Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Fickell's Performance; Who's Next?

To be a little more blog-like, here's something that I wrote on Bucknuts in response to Coach Luke Fickell's performance and whether he deserves another chance along with a little added on follow up from another topic...Enjoy!

I wouldn't say Fick didn't do good enough. Give him a good offensive coach, and this team wins 2-3 more games at this point. He was put in a bad situation, and he certainly wasn't ready; but the record of this team doesn't reflect his performance. That record relects the team, which is obviously very young, and all of the coaches. Our QB's and WR's showed very little progression that appeared to be coached.

Most of this team will be back next year, and Fick should be allowed to have some better staff to help move this program forward. I mean, even Rich Rod got 3 years.

The thing that gets Fick is that he doesn't have the experience to totally make-over a staff, and if he was able to get rid of coaches, I'd find it hard to believe that he could cut Bollman since he has been here so long. Siciliano needs to be replaced too, for that matter. Many of these guys are built around Tresselball; so do you risk replacing them in hopes that someone else will fit, do you totally clean slate and start over, or do you leave everything the way it is?

In my opinion, and most of you agree with this; changes need to be made. The game has evolved to a high-paced speed, and the program needs to change. You can't bring in a coach, like Rich Rod, who says I'm going to run this specific offense. You have to bring in a guy who can line up in the I or go 5 wide depending on what talent he has, and at OSU you should be able to mostly do it all.

The key is the play-calling. It has to be unpredictable, not off the wall bonkers no-sense play-calling, just not predictable. Risks have to be taken at times. "Success is when preparation meets opportunity". Not sure who the quote is by, but the point is that we can only take care of preparation. Good coaches do that. They prepare their team for situations such as having to play the 2nd string QB or having to replace players lost to injury, suspension, or graduation.

Our team needs to learn to play with speed and enthusiasm consistently. Our offense has to learn to be effecient and take what's given, and our defense has to learn how to handle an up-beat game.

Not to ramble too much, but look back at the last two NCG appearances. We struck first (Ginn KO RET TD and Beanie's big run), but our defense was unable to sustain the counter-punch giving up TD's in both games. Our offense doesn't consistently play at that level, so we are basically unable to win in shoot outs; and the 42-39 game wasn't played at this speed. Although, that Buckeye offense was the closest we've had to playing up to speed. I hate the SEC, but they play the game at a different speed than the B1G. We need to impliment an offense that can play at that speed and a defense that can sustain the response.

I understand Tresselball and agree with aspects of that style. Field positioning, not turning the ball over, and solid special teams are very important. Every team should play with these basic fundamentals, but we need to be able to take the game to the next level. I'm not so sure Fick is the guy that can do that, but that doesn't mean he can't be successful at OSU. I mean, we weren't that far from making the B1G CG this year, and we've seen how badly this team performs at times. We need to focus on being the leaders in the B1G by stepping it up, and we have so many young players with experience that this system can start to be implimented now. Allow these guys to raise the bar over the next 3 years while training the incoming classes, but the changes have to be made now.

I don't think Fick did a bad job, but this program has a shot to progress; and they need to jump on this opportunity. I just hope the school is prepared.

That is all of my post from Bucknuts, but to add to the drama think about this: Urban Meyer has coached at that speed. Not only that, but he coached the Bowling Green and Utah offenses up to that speed. Those schools are still benefitting from what Coach Meyer did. I'm not saying OSU is going to hire him or even that he's the right guy for the job, but it seems like the most logical choice for so many reasons. He has the OSU ties, he's proven to be successful at different schools and up to the highest level, he's who the majority of the fans want, he's a gold mine with recruiting and would rebuild that fence around Ohio, and it's his dream job. It's so obvious that it's disgusting. Will the school shoot for Meyer, will they go after another big-name coach, or will they try to find another diamond in the rough like Tress? Right now, we don't know. What we do know is a limo was seen leaving the Woody Hayes Athletic Center today, and a private jet left Columbus heading straight to Gainesville. Who was in that jet? With the OSU vs, Florida basketball game happening just last night, it could be any high roller; but why would they be at the WHAC? For now, we can only speculate; and speculate we will.

Update: Same plane that came from Gaineville to OSU airport was in Miami when Urban Meyer met with Univ. of Ariz. That meeting took place in Miami.

Go Bucks!

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Tuesday, November 15, 2011

The B1G Mess (Part II)

The Big Ten race got a little clearer this week. I was 4-2 in my picks, but the 2 loses hurt and were both atop their respective divisions. I had MSU losing to Iowa and OSU beating Purdue, but while these games seem to have made the division races clearer, it won't take much to make everything crazy again. Here's the current standings:

Legends Division
Michigan State 8-2 (5-1)
Nebraska 8-2 (4-2)
Michigan 8-2 (4-2)
Iowa 6-4 (3-3)
Northwestern 5-5 (2-4)
Minnesota 2-8 (1-5)

Leaders Division
Penn State 8-2 (5-1)
Wisconsin 8-2 (4-2)
Purdue 5-5 (3-3)
Ohio State 6-4 (3-3)
Illinois 6-4 (2-4)
Indiana 1-9 (0-6)

Week 12 Games:

Nebraska (4-2) @ Michigan (4-2)
Toussaint Has Been Running Strong
*The race for 2nd place behind Michigan State. Should Sparty lose to Indiana or Northwestern and Nebraska win out, the Huskers would go to Indianapolis. Michigan finishes the season with two tough home games as the Wolverines focus and resilience will be tested.  I think Penn State's defense is better than Michigan's, but I think Michigan has a better offense than Penn State.  Michigan's run game has improved as of lately with Fitzgerald Toussaint having some big games.  Denard Robinson hasn't had to be all of this offense, and it's a good thing because he's been dinged up.  This will be an interesting matchup on both sides of the ball, but I look for Nebraska to pull through in another close one.



Indiana (0-6) @ Michigan State (5-1)
Keyshawn Martin is a Playmaker
*Not much to say here. If Michigan beats Nebraska, MSU can afford one more loss. This game shouldn't be that loss. This matches the top of the conference with the bottom, and while the middle of the pack has been a constant battle; this game shouldn't even be close.  MSU is known for stumbling, but this game should be a blowout.  Sparty can be Sparty next week.

Iowa (3-3) @ Purdue (3-3)
*An interesting matchup at home as Purdue is high from their overtime win over OSU, and Iowa is down from their loss to MSU. Purdue is one win from being bowl eligible, and they finish the season with Indiana; so two wins isn't out of the picture and would be a great end to the season for Danny Hope and the Boilermakers. The Boilers D passed the Buckeye rush test, but now they'll face a more balanced attack from the Hawkeyes.  Iowa is the better team, but I think Purdue ends up getting the 'W' this weekend.

