Other then the Big Ten Network and a small percentage of Ohio State fans, the general consensus is that the Buckeyes are going to face yet another disappointing loss to USC this weekend. It’s an understandable reaction. The Bucks have struggled against teams ranked in the top five for the past three or four years. And while it’s easy for those on the outside to jump on the Mark Mays bandwagon and rave about USC as the greatest college football team in the history of college football, I’m sticking with the Buckeyes.
In order to earn the recognition the Buckeyes so rightly deserve however, they will need to do a couple of key things. If we don’t see them develop early in the game, it could turn into a very long night for Ohio State fans.
Aggressive Coaching
In the last few years, Tressel and the Ohio State coaching staff have held back in the big games. The pressure of these big games have taken their toll leading to conservative play calling. A this point, the Buckeyes have little to lose and everything to gain. They need to take the offensive from the outset, get the crowd behind them and throw USC into a come from behind situation.
As much as USC coach Pete Carroll and quarterback Matt Barkley want to say it’s business as usual and that this is just another game, it just isn’t the case. This is the first time in the history of USC football that they’ve started a true freshman and he didn’t get much of a test last weekend. Even so, the play calling stuck to simple, safe roll outs and hand offs. He may be able to hang in the pocket under pressure but we have yet to see.
Yes, Barkley’s got plenty of talent to both back him up and protect him but I can’t believe Carroll isn’t going to be somewhat limited on his play calling.
Pressure Barkley
Barkley offers the opportunity for turnovers — game changing turnovers. While the USC receiving corp is impressive, the Buckeyes need to take advantage of Barkley’s inexperience and force him to throw under pressure. The Ohio State D needs to go after him and test his decisions making abilities. Force Barkley into bad decisions and USC is in trouble.
Oh, and if we see Aaron corp stepping in, it means they’re in trouble. Corp is healthy and ready to play but unless Carroll thinks he’s got a trick up his sleeve, a two quarterback system isn’t in the works.
Stop the Run
Barkley’s got plenty of help in the backfield. If Carroll is forced into conservative play calling, it’s just a matter of stepping back and handing off the ball. However, the Buckeye defense won’t see the misdirection that they saw against Navy last week. Instead, it will be a matter of getting through a powerful offensive line that knows how to open holes. Again, stop the run and force Barkely and test Barkley under pressure.
Buckeye Offensive Line
Yep. Here we go again. We still haven’t seen anything to show us that the Buckeye O line is up to the job. They took their fair share of abuse from a smaller Navy defense. If they play like that against USC, we’re dead.
The offensive line needs to get off their heels, get the jump and protect Pryor. Give him the chance to let the play develop and it will. Pryor’s game has matured and he’s got backs who can break out. However, it ain’t going to happen unless the o line get’s it together. They know what they’ve got to do. Hopefully, they’ve been working on their technique and can convert.
Pryor
I’m confident Pryor can do the job. I just hope the coaching staff (and offensive line) lets him. If Pryor can get in the grove, he will be a deciding factor in the game. He’s got the speed to move the ball when he needs and the arm to get it to his receivers. He’s also developed the maturity to let the play develop and make big things happen.
Ohio Stadium
The Shoe will be loud. Barkley says he’s not worried about it but he also talked about how nervous he was going into last week’s opener in his home stadium. He may be good but push him into the closed end of the Shoe, force him to change up plays above the noise and he’s in trouble.
USC will do everything they can to take the crowd out of the game early. It’s crucial not to let them.
So there it is. As ESPN’s Lou Holtz desperately tried to tell Mark Mays last week, you can’t let history decide the outcome of this game. This will not be the same game we saw last year on so many fronts. And regardless of what anyone says, the Buckeyes matchup with USC on talent. Quell the critics Saturday and the Bucks will quell them for a long time to come.
{ 1 trackback }
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
First, let me say that I’ll be rooting for the Buckeyes this weekend. It is important to the conference that the Big Ten starts to win these big OOC games.
Next, I think that the Ohio State defense is going to be the key to this game. I completely agree with you about putting pressure on Barkley. Barkley’s youth needs to be exploited. However, I think that the defense is the key to the game because they didn’t play very well last week against Navy. I mean, giving up 27 points to Navy doesn’t really inspire great confidence. As the Ohio State defense goes so will the game.
Pryor, obviously, will have to play well. However, if the defense doesn’t play well I don’t think it will matter how good a game TP has; the Buckeyes will lose.
Good luck.
Hey Jeff,
Good to see the Big 10 pull together on this one. You’re right. It’s all about the D. Pressure Barkley, force him to make freshmen mistakes (ie. turnovers). That’s really a simple way of summarizing my first three points.
