Pride And Dignity
by Sam @ WWAHT on Sep 13, 2009 12:18 AM EDT
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PrintAlright, we didn't pull it out. We dominated the proceedings for about three quarters. We didn't quite choke, but we didn't win. I'm not pissed. I'm not calling for anyone's head. For the most part, Jim Tressel called an excellent ballgame. Congratulations to the Trojans. Outside of some early chippiness, they were all class.
Still, we're left with basically what we had entering the game: a prolonged losing streak to the best of the best. What's worse, it's not like USC played the game of their lives. Barkley was far from perfect, it took McKnight three quarters and ten minutes to wake up, and Damian Williams was mostly pulling a disappearing act in between the occasional jaw-dropping catch. But we had a whole freaking lot to do with all that.
The Good
- Let's start with the obvious: the defensive line. On every USC drive but the two most critical ones (the field goal before the half and the TD at the end), they were phenomenal. Lights out. That USC line is still a collection of five first rounders, and Thaddeus Gibson, Nathan Williams, Cameron Heyward, Dexter Larimore, even Rob Rose, all gave them everything they could handle. For an extended period of time, USC's makeshift strategy to slow them down was to just hold them. The Trojan running game never got untracked, and Barkley never got comfortable. Simply the best performance I've seen out of the front four since 2002, hands down.
- The secondary. Yes, there were big plays here and there, but Damian Williams never went ape like I thought he would. I think a lot of this had to do with the presence of Jermale Hines, and the non-presence, outside of some nickel packages, of Anderson Russell. Big ups to Chimdi Chekwa for locking down Williams most of the night.
- Brian Rolle. Brian freaking Rolle. Studmundus. Plays with speed simply unheard of the past few years at OSU at the LB position, and hits like a ton of bricks. He's already the next great Ohio State LB.
- Daniel Herron. USC's defensive front was swarming, but when there was a hole, Herron found it. No, his stats aren't eye-opening, but if you watched the game, you know he ran with vision and toughness, especially on 3rd down.
- Brandon Saine. While the FB looks seemed to go away after a while, when it was deployed, it worked beautifully. Saine just has excellent hands and will be a bona fide weapon at the end of the season.
- The playcalling. Let me explain myself: much of what Jim Tressel did broke all sorts of tendencies, and consistently kept the USC defense off balance. It was aggressive, it was varied, and in general, it was far from the vanilla stuff we're used to seeing. More on this later.
The Bad
- The execution. This isn't just coach-speak. This is also why the offense's numbers aren't the sexiest. Pryor was staring down receivers, Bryant Browning still cannot pull to save his life, and the downfield blocking was non-existent. This makes Herron's day all the more commendable, but makes Tressel's playcalling, which I thought was mostly great, look a whole lot worse than it actually was.
- One really, really bad defensive playcall - putting Ross Homan one-on-one with Joe McKnight. This single brainfart basically cost us the game. I hope Heacock isn't given too hard a time for it, because it was one missed note in what was otherwise a symphony of aggressive looks, blitzing and stunting.
- Towards the end of the game, I noticed OSU reverting to some softer looks on the outside, which made some of USC's shorter stuff work. The press had been excellent up to that point, but I imagine Heacock made this decision because he didn't want that fullback wheel burning us again.
- Settling for a field goal in the 2nd quarter. God almighty, our QB is 6'6", 240 pounds, and on the one-yard line we're taking a five step drop and handing it off to a 190-lb tailback? Cue my smarmy Denis Leary-from-the-Direct-TV-commercials incredulous face. I love Boom and all, but I'm never going to rely on him to pick THAT up against THAT defense.
The Downright Confusing
- Uh, Pryor? Dude, you got off to such a hot start. I mean, after that pick and everything, but... settle down, man. There were times when he wasn't even getting pressured and the Todd Boeckman Happy Feet came out. I give him a solid B-minus on the day - that 3rd down conversion on the ground was magnificent, as were his passes to Dane Sanzenbacher, DeVier Posey and Brand: Insaine. But he's just not a consistent quarterback right now. The arm-punts have mostly gone away, but he's still overthrowing 6'7" guys like Jake Ballard and tossing prayers off his back foot. He's just a sophomore, so I'm not even close to worried about his progress yet, but seeing such greatness trammeling itself with boneheaded mistakes is heartwrenching.
- The offensive line. Periods of surprising dominance interspersed with "here we go again" flopping and lollygagging. Overall, I think they did well too; it's USC, and that they didn't have 7 sacks at the end of the day is partially a testament to both Cordle and Miller for limiting the Trojans' bevy of pass rushers just enough to keep the offense intermittently functional. However, a lot of their success can also be attributed to Pryor's ability to scoot once he feels pressure. As surprisingly decent as the pass-blocking was, the run blocking was tough. They simply could not move the Trojans backward, and really, most teams can't, but tonight was especially brutal. The defense gave these guys all sorts of chances to score, and they just couldn't do it.
