Buckeyes Blank Illinois, 30-0
Driving rain typically favors the offense and the running game in particular. Still, there wasn’t a lot of confidence among Buckeye fans about the tailbacks so far and the playcalling for them. I felt playcalling made a difference this game. Yes, the interior of the offensive line got a good push off the ball this game and were able to open up running lanes for Herron and Saine. Yes, Herron and Saine demonstrated the necessary vision and cut-back ability that Buckeye fans felt were lacking in the previous 3 games. Nevertheless, the Buckeyes helped themselves today by operating almost entirely out of the shotgun until this game was no longer competitive. Further, the Buckeyes used a lot of zone read, attacked the edges and, in the process, was able to keep the Illini from simply collapsing on the line of scrimmage and bringing more than the offensive line could feasibly block. Fans have been critical of playcalling this season (and, presumably, the last as well), but I don’t recall seeing “Dave” until late in the game when the game was no longer in reach for the Illini. In doing so, the Buckeyes were able to keep the front 7 on their heels, attack all points on the offensive line, and post 236 rushing yards on a team giving up only ~80 a game. I think Buckeye fans would say that Saine (13 carries, 81 yards) had the better day, and truly showed some “Zoom” when he got to the second level. Still, the Buckeyes got some solid running from Dan Herron (14 carries, 75 yards), especially in the red zone (2 TDs). Further, we got to see more Pryor keepers too (13 carries, 59 yards).
Some praise should be given to the offensive line as well. Not only were they able to create some space in the pouring lane, but they were almost spotless in the penalty department. The Buckeyes in total only had 4 penalties for 40 penalty yards. 15 of those came on an obvious pass interference by Chimdi Chekwa (still cringing thinking about that one). Another 15 came on Kurt Coleman’s late hit near the end of the game. 5 came on a delay of game as the Buckeyes were in that gray area of long FG/punt. The last 5 came on a false start by JB Shugarts (I think) in the 4th quarter. No holding penalties, and one mostly inconsequential false start. Nicely done, fellas.
It’s hard to say much of anything about the passing game. Pryor still has his bad habits. There’s a few plays that probably should’ve been interceptions that, by the grace of God, were not because of Illinois’ inability to catch anything this game. His passes could still use more zip, his decisions could still be better (no throwing late over the middle!), yadda yadda yadda. Further, with things working on the ground, the Buckeyes only had enough interest in the forward pass to tally 82 yards. None of those came in the first half. There’s not a lot to add here, other than some joy that Sanzenbacher got yet another TD and that Terrelle Pryor threw a WR screen to get the first completion. Sanzenbacher’s TD came on a 4th and goal late in the 4th quarter too, which satisfied (in part) some of the bloodlust of the rain-soaked fans in Ohio Stadium. We also threw to a fullback too (seriously, we did), putting Zach Boren in the box score with a 6 yard reception.
The defense dominated the game, but there were stretches where there seemed like there’d be trouble. After how many games of seeing it in the past few years, the hurry-up offense still gasses the Buckeye defense1. Further, Juice proved elusive in the early goings. However, as the game started to get away, the defensive line went into overdrive. Thaddeus Gibson (7 tackles, 4 solo, 2 TFLs and a forced fumble) took over large stretches of the second half. Lawrence Wilson, shown to the left fighting crime, made an appearance with a nice interception that came at the most fortuitous time. With the Buckeyes up only 20-0, the Illini’s hurry-up offense was working to the Buckeyes’ detriment. Two plays after a necessary timeout to regroup, Lawrence Wilson tipped a Juice Williams pass and picked it off, ending the Illini’s drive. The ensuing FG for the Buckeyes made it a 4 possession ballgame.
Elsewhere, several other Buckeyes had very good efforts. Brian Rolle was second on the team in tackles, and his interception was a huge buzzkill for the Illini. It set up the Buckeyes first 3 points of the game. Kurt Coleman was again a lead aggressor, leading the team in tackles (6 solo, 9 total). He also again forced a fumble (that wasn’t recovered by the Buckeyes). His late hit was unfortunate, but I’ll be damned if it’s a suspendable offense. Donnie Evege was a special teams monster. Then again, Donnie is a monster… period. Full stats are available.
Miscellany
- This is the first time the Illini have been shutout since Rutgers in 2006.
- This is the first back-to-back shutouts pitched by Ohio State’s defense since 1996 (Minnesota, Illinois)
- The members of the 2009 class of the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame were introduced at halftime, which included Pandel Savic, Andy Katzenmoyer and the late Neal Colzie.
- This is Dan Herron’s 8th straight game with a TD.
- This drives me nuts, after all these games. [↩]
Written by: Vico |
No love for Super Doug’s leaping of a blocker to get a sack?
