OSU, that inept, or was this their Iowa game?
I've read a lot about how the OSU O-line is killing them. Also, we all heard how poorly Pryor is progressing. (Yes, I'm proud I was one of those dismissing his freshman completion percenatge, and yes, I'm an 'I told you so' guy.) But, do we really think they've taken such a step backon O this year, or was this their version of our Iowa game last week - where mistakes doomed what was a very (shoulda) winnable game?
Compare and discuss:
Del St - (Div I-AA - yes I'm old) against a LOT of second/third stringers and a team maybe playing soft with a 40+ pt lead most of the game manages 216 yds off offense
OSU - against an unranked , albeit better than assumed Purdue team gets only 287 on offense
October 17th, 2009 at 8:13 PM ^
Their offense has been doing this for most of the season. They struggled against USC (it happens), against Wisconsin, against Purdue. It's just an ugly, ugly offense that seems to involve a lot of Terrelle Pryor arm punting and hoping the ball falls into the right hands.
I think Chris Brown at Smart Football made the definitive case that this really is a case of a team with awful gameplans. Did they run the read option once today? I didn't see it at all.
October 17th, 2009 at 8:41 PM ^
I agree. This offensive output for OSU is not something new. Their game plan did not allow them to move the ball downfield, and since the D was on the field the whole time, Pryor could not get into any kind of rhythm. He looked lost out here for much of the game.
October 17th, 2009 at 9:15 PM ^
The Wisconsin score was very deceptive because their defense and special teams won that game. Also keep in mind that their defense played well for almost all of the USC game, so they should have won that game if they had a competent offense.
Their offense is a total mess. There simply are no playmakers and their O-Line is indeed a sieve. I mean, when inferior Purdue defenders are getting to the QB, you know there's a problem. They should use Pryor's legs more, but I'm not sure how they can achieve that result with surprisingly poor talent. Not much speed, size or strength outside of Pryor, who is clearly frustrated.
October 17th, 2009 at 10:01 PM ^
Devier Posey is a gamer. If he had somebody to throw the ball to him he'd be a beast.
October 17th, 2009 at 8:25 PM ^
Before today's games osu is:
#85 (Yards per game)
#45 (Points per game)
#107 (Passing Yds per game)
#42 (Rushing Yds per game)
October 17th, 2009 at 8:39 PM ^
Iowa: 7-0
Purdue: 2-5
October 17th, 2009 at 10:06 PM ^
and would have beaten #25 ND with a 4th & Goal stop.
The Boilermakers have flashed streches of good football this season before today.
The Bucks have a very good defense. Their offense, not good at all. Against Wisconsin, the Bucks were limited to only 184 yds of total offense. However, scoring on two pick sixes and one kickoff return for a TD can cover that up in one game. Not likely over the course of a season, however.
tOSU has been overrated all year, including the preseason. How does a team that has only 2 top 200 Scout players entering the season(PSU had six) get rated in the top ten? The name tOSU, obviously, not the team on the field.
October 17th, 2009 at 10:08 PM ^
Never had a clue that the # of Scout top 200 players was the basis for Top Ten preseason ratings.
October 17th, 2009 at 10:30 PM ^
The critical mass of tOSU players that scare you are ...((crickets chirping))
October 17th, 2009 at 8:27 PM ^
I was sorta hoping the Iowa game would be their "Iowa game." Nevertheless, I'll still be pretty surprised if they're not 8-3 at worst going into the game.
October 17th, 2009 at 8:29 PM ^
We didn't look anywhere near this bad against Iowa. The only similarity is the number of turnovers.
October 17th, 2009 at 8:35 PM ^
I have been saying this all along: Pryor is not suited to what Tressel is having him do on offense. Pryor will never be an NFL-style, pocket passer. His position in the NFL will be either WR or TE. If Tressel is keeping a promise to Pryor to turn him into an NFL-style QB, it is admirable. But he really needs to talk to him and give him a severe reality check.
As a UM fan, though, I hope Tressel keeps misusing him for the remainder of his career at OSU.
October 17th, 2009 at 9:07 PM ^
who else do they have? Until their next golden child Braxton Miller? comes in, do they really have any choice?
October 17th, 2009 at 10:27 PM ^
Pryor is a compassionate human being
October 17th, 2009 at 9:39 PM ^
the only reason that TP was so heavily recruited by OSU was to keep him away from Michigan and Penn St. I think they felt with our types of offense there would be know way to stop him. I think we are better off without him. He is to much of a attention whore for me. I don't think he will play in the pros unless he switches positions. I think he is two years into a career that is going to be very similar to the overrated Ron Powlus.
October 17th, 2009 at 9:40 PM ^
the only reason that TP was so heavily recruited by OSU was to keep him away from Michigan and Penn St. I think they felt with our types of offense there would be no way to stop him. I think we are better off without him. He is to much of a attention whore for me. I don't think he will play in the pros unless he switches positions. I think he is two years into a career that is going to be very similar to the overrated Ron Powlus.
October 17th, 2009 at 10:11 PM ^
This doesn't really make sense for UM, right? Wasn't Pryor a heavy OSU lean until (and maybe even after) RR got the job? Perhaps it makes more sense for PSU, but I doubt Pryor was recruited as a QB by Carr. Was he?
October 17th, 2009 at 10:15 PM ^
are about to fall off in Ohio. The reason they run so much is because Pryor can't pass. They could get away with it last year because they had Wells, but that blanket is gone. This is also the second week in a row they've been outgained in yards - one more week to make it a trend.
October 17th, 2009 at 10:59 PM ^
That is ridiculous to the point of absurdity. No team in America would recruit someone to keep them away from a rival. You recruit a kid because you think they can help you win.
Pryor was the number one overall recruit. That is reason enough for OSU to recruit him.
October 17th, 2009 at 10:16 PM ^
looked ugly... they could end up being 8-4 or 7-5
loosing to
usc
psu
purdue
and iowa or michigan or both... hopefully both....
October 17th, 2009 at 10:25 PM ^
Dang, Iowa was down 10-0 @Wiscy today. We would have been right back in the B10 race had Iowa lost today.
October 17th, 2009 at 10:35 PM ^
Looks like a lost cause now. We'd need Iowa to lose 3 games to finish ahead of them and they have MSU, IU, NU, OSU, and Minn to finish out the season. I don't think there are even 2 losses there for IU at this rate.
October 17th, 2009 at 10:55 PM ^
Four teams tied at 6-2 in 1990.
Then you have to hope that we get a circular result head-to-head and that the secondary tie-breakers fall our way.
Yes, Iowa is in the driver's seat, but losses @MSU & @OSU are possible, as is one of those plus a stinker.
I'm not saying that Mich for the B10 is likely, but half of the B10 undefeateds fell back to reachable today. I certainly didn't see the tOSU Purdue loss coming. (Purdue making a game of it, yes, but outright winning, no.)
October 18th, 2009 at 12:21 PM ^
I don't disagree with you, but I think that the tie breakers don't fall our way. Iowa hasn't been to the Rose bowl since '91. So they win that tie breaker. They beat us head to head, so they win that too. I think that without the Wisconsin loss, they are going to be impossible to catch. Unless MSU beats them and I'm not sure I want that to happen.
At this point I'd like to see us keep playing hard and finish as high as possible in the Big 10. But mostly I'd like to see us beat OSU.
October 18th, 2009 at 2:26 PM ^
Honestly, I really don't care what our bowl destination is. If we manage to win out (which will be a very tall order, let's be clear) AND catch enough breaks that 6-2 will be good for a share of the title - I'll be ecstatic.