Title: Hallelujah
Category: excited
Blog Entry: [br] [br] Is it just me or did yesterday's game seem like it was accompanied by a host of trumpets? I am not kidding - finally seeing the Buckeyes play like they are capable of was a spiritually cleansing experience for me. Not that we played flawlessly - there were some bullets dodged on special teams, took some bad sacks and the Spartans missed some opportunities for big plays that were open - but for the most part we dominated a good team on both sides of the ball. The O line played inspired and we even got some pass rush from the D line!! Not to mention returning a two fumbles for TDs - finally, everything really seemed to click. When that happens you get what the Buckeye Nation has known we could do with the talent we have - blow out the 20th ranked team in the country - in their house. [br] [hr] It is even hard to say who was the player of the game on both sides of the ball for us - there are too many options. On offense Pryor set the tone early with his 32 yard run to get us out of the student section noise and reset the field position battle. Then he continued with his legs on his second drive 18 yard TD run, when he juked the Spartan DB out of his shoes and scored our first TD. His passing was used sparingly but he ended up with 116 yards on 7 completions and one TD through the air - his raw athleticism got him the time to see Robo wide open. That play reminded me of Troy's throw to Gonzo against TSUN. But then there is Beanie - who rumbled for 140 yards and two TDs on 31 carries, and looked like he is back to 100% with his Beanie-Hop into the end zone. It could also be debated that because of the level of improvement in effort and execution - you gotta give some love to the O line. After weeks of hearing them talk in the media about how they need to improve - they delivered this week and made good on their words. If they can put together the same emotion with execution next week then Joe Pa and his boys better be ready. [br] [hr] On defense we have the actual player of the game in Laurinaitis, who set the tone with his stop of Ringer on the first play for no gain and led the team in tackles with 11 to go with his sack. He did seem to be everywhere yesterday. My personal choice would have been Jenkins - who's leadership on the field of the youth infusion has re-energized the defensive unit. He is really starting to put his mark on every game with a big momentum shifting play. This week the sack of Spartan backup Cousins that led to Gibson's fumble return for TD. Cousins was having success and Jenkins seem to say "not so fast" blazing in on a backside blitz to get the sack and cause the fumble, then once Gibson had picked it up Jenkins immediately screened off Ringer, the only guy with a shot of catching Gibson. That play crushed any momentum that the Spartan offense had generated - they were done. In addition to Gibson it was nice to see some others on the D line step up and make some plays. Rose had a nice inside move up the middle that got him a nice hit on Hoyer, Williams showed some wheels in running down Ringer from behind a couple times, Abdallah made a couple nice plays on screen passes - it was crazy. I am glad to see that Heacock is looking more to man-to-man coverage and letting our defensive backs be ball hawks - the proof was easy to see yesterday - we stuffed the nation's leading rusher (held to only 67 yards to be precise) and had five takeaways. If our defense can play like this against Penn State when they come to the Shoe next week - then I like our chances against the Nittany Lions, or any team for that matter. [br] [hr] So here we go again - third straight outright Big Ten title in the balance and a very talented Penn State team coming to our house. People are using the words "special" when they talk about JoePa's team and I have to admit when I watch them they look really good. I watched them take a punch in the mouth yesterday from TSUN and they responded with a 46 point beat down - to me that means veterans and coaches that will have a team ready to fight us for the entire game. [br] [hr] I read on espn.com that Pryor actually went to Tressel and said that if he did not move the ball and/or score on any of the first three drives against MSU that he wanted to be pulled out and benched. He said he did this because he needed to play with a chip on his shoulder that he needed to produce or else. We have to approach this week much like Pryor did the MSU game - with a chip on our shoulder that the rest of the country has forgotten has forgotten that it is Ohio State, not Penn State that is the big dog in the Big Ten. But in order for that all to work - we have to produce. [br] Isn't it great to be a Buckeye fan in October with a team that is coming to form? [br] [br] GO BUCKS!!
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