Ohio State Looks For Continued Dominance Over Indiana

Game Five: Indiana Hoosiers

Location: Memorial Stadium (Bloomington, IN) 7pm EST, The Big Ten Network

Head Coach: Bill Lynch

Indiana Players Who Were Recruited By Ohio State: N/A. While there are a number of players from the state of Ohio on Indiana's roster, none of these players were offered a scholarship by Ohio State.

Indiana Rushing Offense vs Ohio State Defense: Indiana ranks 6th in The Big Ten in rushing offense at nearly 167 yards per game, while Ohio State's rushing defense ranks 3rd in The Big Ten at allowing 110 yards per game. Indiana's leading rushers are Demetrius McCray and Darius Willis. Willis had a long touchdown run last weekend against Michigan that temporarily regained the lead for Indiana.

Indiana's first four opponents this season have been FCS school Eastern Kentucky, Western Michigan, Akron, and Michigan. While all of those are respectable programs, Ohio State has faced Navy, USC, Toledo, and Illinois in its first four contests. I believe Ohio State gets the solid edge in being able to slow down Indiana's rushing game.

Edge: Ohio State

Indiana Passing Offense vs Ohio State Defense: Indiana's passing offense ranks 9th in The Big Ten, while Ohio State's pass defense ranks 2nd statistically. Indiana was able to throw for 270 yards last week against Michigan. Ohio State will be without senior safety and tri-captain Kurt Coleman due to Big Ten suspension.

Indiana's passing game is led by QB Ben Chappell and WR Tandon Doss. Doss is having a solid year, with 26 receptions so far this season. Look for Ohio State to match up Doss with CB Chimdi Chekwa.

Chappell is a traditional drop-back quarterback, with only average mobility. Considering Ohio State was able to effectively pressure Illinois QB Juice Williams last week, this could make for a long night for Indiana offensively if Indiana cannot negate Ohio State's pass rush.

Edge: Ohio State

Ohio State Rushing Offense vs Indiana Defense: Ohio State's rushing offense ranks 4th in The Big Ten at 181 yards per game, while Indiana's rush defense ranks 2nd at allowing a little over 94 yards per game. Ohio State will start Brandon Saine, due to Daniel "Boom" Herron's ankle injury sustained against Illinois.

With Herron out, Ohio State will also incorporate true freshman RB Jordan Hall into the game to spell Brandon Saine. I am wondering if this is the game where QB Terrelle Pryor becomes more involved in Ohio State's rushing attack. Considering how Indiana has been pretty solid against the run, I am going to have to call this one a draw going into this contest.

Edge: Even

Ohio State Passing Offense vs Indiana Defense: Indiana has two future NFL defensive ends on its roster with senior DE Greg Middleton and senior DE Jammie Kirlew. Considering Ohio State is relatively inexperienced at both the OLT and ORT spots, this is where Pryor may need to help the offense by rushing for positive yardage if the pocket starts to break down.

Indiana's secondary gave up 235 yards last week to Michigan, and ranks 9th in The Big Ten in pass defense efficiency. Ohio State's passing offense has been relatively pedestrian so far this season. I look for Ohio State to try to get their passing game in sync if possible.

Edge: Ohio State

Special Teams: Indiana's Ray Fisher ranks 4th in The Big Ten in punt returns and the leading kickoff returner in The Big Ten. K Nick Freeland is leading The Big Ten in scoring by a kicker, slightly ahead of Ohio State's Aaron Pettrey.

While Ohio State's Ray Small, Lamaar Thomas, and Aaron Pettrey are all very good in the special teams area, this is one area that is too close to call. I will have to make this one another even call for both teams.

Edge: Even

Intangibles: Indiana last won this game in 1988 and the last time it was close (Ohio State 27, Indiana 17) in Memorial Stadium was in 1996, when Matt Finkes helped to clinch Ohio State's last Rose Bowl appearance. Ohio State fans traditionally make the four hour trek across I-70 West and have become accustomed to taking over Indiana's stadium. It will be interesting to see what kind of mental state Indiana is in after such a tough loss to Michigan last week.

Edge: Ohio State

Prediction: Possibly the best thing for Ohio State was seeing how close Indiana came to defeating Michigan last week. After such a big game against Illinois, this game could have been a potential trap game for Ohio State. Now with the coaches preaching to the players on how close Michigan came to losing to Indiana, I believe Ohio State will be much better focused.

Indiana's pistol formation will allow them to stay in this game longer than the first half, and I believe Ohio State may have some challenges with Greg Middleton and Jammie Kirlew, but Ohio State has too much speed on both sides of the ball. I look for Ohio State to put this one away by the end of the third quarter.

Ohio State 35, Indiana 10

Indiana's Memorial Stadium Has Been Good To Ohio State

Ohio State travels to Bloomington, IN to take on the Indiana Hoosiers in Memorial Stadium at 7pm EST. Ohio State has not played Indiana since the 2006 season, due to The Big Ten’s rotating schedule (Michigan State and Northwestern are not on Ohio State’s schedule this season.).

Indiana has not won in its home stadium against Ohio State since the 1988 season (41-7 on 10/08/1988; John Cooper’s first season as Ohio State’s head coach), and the last tie game in Memorial Stadium was 1990 (27-27 on 10/13/1990). Since the 1992 game, Ohio State has averaged 32 points to Indiana’s 12 points in all of the games played in Memorial Stadium (see below) ~

Compounding Indiana’s frustration in this series is the fact that Memorial Stadium is commonly taken over by traveling Ohio State fans. For example, in the 2005 contest, Ohio State fans began their “O-H-I-O” chant throughout Memorial Stadium, much to the frustration of then-Indiana coach Terry Hoeppner. The 1996 contest in Memorial Stadium propelled Ohio State to the Rose Bowl – Ohio State fans stormed the field and tore down Indiana’s goal posts.

Will Memorial Stadium be another Buckeye haven this coming weekend? It will be interesting to find out if chants of “O-H-I-O” are evident during The Big Ten Network’s broadcast Saturday night.

Jim Tressel's Postgame Illinois Press Conference

Ohio State 30-0 Over Illinois: Anyone Else Unimpressed?