- This isn't an Ohio State thing, but where was the fullback wheel for USC? The way OSU was loading up against the run, it would have worked for at least a good 15 yards. Instead, Havili got one touch on the night that I can remember off the top of my head.
All in all, I'm proud of this team. They came out and fought. They didn't lie down and take it like many in the media wanted them to. For those of you out there currently in despair at what you'll hear from Cowherd, Mark May et al. this week: calm down. Turn the radio off. Turn the TV off. Read a few blogs where people usually know what they're talking about. Anyone who watched this game tonight will know that it was an epic battle between two talent-stacked teams. USC preserved their OOC win streak. Ohio State preserved something else, even if no one outside of Ohio is willing to admit it: its pride. Its dignity. It played with a passion and a fire I haven't seen from this team in years. It actually looked like it wanted to be on the field. Like it wanted to prove its detractors wrong. The knowledgeable detractors will probably look at this game and at least make some changes to their criticisms. The idiots... well, they'll always be there. Screw 'em.
I'm not "settling" for keeping it close. I'm frustrated and tired. I've got a headache that probably won't go away for a few days. But I simply won't deny that I'm glad we made them earn every single yard.
Our boys fought. Like fucking warrior poets. That's more than can be said for what we saw in Glendale, New Orleans, and Los Angeles. I am damn proud of my football team tonight.
Go Bucks.
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Good Post
I’m most confused about running the same run play twice from the 2 and settling for a FG. I mean, if we ran Pryor outside, how often would they stop this? 10% of the time, maybe? That and Pryor taking a 4 yard sack that made a FG try an impossibility went a long way to determining this game.
Great game, but I’m still waiting for someone to take the knife out of my chest that has been there since the NCG against Florida.
Die-hard 'SC fan
and I just wanted to tell you guys, “great game!” I know it sucks, and I know you really don’t want to hear from any ‘SC guys, but I wanted to congratulate you on a really gutsy, tough-ass, high class effort. I was scared to death tonight, and I never thought a Big 10 team would scare me.
Your defense was unbelievable — I can’t remember the last time (I really can’t) where I saw our line dominated like that. You have a lot to be proud of … congrats.
I needed a team so I wouldn’t turn into one of the eighty million pink hat-wearing Bud Light-drinking mulleted idiots at Fenway.
I'll say this
Ohio State did better than I was expected. I’m annoyed that they didn’t pull it out, but at least you proved USC’s human.
(Um, but don’t, um, like read ANY of my posts from BSD tonight because I was very close to stating my intention to attempt to murder all of the OSU players for, like, um, gutlessness and stuff. Hell, I even have a poll. You probably don’t want or need to hear from a PSU fan right now, so like, see you in November and stuff.)
DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?
If Pryor hadn't thrown that interception in the begininng of the game
guess what? You guys would have won.
But let’s not play that game. Great game by Barkley, a true freakin’ freshman who pulled out all the stops when it counted. And kudos to Pryor, who wore appropriate eye black for once. His hype, no thanks to Navy and USC, will have to be lived out on another day – if ever.
See you guys on November 7th!
i'm honestly surprised that this was your take on the game...
let me start by saying that i read everything you write. you provide an excellent take on my favorite team and you write whatever the hell you want, which is awesome. you really run a nice blog here and you’ve impressed me countless times.
but…
to say jim tressel called an excellent ballgame is laughable.
also, your second paragraph completely nullifies your first paragraph. how can you say we “dominated the proceedings” when we were up against such mediocre performances by the opposition? not to mention, our “dominance” owes their special teams a thank you note for giving us 5 points that we did not earn. the missed field goal and safety were nice gestures, but proved to be all but costly for the trojans in the end. the point i’m trying to make is that if we didn’t dominate them on offense (which is obvious), and they didn’t play flawless, high-flying football which typically necessitates dominance by the defense in order for their team to win, then at which point did the buckeyes truly “dominate the proceedings”? to me, that’s just a bunch of fluff and you’re kidding yourself.
i am not trying to pick apart your writing or poke holes in each one of your arguments, but in my opinion, it looks as if you don’t want to show how you truly feel about the game—that this post is merely a formality intended to show that you aren’t only about knee-jerk reactions.
i’m sure you don’t care, but i think this is all a bunch of flowery, flighty, stilted bullcrap. obviously, i have no way to prove this, because you’ll undoubtedly deny that you’re not giving us an accurate glimpse at your true thoughts. i did not expect you to post anything in particular, but i certainly did not expect the tone of this post to be overflowing with positivity given how the game went.
