Ohio State 38
Indiana 10
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
Ohio State TD: Daniel Herron rushed for 39 yards
Ohio State TD: Terrelle Pryor pass to Dane Sanzenbacher for 22 yards
Second Quarter
Ohio State TD: Terrelle Pryor pass to Brandon Saine for 60 yards
Ohio State TD: Terrelle Pryor pass to DeVier Posey for 18 yards
Ohio State FG: Devin Barclay 36 yards
Third Quarter
Ohio State TD: Daniel Herron rushed for 8 yards
Indiana FG: Mitch Ewald 36 yards
Forth Quarter
Indiana TD: Antonio Banks rushed for 1 yard
Important Player Stats
Terrelle Pryor: 24-30, 334 yards, 3 TDs
Daniel Herron: 12 rush, 68 yards, 2 TDs
DeVier Posey: 8 reception, 103 yards, 1 TD
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*Disclaimer* I didn't really pay much attention to the game for most of the second half.
Yesterday's performance was pretty much the opposite of what happened last week.
The offense played well. The defense shutdown Indiana. The special teams still iffy.
Starting with the offense, The Buckeyes were able to exploit a very weak Indiana defense. Loads of big plays allowed Ohio State to drive down the field with ease on most first half possessions. Pryor didn't run at all. He didn't need to, because protection, with the exception of a few lapses, was solid. We'll have to wait till next week to find out if this was due to injury, because Wisconsin actually has a defense.
Brandon Saine was basically moved to Wide Receiver for this game and I presume for the rest of the season. He has been largely ineffective in the running game, but has been an effective receiver so far this season, so the move seems natural. He's like Michael Wiley in reverse.
There has been and still is being made about Ohio State's lack of a power running game. I don't really find much of an issue with it. Let's start with an obvious issue. The offensive line is struggling to hold their blocks and getting a shove on power running plays. I can't really explain this away. The line *cough* Browning *cough* just needs to be more physical to maintain the hole. Also I beginning to think that the "starting" running backs aren't the best on the roster. The number twos are coming in and producing behind an inferior offensive line, but still against the opponents number one offense. But perhaps the most glaring issue is how obvious it is that a power running play is coming. I mean, an I-formation means run to the opponents defense, because for all intents and purposes that is what it is used for.
I seem to be the only one who isn't terribly upset by all that though. Honestly, I don't think Ohio State needs a power running game this year. The most effective running back the Buckeyes have is the quarterback. He provides a running game that keeps defenses honest with his threat to run even on pass plays and passing downs.
On to the defense. It was a dominating performance against Indiana. Indiana had no success passing the ball, which is basically all they have.
Another Field Goal was blocked. I disagreed with the decision to kick that field goal, because I was pretty sure that would be the result and the best I thought Ohio State could hope for was a miss. It was a kicker that hasn't shown the leg* to make a 54-yard field goal and a protection unit, which has been exposed repeatedly this season. It was recipe for disaster, but fortunately there wasn't a return and the defense held strong.
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I'm not going to do a long spiel about Wisconsin. They are a very solid football team and visiting Wisconsin is always a scary trip.
Prediction
Ohio State 21
Wisconsin 16
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Pasta's Player of the Year Rankings
5. Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
4. Ryan Mallet, QB, Arkansas
3. Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State
2. Denard Robinson, QB, Michigan
1. LaMichael James, RB, Oregon
A whole lot of players barely missed the cut this week. Andrew Luck, Terrelle Pryor, and Colin Kaepernick and the most notables. Martinez of Nebraska is also rising fast, but I'd like to see him do it against some more impressive opponents. Mark Ingram has fallen completely off the radar.
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Pasta's Top 5 teams(expanded to 10 for this week)
10. South Carolina
9. Utah
8. Oklahoma
7. Alabama
6. Auburn
5. Nebraska
4. TCU
3. Boise State
2. Oregon
1. Ohio State
I expanded it to 10 teams this week, because yesterday's results created an interesting question about the ranking. How far should Alabama fall? Should Anyone jump TCU and Boise State? and on and on.
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Forth Down
I'm starting another new segment this week that I'm going to call, "Forth Down." This will be just a few blurbs about some of the games and people involved in them, done in a satirical style like The Onion.
Brett Bielema's Head Explodes at Post-game Press Conference
While being questioned by reporters following a blowout win against Minnesota, Wisconsin Coach Brett Bielema's head suddenly exploded.
Reporters were questioning his decision to go for two when already having the game in hand. Coach Bielema explained that his coaching sheet said to go for two in the situation.
"What if the sheet told you not to use the sheet?" a reporter asked.
Bielema's rambled for a moment and then his head suddenly exploded revealing him to be a robot.
Fans Wish For Basketball in Louisville
Louisville defeated Memphis 56-0 yesterday on the grid iron, but it was pretty obvious the fans would have preferred the game to be on the hard court.
Late in the game the some contingent of Memphis fans in attendance started chanting, "Let's play basketball." The Louisville fans tried to think of a clever comeback, but then realized that they to would rather be at a basketball game.
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Thanks for reading and please donate to help sick little kids.
-Michael
*I'm sick of hearing about how strong Basil's leg is. He can't get touchbacks and that's all I want from a kick off specialist.
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