As much as I’d like to to be, it’s getting harder and harder to believe that the Wells injury story may be a big rouse. After yesterday’s stadium walk through, Coach Tressel met with the media and told them that Wells would not play in what is probably the biggest game in college football this year.
According to The Columbus Dispatch, Tressel said that he made the decision, not doctors. The dispatch reports:
“Typically, the doctors will (say), ‘Here’s my opinion,’ but it’s all on how you feel,” Tressel said. “So I just think, as I listen to the doctors and as I think about the situation, I think a decision had to be made.
“I’m not sure (Wells) will ever speak to me again, but I think it’s the right thing to do, so we won’t have Beanie tomorrow.”
For the past week, I’ve been claiming that the Wells situation was all smoke and mirrors but if this is the case, to push it this far is way out of character for Tressel. He just isn’t the type to take it this far. And while I know that Tressel is all about doing what’s best for his kids, what is really going on here. Last week, all signs pointed to a healthy Wells. This week, we’ve had the off again/on again story and now, as opposed to the sideline decisions we were told we’d hear at one point, Tressel announces that the game will go on without him.
Maybe it’s a need to focus the team. By taking the media focus off the individual and putting it back on the team, Tressel can bring his players mentally back to where they need to be by game time. As opposed to dealing a confidence blow at kickoff, give them a chance to let the reality sink in. Let them focus on the situation at hand and stepping up to do the job that needs to be done.
Can we win without Beanie? It’s not like we don’t have the talent. Ohio State’s defense is one of the most experienced and talented in college football. When you watch the films of Laurinitis, you see a kid who can read the offense, stay in position and make plays happen. He is a quiet force on the field and while he may not get every tackle, his presence and ability to read the play opens opportunities for the rest of the defense.
Offensively, much depends on which Ohio State offense shows up to play. Will we see the offensive line that can get the jump and giving whoever is in at quarterback the time to let a play develop? At quarterback, Boekman has the ability to make the big play but he has been prone to turnovers.
The offensive secret may lie in Terril Pryor. A successful run against the USC defense will take someone who can see the field and can cut at the right moment. USC tackle Fili Moala is fast but he is quick to get out of position. The Ohio State running game needs the ability to make the quick change in direction in order to take advantage of Moala’s sometimes overaggressive play. This is where Beanie would be such a force. However, Pryor runs like a gazelle. He almost floats across the field and it looks like he covers about three yards per stride.
At this point in the season, we don’t know anything about Pryor’s passing game. In the few drives we have seen, he hasn’t really aired it out. This may be one of the secrets the offensive coaches are holding close to the vest. If Pryor has a passing ability which has been kept on the practice field, then we have a game on our hands.
Regardless of all that, something must really be wrong if Tressel keeps Pryor on the sidelines in LA. A strong performance on what will be one of the most watched games of the season could put Wells at the forefront of the Heisman race. Without the USC game, the Heisman will be an uphill battle.
Tressel also knows that this game will have a long, lingering impact on Ohio State’s reputation and in turn his reputation. If the Buckeyes lose, and there is any question that Wells could have played, Buckeye fans will be ruthless in their criticism of Tressel.
Maybe Tressel does have something up his sleeve. Maybe he knows that the Buckeyes are good enough to do it without Wells. Maybe what we’re seeing is a confidence that stems from what he’s seen on a practice field that the rest of us don’t have access to.
I sure hope so.