Our boys fought. Like fucking warrior poets. That’s more than can be said for what we saw in Glendale, New Orleans, and Los Angeles. I am damn proud of my football team tonight.
Go Bucks.
brf… if that’s true, then i applaud you for seeing the glaring miscues and missed opportunities that couldn’t possibly factor into an “excellent ballgame” as positives from which to grow on. of course, those games you referred to were far worse, but that comparison doesn’t overshadow the fact that we still lost to yet another top 10 non-conference opponent because of our coaches’ inability to make seemingly obvious in-game adjustments until it’s too late.
i’m not furious that we lost since i expected to do so for about the last year, but i can’t say i’m proud of the way the team played tonight. not at all.
damn... after reading this, i think i come off like a total dick...
i’m sorry man, this isn’t my blog so who am i to say what you write. i’m fuckin’ hammered so i didn’t hold back at all… i guess what’s done is done and that was my true initial reaction. whatever, go bucks…
"Dominated the proceedings"
was mostly in reference to defense, which held USC to something like five first downs through three quarters. While the offense was middling, the defense was nothing short of spectacular.
As far as how I really feel about this game, that post was 100 percent truth. I’m not angry at all, because the team far exceeded my expectations on one side of the ball and was simply misfiring on the other. The mistakes that I saw on offense are correctable, and I think that by the end of the season, you’ll see a much more cohesive unit. Perhaps I set my sights too low, but take it for what you will.
www.wewillalwayshavetempe.com
by Sam @ WWAHT on Sep 13, 2009 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions
One word to describe the night
HEARTBREAKING
"It’s tough," Martinez said. "This is my house. This is my home."
We'll miss you, Vic
by BLAZER_FAN_199 on Sep 13, 2009 11:17 AM EDT reply actions
Tressel
Once again I see Tressel getting way too much praise. This is the worst USC team in several years and OSU couldn’t beat them at home with a memorable defensive performance, great special teams, and a truly energized crowd due to Pryor and Tress. Ohio State “won” the field position game, “won” or at least tied the defensive battle, and “won” the special teams battle. And lost the game. Again.
Fourth and goal from the 1? Field goal. It bears mentioning too that it was 1st and goal from the 2 and Tressel won’t call a sneak with a 6’6" QB (It seems you do agree with this, though do not actually come out and blame Tressel).
Fourth and 1 from the USC 40? Punt. By the percentages, this is almost never a good decision.
53 yard field goal attempt? Nope, lets punt rather than potentially go up at TD and a 2 point conversion. And, with USC’s plodding offense, if they would have scored, they would have left a lot of time left on the clock instead of the minute we were given.
As far as Tressel is concerned, it wasn’t a terribly coached game, but by other standards it was not very good. It was extremely similar to the bowl game against Texas last year. In both games, his playcalling was more varied and he made fewer mistakes than he usually does.
But when his best games are so incredibly mediocre, then maybe he isn’t the right guy. Look at some of his really bad games like Wisconsin and Penn State last year. His accomplishments are so inflated because Michigan has been so pathetic and the Big Ten has not been good. If OSU starts losing to Michigan (and in my opinion, they will) maybe some people will start to see the light.
He is a great guy, a great recruiter, and a good motivator. But he is simply a bad in game coach. As we have seen and will continue to see, that won’t cut it.
I like your site and generally your writing, but I felt compelled to post something about this specifically because supporting Tressel after average or bad performances is the type of thing that kept Cooper around for way too long. And with a national championship to fall back on and being a nicer guy than Cooper, I don’t see this ending any time soon. I sincerely hope I am wrong. Go Bucks.
i think you and i are in complete agreement about this. a resounding +1.
these are my exact sentiments not only for this game, but for coach tressel as well.
You play to win the game
The difference was in the coaches and that was that. How you don’t go for it in that situation is beyond me? Even if you don’t make it you pin a freshman quarterback on his own 1 yard line. Win win situation. Carroll on the other hand had the same situation and didn’t even think twice about it. If Tressel was in Carrol’s shoes he would think “I have a true freshman at quarterback lets get him an early.” Carrol doesn’t care, he wants to win the game.Its just mind boggling how you don’t go for it. Tresselball only works against Big 11 teams and if you want to beat the best of the beast you have to try and win the game not hope that your opponent beats themselves. It works against dregs of the Big 11, but not the big boys. This conservative act is starting to wear old. Have some balls.
There was a firefight!!!!
zone defense?
Everyone has been talking about USC’s final drive. Was the Buckeyes sitting back in zone coverage. It’s hard to tell from the tube, but it sure look like it to me.
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