Minnesota (1-5) @ Northwestern (2-4)

*Northwestern, like Purdue, is one win from being bowl eligible; and they really want to get it this week because Michigan State comes calling next week. Minnesota is still fighting hard and trying to find something to build on for the future under Coach Jerry Kill. This should be a good game, but I would definitely give an edge to Northwestern with it being at home and all. A win by the Wildcats would see their new-found success meet division leader Michigan State in the regular season finale, but a loss would most likely end any chance at a post-season game.  I'm picking Northwestern big behind their passing game.

Penn State (5-1) @ Ohio State (3-3)
McGloin's Performance Will Be Crucial for PSU
*This game would have meant so much more had the Buckeyes not crapped their pants against Purdue, but instead we're left with a game that is basically meaningless unless Wisconsin losses to Illinois...like that's gonna happen. The Buckeyes were given their opportunity to win the Big Ten but proved they weren't worthy. It will be Senior Night in Columbus, and DeVier Posey will be back, so maybe something mildly entertaining will come from Jim Bollman's offense...and I'm just full of jokes tonight. This will be a battle of defenses, and the Buckeye's has looked piss poor since their outstanding performance against Wisconsin. This will be interesting to see which Buckeye team hits the field and how the Nittany Lions respond to all of their issues as well as their first loss in Big Ten play. Last year Matt McGloin passed for two first-half touchdowns while staring down the Buckeye sideline.  The Bucks responded with two second-half pick-6's, and that seems to be a common occurance in this rivalry. Will McGloin prevail this year, and how will Silas Redd fare against this Buckeye defense? The Buckeyes have blamed their poor performances of the past two weeks on the early game time, but they won't have that excuse this week. They will need a strong performance to get the 'W'.

Wisconsin (4-2) @ Illinois (2-4)
Montee Ball is Racking Up Yards Again
*Wisconsin is 2 wins away from going to Indianapolis, and they can taste it. The one time strong favorite to win the conference apears to be back on a roll, and they seem to be the favorite by just about everyone even though PSU still holds the divisional lead. Illinois has done a great job of impersonating Michigan from the Rich Rod years as they have lost four straight since starting 6-0. The Boilermakers and Buckeyes will be praying for an Illini victory, but common sense would say otherwise. The only thing Illinois really has going is that this game is at home, and Wisconsin has struggled on the road this year.

The Conclusion:

What a great week of Big Ten football we have ahead of us. Every game has a sub plot as to why it's important. The Nebraska @ Michigan and Penn State @ Ohio State games seem to be the most intringuing match-ups of the weekend, but the Wisconsin @ Illinois game might be the most important. It shouldn't be much of a match-up as Wisconsin is back to their dominant form, and Illinois looks to have packed up their bags for the season; but that game, along with possibly the Michigan State @ Northwestern game of next weekend, have the ability to shake up the Big Ten Standings once again. Both Wisconsin and Michigan State should win, but both teams have the possibility of losing focus and over-looking teams in road games where just about every Big Ten team has struggled. The dust seems it has started to settle, and after this weekend; we will once again learn what these teams are made of.

My Big Ten Championship Game Prediction:
Leaders Division Champion: Wisconsin
Legends Division Champion: Michigan State

Friday, November 11, 2011

The B1G Mess (Part I)

With seven teams still in the Big Ten Championship hunt and only 3 weeks left, I thought it was necessary to dissect the conference standings and make some predictions for who will make it to Indianapolis. I focused on nine of the twelve Big Ten teams, but the other three have an outside shot at making waves in this confusing yet competitive race to Indianapolis.

The three teams that I've left out are Indiana (Bye, @MSU, Purdue), Northwestern (Rice, Minnesota, Michigan State), and Minnesota (Wisconsin, Northwestern, Illinois). Obviously, the Northwestern/MSU and Minnesota/Wisconsin games could change the outcome of the Big Ten; but I think the favorites will win in those games. One scary thing is that Wisconsin heads to Minneapolis this weekend, and the Badgers haven't won on the road yet this year. I would look for them to power their way to a big win though. Northwestern could beat MSU, and they are riding high after their win over Nebraska; but they have two other games before the Spartans roll into town. Chances are, that game won't be important; but the possibility of it being a big game still lingers.

Now I want to move on to the teams I've focused on. I have nine teams (Michigan State, Nebraska, Iowa, Michigan, Penn State, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Purdue, and Illinois) that have a shot at making noise down this crucial stretch of Big Ten play. Eight of the twelve Big Ten teams are bowl-eligible, and it is still possible for ten teams to get the necessary six wins if Northwestern and Purdue can win two of their three final games. Here are the current standings. These standings are based solely on conference records and show leaders based on head-to-head records.

Legends Division
Michigan State 7-2 (4-1)
Nebraska 7-2 (3-2)
Iowa 6-3 (3-2)
Michigan 7-2 (3-2)
Northwestern 4-5 (2-4)
Minnesota 2-7 (1-4)

Leaders Division
Penn State 8-1 (5-0)
Ohio State 6-3 (3-2)
Wisconsin 7-2 (3-2)
Purdue 4-5 (2-3)
Illinois 6-3 (2-3)
Indiana 1-9 (0-6)

In the final three weeks of Big Ten play, I have highlighted the eleven most important games. There's four games in weeks eleven and twelve and three games in week thrirteen that I'm going to key on. I'm going to show you matchups and make some predictions for week 11. My key games for weeks twelve and thirteen will be shown in this post, but I'm going to hold off on write-ups for those games in case my predictions are entirely off. As the season's end draws near, I will keep this blog series (The B1G Mess) going.

The records shown beside the team will reflect their current conference record.

Week 11

Nebraska 3-2 @ Penn State 5-0

Burkhead's Tough to Tackle
Everyone knows about the drama at PSU right now and is eager to see how their team will respond when a tough Nebraska team visits Happy Valley in this cross-divisional matchup. Both teams are fighting for Big Ten Championship births, but the big difference is that Penn State can afford to lose this game if they win out. I look for an emotional game at Beaver Stadium, and I think that the Huskers will rebound from their shocking loss to Northwestern to beat PSU. Penn State has the tools to beat Nebraska, but a lack of focus caused by the scandal is not good when facing a non-traditional offense that can score on any play. In the end, Nebraska pulls through.


Michigan State 4-1 @ Iowa 3-2

Sparty Has Bad History with Iowa
Iowa controls their own destiny, as does Michigan State. This game is huge for the Legends Division, and we all remember what Iowa did to MSU last year when they got off to a 37-0 start and ended up winning 37-6. This time it's at Iowa where the Hawkeyes are 6-0 this year. Michigan State's only road win came at Ohio State, and like that game; Coach Mark Dantonio cut players off from talking to the media during this week of preparation. A win by Iowa could make the Iowa/Nebraska game in week thirteen the decision-maker for the Legends Division. A win by MSU would leave the Spartans with only Indiana and Northwestern to beat to win the Legends Division Title. I think that MSU wants this game badly, but in the end, Iowa's pink locker room softens up the Spartans; and the Hawkeyes roll in another big win over Sparty.


