31°OSU ends season with a win
10:11 AM
Jan 02
2010
Jan 02
2010
Are The Ohio State Buckeyes back?
I don’t know if one win puts an end to past big-game failures, but Friday’s 26-17 victory over the University of Oregon certainly was a step in the right direction.
OSU, which ended a three-game BCS losing streak, put the finishing touches on the 2009 season. The Buckeyes gained their fifth-straight Big Ten title and reached 10 or more wins also for the fifth consecutive time. They will definitely be ranked in the top 10 once all the bowl games are complete, possibly top-five.
Under coach Jim Tressel, OSU has now won 10 or more games seven times and captured their fourth BCS win.
There were plenty of questions surrounding this team entering the season.
Could quarterback Terrelle Pryor take that next step? Who would be the featured back with the departure of Chris Wells? Who would step up at wide receiver for Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline? Who would provide the leadership at linebacker with the James Laurinaitis and Marcus Freeman not wearing the Scarlet and Gray? Who would be take over Malcolm Jenkins at cornerback?
The Buckeyes had their struggles as the team tried to find their identity, especially offensively, putting the parts in the right spot and dealing with some injuries.
But the season 2009 reminded me a lot like 2005 — a loss to a top-notch non-conference school early, a midseason Big Ten defeat and a winning streak to close the campaign, including the BCS bowl game.
Defense wasn’t the problem. Led by a stout defensive line, bringing in Brian Rolle and Austin Spitler at linebacker and Devon Torrence and Chimdi Chekwa at cornerback, OSU ranked in the top-five defensively in the nation at points allowed.
The offense went through growing pains. Dan Herron and Brandon Saine picked up the slack at running back and DeVier Posey and Dane Sanzenbacher proved to be solid receivers.
Still, the offense lagged behind. They won the month of November with a strong running game, Pryor not making mistakes at the helm and asking the defense to step up once again.
Then came Jan. 1, 2010.
Most people figured OSU would have to throw the ball to beat Oregon.
They did — in a big way.
Pryor came out firing. He played his best game as a Buckeye to date, by going 23-of-37 through the air for 266 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. The amount of completions, attempts and passing yards were all career highs.
Pryor, like he did the whole season, used his legs for another 72 yards. He was definitely a handful for Oregon and finally gained that elusive big-game win against a top-10 non-conference team.
If Tressel could have scripted a game-plan to beat the Ducks, then Friday provided the map — keep Oregon’s high potent off the field (OSU won the time of possession 41:37-18:23) and let Pryor use his abilities on the ground and through the air. Check on both counts.
In holding Oregon, a team that averaged 37.7 points per game entering the Rose Bowl, to its second lowest point total of the season, the Buckeyes bottled up quarterback Jeremiah Masoli (9 yards rushing and 9-of-20 for 81 yards) and held LaMichael James to just 70.
Running back LeGarrette Blount, who was suspended most of the season, scored a touchdown, but also had a key fumble.
The biggest pain in the neck for OSU was running back Kenjon Barner, who had 64 yards rushing and 122 on kick returns.
So what does 2010 hold?
The Buckeyes, with a bevy of starters on both sides of the ball, should be the preseason favorite to win the conference title.
They will miss the leadership of seniors, especially defensive back Kurt Coleman and defensive lineman Doug Worthington.
Then there’s the question of which underclassmen will declare for the National Football League draft. Defensive lineman Cameron Heyward and Thaddeus Gibson are the names being thrown around the most.
The schedule as four straight home games, starting with Marshall. The Thundering Herd will have a new coach in Doc Holliday. They captured a 21-17 win in the Little Caesers Bowl.
Week 2 is against the Miami Hurricanes, a team that appears to be on the rise under coach Randy Shannon. That has 8 p.m. Sept. 11 written all over it.
The Buckeyes then host two MAC schools — Ohio and Eastern Michigan — before starting Big Ten play.
Clyde graduate Alex Gillett started three games at quarterback for Eastern Michigan. He completed 68-of-137 for 763 yards with three touchdowns and seven interceptions.
The true freshman also finished second on the team in rushing at 484 net yards and two scores.
OSU goes to Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa and host Indiana, Purdue Penn State and Michigan. Michigan State and Northwestern are off the schedule again.
One of the keys is continued development of Pryor as a passer (he ranked 11th out of 11 teams in Big Ten in yards per game. That was before Friday’s outing).
Do I say that after the 2005 season, the Buckeyes entered 2006 with even higher expectations, eventually reaching the BCS National Championship game? No, you won't hear that from me.
