Ohio State 34, Minnesota 21 (Sep. 27)

[MililaniBuckeye]

Originally Posted by stpaulgoph

Ohio State is 10th in the Big Ten in total offense. Beanie or not thats not exactly world beating. It definitely could all come together this week--but I have a "I will believe it when I actually see it" attitude towards that...esp with unknowns in Pryor (he is still an unknown in many ways), Beanie's health, if the O-line can play up to potential etc...

Well, seeing as we were without arguably the best RB in the country for the last three games, not having a steady QB up until last week, and playing on the road against the nation's best defense in one of those games would suggest that our being 10th in the Big Ten offensively right now doesn't paint the whole picture. Right now, we average 320 ypc total offense and 25 ppg scoring. I would all but guarantee you that we exceed both numbers, likely by a significant amount, against Minnesota...

[stpaulgoph]

Originally Posted by buckeyesin07

Total defense (national rank):

Troy -- 11th
OU -- 42nd
Minnesota -- 65th

Considering we put up 28 and 26 points against a lot better defenses than Minnesota without Beanie, I don't think it's at all ridiculous to think that we'll put up 40+ points with Beanie against Minnesota.

Well maybe they rank so high because they have faced the Ohio State offense

[scooter1369]

Originally Posted by stpaulgoph

Well maybe they rank so high because they have faced the Ohio State offense

touche. But they faced a Beanie-less Ohio State. Minny won't

[osugrad21]

Scout Free--Game Preview: Minnesota

[stpaulgoph]

Originally Posted by scooter1369

touche. But they faced a Beanie-less Ohio State. Minny won't

Just having a little fun you guys

[bucknutt76]

Originally Posted by scooter1369

touche. But they faced a Beanie-less Ohio State. Minny won't

which really makes for a lot different of a game to happen.

[leroyjenkins]

Originally Posted by stpaulgoph

Just having a little fun you guys

We know. youve been a pleasure so far. Keep a thick skin.

[Zander42]

Originally Posted by stpaulgoph

Not a flame, just a question.

I know this board is filled with homers (thats what message boards are for) but I am a little surprised with some of the predictions of 30-40 point wins I suppose.

No offense but I havent seen that much "O" to date of of tOSU, and while I support fans having positive and optimistic predictions, there are a lot of unknowns (first Big Ten start for your QB, no one has ever seen how Beanie and Pryor will work, how healthy is Beanie).

Or I guess I should ask this--you all must think the Gophers are the weakest team you have faced all year?

I wanted to address this one as well. I read the question at work earlier but didn't have a chance to respond. Since then no one else has really stated what I was thinking so I figure I'd go ahead and post.

Valid points about the tOSU "O", but like others have said that was mostly without Beanie. He was in against YSU, where we did have struggles in the red zone, but JT was operating that game like a scrimmage (pretty much what it was) and just about everone on the team played. In the other games, and until the 4th quarter of the Troy game, the offence was able to drive, but was inconsistant and undiciplined. Shoot, we even drove on USC, right up until we turned the ball over or committed drive killing penalties.

To me the success of the passing game in the 4th quarter will give JT confidence in TP's abilities going forward, which will further complicate things for defenses, Beanie or no Beanie.

I think one of the main things that gives us confidance as fans, is that we've been here before. On other threads you'll see reference to the 2004 season. We had a drop back passer who wasn't getting it done behind a line that wasn't getting it done. We started off 0-4 in the big ten, then Troy Smith was put in, and the rest was history. This feels very similar, only JT didn't wait to loose 4 big ten games.

Beanie being back is a very big helping of icing on the cake.

As fare as Minnesota goes, I thinh they are better than YSU, and Ohio, not near USC, and Troy... we'll see how the rest of the season goes, but I would say it would be a close game. Troy would probably beat all of Minn's previous opponants so far.

BTW - WHY COULDN'T HAVE USC LOOKED THIS BAD AGAINST US. YOU WOULD THINK THEY WERE OHIO STATE OUT THERE WITH THAT TACKLING. DAMNDAMNDAMNDAMNDAMN!!!

-z

[ImFrigginFly]

I know the guys watched the USC-OSU game tonight.

Don't overlook the Gophers!

[bucknutt76]

I did it was amazing

[ScriptOhio]

[BuckeyeTillIDie]

They are calling for showers on Saturday. I hope that they come after the game.

[osugrad21]

Link

Like Pryor, Gophers' QB might spark up talk after a Saturday game

September 26, 2008

SATURDAY at noon 13th ranked Ohio State will take on 18-point underdog Minnesota. Ohio State leads the series 40-7 and is 20-3 at home against the Gophers.
The last time Ohio State (3-1) lost to Minnesota (4-0) in Columbus was the 17-29 shocker in the year 2000.
Terrelle Pryor is the toast of the town, but Minnesota's Adam Weber might be the quarterback everyone is talking about after the game. The sophomore has thrown for 967 yards and seven touchdowns this season.
Weber has a talented receiver in Eric Decker. Last season Decker caught a team record 67 passes. This season he leads the Big Ten in receiving yards (454) and receptions (32).
Many people believe the malaise Ohio State is suffering is because of the offense. However, the defense is not performing to the standard of past Ohio State teams.
The defensive unit appears to react to the action instead of dictating the action. That may explain why the Buckeyes are ranked 99th in the country in tackles for loss.
If Ohio State can't put pressure on Weber and running back DeLeon Eskridge, Minnesota will be able to rack up the yards and points.
THE VIEW
Jim Morrison used to sing, "Come on baby, light my fire." Today Ohio State fans are singing, "Come on baby, Terrelle Pryor."
Beanie and Pryor will improve Ohio State's record to 120-10-4 at home in September.
Cont..

[gregorylee]

From what I saw they were coming before the game, and should be gone by or right around kick off.

[osugrad21]

Dispatch

Gophers QB can relate to Pryor

Friday, September 26, 2008 4:34 AM
By Bob Baptist


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Paul battaglia associated press
Adam Weber set Minnesota passing records in nearly every category while starting 12 games as a freshman.



Adam Weber did a lot last season as Minnesota's freshman quarterback. He set school records for passes completed and attempted, yards passing, touchdown passes and total yards gained. He ranked third in the Big Ten in passing yards and rushed for more yards than anyone else on his team.
It would have been hard for him to do more. The hardest thing, he said, was trying not to.
"Play within your abilities and trust in what the coaches have taught you," he said.
"The biggest thing I probably learned from last year is to take care of the football. A lot of times you get pressure in your face and you're not sure what's going on and you want to get rid of the ball. Sometimes it's better just to take the sack and go to the next play."
Weber was asked this week to reflect on his first year as Gophers quarterback as he prepares to begin his second Big Ten season. Minnesota plays Saturday against Ohio State, which will start a freshman of its own, Terrelle Pryor, at quarterback.
Gophers coach Tim Brewster hasn't been shy in trying to sow seeds of doubt in Pryor's head through the media.
"It's really hard for a freshman to come into this conference and play well," Brewster said. "You go back and look at the greatest of all time, they had their struggles as freshmen. So Terrelle's going to experience some growing pains, no question.
"The biggest thing with freshmen quarterbacks is not how they react but how they respond. They can't be reactionary. They've got to be able to just kind of take a deep breath and respond to a tough situation and learn from it. That's the biggest thing that we did with Adam."
Minnesota was 1-11 last season. Weber handled nearly all of the 887 offensive snaps.
Cont...