Over the weekend there were many opportunities for some Big 10 teams to make statements not only about their program, but about the conference as a whole. And, I by no stretch would call it a successful statement weekend, but there was one statement sent loud and clear.
For all the hype surrounding USC-OSU there was a game that was just important and a whole lot better...that game was Fresno State-Wisconsin. I'm a big time Badger fan and I have to admit that heading into this game I was pretty nervous. We are known as a slow starting team and I knew that we couldn't have a start like that.
Fresno State was billing this game as the biggest home game in program history. All week leading up to the game I heard a lot about how this is Fresno State's chance to pretty much claim a spot in a BCS game. The entire week heading into the game whenever this game was talked about I kept wondering if people just entirely forgot about the Wisconsin end of this equation.
From the opening kickoff you could tell we were totally focused on the job at hand...and that we were the team that felt disrespected heading into it. I guess the way I would describe it is we were playing the exact same card that Fresno State normally plays. As I said before not only was this our chance to send a message to the rest of the Big 10...but to the rest of the country.
I first want to talk a little bit about our defense...wow! Except for one big play they did an excellent job of limiting Fresno State's offense. Jonathan Casillas' first game back from injury was pretty impressive. I thought that our defense did a nice job of flying around and making some nice plays...and the Bulldogs run game got absolutely nothing. I thought our corners did a pretty good job..and they passed most of the tests that Fresno State gave them. I was a little bit shocked that Fresno didn't try to go deep a little bit more than what they did. I thought our defensive line did a nice job of getting pressure on their quarterback. Just all in all a nice effort by our defense. Easily their best performance of the year. I thought that our defense was physical out there..and I thought that they sent a message.
While the offense didn't put up a great performance they did do a nice job. Fresno State talked a lot about being a physical football team, I would agree they are physical for a WAC team, but they weren't ready for the kind of physical that Wisconsin brings to the table. I remember at one point in the first half we ran the ball straight up the middle and our offensive line dominated Fresno State's defensive line so badly that play that a Fresno defender didn't touch PJ Hill until at least 4 yards into the play. Getting Travis Beckum back was huge for us...he made some nice catches for us..and Garrett Graham contributed his usual solid game. I thought we were pretty creative in getting the ball to our small quick receivers...a lot of nice quick passes and then just let them create in the field and make guys miss. After watching the game I walked away with the feeling that we may very well be one of the most physical teams in the country..when you hear an opposing coach say that you took his teams "manhood away" you should feel that way, that wasn't a quote from Pat Hill..but Marshall's head coach did say that after our game with them. The only real negative aspect of the game would be the cramping issue that Allen Evridge had.
Before I go I just want to take a bit of time to talk about the officiating. It was brutal for the most part. It was a WAC officiating crew and you could tell that there was a little bit of help for the Bulldogs. I don't mean to imply that anyone was cheating. But, there was one call that still confuses me. A Fresno State receiver catches the ball and Shane Carter knocks the ball away from him and I dont remember who on our defense recovered the ball, but anyways Fresno State decides to challenge the call..now it looked to everyone as though the call wouldn't be over turned because it was quite obviously a catch..and there's no way the refs could possibly over turn that. But, the refs saw something and called that an incomplete pass somehow. So all I have to say to the officiating crew..thank you for almost costing us a game. The officiating was a sham for the most part.
Well that's all I've got..let me know what you thought.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Deja Vu All Over Again, a.k.a.- Why Ohio State Lost
For the first time in aeons, I did not read or watch sports news last night or this morning; the only thing I've looked up were the stats. I've not read or listened to anyone else's accounts of the game because I wanted to make certain I wasn't passing off someone else's ideas as my own. (We take that very seriously in my line of work.)
First let me say this: USC played a great game. The Maualuga interception was a thing of beauty. My explanations are not to undermine or downplay them. But looking at the statistics, USC did not blow OSU out of the water, nor did they wipe the field with them, as (I'm guessing) is the sentiment around the horn right now. USC only gained 150 more yards than OSU, had the same yardage in penalties, had about the same 3rd down completion percentage (50% compared to 40%-- both abysmal in my book), AND had less time of possession. So what made the 32 point difference? The short answer is that OSU repeated errors made in the last NC, almost to the letter. The long answer is:
1) Mistakes, especially penalties: The same thing that happened in New Orleans happened last night, though thankfully there weren't as many 15-yard'ers. The NUMBER of OSU penalties was ridiculous (I include in this figure the number that were declined). USC had their share as well, but they didn't happen at the critical junctures that they did for OSU. In the first half ELEVEN points came off the board as a result of penalties. (I count that we settled for a field goal rather than going for a TD as well as the negated Robiskie snag in the end zone in that.) Without the mistakes, it would have been 21-17 going into the second half (counting Praetorius' missed FG), and that would have made for a very different game.
