Open Thread: Michigan State (now with natural civil war flavoring!)
* Note: I try to do my weekly Drive-Thru flashbacks on the YouTubery account relevant to the foe at hand. However, I didn’t have any Michigan State game from yesteryear to look at. I was going to put up the 2004 game, but BuckeyePlanet’s leechers thought against seeding… anything. Ergo, no YouTube for this week. Next week’s Drive-Thru will not disappoint.
What has not helped allay this anxiety is the growing hints of a civil war among the team. Now perhaps I exaggerate the extent of the quarreling among the team because I think any secession of freshmen from the team would be more exciting than the current product on the field, but the bickering appears to be real. Perhaps I’m not even exaggerating, as the Buckeyes have shown they are prone to open internal strife previously this year. The jist of the conflict appears to be between pro-Boeckman and pro-Pryor factions, with the plot (and even wording by Adam Rittenberg) coming right from any historical account of republican or socialist civil upheavals in 18th-20th century Europe. The wide receivers and tight ends, all upperclassmen, “remain loyal” to Todd Boeckman. Though not specified by Rittenberg or anyone else, one can only imagine the sizeable contingent of freshmen “remain loyal” to Terrelle Pryor.
The individual comments get even better:
When asked point-blank if Boeckman got a fair deal from the coaching staff, (Jake) Ballard said: “I don’t know. I think a two-quarterback system wouldn’t be a bad idea. I think Todd is a great leader and a great player and if he came into the game I think he could help out a lot. But I think Terrelle is a great quarterback too. They just bring different things to the table.”
Boone also thinks a two-QB system would be in the Buckeyes’ interest and that the Buckeyes would thrive under it.
Credit Todd Boeckman: he’s played along and has handled everything well.
Of course, there’s an obvious problem with everything that Rittenberg touches on lightly, but never goes into too deeply. Basically, the seniors had their chance. The offense was tailored for Todd Boeckman and the upperclassmen. And yet, they blew it, and most of it isn’t necessarily Boeckman’s fault. Robiskie and Hartline aren’t even a measurable fraction of their 2007 selves and any decreased roles for them should make the offense actually more productive accordingly. They weren’t getting open against the lighter competition, creating coverage sacks for opposing defenses. Now that Boeckman is on the bench, they haven’t done anything to improve their standing either. Hartline likes dropping passes (and even fumbling too) and Robiskie likes half-hearted one-handed fondlings of a live ball and under-running deep routes. Now convince me that having Todd Boeckman in there would change this aspect of the receiving game even the slightest bit. Further, whether Jake Ballard wants to admit it or not, having Terrelle Pryor in the game is the only way he gets the damn ball in his hands.
Secondly, anything the senior linemen, and their henchman Alex Boone, say shouldn’t be considered. Their play is so offensive that it even has Rory Nicol calling them girls.
“He said, ‘I didn’t get to play (the past two weeks because of an ankle sprain), but I’m still (mad). You guys, you look like a bunch of girls out there, and that’s the truth,’ ” senior left tackle Alex Boone recalled.
I won’t go so far as to say that the offensive linemen have denatured themselves and any claim to masculinity, but their performance has been underwhelming to say the least. Why Alex Boone should have any say in what the offense should do is curious, if nothing else. At least, it’s curious for those of us that remember the USC game. You know, the one where Alex Boone thought the offensive line did “a great job… a wonderful job”, which may or may not be the case after you control for the litany of penalties on Boone’s end and Person and Rehring’s inability to block anyone. Further, it’s not like that got any better in the following games. It’s not like they started creating running lanes against Purdue. It’s not like they could pass block either. I still think the most consistent performer on that line this season has been Michael Brewster, and he’s a true freshmen with no experience at center. So how does having Todd Boeckman in there change anything? Why should he be put in the game just to have his other seniors let him down? Receivers aren’t getting open and linemen aren’t blocking well. What would be beneficial about a system that benches Pryor and erases any and all confidence he currently has going and puts in an immobile tree to get pulverized? What benefit is there for Boeckman to be given just enough time to underthrow an out route for a pick six or to underthrow a ‘throw away’ for an interception on the boundary?
It’s unfortunate that Pryor has become something of a headcase mid-season — constantly overthinking, overanalyzing and reticent to action — but with how poorly everyone else has played, he and Beanie are giving the Buckeyes’ the best chance to score points on offense…. few and far between as they are now. Again: great line play covers a multitude of sins. If not for that killer offensive line Alabama has, John Parker Wilson would be exposed as the knucklehead with a noodle arm he is. Instead, he’s the most efficient passer in the SEC.
