Dispatch
OSU INSIDER
Monday, September 04, 2006
Ohio State’s Brandon Mitchell, tackling Garrett Wolfe of Northern Illinois, and the rest of the defense will have to step it up against Texas.
25 words or less
Math for dummies: Cover Ted Ginn Jr. one-on-one, give up six. At Texas at night will be a calculus test by comparison.
In the polls
Because of last night’s games and tonight’s Florida State-Miami match, the polls won’t come out until Tuesday. The Buckeyes likely won’t fall from No. 1, though it will be interesting to see whether Texas moves past Notre Dame for No. 2 in the Associated Press media poll. The Longhorns already were No. 2 in the USA Today coaches poll.
What went right
Troy Smith picked up where he left off in his one-series appearance in the spring game. He took the team to touchdowns on four straight possessions to open the game, including three TD passes highlighted by a 58-yard connection with fellow Heisman Trophy candidate Ginn. Smith surveyed the field with the poise and accuracy of a veteran skeet shooter.
Drawing board
The bright side showed an Ohio State defense that gave up just 12 points, beating the goal of keeping opponents under 14. But check the underbelly. There are deep scratches from letting Garrett Wolfe free for 285 total yards, even though the Buckeyes knew for months he was Northern Illinois’ only true threat. They could only hope to contain him. Texas was taking notes.
Who’s hot ?
The
OSU offensive line didn’t let anybody touch Smith, at least while he was trying to pass. The proficiency for a season opener was outstanding, as was the physical approach. Backup freshman running back Chris "Beanie" Wells ran hard, yes, but he had help. On that fourth-and-2 conversion in the third quarter, the triplewhammy block of right tackle Kirk Barton, tight end Rory Nicol and fullback Stan White Jr. (lined up as a tight wing) was brutal.
Who’s not ?
Aaron Pettrey missed wide right on a 44-yard field-goal try. Ryan Pretorius was short on a 51-yarder. Wide right? Short? After the Mike Nugent-Josh Huston era,
OSU fans aren’t used to those results. Coach Jim Tressel said the field was moist, which might have kept the kickers from firmly planting their, uh, plant feet. Uh-oh. Texas doesn’t play in a dome.
Dinged up
Tailback Antonio Pittman had to leave the game momentarily after apparently taking a shot below the belt. He returned to finish off a 111-yard, one-touchdown day, his seventh 100-yard performance in his past 10 games. Senior receiver Roy Hall did not play. The coaches wanted to let him rest an ankle sprain suffered last week in practice. Otherwise, the only injury worth noting was the dislocated shoulder suffered by referee Dave Witvoet late in the first quarter, which forced him out of the game.
Catch that ?
Wells led a parade of five true freshmen — cornerback Kurt Coleman, linebacker Ross Homan, receiver Ray Small, defensive tackle Dexter Larimore — to play in their first collegiate game. Then again, what is a true freshman anymore? Wells, Coleman and Homan enrolled early enough to take part in spring drills. They’ve been around almost as long as redshirt freshman Brian Hartline, who snared his first collegiate reception on the first offensive play.
On deck
The defending national champion Longhorns didn’t seem to miss Vince Young much, given the way redshirt freshman quarterback Colt McCoy spurred on the offense in the 56-7 win over North Texas. Then again, NT’s Mean Green defense was not mean at all. The talent-laden Texas defense was.
This week’s challenge
No offense to Northern Illinois, but it was difficult to imagine any player on the Huskies defense starting for Texas. The Buckeyes must find a way to keep their offensive pulse strong deep in the heart of Texas.
— Tim May
