1. QUARTERBACK CONTROVERSEY
For anyone who hasn't already figured it out, I don't know shit.
I called out Boeckman last week for making mistakes under pressure - which he did. But I also said it might be an area of concern - which it was not.
I have also called him a role player, who performs very well within a limited role as a QB.
Saturday night he stepped it up several notches. While PSU may have only had one sack, they were in the back field. No problem - and no mistakes. Amid the bedlam that must have been particularly deafening on the second drive, he stepped up time after time. Other than the interception a, flawless game. On seven of eight third down passing attempts he delivered - twice for TDs. He was a better QB last night than I dreamed we would see this season.
Three plays in particular impressed me.
Fourth and one. The entire stadium is in your ears. It has to be a sneak because you can't afford not to communicate on the snap. The D knows you are coming. And you go over the top. Not complicated. But down and dirty doing what you have to do.
Third and 12 from the PSU 9. Again amidst an absolute din. Laser pass into coverage for 27 yards.
But my favorite was our first drive of the second half. Go three and out and the PSU D regains its confidence and the game could get tough. Keep them on the field for a while and - score or not - we are working the clock and working their minds.
Third and three, three PSU defenders about to make contact - one already hanging on his arm - and he gets the pass just over the yellow line to Nicol.
Where now is the weakness in this offense?
I still think he locks on to the receiver a bit early... but... yeah... Big deal.... he's tough... when he can step into the throw he's got a cannon... the O-line is playing well and TB gets rid of the ball quickly... keep making good decisions... and... we're gonna be tough to stop.
2. USC DYNASTY
That is another pitcher of Kool Aid I have had a sip or two of. (sorry, make that "of which I have a sip or two")
Can you imagine having the talent USC has? You simply can't recruit any better than that.
And therein lies their problem. USC isn't supposed to be rebuilding. They brought a ton back. This was supposed to be the year they taught the football world a lesson.
They haven't just lost two games. They had a three point win at Washington and a seven point win at home versus Arizona - both teams with losing records. Four games that a team with that much talent simply shouldn't play.
And I know about the injuries, but I ain't buying. They are just too deep. For all the talent we have recruited the past 5 years USC has FOUR TIMES the number of top level (top 10 at their position) recruits that we do. Every kid who has gone down has been replaced by a HS AA. And those injuries have only come into play recently.
WE are supposed to be rebuilding. And other than MSU - where the score was much closer than the game itself - nobody has gotten a whiff.
You can't squeeze more talent onto a college football team than USC has. So what's up Trojans? Where do you go from here?
I believe the problem here is "entitlement." Not from every individual... but... when I see teams that don't have guys step up to fill the large and departed shoes... Especially when you know they have the talent, I start thinking you have guys that are going through the motions. Haven't seen as much of USC as I probably should to make that assertion... but... sometimes you can treat these kids too much like grown-ups... too much like they already have their NFL paychecks... and... if its been going on all the offseason... and all year... sometimes its too late to correct it now... Pete's #1 guys need a boot in the ass, I fear. Haing said all that, our Good pal Fred Davis looks to be doing everything he can to keep the Trojans competitive... good for him.
3. BOONE OVER HARTLINE
Hartline is 6' 3". Boone weighs 313.
In case you missed it - after the Harline TD Alex Boone came up behind Hartline, put his hands on his shoulders - and leapt over him. Just jumped over his head leapfrog style - but with Hartline standing up (for the most part).
Apparently Tim Tebow is not the only one Gravity fears. Of course, gravity and physiscs are good friends... and... well... inertia... momentum... all that... come into play in a situation like this where Alex's Mass times his acceleration...
Uggh... bring me a beer... how does that freak get up like that?
4. NOTRE LAME
They had an off week this week and STILL couldn't score.
Me thinks its time for a pep talk from Antonio Henton.