Ohio State 3-2 @ Purdue 2-3

Herron Leads the Buckeyes
Purdue isn't in the running for the Big Ten title like the Buckeyes are, but this mini rivalry could give the Boilermakers the boost they need to become bowl eligible. The Buckeyes running game should dominate this game as Purdue's D-line has injury issues, and the Boilers struggle against the run. It'll be interesting to see how Purdue's offense attacks the Buckeye D because the secondary has struggled at times this year, and the Boilermakers have the skill players on the edge to take advantage of Buckeye mistakes. John Simon and Co. could and should register another huge game as they shut down the new-found Purdue ground attack, and I look for the Buckeyes to pull through in convincing fashion.


Michigan 3-2 @ Illinois 2-3

Denard Will Run on Illinois
Both of these teams are all but out of the Big Ten race, but the winner of this game could carry some momentum on in the last two weeks of Big Ten play in which both teams have big games. Michigan is trying to prove that they aren't the Wolverines of the past that will flop in the last half of the season. Illinois is trying to prove that they are the Fighting Illini of earlier this season that started 6-0 before going on this three game skid. Illinois is tough at home, but the Wolverines, under 1st year Head Coach Brady Hoke, will look to play solid defense and use their running attack to score points and eat the clock. This game saw both teams score in the 60's as they went to triple overtime a year ago. I wouldn't look for a high-scoring game. In the end, I think Michigan gets good play from it's defense and pulls off a rare road victory.

Standings after week 11.

Legends
Nebraska 8-2 (4-2)
Iowa 7-3 (4-2)
Michigan State 7-3 (4-2)
Michigan 8-2 (4-2)
Northwestern 5-5 (2-4)
Minnesota 2-8 (1-5)

Leaders
Penn State 5-2 (5-1)
Ohio State 7-3 (4-2)
Wisconsin 8-2 (4-2)
Purdue 4-6 (2-4)
Illinois 6-4 (2-4)
Indiana 1-9 (0-6)


These results set up for some very good week twelve and thirteen matchups. Right now, the cross-divisional games are just as important as the divisional games. With five 2 loss teams, one 1 loss team, and one undefeated team heading into Week 11; everyone is scrambling for wins; and PSU is the only team whose season doesn't completely change with a loss. Everyone wants to stay in the race for the championship. These games will be heated, and rivalries add fuel to the fire as the Big Ten season's end draws near. Winners will carry momentum onto next week where more drama awaits, and losers will fight the odds to rebound. Memories will be made in this season that has already proven to be memorable.

My Week 12 Predictons:

Penn State 5-1 @ Ohio State 4-2
*Winner would take Leaders Division lead. OSU - W

Wisconsin 4-2 @ Illinois 2-4
*If Illinois beat UM, this game would be meaningful. Wisconsin - W

Nebraska 4-2 @ Michigan 4-2
*UM is undefeated at home, and 2 wins by Nebraska would lead to a big week 13 matchup against rival Iowa. Nebraska - W

Iowa 4-2 @ Purdue 2-4
*If Iowa beat MSU, a win in this game would help keep them atop the Legends Division and allow the following Iowa @ Nebraska game decide the Legends Division Winner. Iowa - W


My Week 13 Predictions:

Iowa 5-2 @ Nebraska 5-2
*Game would decide the Legends Division Champion. Nebraska - W.
Penn State 5-2 @ Wisconsin 5-2
*PSU would be coming off a 2 game losing streak, and if OSU lost to UM; this would decide the Leaders Division Champion. Wisconsin - W.
Ohio State 5-2 @ Michigan 4-3
*If OSU wins, they go win the Leaders Division. Michigan wants to beat OSU so bad. OSU - W.

Legends Division Champion - Nebraska
Leaders Division Champion - Ohio State

Big Ten Championship Game
Buckeyes Would Love Another Shot at Huskers

An Offensive Identity Would Make a Difference


There will be at least a "The B1G Mess" Part II and III in the following weeks which will build off of this post but reflect the updating standings. Stay tuned!

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Focus - Ohio State @ Purdue

There are many factors that will help determine the outcome of the game this weekend as the Buckeyes head to West Lafayette to face the Boilermakers.

The Buckeyes looked like they were sleeping on the Big Ten's worst team, Indiana, last week when they struggled to put the Hoosiers away. The Bucks got a little banged up and were surely given a scare. That scare should serve as a wake-up call to players, coaches, and fans.


Buckeys Need to Block Kawann Short
 Coach Luke Fickell knows the task ahead is a tough one as the Buckeyes are 2-2 at Ross-Ade Stadium in the past decade. The Boilermakers are 4-1 at home this season, and any Big Ten road win is huge as most teams have been very successful in defending their turf. The Buckeyes are 1-2 on the road, but are 1-0 on the road since the return of Boom Herron.

Other elements adding to the game will be revenge and bowl eligibility. Purdue was stomped 49-0 last year in Columbus, and they would love to spoil the Buckeye's shot at the Big Ten Championship Game. A win by the Boilermakers would put an end to that Buckeye dream, and after over-coming so much this season; the Buckeyes want to finish the season out. That win would help the Boilermakers rebound from losing two of their last three games, and it would give them a boost in these last few weeks of regular season play. They need to win two of their final three games to become bowl eligible, and they have Ohio State and Iowa, who is 0-3 on the road, at home before traveling to Bloomington, Indiana to play the in-state rival Hoosiers. While Ohio State and Iowa have their sights set on winning their division, Purdue is hoping that one or both teams are over-looking them. After this weekend, the Big Ten Title race will take another form just as it transformed over the last two weekends. Right now, seven of the twelve teams can still make it to the Big Ten Championship Game. The Big Ten Title picture will be a little clearer after this weekend as there are four big games, but I will discuss all of this in my next post "The B1G Mess".


Braxton Has Rushed for 4 TD's in the Last 2 Games

The actual matchup on the field between Ohio State and Purdue is an interesting one. The Buckeyes have been dominant on the ground since the return of Boom Herron, and Braxton Miller looks to have gained confidence from the Wisconsin win. He set up blocks and jukes in the open field, and his burst is very impressive. Miller, Herron, and Hyde are a good combination. Pair that up with the Boilermaker's awful rush D and injuries on their D-line, and the Bucks should have little problems pounding the ball at Purdue. The coaches came out last week and said they were content with being a one-dimensional team, so we'll see how both teams gameplan for that.

Purdue's pass D is average, but they have a big-play CB in Ricardo Allen. The Bucks don't pass often, especially if it's windy, and had they had that mindset last week; the Indiana game would've been much different. They tried to establish a passing game which resulted in sacks and no big plays for the Buckeye offense. This team knows their offensive identity for now and needs to stick with running the ball. An improved passing game would be a huge boost for the Buckeyes, but that most likely will have to wait another week.


