Ohio State 24, Michigan State 17 (final)

[Jaxbuck]

Originally Posted by Tresselbeliever

I agree with everything you said. Our run D did a great job yesterday. Heck, our whole D was really great. But there's something to be said about almost surrendering a 24 point lead. That represents a huge mental lapse there. While we did come out with a win against a 5-2 MSU team (1-3 now in the B10), the extent of the mental error really did not inspire any confidence in me as we head to PSU next week. That being said, I would take any form of victory next week against the Nittany Lions.

I'd be more concerned on the mental lapses if their was a pattern of it. To me it just happens sometimes and glad to get it out of the way and not cost us a game. Also the 2nd TD may have been a blown blocking call but give MSU some credit, they forced that TO more than we gave it up imo. The first one was a classic mental mistake by TB.

I also really like the way we got some real under mental pressure/close game/nut cutting time work in but in such "safe" circumstances. They needed to taste some adversity, they did, we won but as every other game this year it shouldn't be hard for the staff to have the kids attention to the fact we can get a lot better.

That has been the MO all year and I'm fine with seeing it keep on rolling.

[Taosman]

Still #1 in Scoring Defense!
Still #1 in Total Defense!

The SEC aand ESPN can kiss our ass!

Still #1!

"Just win, baby!"

[daveeb]

Well, at least we got hit in the mouth at this time this year instead of at the National Championship game.

If this had happened at Happy Valley, there could have been major issues.

Boeckman has never been rushed like that before. He will learn to throw the ball away (Towards the sideline, near a teammate), or just take the sack. But, it is important that this happened.

[Tresselbeliever]

Originally Posted by Jaxbuck

I'd be more concerned on the mental lapses if their was a pattern of it. To me it just happens sometimes and glad to get it out of the way and not cost us a game. Also the 2nd TD may have been a blown blocking call but give MSU some credit, they forced that TO more than we gave it up imo. The first one was a classic mental mistake by TB.

I also really like the way we got some real under mental pressure/close game/nut cutting time work in but in such "safe" circumstances. They needed to taste some adversity, they did, we won but as every other game this year it shouldn't be hard for the staff to have the kids attention to the fact we can get a lot better.

That has been the MO all year and I'm fine with seeing it keep on rolling.

I also quite vividly remember the last drive of the spring game, where Boeckman fumbled after being sacked and it was returned 90 yds for a TD. Awareness is something that he has to develop in spite of his size.

[CCI]

Despite giving the Spartans two gift-wrapped, third-quarter touchdowns, we remain #1 and we will learn from this.

[censored] ESPN and the Haters who think we are #1 bu default.

[MililaniBuckeye]

Originally Posted by daveeb

Well, at least we got hit in the mouth at this time this year instead of at the National Championship game.

If that was getting "hit in the mouth" I'd say our teeth are safe for the rest of the season...

[kippy1040]

Originally Posted by Tresselbeliever

I also quite vividly remember the last drive of the spring game, where Boeckman fumbled after being sacked and it was returned 90 yds for a TD. Awareness is something that he has to develop in spite of his size.

I thought after TB threw the interception for Spartys Td that there may have been a slight lapse on his part and thats part of the game that he
has to be made aware of.

Especially now that every game will be played
with much more intensity as we come closer and closer to the last game
of the season. We passed a great test yesterday and it was in the metal toughness area that we gained a hugh plus in revealing our character after the 2 gifts that we gave to Mich/State. I have heard many press conferences while Tress was at YSU. And i suspect he will talk of the teams character that was revealed in this game.

Beanie came thru with flying colors and hopefully our D-backs grew up as well. Now its on to happy valley for another test. This game has to be played with a level of intensity since the place will be the whitest and loudest. Thier mental concentration will have to be at thier best. Good Fortune and Good Luck to Buckeyes on this one.