Instant Analysis: Even though Ohio State defeated Illinois 30-0, and has now had two straight shutout victories, I am not feeling entirely comfortable with Ohio State as they have officially begun their Big Ten conference play.

Ohio State offensively still looks very inconsistent, largely because of QB Terrelle Pryor.

Yes, I know...people are going to say, "Chip, they won 30-0! Why are you complaining?!?". I am not complaining, but I do believe there are areas of concern.

First, the aforementioned Terrelle Pryor. Pryor still is taking way too long in the pocket, waiting for plays to develop.

So many opportunities for positive yardage were squandered by Pryor as he tries to show people that he is a quarterback and not just a tremendous athlete.

Pryor nearly threw an interception by throwing a pass late down the middle when he felt pressure.

Against a better defensive team, or perhaps on a day where the weather is not as much of a factor as it was today in Ohio Stadium, that is a pass that will be intercepted and thus take points off the board for Ohio State.

The Ohio State running game is slowly making improvement.

Hopefully, Daniel "Boom" Herron will be able to play next week at Indiana. Even so, Brandon Saine is showing me that he has fully recovered from last season's injuries. True freshman Jordan Hall also shows a nice burst.

The defensive line, led by Thaddeus Gibson, was impressive.

Illinois was never truly able to get anything established today, and Gibson was a major reason why. He gets my vote for player of the game today.

I did not like Ohio State throwing the ball into the end zone for a touchdown when already up on Illinois 23-0.

The fact that Ohio State took a time-out before throwing the ball to Dane Sanzenbacher made it worse. If Ohio State had scored a touchdown running the ball with Jordan Hall, that would not have been bad in my estimation; if Illinois, or any team, cannot stop the run, there is not much Ohio State can do about that.

Throwing the ball into the end zone when already up 23-0 with the game well in hand under a couple minutes just smells of poor sportsmanship to me.

Major thumbs down to Kurt Coleman for spearing Illinois QB Eddie McGee.

I hope Coach Tressel tells Mr. Coleman to sit down for the first quarter of next week's game against Indiana, otherwise, The Big Ten may intervene like they did for Michigan a few weeks back.

A win is a win, and Ohio State is now 3-1. Indiana will be an interesting venue, as Ohio State fans traditionally make the trek to Bloomington and pack the stands.

Indiana should be a fun game to watch, as Indiana lost a tough one today at Michigan after leading most of the game. I will be anxious to see what kind of mental state the Hoosiers will have as they face the Buckeyes next week in Bloomington.

Ohio State Looks To Bottle Up "Juice" Williams & Illinois

Game Four: Illinois Fighting Illini

Location: Ohio Stadium (Columbus, OH) 3:30PM EST, ABC

Head Coach: Ron Zook

Illinois Players Who Were Recruited By Ohio State: LB Martez Wilson, QB Juice Williams, WR Arrelious Benn, WR Cordale Scott, DL Josh Brent, and RB Justin Green. WR Jeff Cumberland was on Ohio State's radar but was not cleared academically by Ohio State. LB Martez Wilson is out for the season due to a herniated disk in his neck. WR Brian Gamble, LB Justin Staples, and DL Antonio James were all on Ohio State's recruiting radar for a time but were not offered scholarships.

Illinois Rushing Offense vs Ohio State Defense: Illinois currently ranks 2nd in The Big Ten in rushing offense, while Ohio State's rushing defense ranks 5th. Illinois' rushing attack is led by Jason Ford, Daniel Dufrene, Troy Pollard, and Justin Green. QBs Juice Williams and Eddie McGee are also threats out of Illinois' read-option offense.

Two years ago, Juice Williams was the key in Illinois' victory over Ohio State in Ohio Stadium. If Ohio State cannot limit Juice Williams' rushing, Ohio State could be in trouble.

Edge: Illinois

Illinois Passing Offense vs Ohio State Defense: Illinois' passing offense currently ranks 10th in The Big Ten, while Ohio State's pass defense ranks 5th. Illinois has been suffering due to the ankle injury sustained by WR Arrelious Benn. If Benn is able to play against Ohio State, look for Ohio State to match Benn up with CB Chimdi Chekwa.

Edge: Ohio State

Ohio State Rushing Offense vs Illinois Defense: Ohio State's rushing offense currently ranks 5th in The Big Ten, while Illinois' rushing defense ranks 3rd. The loss of Illinois LB Martez Wilson will bear watching.

With Ohio State RBs "Boom" Herron, Brandon Saine, and Jordan Hall struggling to establish a consistent running game in the first three games, look for QB Terrelle Pryor to supplement the Ohio State rushing attack. If Pryor is able to gain positive yardage on designed quarterback draws or on scrambling plays, Ohio State will be able to keep the dangerous Illinois offense on the sidelines.

Edge: Ohio State

Ohio State Passing Offense vs Illinois Defense: Ohio State's passing offense ranks 9th in The Big Ten, while Illinois' pass defense ranks 11th. Ohio State WR Dane Sanzenbacher has become Terrelle Pryor's "go to" receiver, with two touchdowns last weekend against Toledo. A good match-up for Ohio State is RB Brandon Saine out of the backfield isolated against a linebacker - Saine has 6 receptions, averaging 12 yards per catch.

Edge: Ohio State

Special Teams: Ohio State ranks 2nd in kickoff returns and 9th in punt returns; Illinois ranks 9th in kickoff returns and 10th in punt returns. This might be the game Ohio State WR Lamaar Thomas finally breaks one for a touchdown; Thomas has had 7 kickoff returns for 166 yards, with a long return of 32 yards.

Edge: Ohio State

Intangibles: Illinois has won seven of the last ten visits to Ohio Stadium. Another interesting fact is that Illinois was able to generate 455 yards against Ohio State last season, despite losing to Ohio State 30-20.

To be fair to Coach Jim Tressel, most of the seven losses to Illinois took place during John Cooper's early tenure at Ohio State (1988-2000). Still, Tressel did lose to Illinois in Ohio Stadium in 2001 and suffered the painful loss in 2007.

Edge: Illinois

Prediction: Illinois seems to play Ohio State better in Ohio Stadium. Considering how Illinois had a bye week last weekend, Illinois should be truly well-rested for its game against Ohio State.