</tirade>. So what’s there to consider for Michigan State?
- Depth at the o-line took a huge hit this week with Mike Adams and JB Shugarts being sidelined for the season. I take solace in knowing that Mike Adams isn’t getting healthier… he’s getting angrier.
- It seems like everyone is piling on Terrelle Pryor, but let’s be frank: Terrelle Pryor > Brian Hoyer… easy. The Buckeyes should have the QB advantage.
- Javon Ringer should be featured prominently. This prominence should be two-fold. First, he should get about 40 carries to hide for Hoyer’s lunacy. Second, we’re going to be reminded about how he really wanted to be a Buckeye, but the Buckeyes never offered. The back story is here, if you’re interested, but long story short: Ringer was an excellent football player, but a lousy student. The staff finally lost patience with Ringer’s inability to make the grade and told him they wouldn’t offer him.
- Michigan State, like the other Michigan school, is stacked with Ohio boys. The depth chart lists Ohio locals as starting quarterback (Hoyer), tailback (Ringer), wide receiver (Cunningham), defensive tackle (Kershaw), defensive end (Long), strongside linebacker (Jones), cornerback (Rucker) and free safety (Fortener). Kershaw is a former Reynoldsburg Raider… worth noting for old time’s sake.
- Mike Tressel, Jim Tressel’s nephew and Doc Tressel’s son, followed Dantonio from Ohio State to Cincinnati and, eventually, Cincinnati to Michigan State. He is currently their linebackers/special teams coach.
Nothing to it but to do it, I suppose. So let’s see if all the frustrations and anxieties among the team generates some magic.
Great article…
Frustrating, isn’t it? Given that I’m not likely to graduate from another currently top-ranked football powerhouse before Saturday, I’ll be hoping that our Buckeyes can get it together and put on a good, if not great, show against Sparty.
My best advice to them is: Do Stuff.
I had an art class with Kershaw back at RHS…large man. Very quiet.
Bottomline…………….Todd turns the ball over…………….Pryor does not.
Good Article Vico, first time caller long time listener here.
You touched on every base of the game from the Buckeye standpoint, both pro and con. I gotta ask though you did not once touch on the patented MSU mid-season collapse, which usually starts with The Ohio State University. I am aware it is a new coach and new staff and all, but as a man who seems pretty into the historic aspect of football in general, I gotta know is this something you feel Dantonio will be putting a stop to?
To keep going on that thought, remember the last time we went into East Lansing and they were supposed to put it on our “questionable offense”. Ted Ginn had his break-out game, I don’t remember all the stats, but I know you can find it, I remember a punt return TD and a 50 or so yard end around I believe. So question 2 is if someone is going to explode today who are you calling?
The o-line is injured and has had trouble blocking for anyone this year so why should we put an immobile quarterback back in? Nothing against Todd, but TP can buy time and make plays with his feet – simple as that.
I’m a bit surprised there’s been a positive reaction to this article, mostly because I was wondering if it’d be too controversial to address the issue of a possible mutiny to be even worth the try.
And you’re right Kip, I didn’t address Sparty’s expected post-midterm meltdowns. Yet, I think one of the reasons they slipped my mind is that Dantonio (sadly, in some veins), isn’t John L Smith. Dantonio brought with him an attitude and a toughness (cliched as it is to hear “attitude” and “toughness” in college football) from Cincy to East Lansing. When you hear Dantonio challenging his players leading up to the Michigan game “What are YOU going to DO ABOUT IT” (regarding Michigan’s traditional superiority to Sparty), you know Dantonio has that team going in the right direction. They even had a key victory over Penn State last year to show for it.
Another big reason why the more thorough “open thread” notes slipped my mind is that the dissension in the ranks is really, really troubling. It’s been on my mind the whole week, moreso than anything else. It seems like something that, if Tressel isn’t careful, he might lose the team and the season over. It’s even more troubling for me that the comments and additional innuendos are indicative of an entitlement complex, to where their positions should be guaranteed by seniority and, therefore, the necessary fire in the bellies to compete isn’t necessary. It’s really telling that you hear either quotes or innuendos of people like Robiskie, Hartline and Boone calling for Todd Boeckman when it’s their failures that made Terrelle Pryor necessary in the first place. I mention Robiskie’s half-hearted route runnings and half-hearted attempts at the ball, but did I forget him once losing sight of where he was on the field and running out of bounds, negating a Terrelle Pryor scramble and throw for a first down?
