Post Bowl Clarifications or whatever

[Clarity]

For all 2 of you that will read these ramblings anyway.

Despite his early struggles, I thought this was a great way for Craig to go out. I don't dare go over to BN, mostly because if I see the threads ragging on him in his last game ever for OSU, where he throws 4 TDs and wins the game... I'll go postal.

How about that offense? It didn't look good, it didn't even entirely play well, and it still put up 35 points, and 21 of those were unanswered in the 1st quarter. The sick thing is, both of Craig's early picks were at the expense of sure TDs. It could have been 35 up after the first 15.

That only reinforces my unpopular opinion about our offense. That it's execution and talent away from being as good as we need it to be, and then some. Craig for a lot of reasons will go down as one of my favorite Buckeyes. As much for personality and off-field reasons as on probably, but that doesn't change the fact. The only reason I say that, is I wanted to preface this next statement with something glowingly positive. Had a more naturally gifted QB been starting for us this year -- like any of those we faced this year like Rivers or Pickett, this offense looks a hell of a lot different across the season. That's a grossly obvious statement, but I think it's something that's lost in the rhetoric spewed by the anti-JT/anti-offensive gameplanning/anti-team factions. Our gameplan has some fundamental flaws, sure, but all do, no matter how effective they may be. So I'll take the next step and allow that ours is more flawed than most others in some ways. Sure, probably, maybe, whatever. Eh fuggit, I don't particularly feel like getting into this, so I'm going to stop meandering aimlessly around what was a spongy point anyway. How's that for an exit?

I thought everyone played pretty damn well. Jenkins certainly didn't hurt his draft prospects, neither did Allen or Smith -- neither did Gamble if he bolts. In fact, I thought this was Gamble's best game from a technical standpoint all season.

Got thinking about Maurice more than once in this game. It's easy to think that this would have been another national championship win had we had him -- but we didn't, the season is over, time to move on, etc. Personally, I hope that everyone does what they need to do (with the greatest emphasis there on Mo himself) in order for him to come back under the right circumstances next year. I say that selfishly as a fan in part, but also because I think it's the best thing for him as a person and player.

Normally I'd rant and rave about guys like AJ Hawk, Bobby C, etc., but we all saw the game, we all know they're incredible, but it's still nice to close your eyes and drool a bit over the possibilities there next year. Which is good, because with the losses on the DL, despite it still being more than solid IMO, they're going to have to step it up if we're going to maintain defensive dominance like we have under Tressel.

11-2 and a BCS bowl win, following 14-0 and the national championship in the same venue.

I'm feeling pretty good.

Anyway, good send off for the seniors. I'll miss watching those guys as Buckeyes. But we'll see many of them back on our sidelines now and again, and I suspect quite a few of them will suit up in the NFL, and maybe the rest get a shot between the AFL, CFL, NFLEu, etc.

I'd give a nod to KSU for playing with a ton of heart. Coming back 21 points down so early and making a real game of it, particularly against our D, is a huge feat. Good for them, I've got more respect for their program going out than I did coming in -- and that's saying something as I respected them quite a bit beforehand.

I'm sure people will wonder how the game might have been different if not for Ell's pregame legal problems. We'll never know. Maybe we would have won by 21 instead of 7. It works both ways.

Good way to start the new year. And now I'll cut this convoluted stream of consciousness off -- I'm exhausted and off to bed. Maybe after stopping online somewhere for a hat and tee...

Go Bucks! Looks like we can look forward to another great year. Let's hope the Army AA game is another great step forward tomorrow.

[diehardbuckeye]

First let me give a HUGE thanks to all the SR's who gave it their all last season and this season it has been a great 2 seasons that I will never forget.

I agree with you C on this had to be Gamble's best game that he has played at the CB position, that is why I don't have a great feeling about him coming back next year. Man I hope he does but you never know what will happen in the next couple of weeks. I do know that however the person I am going to miss the most next year has definately got to be Coach Dantonio, did he put together a great game plan or what. Him going to UC makes me want to root for UC, well almost every game. I think that he is truly going to be missed and is going to help out the UC football program alot.

Also I would like to ask this question, did Irazzary play tonight? I thought that I saw him but wasn't quite sure if it was him or not.

This was one hell of a game that right now makes me anxious about tomorrows game. I can't wait for the 1 oclock start of the Army All-Star game, I think that there is going to be alot of good news to come out of it. Not to mention I am now starting to get really geared up for Feb, and then right around the corner it is Spring ball time. Man in no time we are going to be counting down the last 150 days to go.

[BuckNutty]

Irizarry played some on special teams but I don't recall him getting in on offense.

I really like CK the person. Did anyone catch the postgame interviews? They asked him how important was it to respond when K-State made it 21-14. He responded by saying whenever the defense gives up a TD they always tell them not to worry and the offense will pick them up. Then he says unfortunately a lot of times we went 3 and out and had to punt so it was nice to help them out tonight. Classic!

How can you not love Coach Tressel? One thing I kept thinking of the entire night was if Coop was still around we would have lost that game. We are so lucky to have him as our coach.

The offense looked good tonight. Conservative at time, but good. With the athletes we have we obviously underachieved this year but we will be better with a more accurate passer. I think we saw a glimpse of what this offense can be like.

I am slightly concerned about the defense. Giving up 63 points in the final 2 games is not the way I'm sure they wanted to go out. Obviously you can't argue with the results but I hope our new DC mixes in a little more cover 2 with man to man underneath. We have the athletes. Hopefully tomorrow we have Ted Ginn Jr.

Congratulations to the seniors. They deserved to go out with a big win. Job well done. How long until we do it again??

Go Bucks!