Simon Has Been a Monster Lately

Purdue's offense is one that will attack the Buckeye edges similar to the way that Toledo attacked. The Buckeyes struggled against the Boilers two years ago and struggled against Toledo this year, but they're getting better. Travis Howard has improved his game, and Bradley Roby has matured as the season has progressed. The Purdue attack makes the defense cover the whole field. The safeties can't give up easy ones like they have the past few weeks. One big positive about this matchup is that the Purdue QB isn't known for his mobility. The Bucks have struggled with the mobile Indiana QB, but John Simon and Co. should be able to break through the weak Purdue OL and pressure the QB. This will help the defense in all aspects tremendously. The key to this game is how well the Buckeyes tackle, and Coach Fickell is also directing more attention to getting turnovers.

Special teams has been a big bonus for the Buckeyes lately. Drew Basil has been nailing FG's but needs to avoid kicking out of bounds on kickoffs. Ben Buchanan has been a solid punter too. The Buckeye return game took a hit with the loss of Jordan Hall, but Hall seems like he's on his way back to action this week. If there's a place the Buckeyes really need Jordan Hall, it's returning kicks and punts. Some big special teams plays would help the Buckeyes this weekend, and a fast start would be monumental. The Boilers are known for getting on the scoreboard quickly, so an early big special teams play for the Buckeyes could be a game-changer.

Coach Fick knows that Purdue is a different team at home, and the Buckeyes can't come out flat against this hungry Boilermaker squad. The Buckeyes know that they can only worry about themselves and the task at hand. This week is all about focus. Don't focus on Penn State. Don't focus on the Big Ten Title. Don't even focus on rebounding from last week. Focus on the gameplan for this week's opponent. Know your role, and do your job.







                                                  
                                                                                       
                                                           


Go Bucks!

Friday, November 4, 2011

Buckeyes, Coaches Look for More Progression

The Buckeyes Celebrate the Big 'W'
In a season that has contained some highs and many lows, the Buckeyes are currently soaring about as high as they possibly could. It's not unlikely for a team to under-achieve when put in the situation that the Buckeyes are facing right now, but this is a team that has just found new life. They are back home against an inferior Indiana team as they look to avoid any kind of hangover from their upset win of Wisconsin in a game that was emotionally exhausting but well-worth the cost.

The Bucks have been solid in almost all aspects of the game over their last two contests as the team has started to mature and gel, but the one big problem seems to be finishing games. Saturday almost marked the second instance of the season when the Bucks gave up a big lead in the 4th quarter. This isn't including the late charge that Illinois took at the Bucks which came up very short. For some reason, the players seem to give up big plays and stop moving the ball on offense as they attempt to sit on the big lead.

The issue all revolves around coaching whether we're dealing with attitude, endurance, or play-calling. This team has taken total 180's twice only to be saved in their most recent contest by the late game heroics of a true freshman QB. Something is happening on that sideline and in that press box that needs to change. These coaches and players can't get comfortable with a lead especially against a solid offense. The rotation on the D-line needs to be a little more active to avoid draining key players before the 4th quarter. These, like the QB rotation, are minor coaching errors that need to be made if this team expects to continue to make noise down the home stretch of their season.

The season was very blurry before it unexpectedly came into focus last week, and OSU will look to avoid stumbling back into the haze of uncertainty. The cloud of NCAA sanctions will fall on the Bucks in the coming weeks, but the effects of that will be dealt with as needed. The cloud could catch back up to the Bucks if they stumble down the stretch in games which they should be favored. They look to continue their current trend of winning this weekend against Indiana.

Boom Herron is a Force for the Buckeyes
OSU is the heavy favorite as they head into the game with Indiana this weekend. Look for the Bucks to build a big lead by running the ball, playing solid special teams, and harrassing the gimpy Indiana offense with their dominant defense. This has been the key to the Buckeye's success.

Herron should have a huge game, but don't be surprised to see Carlos Hyde try to make the most out of any opportunity he gets since Jordan Hall will sit with an ankle injury. This offensive line should dominate the game, and I wouldn't be surprised to see OSU get 250-275 yards as a team.

The passing game is something that is expected to have recently taken a few steps in the right direction, but look for Jim Bollman to stay conservative with the passing game as he does not want to risk losing the confidence Braxton Miller has built. I wouldn't rule out 15 passes, but they will surely work on basics.

Ryan Shazier Blocks a Wisconsin Punt
The return game took a shot with Hall's injury, but Chris Fields will step in; and he is the only Buckeye who has a TD return this season. Hall will return for later games, but Fields and others should fill in fine. The defensive special teams got a big punt block from Ryan Shazier last week, and they have looked must better against returns this season. We could see some more big plays this week from the OSU special teams. Don't forget that OSU's kickers have been spot on. These guys don't get mentioned unless they're messing up, so it's good that they're not the center of attention.

The defense has been stellar in recent weeks.  Indiana loses their best two WR's for the season starting this week, so I would expect their offense to sputter against a solid Buckeye D. I would like to see more lineman get in the rotation for OSU to prepare for this final stretch, and we know the Bucks have the players. At the very least, we should see guys come in for mop-up duty.

Curtis Grant Celebrates Blocked Punt Recovery
Speaking of mop-up duty, hopefully we will see Kenny Guiton take his first snaps of the season. I know fans are waiting for the moment to shove that in Bollman's face, but it will be nice if we could see players like Curtis Grant and Doran Grant among many other stars in waiting for this young Buckeye squad.

I look for a dominant victory for the Buckeyes this weekend, and as long as OSU only worries about themself; the rest of the cards will fall in place. I mean, look where this team is in the Big Ten and how far they've come. As long as they focus on improving their own game, they will be just fine.

Go Bucks!

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Recap and Celebrate

Oh, what a night! The stars all gathered in Columbus as the Buckeyes changed the course of their season with a monumental win over Wisconsin. A game like last night's deserves some celebration. After what all has happened surrounding the program in the last year, not many things could be sweeter than breaking the Badgers hearts when they were in such a vulnerable position. That win, as many of you already know, has given the Buckeyes a shot at playing in the Big Ten Championship barring NCAA punishment.

Miller's Feet Prove Vital

That championship may be one reason to celebrate, but there are many other reasons for Buckeyes to rejoice after that victory. The young Buckeyes have started to gel which should only continue to build better chemistry, and the consistency of Boom Herron will allow Braxton Miller and the other young offensive players time to get even more comfortable in their own skin as the season matures. It seems that this game should also be a huge confidence boost to the entire team but especially for Braxton. The Buckeyes offense proved that, not only can they move the ball against a solid front seven, but they can rely heavily on their solid running game. The running game picked up with the return of Mike Adams and Boom, but I find it hard to believe that we can't find room for Carlos Hyde to get on the field. The running game is powered by Herron and Jordan Hall, but Braxton has shown that he can be very useful as well.



