chuck_jax
Senior
10/3/04, 15 Minutes after the game...
Tonight, the better team won. The better athletes are now getting on a plane to Columbus wondering how they gave up 33 points. The coaches, particularly the defensive coaches are probably wondering, too. OSU didn't give this game away on turnovers. They just got plain beat. Kudos to Northwestern. They came ready to play, had a better game plan, and stuck to it even when it looked like the tide was turning in OSU's favor down the stretch.
Some thoughts...
Tresselball is essentially winning on three facets of the game...
1. Win on Special Teams
2. Mistake-free, opportunistic offense.
3. Stout Defense.
Tonight, Tressel-ball wasn't enough to overcome the Northwestern Wildcats. OSU arguably won the special teams battle (2/3 fg, 1 TD from a punt return) and had an offense that generated 27 points with 1 turnover. However, in 4+ quarters, the OSU defense never had an answer for Northwestern's version of the slant bubble screen. Meatloaf says "Two out of three ain't bad," but it certainly wasn't enough against the feisty, fired-up Northwestern Wildcats.
Northwestern, armed only with mostly MAC-level players who were passed over by the likes of OSU, Michigan, even Illinois, a slower and smaller Northwestern team stunned the highly-touted group from Ohio - Beat 'em fair and square in 4+ quarters in Evanston, Illinois. They did so in a fashion that makes me think if these two teams were to play 10 times, NU would win 5 or 6 of them.
It was supposed to be the coming out game for Lydel Ross. A good number of the Buckeye Faithful were even thinking shutout. Northwestern was expected to put up a fight for 1-quarter, and OSU would slowly pull away, grinding out a workman-line 14 to 20-point TJ-style blowout. Personally, I was hoping for an extended look at Troy Smith at QB, if nothing to see how he'd do with some reps. Unfortunately for all the buckeye faithful, the Wildcats had other ideas.
Facing a faster and bigger OSU squad, Northwestern's offensive coaches conceived a brilliant game plan to negate OSU's speed. Running their variation of the bubble-screen pass to perfection, the Northwestern offense had OSU's defense playing in space, and out of their defensive game plan after the first quarter. Until late in the game, the offense played mistake-free.
Unlike the past 3 years, the OSU defense didn't make the necessary halftime adjustments, which proved to be the difference in the game. Even after 4-quarters, the OSU defense couldn't contain the Wildcats basic 5-play package. Whether it was luck, or timely play calling, every time OSU's defense went for a blitz, Northwestern had the perfect play called. As a result, the OSU defensive coaching staff resorted to a less aggressive game, and the Wildcat offense ate it up. It was though the Ohio State defense was playing on its heels all night.
OSU's "Cover 2" never gave up the deep one, but we got nickel and dimed, occasionally quartered to death. I expect to see other Big 10 teams trying the screen pass vs. this defense until they can prove it can be stopped.
Offense did okay.
Based on the past 3 games, one shouldn't have expected much more of the offense. In fact, without having looked at the statistics, it seemed like some of OSU's longest season drives were tonight. OSU correctly figured Northwestern's secondary couldn't cover Homes, and went to the well early and often. Also, the buckeye faithful probably saw more OSU 3rd down conversion tonight than the previous 3 games combined. In the final analysis, the offense played a little better than they normally do, although the running game is still anemic and continue to hurt this offense.
OSU QB Justin Zwick was fortunate not to have two more of his errant throws turned into Northwestern INTs, but his potential is undeniable. With enough seasoning, he'll be exceptional. When nothing was available, Zwick took some sacks, and threw some balls away, the mark of a kid who listens to his coaches. Once Justin Zwick learns to look for more than Santonio Homes or Bam Childress, this could be a potent offensive attack. He is beginning to look the part. Getting calmer under pressure, too.
Again, congratulations to Northwestern. They deserved the win and got it. No one could have predicted NU would score 33 points on this defense. But they did, and got the win because of it.
Tonight, the better team won. The better athletes are now getting on a plane to Columbus wondering how they gave up 33 points. The coaches, particularly the defensive coaches are probably wondering, too. OSU didn't give this game away on turnovers. They just got plain beat. Kudos to Northwestern. They came ready to play, had a better game plan, and stuck to it even when it looked like the tide was turning in OSU's favor down the stretch.
Some thoughts...
Tresselball is essentially winning on three facets of the game...
1. Win on Special Teams
2. Mistake-free, opportunistic offense.
3. Stout Defense.
Tonight, Tressel-ball wasn't enough to overcome the Northwestern Wildcats. OSU arguably won the special teams battle (2/3 fg, 1 TD from a punt return) and had an offense that generated 27 points with 1 turnover. However, in 4+ quarters, the OSU defense never had an answer for Northwestern's version of the slant bubble screen. Meatloaf says "Two out of three ain't bad," but it certainly wasn't enough against the feisty, fired-up Northwestern Wildcats.
Northwestern, armed only with mostly MAC-level players who were passed over by the likes of OSU, Michigan, even Illinois, a slower and smaller Northwestern team stunned the highly-touted group from Ohio - Beat 'em fair and square in 4+ quarters in Evanston, Illinois. They did so in a fashion that makes me think if these two teams were to play 10 times, NU would win 5 or 6 of them.
It was supposed to be the coming out game for Lydel Ross. A good number of the Buckeye Faithful were even thinking shutout. Northwestern was expected to put up a fight for 1-quarter, and OSU would slowly pull away, grinding out a workman-line 14 to 20-point TJ-style blowout. Personally, I was hoping for an extended look at Troy Smith at QB, if nothing to see how he'd do with some reps. Unfortunately for all the buckeye faithful, the Wildcats had other ideas.
Facing a faster and bigger OSU squad, Northwestern's offensive coaches conceived a brilliant game plan to negate OSU's speed. Running their variation of the bubble-screen pass to perfection, the Northwestern offense had OSU's defense playing in space, and out of their defensive game plan after the first quarter. Until late in the game, the offense played mistake-free.
Unlike the past 3 years, the OSU defense didn't make the necessary halftime adjustments, which proved to be the difference in the game. Even after 4-quarters, the OSU defense couldn't contain the Wildcats basic 5-play package. Whether it was luck, or timely play calling, every time OSU's defense went for a blitz, Northwestern had the perfect play called. As a result, the OSU defensive coaching staff resorted to a less aggressive game, and the Wildcat offense ate it up. It was though the Ohio State defense was playing on its heels all night.
OSU's "Cover 2" never gave up the deep one, but we got nickel and dimed, occasionally quartered to death. I expect to see other Big 10 teams trying the screen pass vs. this defense until they can prove it can be stopped.
Offense did okay.
Based on the past 3 games, one shouldn't have expected much more of the offense. In fact, without having looked at the statistics, it seemed like some of OSU's longest season drives were tonight. OSU correctly figured Northwestern's secondary couldn't cover Homes, and went to the well early and often. Also, the buckeye faithful probably saw more OSU 3rd down conversion tonight than the previous 3 games combined. In the final analysis, the offense played a little better than they normally do, although the running game is still anemic and continue to hurt this offense.
OSU QB Justin Zwick was fortunate not to have two more of his errant throws turned into Northwestern INTs, but his potential is undeniable. With enough seasoning, he'll be exceptional. When nothing was available, Zwick took some sacks, and threw some balls away, the mark of a kid who listens to his coaches. Once Justin Zwick learns to look for more than Santonio Homes or Bam Childress, this could be a potent offensive attack. He is beginning to look the part. Getting calmer under pressure, too.
Again, congratulations to Northwestern. They deserved the win and got it. No one could have predicted NU would score 33 points on this defense. But they did, and got the win because of it.
