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Never Forget 31-0
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10/27/05
10/27/05
<TABLE cellPadding=2 width="60%" align=center><TBODY><TR><TD></TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle>Ohio State vs. Minnesota
By Tony Gerdeman
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Saturday will bring about the 45th meeting between Minnesota and Ohio State. The Buckeyes have the slight edge in the series, winning 37 and losing seven. The two teams haven't played since 2002 and the Buckeyes have won two in a row in the series. The last time the Golden Gophers won was back in 2000 when they upset the sixth ranked Buckeyes in Columbus 29-17.
Glen Mason is 1-5 against the Buckeyes in his career, although the last two games in Minneapolis have only been decided by three points each. Make no mistake, there is no game on his schedule that he wants to win more than this one.
The Gophers are coming off of a bye week, so they've had plenty of time to get ready for what many consider a very predictable Buckeye offense and defense. If you were wondering, Glen Mason is 2-4 after bye weeks while at Minnesota.
The Buckeyes are currently riding a two game winning streak which has seen them score 38 points per game. The defense is as effective as ever and certainly aware of the kind of test that the Minnesota Golden Gophers' running game promises.
When Minnesota Has The Ball
Basically, Minnesota will run the ball until they can't. It sounds simple, or stupid, but if Minnesota doesn't need to pass, they won't. It's the same train of thought that keeps Shaq from shooting threes.
Enabling the Gophers to run the ball so well starts with the offensive line. Yes, Minnesota has great tailbacks, but they always have highly capable players there. The offensive line is what makes it all work, and it all starts with center Greg Eslinger. If you ever want to hear a coach gush about a player like a schoolgirl, ask Glen Mason what he thinks about Eslinger. (Just make sure you've got the next 45 minutes free.)
As was mentioned, the guys that Eslinger and company are blocking for aren't that bad either. Jim Tressel calls Gopher running back Laurence Maroney the best back in the country. Maroney is averaging 162 yards rushing per game and already has over 1,100 yards on the season. There really isn't anything that Maroney can't do. He's a power back, he's a speed back, he's a workhorse, he's a receiver, he returns kicks, and he doesn't fumble. The only way to stop him is to make the running game a non-factor by getting out to an early lead and making some timely stops.
What Maroney is not, however, is Minnesota's record-holder for most multi-touchdown games in a season. That would be back-up running back Gary Russell. Russell, a sophomore from Columbus, actually leads the team in touchdowns with eleven. He, like Maroney, is fast and can run both inside and out, but likes to kick it outside if it's there. Also, Russell has only been stopped behind the line of scrimmage once, and that was by Penn State, and it was only for a loss of one yard.
This is going to be a game for the Buckeye defense where linebackers A.J. Hawk, Anthony Schlegel and Bobby Carpenter are going to be the top three tacklers. If Nate Salley and Donte Whitner are getting all of the tackles, it's going to be a long day for the Buckeyes.
Buckeye defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock was a little banged up against Indiana last week, but will be counted on, along with fellow tackles Marcus Green and David Patterson, to occupy the interior Gopher line. It will be up to these guys to win the battle at the point of attack.
Everybody knows that the Gophers are averaging 299 yards rushing per game, and the Buckeyes are only allowing 62.7, which leads the nation. The last six times the Gophers have played a top ten defense against the run, they have averaged 45 carries for 204 yards per game. It definitely bears mentioning, however, that Minnesota's record in these six games is 1-5.
Last week against Wisconsin, the Gophers ran the ball 63 times for 411 yards...and lost. You have to try awfully hard to lose a game in which you run for 411 yards. Imagine being giving the winning lottery numbers before the drawing takes place, and still only getting half of the numbers right. That's losing while rushing for 411 yards.
There have been two games in the past two years where Minnesota has really failed to get the running game going. Both times it was because the opponent got out to an early lead and made the running game a non-option.
Last year Wisconsin jumped out to a 31-0 lead in the first half against the Gophers. Minnesota only ran the ball 18 times for 73 yards. This year against Penn State, the Nittany Lions led 20-7 at the half and 37-7 after three quarters. The Gophers ran the ball 32 times for 129 yards. If the Buckeyes can get out to a quick lead, good things will happen.
Quarterback Bryan Cupito sat out two weeks ago against Wisconsin, but is ready to go this week. He is still a little bit banged up, so don't be surprised if he doesn't play the entire game on Saturday. Cupito is a solid quarterback for what Glen Mason is trying to get done. The offensive line gives Cupito plenty of time to throw and his confidence has grown. He has only been sacked three times on the season, so the Buckeye pass rush will have their work cut out for them almost as much as the run defense will.
The Gophers have one of the top receiving corps in the conference. Logan Payne and 6'5" Ernie Wheelwright are the starters and both are capable of big plays. Their third receiver is Jared Ellerson. Ellerson has 13 catches for 318 yards for a 24.5 yard average per catch. The Gophers like to match up their receivers one on one and throw deep while the defense has eight or nine guys in the box.
One guy in the secondary to watch will be strong safety Donte Whitner. He'll be everywhere. He'll be in run support, he'll be manning up the slot receiver, and he'll be running with Gopher tight end Matt Spaeth. Because of Whitner's many roles this Saturday, expect him to make a play that puts the Buckeye offense in a good situation.