[jlb1705]

JOHNSON: Well, they're not all pretty like you want them to be, but I think we got some great things done on the offense, especially in the first half. Some things we've got to clean up in the second half that we didn't execute the way we wanted to, as long as we came out with the W, I'm satisfied and looking forward to going into Happy Valley next week.

BARTON: Based on the second half, we obviously didn't finish the way we wanted to. It's hard to go out there with your family after a game like this, when you're outclassing a team, and all of a sudden they come back because you give them a couple easy bunnies. Our defense has been lights out, as they have been in every game, and our offense was doing a couple stupid things. It's hard to be calm and not throw a hissy fit right now, but I'm not happy. We came back to win it all, and that's what we're doing. We've got to get better this week.

REPORTER: Coach, going back to Kirk's opening comments, do you echo any of his frustrations? He looks like a guy who lost a football game right now, do you have any of that same frustration that Kirk has?

COACH TRESSEL: Kirk and I have a little bit different personality, but probably similar thoughts. And it is disappointing when you're going along and your defense is pitching a shutout and you need to do your part of the thing and you give up 14 points. That's very disappointing when you take your responsibility seriously. And I don't know about the hissy fit part, but I'm not happy that those 14 points count against our defense, the way it looks, and our defense shut them out for the most part.

It's interesting to see the differences in attitudes and reactions. I don't think any of them are right or wrong in and of themselves. I think they all need to be present for the team to be successful. I think Johnson's perspective is the one that needs to prevail on Saturdays and Barton's is the one that needs to prevail in preparation. The reassuring thing is that reading into Jim Tressel's comments, that's probably exactly the way it's going to take place.

[UpNorthBuckeye]

Barton's attitude was probably the best. The most appropriate.

As for Boeckman, I gotta believe that cuts into Tressel's heart and soul to watch that happens. JT is all about the QB, as a former QB he has always talked about decision making... You cannot be the QB of the #1 team and get mentally lost like that.

couple other things...

Ben Person, you're next to Cordle! How can you get three false starts??

Mo Wells, I don't know, cut the hair, do somethin'.
The repeated use of Mo Wells tells me that Saine was less than 100%. Mo is not going to be an NFL RB, and likewisehe is not effective when we play a good defense, which is what I think MSU is, pretty darn tough.

But getting back to the QB, I am still surprised that it happened; it's a very meaningful thing to JT, you can be sure. He needs to take Todd down a few pegs this week, and toughen him up, and then build him back up for the rest of the season. It's now or never, Todd. Time to man up.

I do feel better about the team after this week. We faced a few things we hadn't faced yet this year, and it all continues to come together, week after week. Building to a crescendo, not for Michigan but for the NC game.

Go Bucks, just win, baby!!

[MililaniBuckeye]

I was pretty hostile yesterday after Boeckman gave up those two TDs in under a minute. But after simmering down and doing some re-thinking, those TDs may be the spark that ignites a even higher level of play from our defense than we've seen to date. Why? Because the MSU was the third shutout posted by the defense this season and yet we have no actual shutouts because of [censored]-ups on offense (Akron and MSU) and special teams (Northwestern)...you know they have to be absolutely livid right now, and that does not bode well for Morelli and the rest of the Penn State offense.

[GoodLifeSean]

As a former O-lineman I completely understand Barton's position, The two touchdowns and the one fumble were all due to MSU breaking through the line in less than 3 seconds to whack todd/beanie and as previously mentioned Person was alittle jumpy today (BP, please keep away from the caffiene before a game. Overall they did play a very good game, but that showed how much 3 or 4 mental lapses on the o-line can affect a game.

[Tresselbeliever]

Originally Posted by MililaniBuckeye

I was pretty hostile yesterday after Boeckman gave up those two TDs in under a minute. But after simmering down and doing some re-thinking, those TDs may be the spark that ignites a even higher level of play from our defense than we've seen to date. Why? Because the MSU was the third shutout posted by the defense this season and yet we have no actual shutouts because of [censored]-ups on offense (Akron and MSU) and special teams (Northwestern)...you know they have to be absolutely livid right now, and that does not bode well for Morelli and the rest of the Penn State offense.