Miller and the TE's Celebrate One of His Rushing TD's
Terrelle Pryor's coming out party was arguably his freshman year during the game at Wisconsin when he made a big 11 yard touchdown run on an option left which ended up being the game-winning touchdown. Pryor was 13/19 for 144 yards and an interception and rushed 15 times for 20 yards and another score in that game. Miller's stats were much better as he was under far more pressure than Pryor was with the 4-1 record that the Buckeyes had at that time. Miller ended up only 7/12 for 89 yards but threw for a touchdown and no interceptions in a must-win game, and he rushed 19 times for 99 yards and 2 touchdowns. Both of those rushing touchdowns were crucial. The first touchdown came on a 4th and goal where Miller had to juke out a defender in the backfield to find his way into the endzone. Miller made a quick cut, the same cut that caused him an ankle injury at Nebraska, and walked in for six. The second touchdown was on a play that brought back bad memories for Badger fans. Miller took off on an option left and wasn't touched as he outran the Badger defense for a 44 yard touchdown. That rush should have been the game-winner, but the Buckeye secondary broke down multiple times down the stretch and allowed Wisconsin to take the lead again. Then Miller's real heroics came into play on his longest pass of the season. A pass that has given Braxton confidence in himself. A pass that all but finished off the game for the Buckeyes and broke the Badgers hearts for the second week in a row. A pass that Buckeyes will be talking about for a long time. A pass that went a little something like this...


This is a win that the Buckeyes had to earn, and they did earn every bit of it. They deserved to celebrate, and celebrate they did.


Tomorrow, we must go back to business; but today we can celebrate. Enjoy this one Buckeyes, and to all the heart-broken Badgers; all I have to say is...

GO BUCKEYES!!!

Game Highlights:


Friday, October 28, 2011

The Board Breakdown - Wisconsin@ Ohio State

The Buckeyes have had a chance to study Wisconsin for two weeks and got to see how the Badgers win and lose games. With Saturday quickly approaching, the Buckeyes are in their final preparation steps; and everyone is wondering what's going to happen.  Will the Badgers make more special team's errors?  Will the Buckeyes have an effective passing offense?  Who will win the battle in the trenches?  All of that will be answered this weekend, but until then we can only make predictions.

Bad news first...

Wisconsin O vs Ohio State D

The Bucks MUST avoid a slow start if they want to win this game, and avoiding the slow start will keep the Scarlet Storm loud since they've had a chance to tailgate for hours before the game. This will be a hard hitting game.

Wisconsin's huge offensive line caused problems for the Buckeyes last year as they pounded the ball down their throats after getting up early. The bad news is that this O-Line is still huge, but the Buckeyes have some interior size of their own in Big Hank who weighs around 335 lbs. The weakness of this big Badger line is quickness. They have the mean streak and strength to drive opponents off the ball, so the key to stopping this offense starts with containing Montee Ball. The guy is a great RB, but he took a pop last week that kept him out for a multiple series. The Bucks need to come out hitting hard and show their toughness. The focus of stopping the running game is steady gap control by the whole defense. Everyone must play their assignments and make tackles. The Buckeyes have to play fast to get penetration and pressure the QB.

Wilson is a good QB, but he's not Superman. Yes, he's having a good season, but the guy DOES NOT want to be hit; and he likes to run the ball on occassion. Getting pressure on Wilson makes the difference in his game. The Badgers have good WR's, so you can't allow him to pick you apart.
Wilson can be a difference maker in the game if he's connecting with his receivers and picking up yards on scrambles.  With OSU's athletes on defense, I wouldn't expect him to take off on any big runs because he will  scramble to the sidelines or look to slide.  He, like Ball, doesn't want to get his bell rung.
The Buckeyes need to be flying to the ball, and everyone needs to be ready to hit. Who is tougher?

Now, the good news...

Ohio State O vs. Wisconsin D

This aspect of the game is strength-on-strength and weakness-on-weakness. This bodes well for the Buckeyes who have a steady ground attack. The Badgers D plays sound defense. They don't have a J.J. Watt this year, but they still play tough up front. The big issue with this defense is pursuit to the ball and speed. Boom Herron and Carlos Hyde have running styles that are well-suited for a defense like this, and the Buckeyes will surely rely heavily on the three-headed monster that is Herron, Hyde, and Jordan Hall.  It'll be interesting to see how many carries each back gets, but could this be the game where Hall catches the ball more or even lines up in the slot? Coach Fickell said he had a plan for all three backs this week, so I wouldn't expect any negative tweets after the game from these guys. Braxton should be back running full force with having a little break from play, and his speed could be dangerous against this Wisconsin D.  All three backs and Braxton have the ability to take one to the house if given the room, so big plays in the running game are a definite possibility.The running game will make the game shorter and keep the Badger offense off the field.
This Wisconsin secondary can be exploited with speed, so Philly Brown could potentially have a huge game if Braxton is ready. This should be the coming out party of the OSU passing game which will help the running game be more successful. There is no excuse for not being able to score some points in this game. Jake Stoneburner's presence could be huge as the Buckeyes nickle and dime their way down the field. Wisconsin's defense is not a push-over, but OSU has the athletes to be effective. 

The Conclusion...

Special teams was bad last week for Wisconsin. This could potentially be one of the most important aspects of the game. Plus, Jordan Hall is due for a big return.

Offensively, Ohio State needs to eat up the clock; but the passing game must show up if the Bucks want a shot at Indy. Run the ball, don't commit turnovers, and capitalize on mistakes. This is the style OSU wants to play, and it should work in this game.

Defensively, the Buckeyes need to play with attitude. They need to hit hard and win the battle in the trenches. We'll see what they're made of this week.

It'll be a chilly night in Columbus, but a Buckeye victory would bring new life to Buckeye Nation. Buckeye fans need to be loud. We all want this one.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Get Ready for Combat


Get your game face on Buckeyes because the Badgers are coming to town on Saturday, and they're in a bad, bad mood.

What happened late Saturday night in East Lansing could have possibly been the worst thing for the Buckeyes depending on how high Wisconsin's dreams were really set. The Badgers have been riding high all season on a potent top-ten ranked offense and a stingy, also top-ten ranked defense; and that all came crashing down late Saturday night. The Badgers, who faced their toughest defensive foe of the season, started high scoring 14 easy points in a first quarter shutout. If they were ever doubting their ability to win going into Sparty's territory, those doubts were put to rest early. Russell Wilson looked like the seasoned veteran that he is completing passes, and Monte Ball gashed the Spartan defense for big yardage. Both players accounted for a touchdown in the first quarter. These two players are who the Badgers ride on, they are the heart of this team. If they are playing well, the team is playing well; but when they make mistakes, the team falls too. Many of the mistakes that Wilson made were due to the pressure that Sparty's defense put on, a pressure that the Buckeyes know first hand. Wilson had a costly intentional grounding out of his own end zone which gave the Spartans their first 2 points of the ballgame. Wilson also accounted for two interceptions which was double his season total going into the game. Montee Ball never really made any mistakes, but his absence from the game due to a big hit showed how important he is to this team. James White is a great RB, but the quickness that he brings to the table doesn't make up for the power that Ball has. The Badger offense always runs behind an enormous offensive line, and they have found a great combination with Ball consistently bringing excellent running abilities to the table.