And I’m rooting for Penn State every game until we meet them.
Two keys… 1) Offensive Line needs to be much better overall and consistant! 2) Defense!
If the Buckeyes don’t get both, it will not be pretty. I have faith they can do it, but they both have to be on the offensive for the entire 60 minutes (no taking a play off here or there).
Go Bucks!
OH-IO
I am a die hard Buckeye and all we need to do is forget the past because it is just that the past. We can beat Southern Cal and with the great fans we have we can make it almost impossible to call plays much less and audibles a freshman may try to call. Pryor is going to have a great game but the one person who is going to really change the outcome is going to be Coleman. And yes I do BELIEVE! Go BUCKEYES!
Grew up with the Bucks. Currently living in Michigan and a die hard supporter still. However, last many years, today (and last week) it is getting too hard to watch. What a tremendous waste of talent with this offensive coordination and play calling. Not an ounce of creativity and clearly no analysis and understanding of how to exploit the opposing defense’s weaknesses. We have some of the best weapons, and certainly one of College footballs very best QB’s and just do not know how to use him.
Imagine this……trade coaches tonight. Put Carroll in charge of the Buckeyes, and Tressel in charge of USC. I think Peter Carroll would continue the domination he has demonstrated. He knows how to leverage the weapons he has recruited and exploit the opposing team’s weaknesses much better than Mr. Tressel.
Hey, it’s first down. Do you think Herron will be running up the middle?
WOW ..what a game! Really thought you guys had USC… One question… did Pryor wear his mike vick eye patch? Does that mean… he was crying Vick tears? BOO HOO…. Yeah, be real proud of your QB emulating a psycho torturer! Says alot for your standards of players… By the way….. looking forward to the Penn State game… Paterno may be ancient and old school…but his players show class, and he never would have allowed the trash talk of a Terrell Pryor! GO PENN STATE!!!!
What was Trossel thinking burning all of the timeouts on the defense and not even give Pryor and the Buckeye Offense a chance ! Trossel was clearly out coached when the coaching really counted. Trossel should do nothing but apologize to the players and Buckeye Nation for a pathetic job of preparing himself to compete. Jim Trossel was not mentally prepared for the pressure and was clueless in the final minutes of Ohio State’s biggest game of the year next to Michigan. There should be no excuses for such lame coaching !
Wake up Jim ! You remind me of Lindy Infante !
Wow another buckeye choke. I cant stand the suckeyes but i hate USC even more. Should have known. You cant have a runningback playing the quaterback spot. Thats 6 in a row for all of you counting 6 losses in a row against top 5 teams. Your offense is predictable and your defense just got eaten up by a freshman quaterback sickening.
i used to be a buckeye fan until jimmie arrived..gave up my tickets and moved to florida..when will people realize the big ten is a push over..there a bunch of also rans who just think or dream of playing with the big boys..i’m not even sure the bucks are the best in the state..no wonder they bought out the cinn. bearcats games..could we say just to keep from being embarrassed..i have looked at the last two years recruiting ( 2008 & 2009 ) 2008- osu number 4..usc-9, florida-12…2009-osu-1..usc-9…florida-21..they out recruit the big boys but they can’t play with them..gee i wonder why???? coaching ah..no way..you can bank on at least 3 to 4 more defeats this year…
There’s nothing like 106,000 fans thinking OSU is going to win for 59 min and then blowing it!!!! The Notre Dame choke was the icing on the cake! What a great weekend for 2 over rated, under coached programs!!!
We need a quarterback. Pryor was pathetic
Run clock at the end of the first half and go in with a 10-7 lead. Kick a field goal towards the end of the game and go up 18-7. It’s a shame the kids’ efforts were squandered. I love the Buckeyes and it’s hard not to be bummed out. That game was winable, especially with the effort given.
You can tell by just looking at Trossel he is uptight and completely out of sync when he’s on the field during big games. That was the worst clock and time out management I can remember seeing. The team and fan’s were terriffic, but the coaching SUCKED ! At the end of the season,
CAN HIM !
bob has a point there..but you can also add the- delay of game-procedure-false starts penalties they have..in almost every game and especially when there in the red zone..but what can you expect when you have d-2 coaches trying to run a d-1 program..tress may be uptight and out of sync but i think he is very good at making a fashion statement ( joe cool type look) man i like that sweater vest in 80 plus degrees heat
forgot to ask..since i live here in florida i don’t get that much info on the bucks down here..with toledo coming up this week are we hearing the usual talk..we made a lot of mistakes against usc..we have to get back to work this week and get ready for a very very good toledo team ..( yeah sure there a power alright )….