[RAMdrvr1]

Clarity:
I agree with most everything you said in your thread, which is
just the opposite of how I felt about your thread over on the
K State board. Any respect I may have had for the K State
program I lost the second Roberson stepped on the field.
Whether he is guilty or not, his playing tarnished the game.
Not only that, but again the wrong message was sent out to
young people. By the middle of the 1st quarter I was fed up
with hearing how their inability to move the ball was because
of Roberson's "problem".
I also think that Scott should have played at least a couple
series. You can't tell me of one Buckeye who contributed a lot
to their success this year who didn't get to play but Scott.
(Those with injuries don't count)
Glad I got that out of my system!

[MililaniBuckeye]

I agree with both C-Dog and RAMdrvr1. Criag was a couple passes (actually three) from totally blowing the game wide open. Had he hit them (bombs to an open Jenkins on the first two drives and then to Jenkins again on the crossing pattern in the end zone that was tipped and intercepted), it's 42-0 early in the second quarter. Our WRs were open nearly every play. There were several games where we just a few missed open passes from blowing out our opponent (Northwestern, Iowa, Indiana). I also wanted to see McMullen get some action, especially after Krenzel missed those three TD passes. Hopefully he'll get some time in the Senior Bowl and shine for the pro scouts. Wouldn't it be a real beyatch if he got drafted ahead of Krenzel?

[Clarity]

RAM, I don't entirely disagree. I would have personally been disappointed had the tables been turned, and it was one of our players facing those charges who had taken the field and played all game.

But to be fair, most of the KSU fans that I saw sounded a lot like we did after Reynold's unfortunate choking incident, which is to say many of them felt that Ell shouldn't have played at all.

If it turns out that Ell was indeed guilty, I think Snyder has opened himself up to some pretty nasty lumps for starting and playing him. I'm just glad that in the end, with or without Roberson, we were the better team last night. For me, it's actually a bonus that people can't claim "you only beat us because one of our two best players was out." The flip side to that was we could counter that by saying our best player has been out all year.

Anyway, I thought the KSU fans were pretty reasonable folks, but that just comes from lurking here and there, and interacting with a few off forums completely. They may well have had scores of losers that I just didn't notice.

[RAMdrvr1]

Even Reynolds lost a game, and to be truthful, I felt it
should have been longer. As much as I want to believe
in the integrity of the college game, I believe that it is up
to the coaches who have been around awhile to show the younger
coaches the "right" thing to do. Snyder didn't do that.
On a lighter subject, When Reynolds almost torn
Roberson's head off near the goal line, am I the only one
that screamed "YES"?

[buckeyebri]

I was ecstatic about how the Bucks played last night, ergo the defense was a little soft in the second half. The teams attitude and enthusiasm for the game was fantastic, not like what we have seen under a previous coach after a loss to UM.

I think it was by far the best offensive showing we have had all year and really should diminish the anti Tressel/Krenzel offense postings on Bucknuts (we can only hope). I love CK and all he has done for OSU, but can't wait to see JZ or TS lead this team. I was actually looking for TS to come in and run a throwback pass to CK like USC did to ScUM.

I was severely dissapointed in Snyders decision not to at least sit Roberson for a quarter. It really sends the message to the rest of the players, recruits, parents, alumni, press, yada, yada, yada, that a star player helping win a game is more important than the rules. Those rules being the team rules he violated not the potential legal issues.

But the best part of all is that I don't give a damn about the whole state of michigan, the whole state of michigan, the whole state of michigan, I don't give a damn for the whole stat of michigan because I'm from

[buckeye68]

Bill Snyder joined the ranks of the Classless coaches and is right up there with none other than Tom Osborne and the dip-[censored] at Texas Tech now. Osborne is a great coach don't get me wrong, but when tough decisions had to be made these guys showed that they are cowards and don't have any backbone.
I guarantee you that if I am player on that team next year the team rules don't mean [censored] any more. Curfew? what curfew coach, I didn't think we had one anymore.
Saying that he left it up to the team is a cowards way out. What a complete chicken-[censored]

[3yardsandacloud]

I am very proud of "my" Buckeyes and their performance this year. CK will go down as one of my all-time favorite Buckeyes. The guy is just a class act on and off the field. I don't really care that BS didn't bench Roberson. Like I say for many other instances and other programs ... KState is NOT the measuring stick for Ohio State. We set the standards and we should live up to a higher ethical and moral level. Every schools will have some "problems", but I am very proud of our administartion and coaches for taking a strong stance when it comes to punishment and corrective action.

I'm a bit tired of the crap I keep hearing about our offense. Sure we can improve, but we just hung 35 on KState and could EASILY have added 7, 14, or 21 MORE. Some of the stuff I've read on BNs makes me want to scream. Some of the posts imply that the offense is to blame for a close game. Come on! I love our D, but are they EVER held accountable? I swear the D is OSU's sacred cow. Every problem OSU encounters MUST have originated from the offensive side of the ball. Sheesh. We put up 35 on the team the held Oklahoma (the best team ever btw) to 7. I guess no one can admit that playing a soft "prevent" zone had at least as much to do with KState staying in the game as JT buttoning up the offense with a 21 or 14 point lead.

Enought rant. Again, I'm very proud of all the Buckeyes ... offense, defense, special teams and coaches. Great Win!

[MililaniBuckeye]

Hey Jamey, don't hold back, partner...tell us how you really feel!

[LightningRod]

The LBs were superb, and it only gets better next season. I thought Sims played a very good game. He was getting downfield very well, and he played a very aggressive game. I am looking forward to watching Sims and Manggold develop into all-conference players next season.

[BrutusBobcat]

Best call of the night -- CK just misses Santonio Holmes down the sideline, and the DB comes up limping with what appeared to be a hamstring problem. The kid doesn't leave the game, and the OSU coaches go right back at him, this time with Jenkins. Complete pass, big gain, awesome call.