One of the early indicators for Ohio State is the performance of QB Juice Williams. If Williams is efficient early, it usually points to Williams playing efficiently throughout the game. Consequently, if Juice Williams is playing inconsistently early, it usually points to an inconsistent performance throughout the game.

Ohio State needs to find its offense with this Big Ten opener. I predicted this game to be one of Ohio State's toughest games, and nothing has led me to back away from that prediction. I think this game will come down to the wire...

Ohio State 27, Illinois 21

Could Eddie George Serve As Honorary Captain Against Illinois?

This coming Saturday in Ohio Stadium, Ohio State will take the field against Illinois to kick off Big Ten conference play. Ohio State fans can painfully recall the last time Illinois visited Ohio Stadium in 2007, as Illinois defeated top-ranked Ohio State 28-21. Obviously, Ohio State fans would prefer an outcome closer to the 2005 contest, when Ohio State romped over Illinois 40-2 in Ron Zook's first season as Illinois' head coach.

If I was Coach Jim Tressel, I would ask Eddie George to be the honorary captain for this week's Illinois contest. My reasoning is simple - Eddie George has been on both sides of this long-time rivalry with Illinois. Eddie George has suffered through an agonizing defeat at the hands of Illinois in Ohio Stadium, and also can tell the players the joy of playing arguably the game of his career in a victory over Illinois in Ohio Stadium.

In 1992, Eddie George was a freshman recruit out of Virginia's Fork Union Military Academy. Even though Ohio State had running backs such as Robert Smith, Butler By'not'e, and Raymont Harris, George quickly impressed the coaching staff to begin earning playing time. George's best contributions came in a 35-12 victory at Syracuse, where George ran for three touchdowns.

After a loss at Wisconsin, Ohio State came home to play Illinois. Eddie George suffered two critical fumbles - one was fumbled by George into the end zone and returned by Illinois for a touchdown, and another fumble occurred at the Illinois' one yard line that was recovered by Illinois. Illinois defeated Ohio State 18-16, and Eddie George only carried the ball twelve more times the remainder of the 1992 season.

In 1993, Eddie George primarily served as a backup for Raymont Harris before earning the starting tailback position in 1994 with a solid 1442 yard season. Little did anyone suspect that Eddie George was saving his best for his last season in 1995, and that his best game would take place against Illinois in Ohio Stadium.

In 1995, Eddie George began the season with a solid performance against Boston College, then rambled for 212 yards against Washington. George ran for 122 yards against Pittsburgh, then showcased his talents against Notre Dame for 207 yards on 32 carries. But the best was yet to come.

On November 11, 1995, Eddie George set the single-game rushing record for Ohio State in a 41-3 victory over Illinois with 314 yards on 36 carries in the cold and sleet of Ohio Stadium. What is often overlooked, or possibly forgotten by Ohio State fans, is how Ohio State was playing without WR Terry Glenn due to a shoulder injury. Eddie George was able to rush for 314 yards while playing against an Illinois defense with future NFL stars Simeon Rice and Kevin Hardy geared up to shut him down. It was after this performance that Eddie George cemented his invitation to New York City to pick up the Heisman Trophy.

Eddie George had a very productive career in the NFL, has opened up several businesses, and has the honor of having his jersey retired in Ohio Stadium. If I were Coach Tressel, I would think long and hard about asking such a prestigious former Buckeye as Eddie George this weekend to talk about what it means to play against Illinois, and the importance of persistence and determination in the face of adversity.

Can Ohio State Avoid A Rocket-Sized Hangover?

Game Three: Ohio State @ Toledo

Location: Cleveland Browns Stadium (Cleveland, OH). 12pm EST kickoff, ESPN360.com

Head Coach: Tim Beckman

Toledo Players Who Were Recruited By Ohio State: N/A. There are not any players on Toledo's roster who were actively recruited by Ohio State. Freshman QB Terrance Owens is from Cleveland Glenville and visited Ohio State unofficially, but was never offered a scholarship.

Toledo Rushing Offense vs Ohio State Defense: Toledo rushed for 305 yards last week against Colorado in a 54-38 win, and only 70 yards rushing against Purdue in a 52-31 loss to Purdue. Ohio State was able to limit Navy's vaunted triple option attack to 186 yards in its 31-27 victory in game one, and hold USC's talented rushing attack to 118 yards in its close 18-15 defeat last weekend.

Toledo averages out to almost 188 rushing yards per game, while Ohio State averages out to limiting opponents to 152 yards per game. I am going to give the edge to the Buckeyes here on this one.

Edge: Ohio State

Toledo Passing Offense vs Ohio State Defense: Toledo's stellar offensive output so far this season can be traced to senior QB Aaron Opelt. So far this season, Opelt has been the MAC Player Of The Week both games and is completing 62% of his passes in Toledo's spread attack.

Ohio State was largely able to limit USC's Matt Barkley due to the intense crowd noise of Ohio Stadium as well as Barkley's inexperience. Aaron Opelt has had two good games against teams from BCS conferences.

Ohio State's pass defense is ranked 10th in the Big Ten, with 193.5 yards per game being allowed. Considering that Toledo's offense is averaging nearly 371 yards passing per game, I am going to give the slight edge to the Rockets on this one, despite Ohio State's talent on the defensive line. If Ohio State cannot pressure Aaron Opelt, this could turn out to be a shoot-out.

Slight Edge: Toledo

Ohio State Rushing Offense vs Toledo Defense: Ohio State's rushing attack has only been able to generate 241 yards rushing this season. Toledo surrendured 315 yards to Purdue in week one, and 95 yards rushing to Colorado last week.

Translation ~ if Ohio State cannot run the ball on Toledo, it is going to be a long season in Columbus. I look for Ohio State to try to get QB Terrelle Pryor more involved in the rushing attack, and for a heavy dose of RB Daniel "Boom" Herron and RB Brandon Saine.

Edge: Ohio State

Ohio State Passing Offense vs Toledo Defense: Ohio State has been struggling through the air as well so far this season. QB Terrelle Pryor is completing under 55% of his passes and looks generally indecisive in the pocket. While Pryor had some shining moments in last week's game against USC, it seems as though he is hesitant to run when opportunities present themselves.

