I wish I was attending this game at the Horseshoe-it is one of those stadiums on the bucket list for me, ideally against Michigan if not CU. Months ago this was expected to be a sure loss by most of the world, a game taken for the cash and dubbed “The Dan Hawkins’ Buyout Bowl” by Stuart at CUattheGame.com, is now one we are actually thinking we just might be able to go in and steal. Although the Buckeyes still have their standard stout D and a huge offensive line, they lost their coach and are now being led by someone even greener and Embree, they are still without 3 key offensive starters (not to mention the Raiders’ Terrelle Pryor), and are super thin at WR and cannot decide between a mediocre senior or a raw freshman at QB.
§ First and foremost I will state as every fan, writer and podcast or talk show host has repeated all week, since the end of the CSU game walking out of Mile High, the Buffs canNOT start out this game slow, lethargically and with any sort of blunders early. No false starts, holding or any other penalty. No dropped passes or overthrows. No missed tackles. Otherwise, Ohio St. will capitalize on their home turf and bury us. I don’t understand why this staff has not been able to get the team really fired up and focused to start a game?! Maybe after a win, in this atmosphere, they will actually get it going early, because they absolutely have to!
§ With their loss to Miami OSU dropped out of the top 25 for the first time since 2004. I am not sure if it is good to catch them right here while they’re a little down and haven’t gotten all their suspended players back, or if it is bad to face them right now when they are pissed from being embarrassed on national TV. The pressure is all on them, they are at home on national TV again, and they opened as 161/2 point favorites. This should be Embree’s best Mac pre-game imitation yet.
§ CU might have some possible minor calendar advantages. The first is that Buckeye players didn’t actually start Fall quarter classes until this week so their schedules have been hectic and busier. Secondly, all of the program drama cannot have helped this team and now everyone is talking about getting the suspended players back for Big 10 play. Lastly, Ohio St opens conference play with 4 (likely) ranked teams and could be looking ahead a bit. Hopefully, a few players are mildly distracted, tired or not quite prepared.
§ This will be a huge game for two of our most important players, cousins Doug Rippy and Rodney Stewart, who grew up in the shadow of the Horseshoe. While Rippy was quite heavily recruited and ultimately chose Colorado over many other schools, his diminutive cousin was overlooked. Occasionally Hawkins’ staff did make a recruiting score and this was one of them (along with securing P-Rich as soon as his felony charge in Purse-gate was dropped), when Rippy told the staff they should check out Stweart. Rodney then came here, still overlooked in the shadow of five-star bust Darrell Scott and since-turned safety Ray Polk. Needless to say Speedy surprised everyone and won the starting job and has never looked back, now eyeing his coach’s all-time rushing record. “I just have to keep my head straight, I might cut my phone off this week but it’s going to be a big game. I’m going to be playing in front of my family; it will kind of be like a home game for me.” Deji Olatoye is also from that region and all three will have a ton of family there.
§ The same goes for Pittsburgh native Tony Clemons, who will be making a return visit to the stadium in which he once suited up, but never got to play in while at Michigan. He will be playing against his cousin, RB Jordan Hall (Terrelle Pryor is also a cousin) and will also have a lot of family in attendance.
§ Ohio St. looked a little vulnerable against an aggressive and very fast Miami defense. While we might not be able to match the speed, we can match the pressure they put on the duo of Buckeye QBs, senior Joe Bauserman and dual-threat frosh Braxton Miller, who combined for 4 of 17 passing for only 33 yards. Almost every time the freshman was in, he ran, fumbling once and throwing a key interception one of the few times he didn’t run. Neither has been much to write home about. It looks like Braxton will get the start (did the Hawaii film influence that decision?) but I would think we also see the senior some, especially if we can get to the freshman early.