I don’t know if one win puts an end to past big-game failures, but Friday’s 26-17 victory over the University of Oregon certainly was a step in the right direction.
OSU, which ended a three-game BCS losing streak, put the finishing touches on the 2009 season. The Buckeyes gained their fifth-straight Big Ten title and reached 10 or more wins also for the fifth consecutive time. They will definitely be ranked in the top 10 once all the bowl games are complete, possibly top-five.
Under coach Jim Tressel, OSU has now won 10 or more games seven times and captured their fourth BCS win.
There were plenty of questions surrounding this team entering the season.
Could quarterback Terrelle Pryor take that next step? Who would be the featured back with the departure of Chris Wells? Who would step up at wide receiver for Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline? Who would provide the leadership at linebacker with the James Laurinaitis and Marcus Freeman not wearing the Scarlet and Gray? Who would be take over Malcolm Jenkins at cornerback?
The Buckeyes had their struggles as the team tried to find their identity, especially offensively, putting the parts in the right spot and dealing with some injuries.
But the season 2009 reminded me a lot like 2005 — a loss to a top-notch non-conference school early, a midseason Big Ten defeat and a winning streak to close the campaign, including the BCS bowl game.
Defense wasn’t the problem. Led by a stout defensive line, bringing in Brian Rolle and Austin Spitler at linebacker and Devon Torrence and Chimdi Chekwa at cornerback, OSU ranked in the top-five defensively in the nation at points allowed.
The offense went through growing pains. Dan Herron and Brandon Saine picked up the slack at running back and DeVier Posey and Dane Sanzenbacher proved to be solid receivers.
Still, the offense lagged behind. They won the month of November with a strong running game, Pryor not making mistakes at the helm and asking the defense to step up once again.
Then came Jan. 1, 2010.
Most people figured OSU would have to throw the ball to beat Oregon.
They did — in a big way.
Pryor came out firing. He played his best game as a Buckeye to date, by going 23-of-37 through the air for 266 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. The amount of completions, attempts and passing yards were all career highs.
Pryor, like he did the whole season, used his legs for another 72 yards. He was definitely a handful for Oregon and finally gained that elusive big-game win against a top-10 non-conference team.
If Tressel could have scripted a game-plan to beat the Ducks, then Friday provided the map — keep Oregon’s high potent off the field (OSU won the time of possession 41:37-18:23) and let Pryor use his abilities on the ground and through the air. Check on both counts.
In holding Oregon, a team that averaged 37.7 points per game entering the Rose Bowl, to its second lowest point total of the season, the Buckeyes bottled up quarterback Jeremiah Masoli (9 yards rushing and 9-of-20 for 81 yards) and held LaMichael James to just 70.
Running back LeGarrette Blount, who was suspended most of the season, scored a touchdown, but also had a key fumble.
The biggest pain in the neck for OSU was running back Kenjon Barner, who had 64 yards rushing and 122 on kick returns.
So what does 2010 hold?
The Buckeyes, with a bevy of starters on both sides of the ball, should be the preseason favorite to win the conference title.
They will miss the leadership of seniors, especially defensive back Kurt Coleman and defensive lineman Doug Worthington.
Then there’s the question of which underclassmen will declare for the National Football League draft. Defensive lineman Cameron Heyward and Thaddeus Gibson are the names being thrown around the most.
The schedule as four straight home games, starting with Marshall. The Thundering Herd will have a new coach in Doc Holliday. They captured a 21-17 win in the Little Caesers Bowl.
Week 2 is against the Miami Hurricanes, a team that appears to be on the rise under coach Randy Shannon. That has 8 p.m. Sept. 11 written all over it.
The Buckeyes then host two MAC schools — Ohio and Eastern Michigan — before starting Big Ten play.
Clyde graduate Alex Gillett started three games at quarterback for Eastern Michigan. He completed 68-of-137 for 763 yards with three touchdowns and seven interceptions.
The true freshman also finished second on the team in rushing at 484 net yards and two scores.
OSU goes to Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa and host Indiana, Purdue Penn State and Michigan. Michigan State and Northwestern are off the schedule again.
One of the keys is continued development of Pryor as a passer (he ranked 11th out of 11 teams in Big Ten in yards per game. That was before Friday’s outing).
Do I say that after the 2005 season, the Buckeyes entered 2006 with even higher expectations, eventually reaching the BCS National Championship game? No, you won't hear that from me.
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