Toledo's pass defense ranks 12th in the MAC at 288 yards per game being allowed. While I do not believe Ohio State will throw for nearly that many yards, I do look for Jim Tressel to try to develop Terrelle Pryor's confidence as a thrower before Big Ten play begins next weekend. Keep an eye on WR DeVier Posey; I have a feeling this may be Posey's break-out game.

Edge: Ohio State

Special Teams: Toledo ranks 11th in the MAC on kickoff returns, last on punt returns, and last in punting. Ohio State has some dangerous returners in WR Ray Small, RB Brandon Saine, and WR Lamaar Thomas. Junior DB Grant Schwartz came oh-so-close with a punt block attempt last week against USC. Here is an area where Ohio State may be able to obtain some distinct field advantage against Toledo.

Edge: Ohio State

Intangibles: Even though this is a "home" game for Toledo, look for a heavy Ohio State flavor to the crowd at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Toledo's Tim Beckman is a former Ohio State secondary coach under Jim Tressel, so I look for Beckman to try to capitalize on his familiarity with Tressel's coaching styles and strategies.

The biggest "X" factor in this game is how will Ohio State bounce back after such a tough loss to USC last weekend. If Ohio State is still moping about last week's defeat to USC, Toledo will make them pay for it dearly.

Toledo is not coming into Cleveland Browns Stadium thinking that they are going to lose to Ohio State. Toledo is brimming with confidence after the beating they gave to Colorado last week, and nothing would please so many of the players on the Toledo roster how much of a mistake Ohio State made by not recruiting them.

Edge: Toledo

Prediction: This game hinges completely on Ohio State's ability to put the tough loss to USC behind them. Ohio State has not lost to an in-state rival school in 88 years. I look for Ohio State to use the enthusiasm of the crowd in Cleveland Browns Stadium, as well as QB Terrelle Pryor's best performance of this young season, to carry them to victory. This one will be close at the half, but I look for Ohio State to pull away by the end of the 3rd quarter.

Ohio State 35, Toledo 17

Could Jim Tressel Assemble His Own "Team Of Rivals"?

It has been nearly 24 hours since the close and tough defeat to USC, and I have been thinking about the lack of offensive production by Ohio State. Ohio State was only able to generate 256 yards of total offense. So far this season, Ohio State has routinely had to settle for field goals while in the red zone, has struggled on short yardage plays, and Terrelle Pryor has seemingly developed little as a passer from last season when he was a freshman. One of the frustrations is Ohio State has developed a reputation for having an inconsistent offensive identity, and that comes back to Jim Tressel solely and completely.

One of the very first thoughts I had about this game regarding Jim Tressel was how Tressel would have to address the lack of offense. While Ohio State offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Jim Bollman is a convenient scapegoat for Ohio State (and we will get to Bollman later, I promise), the reality is Jim Tressel is Ohio State's offensive coordinator. Tressel takes a play suggestion from Bollman and either agrees with it, or suggests something altogether different. Either way, all of Ohio State's offensive strategies go entirely through Jim Tressel.

I do not want to turn this into a "bash Jim Tressel" article. Considering the success Ohio State has had since Jim Tressel was hired in January 2001, it would be foolish to do so. Ohio State is fortunate to have Jim Tressel leading the program. Let me repeat that statement - Ohio State is fortunate to have Jim Tressel leading the program.

Any Ohio State fan who has followed the program since Jim Tressel knows that Tressel prefers a strong running game that can chew up the clock and a low-risk passing offense led by a quarterback who is more of a game manager but has mobility (think of Craig Krenzel, Troy Smith, and now Pryor). Tressel's stated goals on numerous occasions is to have at least 400 yards of offense, with over 200 yards rushing and 200 yards passing. Ideally, a balanced attack.

Reflecting on when Jim Tressel was hired back in 2001 made me think of the other candidates who were strongly considered for the head coaching position when it was open after John Cooper's firing. Men such as Glen Mason, who was a finalist along with Tressel. Walt Harris, who was at the time the head coach of Pittsburgh but never interviewed.

I do not want to turn this into a political article either, but I started thinking about a book by noted presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin entitled Team Of Rivals: The Political Genius Of Abraham Lincoln. The book discusses how Lincoln had three of his political rivals in his Cabinet as political advisers.

What if - and I know this is a long shot - what if Jim Tressel could swallow his pride and assemble his own team of rivals at Ohio State to help him with the offense? Let me give you an idea as to what I am thinking.

Glen Mason served with Jim Tressel from 1983-1985 (Tressel was the QB, RB, and WR coach) under Earle Bruce as the offensive coordinator. While as the head coach at Kent State, Kansas, and Minnesota, Mason's teams developed a reputation for being able to run the football consistently. Mason is currently an analyst for The Big Ten Network.

It had to be terribly humbling and beyond disappointing for Glen Mason to lose out on the Ohio State job to Jim Tressel back in 2001. Mason is an Ohio State alumnus, played for Woody Hayes, and was a former assistant at Ohio State longer than Tressel was. Ohio State was his dream job when it became open back in 2001.

To the best of my knowledge, Mason and Tressel are on good terms. Mason served as an honorary captain for Ohio State in last year's Minnesota game.

Tressel could hire Mason as offensive coordinator, and Keith Uecker could become the new offensive line coach. Both would be able to infuse an emphasis on the power running game that Tressel prefers. Uecker is a former NFL lineman who is currently serving as the offensive quality control coach. Jim Bollman could take a break from being the poster boy for Ohio State fan abuse.

Let me bring up Walt Harris. Harris has no connection professionally with either Jim Tressel or Glen Mason (as far as I believe), but all Ohio State fans can recall Harris' contributions to Ohio State football in 1995 and 1996. Harris was not the offensive coordinator for Ohio State at this time; Joe Hollis was. Harris' contributions came from his previous jobs (such as QB coach for the NFL's New York Jets in 1993 and 1994) that resulted in Ohio State developing a prolific passing attack, led by QB Bobby Hoying, WR Terry Glenn, and TE Rickey Dudley. Harris is currently the Passing Game Coordinator and QB Coach for The University Of Akron.