5. A MOMENT OF DOUBT
The first drive PSU was calling plays that caught us with the wrong D and in the wrong sets. Fine. It happens. But after two quick first downs on PSU's second drive I admit it - I had a flashback to Florida. An entire game of guessing wrong, hitting where they ain't and grabbing air. A bad game plan that never got adjusted.
But it was OK. JoPa had a nice game plan for taking Laurinaitis out of the game. But did he really think that was all we had?
Too many athletes. Too much speed. Did you see the licks Freeman laid on? Did you see how we closed the distance (Gholston, Coleman, Russell)?
Everyone has a plan until they get hit in the mouth. Btw, how did Cadogen play?
6. DID HE REALLY SAY THAT?
Herbie's quip was classic. He sure cums up with some good ones now and then.
I also liked the interview with Dan Connor, saying it was their goal to go up against #1. To either be number one or play number one.
Uh, hold on. There is a bit of difference between those two. One is a scheduling quirk. The other requires you to play great football. And I read the quotes from PSU players prior to the season. They thought they would make a run at the title this year. So don't pretend your goal was just to be in the same game as the best team in the country - although I guess that one proved to be achievable.
Back in '92 or whatever year the Jordan/Bird/etc Dream team was... I remember a player from some Banana Republic in a qualifying game... saying something to the effect that, "The greatest thrill of my career was getting beat by the American Giants."
7. RUNNING BACKS
I have consulted my football handbook and it says that when your linebackers are in on 41 tackles you aren't supposed to give up 453 yards. If you rewatch the game pay particular attention to what Beanie does after he goes through the hole. Time after time he moves the pile and as often as not he is dragging the much ballyhooed Sean Lee with him. I can't begin to imagine what he might be like in two plus years should he in fact stay for four.
And OK, maybe he doesn't go down like a 3 dollar hooker. And maybe Beanie is spoiling me. So I have to say that Mo Wells may have had his best game as a Buckeye Saturday night.
So the question is, where is Saine? The answer seems to be lining up all over the field to get him on game film for Michigan. But why not put him on game film with the actual ball in his hands? Is he putting it on the ground in practice? The cat is out of the bag on this kid and if JT thinks Carr is dumb enough to ignore him...
... oh, never mind.
Actually, I believe some stupid PSU coach mentioned before the game that whne Saine came in the game, he would be their number one priority and had a whole plan to stop him. Apparently it wasn't in their plan to stop Mo... I think their plan to stop Beanie... was... well.. I think they probably did that... and... well... it got run over... nice lick on Lee on his first or second carry.
8. SEPARATION ANXIETY
For the first time in awhile the top teams survived upsets (perhaps with some help from byes). I would submit we are now down to 8 teams (top 8 in both polls) who have separated from the pack and have a realistic chance at making the title game.
But how on earth three people could watch football this week and still vote BC as the best team in the country over OSU is beyond me. LSU, maybe. Oregon I can live with. But BC?
How do you feel about West Virginia? Think it over. Might be worth considering.
9. WHAT'S WRONG WITH US?
I love CFB. Can't get enough of it. But watching OSU is different. Every play has emotion attached. Saturday night Tennessee and South Carolina were in a dog fight and the OSU game was already decided. But the small screen in my PIP was Tenn-SC. I had to watch OSU. Turning it off - even though I was recording it - was unthinkable.
Two years ago I was in Canada when OSU lost to PSU. Saturday at 2:00 I was in Buffalo looking across the river at Canada. By 8:00 PM I was in my Barcalounger wearing my beads and ready to go. I was a long way from Canada. It wasn't going to happen again. I made sure of it.
I am relatively normal in every other way. Where can I get help?
I know I am not alone
Freak.
10. OL
PSU came in leading the country with over 4 sacks per game. They were in the backfield more than once, but they got their first - and only - sack at about the 11 minute mark of the fourth quarter. And it was not because we weren't throwing, or that we weren't throwing deep. It was simply a clinic by folks like Barton and Boone backing up what they had been saying all week about circling this game.
I'm gonna stick with "Gravity"--- I'm sure NYB can throw some string theory bak up for this in later....