Last season the Buckeyes struggled to stop the rushing attack of Wisconsin. Wisconsin ran the ball down our throats the entire game which was fueled by David Gilreath's opening kickoff returned for a touchdown. The fact that the Buckeyes let John Clay rush for 104 yards and 2 touchdowns doesn't shock me because the guy was practically an offensive guard with 4.6 speed. The Buckeyes, specifically Orhian Johnson, looked foolish trying to tackle Clay up top throughout the game.
The thing that scares me is that even though Wisconsin's RB's this year don't have the size of Clay, we struggled to stop James White who weighs all of about 190 pounds. They run behind that big offensive line, and the Buckeyes have to find a way to stuff the run. Ball missed a good chunk of the second quarter, a quarter in which Sparty tallied up 23 points all while holding the Badger offense scoreless. White filled in for Ball but lacked the ability to break tackles which is crucial when playing a solid defense like Michigan State's.

Wisconsin's offense looked very good at times specifically on those two first quarter touchdown drives and their two much-needed touchdown drives in the 4th quarter. Wilson looked composed throughout the entire game even when he made mistakes. The absence of Ball slowed the Wisconsin offense down quite a bit, and he was either held out or took off a few drives late in the game. His health is imperative to the success of this offense.

The Buckeyes got to sit at home and watch this game from their couches as they had a bye week. It was amusing reading tweets all night of players watching this game. Buckeye fans should feel good knowing that on the weekend off, the player's minds were focused on their next game and playing with a renewed energy. Even after a sluggish start, this season has purpose. Transition season? No way, it's just taken time for the Bucks to gel. Now, a showdown with Wisconsin approaches, and the Buckeyes want this one bad.

This is a series that has haunted Buckeye fans in recent years. If Luke Fickell only coaches one season at Ohio State, he has a shot to do something that the great Jim Tressel didn't even do...have a winning record against Wisconsin.

Robert Reynold's Choke
In 2002, the Buckeyes narrowly escaped Madison with a 19-14 victory which they had done at just about every venue that year. The following year the Buckeyes had to travel back to Madison again. They were once again squeaking out victories and were riding the nation's longest win streak, and then Robert Reynolds committed a nasty foul which Badgers still talk about. Jim Sorgi left the game, and Matt Shaubert came in to finish the game.

The one emotion I remember from this game was the feeling of defeat before the game was over. The Buckeyes were used to playing in close games from the past season and a half, but this one was different. The momentum seemed relatively even through the 3rd quarter as the Badgers only added a FG to give them a seven point lead. The momentum seemed to "jump" in Wisconsin's favor when the game entered the 4th quarter.


The Buckeyes tied the game at 10, but the Badgers still seemed to possess the momentum. The fans stuck behind their team, and the Badgers continued to pound it out. When Shaubert came into the game the Badgers leaned heavily on their ground game, and the Buckeyes had shut down Lee Evans throughout the entire game. One big play would decide the fate of this game. If Evans runs an out, Gamble takes it back for 6; and the Buckeyes continue their run toward a second national championship in two seasons; but instead of that happening...



That 17-10 loss would be followed in 2004 by another loss, this time at home. The series momentum seemed to sway toward Wisconsin, and it seemed that there was a new rivalry born. The Buckeyes and Badgers had a few seasons away from each other. These two programs resumed action in 2007 which was the start of 3 straight Buckeye victories. Within these victories was a defense-dominated Buckeye victory in Columbus which resulted in some hateful words coming out of the mouth of Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema. The coach talked about how much he hated losing to Ohio State and stressed his focus of beating the Buckeyes in the future.

David Gilreath's TD kickoff return
That three-game winning streak came to an end last season. Ohio State was looking at another National Championship appearance while being ranked #1 in the nation, but the Badgers controlled the ball and got to the Buckeye QB throughout the entire game. J.J. Watt is a name that Buckeyes won't forget for a long time. That loss was the start of the fall which didn't seem to have ended until a few weeks ago, but some aren't convinced that the falling has stopped yet. This weekend's game will give us an insight as to if this team has found their identity yet.

J.J. Watt
Braxton Miller had a solid game going at Nebraska before injuring his ankle, and last week Boom Herron returned and proved to be just about all of the Buckeye's offense. The victory over a previously unbeaten Illinois was huge for the program as there seemed to be separation forming between players and coaches, coaches and coaches, and offense and defense. The win gave the Buckeyes new life, and the week off allowed the players to relax; but they didn't relax. The players stayed up late tweeting all night about the game that they were watching, and when instant replay had announced the touchdown at the end of the game, Buckeye players exploded. Players were saying things like 'God's given us another chance' and 'we're back in this' among other positive tweets. That tweeting has continued through the week, but Luke Fickell has tried to keep players away from the media and denied that this game was about revenge. Some Buckeyes tweets would say that revenge is a factor, but this team is definitely in the best possible place they could right now, especially mentally, with what this season has dealt them.

Wisconsin fans after the 31-18 upset
The players have tweeted all week about how anxious they are for this weekend, and even limited talk with the media has produced some positive quotes. The players have their groove back, and they want to make sure that Ohio Stadium is in full force this weekend. Even Fickell has stated that he hopes Buckeye Nation is ready for this game. This is time for Buckeye faithful to be the true fans that we can be and show the nation that we can be loud. Wisconsin fans pride themselves on being loud and belligerent. This is a school where profanity toward other teams has been practiced. Sorry for the language, but these chants have to be heard by Buckeye Nation.


These are the same fans that have shown repeated hatred for Ohio State. Jealousy? Perhaps, but the issues with the Wisconsin fan base have passed the line of acceptable. After the Badger football team pulled off a monumental upset of Ohio State, the Basketball team gave OSU their first loss of the season when they were also ranked #1. Chants of 'just like football' started in the Badger crowd, but it wasn't the chants that crossed the line this time. It was reported that before and especially after the game, Badger fans spat in the face of Buckeye star Jared Sullinger. When Bo Ryan was asked about it he replied with something along the lines of 'all I know is we won, so deal with it'. Deal with it? Well, the basketball Bucks dealt with it by stomping the Badgers on their visit to Columbus. Now, it's time for the football team to deal with it. Nothing would have been sweeter than to knock Wisconsin from the list of unbeaten, but all of us Buckeyes would gladly accept a solid win playing the physical style that both teams love. Beat them at their own game. This includes running the ball, hitting hard, controlling the line of scrimmage, and being loud, energetic fans. I can't stress the last part enough.

It's Halloween weekend, and the Buckeyes play an 8:00 game. Even though there are some exciting games on this weekend, the 8:00 time slot isn't filled with any game with more excitement than the Buckeyes vs. the Badgers. This is the chance for the players and all of us fans to show the nation who we are. Let everyone know that we are strong, and we aren't going anywhere.

The Scarlet Storm rolls into Columbus Saturday night and needs to be fierce
We have been blessed with a second life in this season, and we have to take advantage of it. Buckeyes at the stadium have a chance to have a great time, but come 8:00; we need to get ready for combat. The game faces go on, and we need to support this team by being loud and energetic. We will not sink to the level of the Wisconsin fans because we are smarter and better than them. We need to be loud and cause problems for the Badgers.