One of the selling points made to Terrelle Pryor was the belief that Ohio State could develop him into a NFL-caliber quarterback. Considering that Jim Tressel has had only Craig Krenzel (5th round in 2004 NFL Draft) and Troy Smith (5th round in 2007 NFL Draft) selected in his tenure, it would not be so bad to have a coach like Walt Harris on the staff - Harris has coached 14 quarterbacks who have gone on to the NFL, among them Bobby Hoying.

Harris could do wonders for Terrelle Pryor's mechanics and footwork in the pocket. Having someone like Walt Harris on the staff could actually be a recruiting selling point to up and coming high school quarterbacks around the country. Tressel could emphasize the importance of game management, which is his quarterbacking commandment, but Harris could work on developing a pro-style passing attack to compliment the power running game led by new offensive coordinator Glen Mason.

How I can envision this working is similar to what I wrote up above - Tressel could still have the headset, and could still overrule Glen Mason if he strongly disagrees with the play call. I could never envision a time when Jim Tressel would not have his involvement in the offense. I do believe it could become a system similar to what Penn State is currently doing with Galen Hall as the offensive coordinator for Joe Paterno, or Florida State is doing with Jimbo Fisher for Bobby Bowden.

You can laugh, scoff, and say that it will never happen and could never happen. Just remember this - Ohio State's athletic director is Gene Smith, a former Notre Dame football player and coach. While Smith has given Jim Tressel free reign with the football program, Smith knows and hears what the fans, and probably powerful alumni, are saying about the lack of Ohio State offense under Jim Tressel. Who knows if Gene Smith isn't strongly suggesting some changes this coming off-season to Jim Tressel?

If I was Jim Tressel, I'd pick up the phone to Glen Mason and Walt Harris and ask them to come back to Columbus. Both know their way around the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. What to do in the meantime? Maybe read a good book by Doris Kearns Goodwin on working with old rivals towards a common goal.

Jim Tressel's Postgame USC Press Conference

USC Takes Ohio State's Heart With 18-15 Victory

Hats off to USC, Pete Carroll, and the entire fan community on a well-fought and well-earned victory in Ohio Stadium. I was not there in attendance, but for people like Kirk Herbstreit and Brent Musberger to continually comment on the volume from the crowd makes me feel somewhat validated that the crowd was defintely a factor in this one.

Quick comments ~

Matt Barkley - You did not play especially well statistically. But you played well when it counted. I have a feeling we will see more and more of these 4th quarter comebacks as your career progresses.

Joe McKnight - Without your contributions, USC does not win this game. Stafon Johnson may have scored the winning touchdown, but it was Joe McKnight's clutch plays on the final drive that enabled USC to win this one.

Terrelle Pryor - You had some moments, but Matt Barkley had more when they counted. I have no doubt you would love to have that interception back from Chris Galippo, but the same could be said for Matt Barkley's interception to Ross Homan.

Jim Tressel - You will be under fire from critics, despite coming within a minute of victory. Some of your play calls were smart and aggressive, while some, especially at the end of the first half, were perplexing.

The Ohio Stadium Crowd - Outstanding effort. As Kirk Herbstreit stated during the telecast, at times it seemed as though the crowd was trying to will Ohio State to the victory.

Did Ohio State gain or earn a measure of respect from people even in defeat? Difficult to say. I did predict USC to win this game 17-13 but whether Ohio State is still the whipping boy for critics across the country remains to be seen.

Ohio State Looks For Revenge Against USC, Respect Across The Country

Game Two: Ohio State vs. USC

Location: Ohio Stadium (Columbus, OH). 8pm EST kickoff, ESPN

Head Coach: Pete Carroll

USC Players Who Were Recruited By Ohio State: OL Jeff Byers, C Kristofer O’Dowd, FL Ronald Johnson, TE Blake Ayles, WR David Ausberry, and LB Frankie Telfort. Ronald Johnson is out for the season after sustaining a broken collarbone in a preseason scrimmage. Frankie Telfort's career ended due to a heart condition that was diagnosed in the preseason.

USC Rushing Offense vs Ohio State Defense: Behind a veteran offensive line, USC rushed for 342 yards last week versus San Jose State. USC has the luxury of running backs such as Joe McKnight, Stafon Johnson, Allen Bradford, Marc Tyler, and C.J. Gable - any one of these players could be the premier running back for virtually any program across the country. None of them averaged worse than 4.5 yards per carry last week versus San Jose State. Joe McKnight is listed as the starter, but it would not surprise me if Pete Carroll substituted as many of them throughout the game as he possibly can.

Ohio State gave up 186 yards rushing to Navy's triple option attack last week in their 31-27 victory. While giving up 186 yards is never a good thing, it helps to remember that Navy led the country in rushing in 2008 and averaged 292 yards per game last season - Ohio State was able to hold them to 100 yards less.

Look for USC to run early and often to help out true freshman QB Matt Barkley, who is making his second career start. The key for Ohio State is how well the Ohio State defense is able to slow down the USC rushing attack. If USC is able to take a 1st and 10 and make it into a 2nd and 5 or better, it could be a long night for Ohio State, as it will open up Ohio State to play-action passing by USC. This one crucial area is where the game will be won or lost by Ohio State.

Edge: USC

USC Passing Offense vs Ohio State Defense: USC's Matt Barkley had a very impressive debut against San Jose State, going 15 of 19 for 233 yards and 1 touchdown. While those statistics are impressive, it is also worth noting that USC's first four series led to two fumbles as well as two punts; San Jose State actually led USC 3-0 at the end of the first quarter. Barkley later admitted he had a case of butterflies while coming out for his first game in the Los Angeles Coliseum.

No disrespect to Matt Barkley, but the crowd at Ohio Stadium he will be facing will be intimidating to even the most seasoned of players. 102, 329 people who have been waiting to extract revenge for a year will be in their most raucous and rowdiest moods after a whole day of tailgating festivities.