But the game is probably reducible to Xs and Os, so I guess I should consider it now when I should’ve thrown it into the post itself (honestly, I was just that obsessed/baffled with the idea of dissension in the program). Ringer is going to get 100 yards, mostly because he’s going to get that many carries and our defensive line will probably be unable to do anything about it. I worry that Laurinaitis will be taken out of most plays, mostly because a lineman will pull and engage him (again: defensive line problem) or that Laurinaitis will turn into psycho-Laurinaitis, where he runs into the line without properly reading the play. The key to winning this game for the Buckeyes is obviously Brian Hoyer. If the Buckeyes can successfully collapse the line of scrimmage and stop Ringer, Hoyer has to win the game for Sparty. Naturally, as I’m sure everyone has been saying, Brian Hoyer against our secondary should be a losing battle for Hoyer every time.
If offense is going to continue to struggle, I think special teams will be key. Lamaar Thomas seems like an interesting choice for the surprise performer of the day. Other than that, for all we know, this could be the game where Pryor gets it going. I know, I know: it’s not very imaginative to peg a freshman as a surprise performer given our collective memories of Ted Ginn in 2004. But in my defense: what have the upperclassmen shown to give me confidence that it would be one of them?
Nice summary of what’s on everyone’s mind. I completely agree with you, Vico. Why bother breaking down WR vs CB match ups when this game is really going to come down to how the Buckeyes come into this game mentally.
I also like your comments on the “entitletment” complex. I think that explains a lot about this team and these players. Guys who have been starting for two or three years never seem to get better as time goes on. Guys like Anderson Russell who showed so much promise as a RS freshman just seem to be average by the time they’re juniors. Lauranaitis was just as good or better as a sophomore in 06 than he is now. At least he hasn’t seemed to regress like the offensive linemen.
Anyone see Clemson’s AD coaching up the interim head coach on the sideline in the final minutes of the game?
All of Jake Ballard’s cavetching in interviews this week could’ve been better spent learning how to block on 3rd and 1.
thanks Jim Cordle… thanks.
a touchdown! wooooooooooooo-hoooooo!
Excellent catch and run play with Pryor and Posey, but naturally: better touchdown.
I can only hope that ends our allergy to the end zone.
But let’s not lose sight of that block Pryor threw when Beanie changed field.
That play went from disaster to awesomeness in about 2 seconds. Awesome.
That was Steve Rehring’s fault on the chop block, wasn’t it? Wasn’t it? Sigh…
Negate the TD on the ground to get Pryor a TD through the air? I’ll take it.
Definitely. It seems like a fair exchange.
Now wasn’t Todd Boeckman supposed to see some action today?
HARTLINE FTW. Someone get me some humble pie to eat.
Shouldn’t have caught that ball in the first place Ray.
I got soul but I’m not a soldier I GOT SOUL BUT I’M NOT A SOLDIER
I guess it’s slightly less irritating than the Mellencamp “This is ourrrr countryyyyyy” line from last year.
I’m glad that third down pass play for Sparty wasn’t reviewed… that looked like a catch from my angle.
I’ll definitely take the punt… and Ray Small not dribbling the ball this time around.
This. is. awesome. Passing plays to Brandon Smith? Blocking from the offensive line? Beanie bunny hopping into the end zone? I can’t add enough superlatives for this.
That first half ruled.
Agreed. I want to take that first half out on a date.
Our defense could’ve have performed a lot better coming out of the gates, and that was a hold on Larimore (I think) on that pass play to Dell.
It’s curious for me that there’s a backup QB in there and we’re not blitzing his brains out at the moment. Just 4 man rushes, and Sparty’s offensive line seems to be better at picking them up this half.
Thaddeus Gibson put an end to that, and with authority.
Seeeee, see what happens when you blitz a backup QB? Good things. Puppies and sunshine and gumdrop smiles and Thaddeus Gibson TDs.
That stiff-arm from Pryor just recently… that… that was mean. And I loved it.
re: Chop block called on Rehring.
As I saw it, the problem was they both thought they were supposed to get the same guy. Brewster could block him normally. The only way Rehring could reach him was by cutting him (cutting on the backside is a somewhat common prectice, often used by the great Broncos lines circa Terrelle Davis to Clinton Portis).
So one of those guys was blocking the wrong guy. Mixup in communication. Might be Rehring’s fault, might be Brewster’s, or maybe they haven’t played together enough and didn’t communicate right.
Yeah, that’s what I kind of had to tell myself when the dust was all settled and the game was still easily won: a minor mix-up and either both Brewster and Rehring’s fault or no one’s fault (communication breakdown). I probably overreacted, considering the game was still young and I had vivid memories of Rehring’s performance against Purdue.