2) Capitalizing on mistakes: The only turnover OSU took away came with 0:09 left in the half. And then, rather than at least pulling a "Hail Mary," they took a knee. Almost every time USC had an opportunity, they took advantage of it, and that made a big difference.
3) Quarterbacks: Boeckman gets nervous; he makes mistakes. Big, costly ones. (Reference Maualuga.) Of course, it wasn't ALL his fault. He was hurried countless times throughout the course of the game. Pryor was solid on his feet, but didn't impress that much through the air. And neither did well when it came to the long ball...
4) Pressure ON the quarterbacks: USC did it; OSU didn't. Enough said.
5) Field position: Again, due in part to penalties. USC had about a 25 yard advantage in that category. You can't give a team that is THAT good any room; 25 yards is A LOT of room...
6) Momentum: Once USC had it, they never looked back. Once OSU lost it, they never looked up...
It isn't that USC has that much more talent than OSU-- it really doesn't. The game was not the blowout that the score makes it appear. The OSU D held USC to several three-and-outs, even late in the game. The offense was reasonably productive, at least until they hit the red zone. Then they began shooting themselves in the foot (and ankle, and knee, and...)
One of my favorite sayings is "G-d is in the details," which is one of the reasons I love football so much. It's all about the details-- all the little things add up to big ones. And I think my beloved Buckeyes need to be more detail-oriented if they are going to make lemonade out of the lemons that we saw last night.
(Disclosure: I posted the same thing on FN... verbatim. Don't want to plagiarize myself...) :)
First let me say this: USC played a great game. The Maualuga interception was a thing of beauty. My explanations are not to undermine or downplay them. But looking at the statistics, USC did not blow OSU out of the water, nor did they wipe the field with them, as (I'm guessing) is the sentiment around the horn right now. USC only gained 150 more yards than OSU, had the same yardage in penalties, had about the same 3rd down completion percentage (50% compared to 40%-- both abysmal in my book), AND had less time of possession. So what made the 32 point difference? The short answer is that OSU repeated errors made in the last NC, almost to the letter. The long answer is:
1) Mistakes, especially penalties: The same thing that happened in New Orleans happened last night, though thankfully there weren't as many 15-yard'ers. The NUMBER of OSU penalties was ridiculous (I include in this figure the number that were declined). USC had their share as well, but they didn't happen at the critical junctures that they did for OSU. In the first half ELEVEN points came off the board as a result of penalties. (I count that we settled for a field goal rather than going for a TD as well as the negated Robiskie snag in the end zone in that.) Without the mistakes, it would have been 21-17 going into the second half (counting Praetorius' missed FG), and that would have made for a very different game.
2) Capitalizing on mistakes: The only turnover OSU took away came with 0:09 left in the half. And then, rather than at least pulling a "Hail Mary," they took a knee. Almost every time USC had an opportunity, they took advantage of it, and that made a big difference.
3) Quarterbacks: Boeckman gets nervous; he makes mistakes. Big, costly ones. (Reference Maualuga.) Of course, it wasn't ALL his fault. He was hurried countless times throughout the course of the game. Pryor was solid on his feet, but didn't impress that much through the air. And neither did well when it came to the long ball...
4) Pressure ON the quarterbacks: USC did it; OSU didn't. Enough said.
5) Field position: Again, due in part to penalties. USC had about a 25 yard advantage in that category. You can't give a team that is THAT good any room; 25 yards is A LOT of room...
6) Momentum: Once USC had it, they never looked back. Once OSU lost it, they never looked up...
It isn't that USC has that much more talent than OSU-- it really doesn't. The game was not the blowout that the score makes it appear. The OSU D held USC to several three-and-outs, even late in the game. The offense was reasonably productive, at least until they hit the red zone. Then they began shooting themselves in the foot (and ankle, and knee, and...)