§ We will likely utilize something similar to what we used after adjusting against the Rams: 8 in the box to take away the run, daring the QB to throw at our physical DBs. Buckeye receivers had zero receptions last week, but RB Jordan Hall should be full strength after missing two games to suspension and cramping up vs. Miami and they have 2 good TEs. The D-line will need to not get pushed backwards by a huge Ohio St O-line, while the LBs and safeties will need to stuff the run behind them, still keeping their eyes on the TEs and RBs catching short balls in space; and of course, they cannot let either QB pick up yards with his legs, especially the quick freshman. It will be important not to give up any big plays as points will be hard to come by in this likely low-scoring affair. If the defense can hold OSU to less than 17, the offense has a chance.
§ Offensively, the Buffs must take advantage of any opportunities it gets. We can’t afford any false starts, holdings or drops that stall drives. They will be working with a fourth different starting five on the O-line, but LT David Bahktiari said he was “100%” and has been officially cleared to play. Sione Tau will likely start at RT and Ryan Dannewitz, who practiced mostly at RT thru camp, but has only played on the left in a game, will be used as the utility tackle, spelling each for a series or two. Handler will be the center with Munyer out at least this game; Miller and Adkins continue holding down the guard spots (neither has missed many snaps this year-the only two consistent starters playing most of every game). That combination should allow fresh lineman to give Tyler some time and to open holes for Speedy, eager to show the 102,000+ the mistake they made, and get into the endzone for the first time this season. The Buckeye linebackers will be doing everything they can to limit him and force Tyler to throw.
§ Tyler will need to have his best game and not let opportunities slip by against this defense in the Horseshoe-too many passes have been overthrown. Deehan has gotten wide open down the seam in every game, but only scored once. I will continue to call for more Thorton and Slavin-I would like to see a defense try to cover them both! Richardson has to be more ready mentally and physically to play in this big game and make plays when he is given the chance, especially with the coverages he is going to face now. Other receivers have started to get involved so that should help him as they can’t only focus on him. No drops from anyone!
§ The Buffs have tried very little trickery so far. This would be a good game to unleash some surprises. Let’s just not execute them the way the Lambies did most of theirs in their big game against us.
§ Special Teams has to be improved all around-there are still just too many mistakes-and OSU likely has the advantage in all phases, except maybe kicker, where their new leg has not fared as well as Oliver. Wil Oliver is the only ST strength and he may get some pressure-filled chances this weekend. The punting has got to get the ball off clean (Embree said that should be cleared up this week; punt returns have to well…return. Clemons and TFr. Kyle Washington will continue returning kickoffs and the unit needs to give them some better blocking as CU is dead last of 120 teams, averaging only 14+ per return. Lastly, kickoffs need to go deep AND stay in bounds; Embree said Tuesday, “We might have a solution to kicking the ball out of bounds, we’ll see this week.” It would be nice to not have to worry so every time and ST unit was on the field.
§ Embree somewhat clarified his statements about “taking off the leash” against CSU. He said he told the team before the game that there were no rules -not to play dirty, but to be more aggressive from the start. Conrad Obi took it to heart with a very nice borderline late hit on Thomas on the first drive that I’m sure Embree was fine with. After both teams were warned (if you remember the little huddle Tyler had with CSU safety and captain Ivory Herd with the referee near the end of the half). Embree told them at halftime to reign it in and anyone who got a personal foul in the 2nd half wouldn’t make the trip to Ohio.
§ Since Washington got in the game, the Buffs have now played 12 true freshmen and 7 more redshirt freshmen, so far. Barring injuries I don’t know of any more frosh besides DD Goodson that might play.
Here’s some further reading for you diehards out there:
§ David G’s TIPS: http://www.cuatthegame.com/2011/ohio-state-preview/
§ The Ohio St. Football page: http://www.cubuffs.com/fls/600/gameday/osu11/osunotes.pdf?SPSID=3843&SPID=255&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=600
§ A little film study from Bob Bell at RR http://www.ralphiereport.com/2011/9/22/2441732/cu-buffs-osu-ohio-st-ohio-state-buckeyes-colorado-buffaloes-film-study
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