I agree with your sentiment. Not that our offense has been mistake prone (this is the first game really that mistakes could have cost us the game), our defense definitely has been picking up the slack. But just like last season, when everyone expected our offense to carry the team and the young defense, you can't expect that to happen against complete teams when Jan. rolls around. The defense has really done everything that's been asked out of them, and it's time for the offense to get their act together. Mental lapses can't happen like that against Penn State in Happy Valley or against Michigan in Ann Arbor.

[Best Buckeye]

I was sort of on the hostile side during this stage of the game and I suppose we could say that the MSU (Dantonio) defense was the best we have seen all year. we also could say that the Oline got a little antsy and made some errors and that could be expected considering that this is the 8th game that this Oline has played together. Therefore the line will be better against the following good teams we will play coming up.
But I am not happy with that. No one on the team should have had the lapses they had at this stage of the game. Those lapses will be the reason we lose if they continue.
I expect this team to run the table so we need to be focused for 40 minutes every game. Scum will not let us get away with them.

[shetuck]

Originally Posted by Best Buckeye

I was sort of on the hostile side during this stage of the game and I suppose we could say that the MSU (Dantonio) defense was the best we have seen all year. we also could say that the Oline got a little antsy and made some errors and that could be expected considering that this is the 8th game that this Oline has played together. Therefore the line will be better against the following good teams we will play coming up.
But I am not happy with that. No one on the team should have had the lapses they had at this stage of the game. Those lapses will be the reason we lose if they continue.
I expect this team to run the table so we need to be focused for 40 minutes every game. Scum will not let us get away with them.

i think what happened on those two series where the o-line sorta melted down is that dantonio really stuck his neck out there are took some huge risks like putting 7/8 guys on the line, running cheap plays, whatever just to shake things up a bit and see if he could get the momentum swing to stay with him.

it was a gutsy set of playcalls and it was worth the risk. it even worked for a little while, while ultimately JT got things back under control and the crowd in the shoe didn't let the momentum swing over to the other sideline for too long.

i enjoyed the game very much, nerves and all, because i thought those were two great coaches doing some wicked playcalling.

i'm looking forward to watching it again to see how we did on our option attack. did any of you BP "technocrats" see any interesting stuff i should look out for?

[bukIpower]

I will say this about the 5 minute period were we almost gave up 21 points on turnovers... I've never ran myself horse (at home) during a beatdown of an opponent. I'm sure glad I was home alone on this one because I was livid like the rest of you. Here's what I was saying but just in a nicer term...

The defense goes out there absolutly denies the other team in every fasset of the game, and the offense screws it up? If it's not the offense, it's the special teams. I'm wondering if the defense wouldn't like a shot at the offense right now haha..

What amazes me about this year so far is just what I've said. We've been decent on offense and just lights out on defense. We've given away so many points this year and normally we'd all be seriously worked up over it. It's hardly noticeable though because the defense doesn't give up points and the game still doesn't appear close.

I mean last year for example... We didn't give a pick 6, didn't fumble for a TD, never gave up a saftie, never shanked a punk and put the team in position to score in the closing minutes of a shutout, and we didn't even have a blocked field goal. Yet this defense is still better than last years and we still have been dominating games. While it doesn't appear that serious it's really starting to make me mad how we seemingly give away points at the despense of our defense. We're young, and we need to figure out how to take care of the football because we can't do this the next 4 games or we will lose 1-4 of them. Look at our turnover margin and I bet that should tell a lot about the mistakes we are making.

Also I had a pretty sweet Idea during the game and I would love for football to do this.... Lets say you're up 24-0 like we were and the opposing defense scores? I say instead of putting 7 on the board you take away 7 from our point total. I mean the offense gets points for scoring and if they give up a score why the hell should the defense have to take the hit? so I think the final score really should've been 10-3. Because our offense gave back 14 of the points it scored from earlier.