edgerrin James, Andre Johnson, Santana Moss, Devin Hester, Ray Lewis, Darren Smith, Michael Barrow, Bryant McKinnie, Frank Gore, Willis McGahee, Jeremy Shockey, Reggie Wayne, Kellen Winslow, Bubba Franks, Jerome Brown, Vinny Testaverde …… shall I go on????
The Canes had the #1 ranked recruiting class of 2008, and those boys are grown up now. When the Canes are ranked high and NFL scouts are buzzing, it’s for a reason. There will be several NFL scouts watching on Saturday, and it’s not to see Terrelle Pryor. It’s to see the talent that has finally returned to the “U” after years of mismanagement by Larry Coker. They’re ready to make their mark. Get ready college football… The bad boys are back. We don’t mind being disrespected, hated, insulted, cause it all goes with the territory. It’s called jealousy.
Buy the numbers… OSU should win. They’re supposed too. Ranked #2 (next to who? Boise State?) , 105,000 fans in the shoe, great running game, great defense. Should be a lock, right? What a shock and embarrassment if the lowly, young, thug Canes come into the Shoe and upset the Buckeyes. Come on. What a scandal. I can see two great thefts by the thugs in Miami in 2010 …… First LaBron, then the hearts of the Buckeye faithful. Could be a tough year for Miami – Ohio relations.
Oh…I love it. Way to let it rip Costa. Felt so strongly he posted it twice.
Interesting observation about National Championships during wartime. No controversy here on the ’02 national championship. Buckeyes won the game. They even gave Miami four chances at the 1 yard line to tie it up and they couldn’t do it.
Plenty of x o talk around here. I think the entire post above would qualify (other than a couple sentence of smack at the end). The highlight of that video that gets under your skin isn’t so much the Miami players on the field but the former Miami player in the broadcast booth after the game.
Lots of those former Ohio State players that are no longer in NFL are doing just fine in the broadcast booth. You see them every weekend – Herbstreet, Speilman, Robert Smith, Chris Carter. Probably says something about the type of player we recruit but you already pointed that out for me.
Quick, what’s the difference between a former Ohio State player in the NFL and a former Miami player in the NFL? The Ohio State player has a college degree.
He couldn’t talk x’s and o’s………had to search for another topic….grades? I’m sure the Buckeyes were recruited for their SAT scores and GPAs.
Since you want to talk academics…. How about this little stat….
2010 Graduation Rate – Football Players
Ohio State Buckeyes 54%
Miami Hurricanes 67%
Source: http://stanford.scout.com/2/520523.html
What was that about college degrees?
Annapolisbuckeye, Chris carter and ted ginn can barely speak English they have college degrees? what about vernon gholston? maurice clarett? another thing is, Miami is a private school that’s not easy to get into, you have to have a 3.6 GPA or higher and do really good in the SAT’s to be admitted into the university. It’s not this university where illiterate people go to.
Mr Pot? Meet Mr. Kettle.
You mean well spoken players like Kellen “I’m a f-n soldier” Winslow? Truly a man of eloquence…a spokesman for literacy.
3.6 might get you into Ohio State these days – at least with a strong SAT to go with it. The average GPA of an entering freshman at The Ohio State University runs around 3.6 with an average SAT score of 1203 and an ACT score of around 26-28.
And while you are so quick to bring up Maruice Clarette, it points out another huge difference between Ohio State and Miami. When a Buckeye gets into trouble like Clarette did, he is no longer a Buckeye.
Clarette’s real problems began long after he had been dismissed by the Buckeyes.
Congratulations OSU. You deserve it. As a Canes fan, I was happy to see that the offensive line is improved. Unfortunately, same old Jacory.
You deserve your #2 ranking. What a stiff-arm that Pryor has. He’s a load.
Good luck. We’ll see you again down the road, and we’ll be better. That’s a promise.
Well done OSU. Solid team. Definitely the better team today. No doubt about it.
Thank you for that Sebastian and Costa. I’m not use to that sort of sportsmanship from the Miami fans after a loss (as you can see from my most recent post).
I’m afraid my opinion of Miami fans was seriously tainted after the 03 championship. Now I’m just confused.
You guys are welcome around here anytime. I think we’ll be hearing more from Miami in the coming years.