Even with the loss of WR Ronald Johnson, USC's starting wide receiver tandem of Damian Williams and David Ausberry are both very good players. I would look for Ohio State to match up CB Chimdi Chekwa on Damian Williams, leaving either Andre Amos or Devon Torrence to cover David Ausberry. USC has two very good tight ends in Blake Ayles and Anthony McCoy, who could present match-up problems for Ohio State's linebacker corps. Speculation around Columbus is senior FS Anderson Russell will not start, with senior captain Kurt Coleman moving over to free safety and junior Jermale Hines getting the start at strong safety.

I would look for USC to present Barkley with as many safe passing options as possible - throwing to the backs out of the backfield, looking for a tight end isolated on a linebacker, short to intermediate passes to the wideouts. If Ohio State's crowd can assist with causing false starts or delay of game penalties, putting USC into long yardage situations, it can only help. Ohio State will need to blitz in an effort to disrupt Barkley and hopefully cause a turnover. A key player to watch will be Ohio State DE Thaddeus Gibson, who is Ohio State's best pass rusher.

Edge: Even

Ohio State Rushing Offense vs USC Defense: Ohio State has taken a running back by committee approach so far this season, alternating Daniel "Boom" Herron and Brandon Saine. Neither possess the size and strength of a stereotypical Big Ten back such as Chris Wells, but both have good quickness and are good receivers out of the backfield.

Ohio State's offensive line has drawn criticism for its performance last week against Navy. USC was able to limit San Jose State to only 9 yards rushing last week. Despite heavy graduation losses, Pete Carroll has stated this new group of linebackers is even faster than last year's stellar group.

The biggest "X" factor in this equation is QB Terrelle Pryor. Pryor played last season against USC, but was only in his third game as a college player and truly was not supposed to be a major factor of the offense. This year, the entire offense is designed around Terrelle Pryor. Pryor is a legitimate 6'6", 235 lbs quarterback with timed 4.3 speed in the 40 yard dash. It will not surprise me if Pryor is used not only on quarterback draws, but also on option plays to try and slow down the typical aggressiveness of the USC defense.

Slight Edge: Ohio State

Ohio State Passing Offense vs USC Defense: Ohio State's passing attack will never resemble USC's in terms of complexity. Ohio State has a good group of wide receivers (DeVier Posey, Dane Sanzenbacher, Ray Small, Duron Carter, and Taurian Washington), as well as two underrated and typically underutilized tight ends in Jake Ballard and Jake Stoneburner. Patrolling the USC secondary is FS Taylor Mays, who can hit like a freight train and run like the bullet train.

The perceived Achilles' heel of the Ohio State offense is the offensive line, which has been the target of both Ohio State fans and critics since Ohio State was defeated by Florida in the 2007 BCS Championship Game. A crucial match-up will be Ohio State OLT Andy Miller versus USC DE Everson Griffin.

If I was coaching Ohio State, I would present USC with a four or five wideout look often. This would isolate USC's defenders in one on one coverage scenarios, while also allowing for Terrelle Pryor to attempt quarterback keepers for positive yardage. This would help to slow down the USC pass rush, so as to not be burned by Pryor getting by the line of scrimmage.

Edge: Even

Special Teams: As you might expect, USC is dangerous with players such as Joe McKnight or C.J. Gable involved in punt and kickoff returns. With a relatively inexperienced punter in Jon Thoma, I would look for Ohio State to possibly punt out of bounds to negate any possible long returns.

Ohio State's Brandon Saine had an impressive opening kickoff last weekend versus Navy, and is complimented by WR Lamaar Thomas on returns as well. Both have outstanding speed, so USC may look to employ a similar strategy against the Buckeyes of kicking out of bounds on punts.

PK Aaron Pettrey kicked a 52 yard field goal last week against Navy. Pettrey also hit an extra point off the crossbar, but Ohio State fans may feel better knowing that Pettrey can hit a long field goal if he is needed.

Slight Edge: Ohio State

Intangibles: Last season, Ohio State went into the Los Angeles Coliseum to play USC and they were absolutely demolished by USC, 35-3. Ohio State has lost the last six times they have played USC.

In the Pete Carroll era, USC has not lost a non-conference regular season game since September 21, 2002, when USC lost at Kansas State 27-20. Critics can point out how USC has lost to unranked conference opponents throughout the years, but one thing is for certain - USC will not be intimidated coming into Ohio Stadium on Saturday night. USC walks, talks, and acts with a confidence and swagger because they do not believe they will lose.

The crucial part for Ohio State will be the participation of the fans. If Ohio State's fans are into this game throughout, it could be the difference between an Ohio State victory or defeat. If Ohio State suffers some adversity early on, a mindset of "Here we go again" can quickly take the crowd out of it.

Typically, Jim Tressel will unveil some new plays or formations for the Michigan game. No disrespect to Michigan, but the importance of this game cannot be underestimated. Ohio State's reputation has taken a beating, fair or unfair, ever since the 2007 BCS Championship Game. Three high profile losses, combined with The Big Ten's less than stellar performances last season in the bowl games as well as this past weekend, have created an atmosphere of "must win" around Columbus. Will Ohio State fold under this pressure? It remains to be seen, but I have to give the edge to USC for their impressive track record in non-conference games.

Edge: USC

Prediction:

The first quarter is the key for Ohio State’s success. If Ohio State can keep the game close, keeping USC’s offense on the sideline while maintaining time-consuming drives that end in points, Ohio State can win this game. More importantly, Ohio State needs to culminate drives with touchdowns, not field goals. Points are points, but Ohio State far too frequently winds up kicking field goals instead of cashing in on touchdowns in the red zone.

I cannot overemphasize the importance of the crowd in this one. Ohio State's defense needs to rattle Matt Barkley, but the home crowd can contribute by making it so loud and noisy that it is virtually impossible for the USC offense to hear. Ohio State needs to win the turnover battle against USC.

I do not believe this will be a high-scoring affair. I believe USC will rely on its strong running game, and a strong defense, to eke out a close one. Ohio State may gain a small measure of national respect with a strong showing in this one, but Ohio State's offensive line concerns have me thinking it will wind up USC 17, Ohio State 13.