One of my favorite sayings is "G-d is in the details," which is one of the reasons I love football so much. It's all about the details-- all the little things add up to big ones. And I think my beloved Buckeyes need to be more detail-oriented if they are going to make lemonade out of the lemons that we saw last night.
(Disclosure: I posted the same thing on FN... verbatim. Don't want to plagiarize myself...) :)
Saturday, September 13, 2008
#17 Penn State squeezes Syracuse Orange to a pulp, 55-13!
As I sit here watching the Auburn- Miss. St. game which is currently tied late in the second quarter at guess what? Yeah, 0. Welcome to SEC ball!! Where #2 Georgia needed two late turnovers in the red zone by the Gamecocks (who lost to Vandy last week) to win the game by the astounding pounding of 14-7! Wow that's some real speed and offensive power you got there Mr. SEC! Better keep it under tight wraps...because I think PSU took a wrinkle from ya... The speed + the points = Spread HD!!! And Penn State found yet another way to demolish a helpless BCS conference opponent. This week's victim? The Syracuse Orange. The game started out with a PSU fumble, and ended with three PSU QB's having at least 1 TD pass. Yeah it was that kind of day for PSU. Since JoePa doesn't give helmet stickers, I won't. We'll call them the "Hell I thought you played a good game today" bumper sticker that goes on your imaginary Facebook page. Sounds like a good compromise no?
Every PSU QB that played a snap, but especially Daryl Clark- 10-21, 163 yds, 2 TD: This man is the starter...aside from his opening fumble, which a la Morelli reminded us PSU fans how our quarterbacks played on the road recently, his amazing ability to turn the next possession into gold by finding Norwood for a 55 yard beauty, made us forget all about that and put the Morelli road factor in the past. Where it belongs. After all, who could overlook Clark's amazing performance on 3rd down...a down a certain QB we put in the past couldn't convert to save his life...or the drive...
The Wide Receiving Corp, but especially Deon Butler- 7 catches for 110 yards, 2 TD, and Jordan Norwood- 5 catches for 113 yards, 2 TD: Jordan Norwood has already proven to be Clark's favorite target, but I like Butler. Butler was Morelli's favorite target, but none of that mattered. For once, the running game, namely Royster, was pretty much there to rack up yardage and burn time...but these receivers did the scoring today, and the majority of the damage.
That nasty defense, which was a complete team effort as usual: This defense never let up. Don't let those 13 points fool you. This defense was stingy up the middle, over the top, and in the backfield. Completely amazing, although they could have gotten to the quarterback a bit more...although with half of your defensive line missing for one reason or another, who can complain with such a performance?
Next Week's Matchup:
Temple (1-2) @ # TBD Penn State (3-0)
12:00 Noon EST, Sept. 20th, 2008
Beaver Stadium, State College, PA
Every PSU QB that played a snap, but especially Daryl Clark- 10-21, 163 yds, 2 TD: This man is the starter...aside from his opening fumble, which a la Morelli reminded us PSU fans how our quarterbacks played on the road recently, his amazing ability to turn the next possession into gold by finding Norwood for a 55 yard beauty, made us forget all about that and put the Morelli road factor in the past. Where it belongs. After all, who could overlook Clark's amazing performance on 3rd down...a down a certain QB we put in the past couldn't convert to save his life...or the drive...
The Wide Receiving Corp, but especially Deon Butler- 7 catches for 110 yards, 2 TD, and Jordan Norwood- 5 catches for 113 yards, 2 TD: Jordan Norwood has already proven to be Clark's favorite target, but I like Butler. Butler was Morelli's favorite target, but none of that mattered. For once, the running game, namely Royster, was pretty much there to rack up yardage and burn time...but these receivers did the scoring today, and the majority of the damage.
That nasty defense, which was a complete team effort as usual: This defense never let up. Don't let those 13 points fool you. This defense was stingy up the middle, over the top, and in the backfield. Completely amazing, although they could have gotten to the quarterback a bit more...although with half of your defensive line missing for one reason or another, who can complain with such a performance?
Next Week's Matchup:
Temple (1-2) @ # TBD Penn State (3-0)
12:00 Noon EST, Sept. 20th, 2008
Beaver Stadium, State College, PA
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