The Buckeyes will be ready for combat in their Nike Pro Combat Uniforms. The players have been excited about these helmets all week, and I think these are the best Pro Combats that we will have worn so far. We will take anything to give us an edge in this game, and we can only hope that with the uniforms meant to honor Woody Hayes' 1961 Buckeyes comes the brute strength and attitude that they brought week in and out. This is going to be the coming out party of this Buckeye football team, and they can't wait for Saturday night to get here.

The Pro Combat Helmets
Picture it in your head. There's a chill outside that's warmed by the energy surrounding the Shoe. The adrenaline rush sweeps over your body as the game draws near, and the chills fade. You want to run full speed at a Badger and knock him square on his butt and let the sweet vibrations of impact calm the beast if only for a few seconds. You envision it as the time draws near. The stadium is a scarlet sea jumping and yelling fans. The stadium erupts as the marching band rolls out of the tunnel. The sounds are all a blur as the volume escalates with the anticipation of the Buckeyes racing onto the field sporting their new uniforms and shiny silver helmets. The emotions from the fans are passing through the players as they wait at the end of the tunnel for their grand entrance. The Best Damn Band In The Land creases open giving way to the Buckeye players as they race across the field waving their arms for the fans to get louder because they love the rush that has made their extremities go numb. The anticipation and volume somehow grow louder as the ball is placed on the tee. The countdown is on...3...2...1, and boom; the ball is kicked off as the crowd yells O-H-I-O so loud that it frightens fans in that state up north. The scene looks like something from 300 as two enemies clash into each other at full force. The fresh sounds of pads smashing each other is briefly heard before the crowd and players scream in satisfaction of the start of war. It's on. Buckeyes vs. Badgers. Where will you be?
The Ruby Red's

This weekend is going to be one to remember, and I can only hope that Buckeye Nation will be represented well. Check back later in the week for my game breakdown, but until then...

Go Bucks!!!

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

BuckIDENTITY

The Buckeyes are coming fresh off their bye week and have a new sense of life on and off the field.

The Buckeyes are certain they have found an identity with the return of Daniel "Boom" Herron and Mike Adams. The running game which features three backs has been strong over the course of the last two games and only seems to be building chemistry. Jordan Hall and Carlos Hyde have been the feature backs early in the season, but Boom stepped in last week and basically was all of the OSU offense. The Buckeyes have had to take pressure off their young QB, and that has been a success over those two games. Now, with a physical defense and potent offense coming to the Shoe; the Bucks have to find a little more balance. No longer will pure power dominate the game, but Jim Bollman will surely continue to rely on the ground game to control the ball and the clock.

The absence of the passing game against Illinois had many fans wondering what was going on. Surely the wind couldn't have been that big of an issue because Illinois continued to throw the ball quite a bit. Braxton had just come off a game (Nebraska) where he looked much better throwing the ball, and Philly Brown was a threat catching the ball. Jake Stoneburner had a big catch-and-run score on a TE screen that the Buckeye faitful has seen before, and not only has it worked well just about every time; but it seems to be Bollman's most 'risky' playcall. The passing game seemed to start taking shape...then Bauserman came in. Joe Bauserman threw 1-10 for an interception and took much of the blame for the Buckeye's historic flop. Fans were in an uproar over how Bollman went away from an effective rushing attack and leaned on a cold, unproven quarterback who many think should be #3 or 4 on the depth chart. Bollman hears 'pass less' being yelled by fans all week, so what does he do? He passes less...for a total of 4 times in a game that many expected the Buckeyes to lose. Not only did they not lose, but they just physically dominated a previously undefeated team. Was this a good gameplan or just athletic domination? I would have to think the latter since the passing game had just looked so much better in the previous week. It wasn't an erratic Braxton Miller that pushed them into a run-based offense because he wasn't even given the chance to throw the ball. Maybe Bollman saw something during pre-game that caused him to go ultra-conservative, and it was reported that Braxton struggled to push off that back foot on passes; but there's no excuses to only complete 1 pass and only have 4 attempts. Braxton is better than that, but now we move on to a new week; and this week means everything.

The Buckeye players sat at home and watched as their next opponent, rival, and most dominant team in the Big 10 this season lost in a heart-breaker. Their perfect season was denied by mere inches with the aid of instant replay. They don't sting much more than that, but now the Badgers are in rebound mode. As they role into the Shoe this Saturday, they will surely look to avoid a slow start.

The Badgers need to do what they did last year against the Buckeyes in starting off fast to avoid slumping and giving the ball to a team looking to slow the game and burn the clock. The Buckeye's strategy will most likely be the usual run the ball, avoid turnovers, and work field position; but could we possibly see something else? We've been waiting to see Jordan Hall in the slot all year, and Fickell said they had a plan for all three RB's. This is the game where there's nothing to hold back, but I would assume Bollman will stick to the basics. I would expect to see more passing attempts than 4, but I guess I haven't seen the weather forecast either.

Check back later this week as I will have more on the Buckeyes/Wisconsin matchup which will include a motivating post. Fickell said he hopes the fans are ready for this weekend, so I want to help us get ready.

Follow me on Twitter @BuckeyeBoard and on the Facebook page.

Go Bucks!

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Luke Fickell: The True Buckeye



You don't start a head coaching career at a school like Ohio State, you end them there. Has there ever been a Buckeye head coach in the modern day that left and coached at another school? Will Luke be the first? The way this season is going, he just might be; but don't be too quick to draw conclusions.

So many of Buckeye Nation have ripped Fickell apart for his "decisions" on and off the field since taking over as head coach. Many debate whether he's just an interim coach or someone who deserves another shot next season. I mean, even Rich Rod got 3 seasons, and he never beat UM's two biggest rivals (OSU and MSU).

The big difference is that Luke doesn't run the show. You can tell by watching him and watching this team's progress. Listen to him at press conferences. He never talks about decisions that 'he' made or how 'he' is going to correct certain situations (i.e. that backup QB). It's always about 'we' and 'us', and it has to be that way. A co-worker becoming boss always has the makes of a disaster. We've all seen it in our own jobs, and people have a difficult time getting behind the vision of someone that used to work beside them. OSU knew this, and when Fickell was assigned to fill this coaching vacancy; it was just to give the position an identity or a face. He wasn't hired to mold this program around the vision that he has been building over the years which is what the head coach's role usually is. Was Luke ready? No way! Everybody knew he wasn't ready because he had no head experience whatsoever, but what coach could the Buckeyes have brought in with all the NCAA sanctions hanging over our heads? No head coach with a decent reputation wants to jump into a program that may have to be rebuilt from the ground up, so OSU did the best thing they could in hiring someone who is a Buckeye and who will keep some kind of stability in this transitional period.