USC's & Ohio State's Secrets To Success: Recruiting

USC’s Pete Carroll is considered to be among the best coaches in college football. To review some of Carroll’s accomplishments as USC’s head coach, Pete Carroll was hired as USC’s coach in 2001, leading USC to an initial 6-6 record in his opening season. Since that initial season, Carroll’s USC teams have not won fewer than 11 games in a season, have won or shared seven straight Pac-10 conference championships, and have won or shared two national championships. Not too shabby for a person who was not exactly looked upon as a savior by the USC fan base when he was hired in 2001.

Ohio State’s Jim Tressel has also developed a solid reputation amongst college football’s head coaching elite. Similar to Pete Carroll, Jim Tressel was hired by Ohio State in 2001. In another similarity, Jim Tressel’s initial year at Ohio State was a modest 7-5 record. Beginning in 2002, Tressel’s Ohio State’s teams have averaged 10 wins per season, have won or shared five Big Ten conference championships, and won the 2002 BCS National Championship.

Both Pete Carroll and Jim Tressel recognize the need to recruit and develop top talent. Both coaches make an effort to keep their top in-state talent at home; Carroll emphasizes the top talent in California, while Tressel recruits the top talent in Ohio. Both USC’s and Ohio State’s annual recruiting classes are ranked highly by analysts every February on National Letter Of Intent Day. Both coaches allow for incoming freshmen to win starting jobs or earn playing time if they are considered to be the best at their position.

The biggest difference between the two, as far as I can see? Pete Carroll seems to recruit for a system in mind – big dropback passers such as Matt Barkley, fast and aggressive linebackers such as Chris Galippo, versatile running backs such as Joe McKnight, etc. Jim Tressel seems to identify talent, then build the system to fit the talent - for example, Tressel has recruited and signed quarterbacks such as Justin Zwick, Troy Smith, Todd Boeckman, and Terrelle Pryor. While Zwick and Boeckman were more traditional pocket passers, and Smith and Pryor would be considered mobile quarterbacks, Tressel designed an offense that allowed each of them to be effective when they played at Ohio State.

Which way is better? Considering the results I listed up above, it is highly debatable that either coach is erring in terms of recruiting or player development. Come Saturday night in Ohio Stadium, it will be interesting to watch the approach each coach has made with their respective teams.

Jim Tressel's Post-Game Navy Press Conference

Ohio State "Rolles" Into Escape Over Navy, 31-27

Instant Post-Game Analysis:  Thank you to all of you who wrote back saying I was overrating Navy's ability to keep this a close game.  Without a few turnovers, and a big play by Brian Rolle, Ohio State very well could be into its overtime period with Navy, perhaps into its locker room with a loss to Navy.   Navy played as I expected them to, and all of their opponents should because Navy never quits.  Navy played hard until the end of the game.  Navy's coaches, players, students, alumni, and fans should walk with their heads held high for their outstanding effort today in Ohio Stadium.   As for Ohio State...watching the game with my good friend Tim (thank you again for your always outstanding hospitality), I believe Chris Spielman articulated it best while he was commenting for ESPN.  Mr. Spielman was looking for Ohio State to come out with a killer instinct in the second half—to the dismay of all Ohio State fans everywhere, the killer instinct never materialized against the Navy Midshipmen.   What I Liked From This Game:   •Passing to the tight end(s):  Jake Ballard had three receptions, Jake Stoneburner with one.  Instead of treating the TE as an extra blocker, Ohio State can give opposing defenses something else to think about in future games. •Brandon Saine's return:  Saine totaled 53 yards rushing, 21 yards receiving, and 2 kickoffs for 65 yards.  Saine showed more to me as a power runner versus Daniel "Boom" Herron in this game; more on that in the "What I Did Not Like From This Game".  If Saine can stay healthy, his overall versatility will be of tremendous importance this season to Ohio State's hopes for a successful season. •Kurt Coleman:  Arguably the player of the game.  Coleman ripped out a fumble that was recovered by Ohio State, and also intercepted a pass.  Without those turnovers, Ohio State probably loses this game.  This is the type of performance that endears Coleman to Ohio State fans as well as NFL scouts. •Brian Rolle:  Yes, Brian Rolle does not look like other Ohio State middle linebacker with regards to physical stature when compared to predecessors James Laurinaitis or Andy Katzenmoyer.  Rolle is a football player.  Rolle's interception and return on Navy's two-point conversion saved Ohio State from the upset, and I look for other big plays from Rolle this season against other Ohio State opponents. •The 4th down call versus the field goal kick:  Boy am I anticipating push back on this one.  4th and 2 on Navy's 16 yard line, and the opportunity to put three points on the board and possibly the game out of reach.  Ordinarily, I would want to go the safe route.  Knowing that is Navy, who will never quit, and the time on the clock being an issue, I would have gone it for again.  The only difference is I would have run an option play to the perimeter with Terrelle Pryor or possibly have Brandon Saine run that play that failed, which leads me to... What I Did Not Like From This Game:   •Running "Boom" Herron on the 4th and 2 call:  I like "Boom" Herron, and maybe it is going to strike some as a panic move with this one, but it is looking like Brandon Saine is a better power runner for this offense than "Boom" Herron is at the moment.  Herron had a decent game, but a relatively quiet game in comparison to Saine's performance.  Again, just one person's opinion. •Anderson Russell's performance:  Yes, I believe in loyalty to seniors, especially 5th year seniors such as Russell.  The blown touchdown against Navy, combined with last year's touchdown versus Texas, are going to start weighing heavily on the coaching staff to start Jermale Hines at safety. •The offensive line performance overall:  Ohio State's running game earned 210 yards against Navy, which also accounts for any lost yardage due to quarterback sacks.  Ohio State's offensive line outweighed Navy and was never truly able to establish a dominant running game.  Pass protection against Navy was truly inconsistent as well.  Something has to change big-time over next week versus Southern Cal may be something akin to a NC-17 horror movie for Ohio State fans. Ohio State has now its 32nd consecutive home opener, best among Division 1 teams.  I applaud Navy for its outstanding performance.  Southern Cal is one week, and a few hours from now from stepping foot to do battle against the Buckeyes in Ohio Stadium.  Hope remains that Ohio State can shore up between now and then.

Will Navy Sink Ohio State's 2009 Home Opener?

