(2004) Game Five: Wisconsin - 10/9/04 (L, 3-2/0-2)

[brutus2002]

Slick you are 100% the return teams have been a pleasant surprise. He has done a wonderful job as the special teams coach.

[BuckeyeRob]

Look, when tOSU gets behind they come out of the shell and open up the offense. The offense did score 17 point in 1 1/2 quarters. The defense didnt get the job done at NW.

I think everyones perspective is a bit off kilter because of the NW loss. Remember, this is the same defense that looked sensational against NCST at NCST. And I am not prepared to conceed the fact that Wisconsin has a much better defense than NCST... Wisconsin has faced very good offenses. I dont think anyone is prepared to annoint the OSU offense as a explosive in nature.... OSU will be the best offense (by ncaa.org rankings) Wisconsin has seen thus far.

I just have a feeling that this is one of those "OSU is lying in the weeds" type game. Most of the national pundents will be counting OSU down out, and dead.... not unlike many buckeye fans.

I will say this, this is a MUST win game. The bucks drop this one at home, and we flat out are staring a 6-5 season in the face. That said, I dont see that happening. I think the bucks play from the first possesion like they did half way through the third quarter... passing the ball and spicing with runs. I think ( at least I HOPE) the staff probably realizes we arent going to win by trying to run and consistently put Zwick in 3rd and long.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Right now in my state of shock over the NU debacle it looks like this to me from here on out:

Wiksy- toss up/likely L
@Iowa-toss up at best
IU-likely W
PSU-likely W
@MSU-likely W
@PU- they might score 100
scUM-their young players are coming along better than ours right now.

In essence who, if anyone, we upset out of UW, Iowa, Purdue, scUM is the number of wins over 6 we get this year. Right now if you offered me 7-4 with a scUM win I'd take it.<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

I guess after one loss your ready to throw in the towel, its pretty simple what happened this weekend, OSU was just not ready to play, they were caught with their pants down, to try to project the outcome of the next few weeks after what happened this past weekend, is impossible, because that was not the same team we saw the previous three weeks, alot can happen to the teams on our schedule the rest of the year, in the end it will come down to OSU-Michigan for the Big 10 title as usual

[Jaxbuck]

Originally Posted by bucknuts44820

I guess after one loss your ready to throw in the towel, its pretty simple what happened this weekend, OSU was just not ready to play, they were caught with their pants down, to try to project the outcome of the next few weeks after what happened this past weekend, is impossible, because that was not the same team we saw the previous three weeks, alot can happen to the teams on our schedule the rest of the year, in the end it will come down to OSU-Michigan for the Big 10 title as usual

This saturday tells all. They either right the ship or head for the life boats.

Bad night or no, you just have to be concerned about a loss to Northwestern.

[JXC]

Right now if you offered me 7-4 with a scUM win I'd take it.

I don't care what the record...offer me a scUM win and i'll take it. But it will be a lot easier to judge what kind of team Ohio State is after a game against a ranked big 10 opponent. And don't forget! We beat NC State on the road...and they are now in the top 25...and we passed for over 300 yards against Marshall and would have blown them out if it weren't for turnovers. This game...and our defensive play...was not what we've seen all year...it was the exception. There isn't much reason to think that Ohio State will look like they did against Northwestern the rest of the season. I think that was about as bad and as uninspired as this team can play.

[StoRMinBrutus]

I'd be happy if OSU just sustained blocks a little longer and drives through their blocks. Most of all, improve the communication with each other. I'd also be soo happy if Justin Zwick matured from this last game. He has so much potential and did show glimpses of brilliance. Remember the 400+ yards total offense OSU had in the first two games ?? He did have some real positives to build on in this last game too. That drive in the 4th quarter that gave OSU a TD was nice. If he can find the short Wr's that were wide open on more than one occasion, instead of passing downfield into tighter coverage, that would be nice. Also if he can step into his throws more consistently ... WOW he'd be more accurate.
As for our defense .. again hopefully a little more aggressive and maturity and Ends please read the plays a little faster.
All those errors and lack of execution are fixable things and we have the talent. Its just a matter as to when the experience and maturity comes through. I have faith that it will come. Any competative athlete gets [censored]ed about losing like OSU did last week. I hope they can focus that rage and take it out on Wisconsin in the form of beautiful execution by the QB, and OL sustaining blocks and rabid silver bullets on defense flying all over the place and cracking heads.

Its Great to be a Buckeye !!!

[MililaniBuckeye]

It's all on OL execution. If that happens, the WRs will have time to get open and Zwick will have time to find them. Even Ross will stumble into a couple holes. But, I think Pittman will start lighting up defenses once the OL comes together.

[VprHis]

The good news: Wisky is a run-first team, and one thing our LB's love to do is stuff the run.


The bad news: Anthony Davis and Matt Bernstein. Our LB's had trouble shedding blocks last week, and as good as AD is, with what is essentially a speedy offensive guard as a lead blocker, well...



After a god deal of self-reflection by our coaches and players, however, I'm hoping for a step back toward our more dominant performances.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Well, I believe this past weekend was a fluke. Like anything in life, if you dont come perpared your going to look like [censored].

Whisky runs straight at the defense and that is tailored made for OSU, no 5 wide, its man vs man up front and whoever is more physical will win the battle

Our O line has to open up a few holes for Whisky's D to respect the run or Zwick will have little or no success passing, we have to keep them honest.

It all starts up front, I think its time these guys develop a chip on their shoulder from all the negative talk about their play and go out and pancake some guys and get some confidence.

I think we will get it done, it wont be pretty, but it will be effective. GO BUCKS!

[bucknut11]

i'm just hoping someone can stop hawthorne. gotta keep him outta the backfield.

[Jaxbuck]

Hey bucknuts44820--You forgot 1996 in your list of B10 Championships.

[MililaniBuckeye]

Originally Posted by Jaxbuck

Hey bucknuts44820--You forgot 1996 in your list of B10 Championships.

Took care of it...

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Hey bucknuts44820--You forgot 1996 in your list of B10 Championships

Thanks for the heads up.....how could I forget that Rose Bowl....Germaine to Boston.......

Took care of it...

Thanks, Mili

[StoRMinBrutus]

<TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR class=ysprow1 vAlign=top><TD height=18>Talk about cake schedules so far. After looking at they don't make me as nervous as before. Yes they have a very very good defense but they are totally beatable. Opposing teams have a combined record of only 6-17 - HORRIBLE !!!Sept 4 UCF W 34-6 (0-4 record)

Sept 11 UNLV W 18-3 (1-4 record)
Sept 18 Arizona W 9-7 (1-3 record)
Sept 25 Penn st W 16-3 (2-3 record)
Oct 2 Illinois W 24-7 (2-3 record)

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[ScarletArrow]

Not playing a team with a winning record and claiming to have the nation's best defense is a little premature.

I'm most concerned about a power running team exploiting the apparaent weakness that we have (at least last week) on the defensive line.