11. I HATED TO DO IT
I feel bad. I really do.
My wife is always saying I don't talk to her. So I suggested we both read the paper more and we can discuss current events.
So Tuesday I ask her if she knows what month it is. It was in the paper.
She doesn't. So I backhand her.
I would never do this. Because if I did we'd all understand the great Tragedy of my life... I never learned to read.
12. PLAYER OF THE GAME
Trapasso?
In JTs tenure the best OSU has ever done in 3rd down conversion is 50% for the season. And that is pretty good. Only 9 teams in Div 1A are above 50% right now and only one of those is above 52% (Missouri at almost 57).
So I was pretty impressed near the end of the first half when I realized we hadn't punted. Of course we didn't punt all night. I have seen games where we had few punts. But generally those were against weak sisters where we were getting first downs every other play. Last night there were a lot of thirds, and those were the downs where Boeckman was as masterful as I have seen.
In the end we had 16 third down conversion attempts. Twelve were converted - seven by Boeckman passes, and two of those for TDs. Of the other four three were followed by FGs. And the final attempt was followed by a successful QB sneak.
It doesn't get much better than that.
I think... and.... I meant to follow up on this... but... We were pretty close to the ultimate Tresselball stats of 40 points, 250 passing, 200 rushing.
Another thing to note is the quarterly (or halfly?) distribution of passing yards in that probalby 75% were in the first half... and... we completely controlled the game by running (clock) and defense in the second half...
Domination.
13. SO WHAT MONTH IS IT?
October is domestic violence awareness month.
Now she knows.
Just Remember, November is Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month.
14. TEAM DEMEANOR
There was a holding call against OSU after a completion for a first down. Instead of 1st and 10 it was 3rd and 14. They cut to JT and Boeckman on the sideline. JT wasn't whining. Wasn't wringing his hands or looking down in disgust. It was just he and Boeckman talking about what to do next. Calm and collected. You wouldn't have even thought we had the ball there was so little urgency.
Next play went for a 16 yard TD
.
What would Les Miles do?
15. STAT OF THE WEEK
PSU had the ball for 1:55 in the fourth quarter.
Nothing like a good late Pick-Six, No? I love that crap... especially when there are still Morons in the crowd who are all, "Well, if we can score here... and... get the one-side kick, then... a two point conversion..." Nothing like crushing the last bit of hope.
16. SAFETY CONSCIOUSNESS
I made it to Happy Valley once - back in 2003. You really can't stay at a hotel on campus unless your grandparents make your reservations a few decades before you are born. So I was in a hotel quite a distance out. And I took this picture in my room. Always wanted to share it, but never got around to it. I really don't want to know the details of the incident that made this particular precaution necessary.
ImageShack - Hosting :: aptwarningma7.jpg
My only thought is that the South Park Underwear Gnomes finally figured out what #2 was and made that long sought after profit.
17. YOU NEVER THINK OF A GOOD RESPONSE UNTIL AFTERWARDS.
Opposing fans have been taunting us lately with the Gator Chomp. I finally have the perfect response.
Simply repeat the chomp and say "You can do this".
Then hold up one finger (no, not that finger) and say "But when is the last time you could do this"?
If that doesn't shut up the Spartans and Boilermakers - and probably Badgers - nothing will.
Frickin losers.
One thing the SEC idiots do understand, that these idiots don't... is that when we lose... it makes them look worse. Fucking morons...
18. BC GAME
I learned two things from the BC - Va Tech game.
1) BC is a mediocre football team.
2) Erin Andrews is hot when she is wet - even in a baseball cap.
Make that, especially in a baseball cap.
Yeah, she's still got her fastball.
19. JERMAL HINES
I just wanted to give this kid a shout out, even though I am not sure why. I haven't even noticed him on the field. But I have seen him in the participation report.
What cause me to mention him is that he is a true Frosh who is not playing at any position of need (do we even have a position of need on the entire team?). He wasn't all that heralded out of HS and is not the sort of kid you think of as leaving early. Classic RS candidate.