Location: Ohio Stadium (Columbus, OH) 12pm EST on ESPN

Head Coach: Ken Niumatalolo

Navy Players Who Were Recruited By Ohio State: N/A. Navy has a few players from Ohio on its roster (LB Josh Dowling-Fitzpatrick, RB Bobby Doyle, C Mike McCarthy, DE Matthew Kelley, C Brady DeMell, WR Doug Furman, K Scott Blasinsky, and NT Chase Burge), but none were actively recruited by Ohio State.

NavyRushing Offense vs Ohio State Defense: Navy's triple option offense led the nation in rushing with an average of 292.4 yards per game. Navy's offensive line averages about 265 lbs per man, which is much lighter than the typical offensive linemen Ohio State's defense is used to facing. Even with the weight discrepancy, I look for Navy's rushing attack to confuse Ohio State's defense well into the second half of this contest.

Edge: Navy

Navy Passing Offense vs Ohio State Defense: As Navy concentrates almost exclusively on rushing the ball - last season, Navy averaged 7.2 pass attempts per game. Most teams will have those types of statistics midway through the first quarter. Navy QB Ricky Dobbs is supposedly a much better passer than previous Navy quarterbacks, but I still look for Navy to focus their efforts on their option ground game. Ohio State's cornerbacks will be in man-to-man coverage on the Navy wideouts, in an effort to help with shutting down Navy's ground game. It will be important for Ohio State's safeties to not bite on play-action, lest they give up a big play or a touchdown.

Edge: Ohio State

Ohio State Rushing Offense vs Navy Defense: Ohio State enters 2009 without the services of RB Chris Wells and will depend on the skills of RB Boom Herron, RB Brandon Saine, and QB Terrelle Pryor. Navy's defensive front struggled last season against opponents such as Pittsburgh and Notre Dame, who averaged more than 5 yards a carry against the Midshipmen. Compounding Navy's difficulties is the loss of DL Nate Frazier, who was kicked off the team as the fall camp was just beginning. I look for Ohio State to run early and often against Navy, to develop a rhythm with its offensive line, led by sophomore C Michael Brewster and LG Justin Boren.

Edge: Ohio State

Ohio State Passing Offense vs Navy Defense: While Navy struggles to slow down teams running the ball, Navy's pass defense may be even more of a challenge for the team. Navy ranked 103rd in pass defense efficiency last season, and has lost three starters from last year's unit. Considering Ohio State lost both of its top wide receivers to the NFL, Ohio State may look to use this game as an opportunity to further chemistry between QB Terrelle Pryor and his new receiving corps.

Edge: Ohio State

Special Teams: Ohio State returns PK Aaron Pettrey, as well as returner Ray Small from last year's team. Navy has a new kicker, and its special teams units ranked 107th last season. Ohio State may look to involve WR Lamaar Thomas and RB Brandon Saine on kickoff returns or punt returns for their added speed possibilities.

Big Edge: Ohio State

Intangibles: Navy is 0-3 against Ohio State, with its last meeting in the 1981 Liberty Bowl. Navy has won six of its last seven season openers - Ohio State has not lost a home opener since the 1978 season. While Navy does not have the talent or speed of Ohio State, its triple option offense is such a departure from what Ohio State usually sees from the opposition that it will make this game interesting until the second half.

Edge: Navy

Prediction: In recent years, Ohio State has started out slowly against its opponents, waiting until the second half to put the game away. Navy's triple option attack will challenge Ohio State from the onset, and I will be anxious to see how disciplined Ohio State's defenders are at shutting down Navy's rushing attack.

I look for this game to be close until the mid-3rd quarter, when Ohio State's talent and speed help the Buckeyes to pull away. Make no mistake - Navy will play hard every down until the whistle is blown, and the clock has expired. This is arguably the best home opener opponent for Ohio State since the 2002 season when the Buckeyes played against Texas Tech.

Ohio State 31, Navy 17

Defending Against The Triple Option

Concern over how Ohio State will defend against Navy's triple option offense has been on the minds of Ohio State's defensive coaching staff. The average fan simply thinks Ohio State has superior athletes, and thus will win the game easily. If only it were that simple when it comes to playing the game on the field.

One of the negatives for a speedy defense, such as Ohio State's, is the triple option can effectively neutralize the speed. For linebackers such as Ross Homan or Austin Spitler, Navy will actually try to run right at them with option plays, forcing them to commit to one ball carrier or the other.

Here are some basics as to how the triple option works:

1. The first option is the fullback. The quarterback will read the defense - if the defense is coming up field too quickly, the quarterback can hand it off to the fullback for a quick hitter up the middle of the field.

2. The second option involves the quarterback. The quarterback can fake the handoff to the fullback and run himself. OR

3. The third option involves the slotback. The quarterback can keep the ball, and then force the defender to commit to stopping the quarterback or the trailing slotback. If the defender keys on the quarterback, the quarterback will pitch to the slotback. If the slotback is chosen by the defender, the quarterback can turn upfield and run himself.

Oh, I almost forgot. The quarterback can still throw the ball downfield, just like in other offenses around the country.

How does a team adequately defend against the triple option? By playing good assignment football.

Let me start with defending against the fullback in a triple option. Ohio State's interior defensive linemen and middle linebacker (Brian Rolle) will want to key Navy's fullback. Ideally, the interior defensive linemen will keep the center and guards off of the middle linebacker, freeing the middle linebacker to literally mirror wherever the fullback goes.

The defensive ends will want to shut down any possible off-tackle plays from the triple option, and also need to stop one of the options, probably the quarterback keeper. This will free up the outside linebackers to defend against the slotback.

Sounds so simple, doesn't it? Here's something else to keep in mind - while Navy seldom throws the ball, creeping up the secondary to assist with run coverage will leave Ohio State very susceptible to play-action passing. While I would expect Ohio State's cornerbacks to play up on the Navy receivers, the safeties need to remember not to overplay the run.

While I would be ecstatic if Ohio State came out against Navy and shut them down from the onset of the game, I am not anticipating that happening. I do believe it will take until the second quarter, and possibly the half, for Ohio State to have figured Navy out. Hopefully, Ohio State's defense has learned as much as possible from its recent intersquad scrimmage and will be able to effectively defend against Navy's triple option on Saturday.