The Gopher special teams match up extremely well for the Buckeyes. Receiver Jakari Wallace is averaging 31.3 yards per kickoff return, but don't really expect him to get any returns with Josh Huston kicking off in the Metrodome. Glen Mason may have him take one out at some point just to try and make something happen.
Minnesota place kicker, Jason Giannini, is 12-15 on field goals this year, with a long of 49 yards. The promising aspect for the Buckeyes is that Giannini only has two touchbacks on kickoffs so far this year. Santonio Holmes and Ted Ginn are going to have some tremendous return opportunities if Minnesota scores. The same holds for the Gopher punting game. Punter Justin Kucek is only averaging 39 yards per punt with a long of 55 yards. This could be a good day for the Ohio State return game.
When Ohio State Has The Ball
This is Troy Smith's offense, and as such, the offense's success will mirror Smith's. In his last two games, he has passed for 475 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for another 97 yards and three touchdowns. The offense is averaging 38 points in these last two games. Yes, it was against Michigan State and Indiana, but in their previous two wins against two equally shameful defenses, the Buckeyes only put up 29 points per game. Smith is improving each week and in all aspects. The best is yet to come from him.
The best is yet to come for running back Antonio Pittman as well. In four of the Buckeyes' five wins this season, Pittman has topped 100 yards.
Acquainting themselves with Pittman will be the three leading tacklers on the Gopher defense: middle linebacker Mike Sherels, outside linebacker John Shevlin, and free safety John Pawielski,
Trying to keep the Ohio State offensive line from getting helmets on the three guys mentioned above with be defensive tackles Anthony Montgomery and Mark Losli. Montgomery is a monster and can pass rush as well as clog up the middle. Center Nick Mangold will have his hands full with either of these senior tackles.
Buckeye right tackle Kirk Barton is still a bit banged up, so don't be surprised if true freshman Alex Boone starts again in his place. Also don't be surprised if Alex Boone never leaves the starting lineup for the rest of his football-playing life.
The Gophers are giving up 150 yards rushing per game and allowing 4.1 yards per rush. There is no reason that this cannot continue for the Buckeyes. They are also giving up 220 yards passing per game. Jim Tressel has always said that his goal on offense is 250 yards passing and 200 yards rushing. This defense is tailor-made for that goal.
The Gopher front seven is not overly big and they're not overly fast. They don't really get to the quarterback, either, as they only have twelve sacks on the season. In fact, they only have one guy with more than two sacks, and that's freshman defensive end Steve Davis with five. Davis is only 6'2" 230 pounds, so he can be neutralized in the running game. Watch him when he is lined up against Alex Boone, it could be fun for all involved.
Troy Smith should have time to pass, as he has the past couple of weeks, so another 200 yards passing can be expected. Wide receiver Santonio Holmes is averaging 98 yards receiving per game in Big Ten play. Holmes and Ted Ginn will be matched up against two capable cornerbacks in Trumaine Banks and Jamal Harris. Banks is 3rd in the conference in pass break ups and Harris is 5th.
Given that Minnesota's defense is so accommodating, it is vital that Jim Tressel treats the Gopher defense like a Holiday Inn. He needs to steal the towels, pack up all of the shampoos and soaps he can, grab the complementary USA Today and hammer that Continental breakfast for a good three and a half hours.
The problem is that it is doubtful that Jim Tressel has ever stolen a towel or eaten a three and a half hour breakfast--especially all in one day.
As far as the special teams are concerned, the Buckeyes again come into a game with the advantage in all aspects. The only negative statistic to overanalyze is that the Buckeyes lead the country in personal fouls committed on defenseless players. Jim Tressel cannot let this trend go unchecked.
What Will Happen
There are two gigantic variables at work this Saturday. The first is that Minnesota is capable of running for 400 yards and losing; the second is that Ohio State is on the road. It's almost a test of wills--or wont's.
Obviously, the key is the Ohio State defense against the Minnesota offense, but that's almost a wash. The Buckeyes' best defense could be a relentless offense. If they get up early, say 17 points, and hold Minnesota to a punt the first couple of series, the game is over. But it would require an attacking and aggressive offense. Therein lies the rub.
Knowing that the Buckeyes have a penchant for making scores closer than they should be, there is nothing really to indicate that this game will be any different. Neither team is great at forcing turnovers, but as we've seen, you don't really have to overtly force a turnover against this Ohio State team to get one. As such, the turnover battle is key. One or two turnovers can be overcome, simply because of the conservative natures of both teams. Any more than that, and you're pushing your luck.
Minnesota will run the ball forty-plus times for upwards of 150 yards, holding Laurence Maroney under 100 yards rushing. The Buckeyes will do a bit better than that themselves.
Troy Smith will throw for another 230 yards and Santonio Holmes will reach the end zone again.
Who knows, maybe even Antonio Pittman will get a touchdown to go with his 120 yards rushing.
This is all, of course, based on the elimination of the aforementioned variables.
Ohio State 31 - Minnesota 17
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