Bollman runs this offense and has brought the majority of the negative attention on the program this season as far as what's happening on the football field. Strong statement, yes; but it's the truth. He continues to be bland, call bad plays, and backup one of the worst QB's in Ohio State history. It seems that the obvious is finally catching up with him as Kenny Guiton appears to be jumping up the depth chart, but we need to see a solid attack on the offensive side of the ball. I wonder if the changes he's made are all beacuse of fan complaints. Fans bring in the money, and OSU won't continue to sell out The Shoe with offensive performances like we've seen. High school teams have better balance than OSU, and it's coaching; not all on Braxton and the young receivers. The youth of our players and coach have brought on a few mistakes, but Bollman and his offense have lost many of these games this year. They had all off season to prepare these young guys. We didn't do anything at Miami or against Michigan State, and once our plan of relying on Braxton against Nebraska went down; we couldn't even manage to get a few first downs in a game that we had been dominating. Is he over-thinking everything or just too lazy to make sure that we have backup plans if the original plan doesn't work or is lost via injury? It's a good thing that OSU fans are educated enough to realize that this is on Bollman, otherwise Coach Fick would've been run out of town by now.

Even Luke knew he wasn't truely ready for this position. If the Buckeyes were winning, he'd be hoisted up as the savior to an ailing program. The fact is that the Buckeyes are losing far more games than the fans are used to, and he's taking heat in every press conference about his decisions with plays; players; and timeouts; some of which aren't even his choice. But he's the face, the guy who the casual fan looks to for all of their questions. This all was expected by Luke, so don't expect to see him lose his cool any time soon. He's a true Buckeye and will take the heat for what's happening, or not happening, this year. All Buckeyes will be grateful about 3 years down the road when they realize how important it was for him to step up and play this role. He didn't ask for it, but he will surely play it because of who he is...a Buckeye.

At the end of this season, changes will be made. Bollman and Siciliano are two obvious choices for replacement as they have struggled to get constant development from top-tier talent. As I stated earlier, you don't start head coaching careers here; and there's coaches, including coordinators and positions coaches, who are drooling over the young talent that's gaining experience. This university is too big to not have a coach who has experience and who is ready to keep the football program at an elite level.

You have to feel for Coach Fick and his decision to take this job knowing it wasn't going to be a long-term position and knowing that he would take heat for decisions that weren't his. This institution needs to regroup and get a fresh start, and that will happen just as soon as the last football game is played this year. The good news is Urban Meyer, who many are calling the next Buckeye Head Coach, has strong ties with Jim Heacock; so there's a chance that Buckeye fans will get the offense they want while keeping the defensive team in tact.  Could Fickell step down and eventually take over for a soon-to-retire Jim Heacock?  That question could be answered in a matter of a few months.  Until then, Go Bucks!

Friday, October 14, 2011

The Board Breakdown - OSU/Illinois

I haven't done one of these for a few games, but I feel like the keys to this game are jumping out at me. This is going to be a quick highlight of those key points.

OSU's Running Game:
I called for the Hyde/Herron/Hall trio to put up about 230 yards rushing this week. That doesn't include Braxton Miller's rushing yards, but I'm hoping he doesn't have to take off too much. Illinois' pass rush is good enough to make him take off. Play-calling needs to rely on our rushing game to open up the pass. I hate thinking that this offense is all in the hands of Jim Bollman, but I feel like a man making as much money as he does can learn to get better. It's obvious that he didn't have to do much while Coach Tress was running the show. This is a team that needs smart play-calling. There has to be balance between conservative or aggressive and run or pass, but it is clear that the run needs to be used to open the pass. If the offense was put in a similar situation as last week, I would expect them to focus on running the ball; but whatever they do they need to sustain a drive to give the defense a break.

OSU's Passing Game:
This is an area that looked so much better last week...while Braxton was in. I do not want to see Joe Bauserman play meaningful snaps ever again. He hasn't done anything this year, or ever for that fact; so you have to give Kenny Guiton the #2 spot. The passing game used better play-calling and good decision making by Braxton to be efficient last week. Philly looked good, and it was nice to see Stoney get to run one in. The things I would like to see this week is an early shot downfield, if the wind's not too bad, and us passing to the backs more. Hopefully, that includes getting Jordan Hall in the slot like we'd heard about, and that's a possibility with Herron back. We need Braxton to have another efficient game, and much of that hinges on the offensive line's ability to keep one of the nation's best pass rushes out of the Buckeye backfield. JB Shugarts needs to play well with the Big Ten's leading sacker, who guarenteed a win over OSU and said said he wanted to rub it in, lining up around him throughout the game. A good running game can take pressure off the passing game, but if Braxton isn't slowed down by his ankle; he could have some big scrambling runs against this defense that brings pressure. This will be a good test for OSU. The bucks have to pick up the rush, and Braxton needs to either find the gap to scramble or get rid of the ball quick. This will be the most interesting aspect when the Buckeyes have the ball.

Illinois' Running Game:
The option is dangerous for this defense, and we saw it last week in the second half. Tackling is crucial. They play 3 RB's who run very different, like OSU's RB's. Etienne Sabino will need to play well. We need to be in position and execute proper tackling techniques. We can't stand for whiffing like Bryant did last week. We have to keep our feet moving to attack ball carriers. Sabino stopped moving his feet many times last week which allowed Nebraska's RB to run around him. These are the little things that happen when players get tired, but they're fundamentals that need to be executed. Illinois' QB is a tough player with talent. He likes running the ball and makes pretty good decisions with the ball. The Buckeyes need to slow this team early and stay on them. Our guys are young and capable of big things, but they are also prone to errors. As long as they continue to improve, we'll be okay.

Illinois' Passing Game:
AJ Jenkins, know where he is at all times. Travis Howard is great when he's facing the QB, but he has not played well when he's facing away. Bradly Roby ran his mouth this week saying AJ Jenkins wasn't really that good, so now he needs to backup his words with actions. The issue when playing this Illinois team is that they're capable of throwing short or deep and running at you or stretching the field. Our defense has to run and tackle well, but we have to play in position and not get lazy. Our pass rush has lacked, and that's an understatement, this season which is due to the injury of Nate Williams; but they need to find a way to get to the QB. The Illinois stadium is known for having some crazy winds, and this might be a factor in the down-field passing game. We can only hope.

Special Teams:
Illinois hasn't been getting good production from their punter, and they allowed Indiana to return a kickoff for a TD.

OSU needs some big returns to help with field position and momentum. Jordan Hall should have fresh legs, and he or Jaamal Berry are capable of taking one to the house. I feel that one of them will have a big return this week. Drew Basil has been solid since a shaky start, and Ben Buchanan has been dropping punts inside the 20 on a consistent basis. If the coaches call a good game, special teams could be huge for OSU.

The Conclusion:
The return of Boom Herron gives the Buckeyes some more production on the ground, but more importantly it gives us motivation, confidence, and leadership. Could he be the missing link? We'll find out soon enough.

This is a tough game for both teams who are playing different roles than they're used to. The Bucks need to pull it together, and if they do; they'll be rewarded with a win. If I had to put money on it, I'd say that Bollman somehow messes things up again; and our defense needs good play from the offense. We need this win so bad, to the point that it could change the direction the rest of this season goes. Let's all say a prayer for this one. Go Bucks!