Ohio State Buckeyes Preview: Week 2

The Buckeyes started the 09 campaign against the Midshipmen of Navy.  Although many expected the triple option to give the Bucks some problems, few if any could anticipate what would happen.  Ohio St. held a 29-14 lead in the 4th quarter and decided to go for it on 4th and 2- a field goal would have put the Buckeyes up by three scores effectively ending the game.  Although Coach Tressel was heavily criticized for going for it, his worst mistake was trusting a soft offensive line by running Herron up the middle.  Yes, the line should be able to push the much smaller Navy around but the fact is they couldn’t do it the entire game.  Pryor wasn’t involved in a play that could have ended the game, therein is the travesty.  Navy stopped the Buckeyes and landed a big strike, yet again against safety Anderson Russell and closed the gap to 29-21.  On the next possession Pryor overthrew Dane Sanzenbacher and Navy picked it off.  Navy QB Ricky Dobbs, who the Buckeye defense turned into Roger Staubach, scampered straight down the gut of the Buckeye defense for a 24 yard touchdown run.  Navy, now facing a 29-27 deficit went for two.  Navy decided to throw the ball instead of running the triple option which was effective the entire day.  Buckeye LB Brian Rolle intercepted the pass and took it to the house increasing the lead to 31-27.  Ohio St. recovered the on-side kick and ended the drama.

Now the Buckeyes play a team that is loaded at every position.  USC will start touted freshmen Matt Barkley at QB which may be the difference in the game.  Barkley has a supporting cast that is extremely talented and very deep but can he perform on the big stage?  The Trojans will use four running backs each of which can start on most teams.  Joe McKnight is the most talented of the four and is a threat to go the distance on any play.  The WR unit is inexperienced but also very talented.  They are led by returning starter Damian Williams.  The defense is deep as always led by All-American and sure- fire NFL 1st round pick, Taylor Mays.  Mays is a beast and a difference maker in the talent laden secondary.

Keys to Victory:  The talking heads around the nation bump their gums about Ohio St. not having the speed to defeat the elite teams.  This is far from the truth.  The difference in the two National Championship game losses and the loss in the Coliseum a season ago had nothing to do with speed.  In fact, Ohio State’s skill position players on offense, the linebackers and secondary can play with anyone in the nation.  The difference in all the big losses was the play of the offensive line in particular and the defensive line.  The O-Line has been pathetic for the vast majority of Coach Tressel’s tenure.  Despite highly rated O-line recruits every year they continue to disappoint.  The line outweighed the Midshipmen of Navy by an average of 30 lbs yet couldn’t generate any movement.  Balleyhooed recruits Mike Adams and JB Shugarts are not in the lineup.  How does that happen?  What is become a regular event in Columbus, the line also made several position changes from 08 to 09 as Jim Cordle made a position switch.  Evidently, continuity isn’t a major initiative for the offensive staff.  Bryant Browning also moved from right tackle to right guard.  Browning was victimized week in and week out in 08.  Unfortunately he looked no better at guard against Navy.  The 2009 defensive line is much quicker but must prove they can hold the middle of the line and generate a pass rush without a blitz. If that doesn’t happen, the Trojans will run free and will be nearly impossible to cover.

Ohio State QB Terrelle Pryor is a different player than what USC faced in 2008.  In addition to being more mature and a better passer, the offense is now built for his skills.  OSU will have to control the clock and stay out of 3rd and long situations.  On defense, they will have to make Barkley uncomfortable and force him to react under pressure. 

Prediction: In front of a national audience and a capacity crowd in excess of 105,000, the Buckeyes will seek to regain respectability against the talented Trojans.  Pryor is a rare talent who lives for moments of this magnitude, he won’t disappoint.  Pryor leads the Buckeyes to a much needed victory.  Ohio State 27 USC 21

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