What's more, he was injured earlier in the season and couldn't play the first few games. That should make him a mandatory RS.
But he is playing. I honestly don't know what he is doing on the field, but at least in practice this kid is impressing the heck out of somebody.
See my comments on USC. Reverse it.
20. I HAD A DREAM
I had this dream last night.
We won out.
BC won out.
We won the NC game 41-14.
The human pollsters ignored their mandate to vote for the BCS Game winner and selected LSU as National Champs.
I am a vocal opponent of any sort of playoff. My argument has never been that it wouldn't be a lot of fun. But rather that CFB is already a lot of fun and a playoff wouldn't really prove anything. No single game in CFB really "proves" anything. So leave well enough alone. But this item isn't about a playoff. That is not where I am going.
In 2003 one team dominated the college landscape. They were being dubbed the greatest team of all time. They had beaten Texas A&M 77-0. They beat a Texas team 65-13. A good Texas team. A 10-3 Texas team.
But then thy lost. Didn't just lose. Lost 35-7.
Was it the SEC that took them apart? Proving that the entire Big XII was a pretender?
No, it was Kansas State. A team from their own conference. A team that had lost to that same Texas team (and a team that would later lose to Ohio State).
So what did that game prove?
Only what we already know about CFB. On any given Saturday the team that is more motivated, better prepared and with the better game plan can win.
It doesn't prove anything about what will happen in the next game, or in the next season. And it certainly doesn't prove anything about an entire conference. Not one game.
But Oklahoma is not the best example. That comes from 1996. FSU beat Florida that year 24-21. So whatever else you want to argue you have to agree FSU was better than Florida that season. They "proved" it on the field. So no arguments, right?
Except they played again. And this time Florida won. Well, they didn't just win. They clobbered FSU 52-20 - five points worse than Florida beat OSU last year.
So what did that prove?
It proved that on that day Florida was the better team. They were more motivated (as the losing team entering a rematch always is) and they had the better game plan. And since that game was for the NC it proved that Florida deserved the title. That was what was proven by that game.
21. AND JUST WHAT IS MY POINT?
The point is this. Never has a team (OSU '07) been disrespected so much for what another team (OSU '06) did.
I am flat tired of hearing it.
Florida won the NC last year. I am not arguing that point. They were the better team and they earned the title. They earned their tees with the gator on the front over the words "National Champions". And they earned the bragging rights and the farks and all the zings we get every time we run into one wearing our OSU gear. They earned it.
Last year.
Florida was the more motivated team for that game. They had the better game plan and they were more prepared to play that game. But that was that game.
And it was last year.
I know the talking heads and anybody from any other conference - and in particular the SEC - don't want to hear any of this. Fine.
What bothers me is that I am talking to too many folks who wear the S&G who are swallowing the same BS.
We haven't lost. We haven't even been on the ropes.
We are one of the premier football programs in the nation. Over the past few years arguably the very best. The Big Ten is down, but it is not the MAC. (Although we are making our opponents look like they are from the MAC.)
And even if we don't win the NC this year - if we lose to Wisky, or Illinois, or even - God forbid - to Michigan. Or even if we lose another NC game. That doesn't change.
The way it works is that you put together a premier program and you play your games. The better you are the better the chances that things will fall your way and you will get to "prove: yourself in that championship game.
I know there are those who say this is BS. That we do need to keep that chip on our shoulder. And it would be great to be the motivated team in this year's NC game. And the lack of respect we are getting would be that motivating factor.
But to hold our heads up we ain't gotta prove nothin' we ain't already proved.
WE ARE OHIO STATE!
And the SEC and the talking heads can just kiss my scarlet ass.
Amen... and... of course... what really burns my ass... is that it history may favor the '06 Gators a bit more if they get to be the only team that beat mighty Ohio State in the midst of [insert ridiculous streak of dominance here]
Eh, I guess we'll have to live with it.
Very Nice. I just started posting here and you're already one of my favorite posters.