Or Todd Delliger/Dellinger?
Could that fifth string announcing crew have been any worse? Den-ling-er. Not hard to pronounce. My other favorite was “Russell Anderson” playing safety. All game like this. I hate watching home games in my house.
Heh, it was a quickie synopsis to cover for the fact that I have a lot of work I need to start doing tomorrow to prepare for a busy week of work this week. We’ve been able to crowd the ball unlike anything I’ve seen from the unit in quite some time.
I must have missed this, since it seems to be showing up on all the Buckeye blogs, but can someone please explain to me exact definition of the “Dave” play? Is it just the iso play that we’ve come to know and loathe?
Yes, it’s a run to the left/right of the center, from the iso.
On the “chippines”
The pregame “chirping” was on the fault of the Illini. They had already started their stretches. OSU did the “hive”, then ran out to midfield, as they always do. The team had barely reached midfield before the Illinois players ran up to them and started yelling. Completely unprovoked.
Kurt Coleman should probably be suspended, too. Kurt is a classy kid, but that was a thug play and he knows better.
@MikeLew: Look up a “power” play. It’s a basic off tackle play that every team, from Pop Warner to NFL, runs. Clarett, Pittman and especially Beanie excelled with that play. Boom and this OLine haven’t got it working yet.
Daryll Clark is a train wreck against solid defenses. I’m glad we didn’t recruit him. But for Pryor’s bonehead move last year in fumbling late in the game, we would have beat them last year as well. Very glad we get Iowa here at home.
This defense is obviously NC caliber right now especially on the line. What concerns me is that as our offense matures and hopefully takes momentum into next year to come out smokin’……….we will be decimated on the D-Line from graduation and obvious early NFL exits. (Heyward, Wilson, Rose, Gibson, and Worthington). The complete team might not be there next year.
The USC loss is just so freakin’ huge….we could be in the top 4 right now. I just don’t see us getting in with one loss and our reputation.
Kudos to the staff, consciously trying to improve in tangible ways. That tight end pull / run off shotgun was great. The crossing route throws were awesome.
Does anybody else share or oppose my views?
I v’e already heard some TV persona’s from the Big 10 Network and that 4 letter word network complaining about the late TD pass with about a minute left…………..
………all I have to say about that…………..OH well.
we get hammerd for not scoring in the redzone , we get hammerd for scoring in the redzone. I don’t care what time of the game it is……….you score when ya can. Folks have issue ………..get over it, especially Gary Dinardo of the BTN ( theres a reason your no-longer coaching big boy ).
http://photo.the-ozone.net/default.aspx?SeasonID=8&SportID=4&CollegeID=0&SortType=0&EventTypeID=0&SportEventID=b35f6c0e-a6fa-4cef-8dd1-80ae9d70eb8e&TeamMemberID=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000&PhotographerID=0&RowCount=32&PageNumber=4
The pictures of Doug Worthington sandwiching both the right tackle and Juice Williams are here. The best part of that play was the incredible bullrush Thad Gibson put on the left tackle too at the same time. With this d-line, there’s nowhere to hide.
“I v’e already heard some TV persona’s from the Big 10 Network and that 4 letter word network complaining about the late TD pass with about a minute left…………..”
In the immortal words of Lou “Sufferin’ Succotash” Holtz: “It’s not the scoring teams responsibility to keep the score down, it’s the defending teams job to stop them. Don’t like it? Recruit better, practice harder, coach better.”
NOBODY ever takes it easy on us, that’s for sure.
How come when Urbran runs up the score, he gets a pass? Collegefootballtalk.com called us ‘classless’ for scoring the last TD. We just cannot win with the media. We pitch two shutouts, and Iowa has the best defense in the B10 for beating an overrated team (which by the way, the media is responsible for overrating–Ole Miss anyone?).
This is why I stick to these blogs and skip the other sites–at least here some slight homerism is expected, unlike at places like eSECpn where the analysis incompetant and banal and if you play their intro music backwards you can hear ESSSS EEEEEE CEEEEE.
johnboy…the d line will not be decimated….Nate Williams, Larimore, Simon, Goeble, and more…Gibson and Heyward may be back…probably will, and do not be surprised if Wilson or Worthington apply for a rare sixth year with the injuries they have had.
as far as Pryor throwing a late td pass…smart move by JT, he fumbled last play and needed to go out positive, not negative. 30-0 is not running the score up. Duane Long wants Pryor to ste for a game. How stupid is that? Yeah Duane, let’s destroy this kids confidence. He just needs to grow and he will.
Matt, evidently when Penn State plays a team with a pulse unexpected things happen.