Look Whose Back!!

Iowa: Buckeyes Back!! 27-24 in OT

In a game that started out slowly... then looked like a rout.. turned into a thriller! Predictably the game was a defensive struggle for much of the 1st half with both teams playing in somewhat close to the 'Vest' and traded jabs. Tresselball was in full effect (too much so for some folks, but more on that later) and Ferentz as expected had his team ready to go despite the numerous injuries. The thought process following last weeks loss to Northwestern and their starting quarterback, Stanzi, the Hawkeyes weren't given much of a chance to win. In one week they went from being picked to win the conference to being 17 point underdogs! But you know the saying, the most dangerous animal, is a wounded one and with nothing to lose the Hawkeyes played their hearts out and Ferentz for the most part let the reins off his redshirt freshman qb James Vandenberg and he delivered. That Vandenberg youngster was smoking Hot! oh yeah, and her son played well too. Seriously, he didn't resemble a freshman who was making his first career start in a hostile environment with a confernce title on the line! Save for a few errant passes when pressured (why more blitzes weren't called is a head-scratcher) and his execution in overtime, he looked and played liked a poised 5th year senior. I'll go as far and say that if Stanzi had played, I believe the Buckeyes would've had an easier time. Hats off the the young qb, who'll only get better.

Was it just me, or how many of you believed that following the Homan interception and the subsequent Saine 49 yard burst putting the Buckeyes up 24-10 that the game was over. I mean there was no way possible that any team could score 14+ points against this Buckeye defense, right? Well they didn't ofcourse, given the inexplicable let down of the special teams and allowing a 99 yard kickoff return. Forget the pin, you could hear a feather drop! after the Derrell Johnson-Koulianos return. The Buckeyes had soooo many opportunities to put the game away and didn't that I'm sure many Bucknuts got that queasy feeling in their stomach. I prior post, I stated that these Hawkeyes despite comparisons by some, were no 2002 Buckeyes, but boy did they seem to get glossed with some of that magic that has carried them throughout this year so far, exception being ofcourse last week. How many chances;

*The 99 yard kickoff return - Hold them to the 20/25 yard line on the return, make them drive the field without giving up any big plays, good chance with time on the Buckeyes side,

Game Over!

*On the ensuing kickoff after the Johnson-Koulianos td, the not one, but TWO penalties that put the Buckeyes in Hawkeyes territory. Now like most of Buckeye Nation, the conservative playcalling at this juncture in the game was a harder pill to swallow than the conservatism at the end of the game, (but more on that later). Here Tresselball backfired as Devin Barclay in only his 2nd career start, missed a 47-yard field goal. A make here Buckeyes regain control 27-17, Game Over!

*The milli-inch neutral zone infraction by Nathan Williams that wiped out a Thaddeus Gibson pick six. Williams stays in his stance, touchdown good Buckeyes up 31-17,

Game Over!

*Later during that same drive, the Chimdi Chekwa/Brian Rolle botched up interception, only to fall into the hands of the Iowa receiver. Chekwa catches it without interference from Rolle or vice-versa, Buckeyes still lead 24-17, have control of the ball with about 4 minutes to go in the game. Not a lock, but

Game Over!

Kudos to Iowa, to Coach Ferentz, their gritty defense, and up and coming star Vandenberg for their peformance. But for all the frustration it causes many fans and eye rolls from all the pundits, up until that kickoff return, Tresselball worked. And it worked with less than stellar performances from, according the Tressel, the most important part of the game. Punting!! This had to be by far, the worst performance from Jon Thoma and it couldn't have come at a worse time. People wanted to see Pryor get benched during the Purdue game, well I wouldv'e liked to have seen Thoma get benched during the Iowa game. He averaged less the 40 yards per kick, allowing Iowa to maintain the advantage in field position for the majority of the evening. Secondly, the defense wasn't up too its dominating self that we've witnessed over the last three weeks. Facing perhaps the best receiving corps this season in Johnson-Koulianos, Marvin McNutt, and tight end Moeaki, the secondary was taken to task a bit. More surprising that it was a redshirt freshman taking them to school. The vaunted defensive line that wreaked havoc the previous week against Penn State was held sackless during regulation. Which brings me to the same problem I had watching the Purdue game. If the front four is unable to apply pressure and dominate, then why aren't more blitzes being called. Against Purdue, Joey Elliot, enjoyed a nice comfortable pocket throughout most of the game, except on the few- too few occasions that the Buckeys came with a blitz. Same thing occured in the Iowa game, on the few- tooooo few occassions that they brought pressure, Vandenberg was somewhat rattled and erred in his throws. The only sack that was registered was the overtime sack by Worthington. Great timing, but a few more sacks in regulation and the Buckeyes might not have had to go into the extra period. It's nice to have a dominant line like what the Buckeyes have, but in games when they are unable to get to the quarterback, more most be done to make the opposing qb at least somewhat uncomfortable and mess with his mind.

Now, on a evening when two-thirds of Tresselball aren't performing to customary expectations, it sure was nice that the OFFENSE bailed out the team and got the win. That's right, I said the OFFENSE bailed out the team and had a huge hand in winning this game. Now, if I told you that Terrelle Pryor didn't have a passing td nor a rushing td, what would you think? Yeah, the Buckeyes lost! If I was told that, It be an easy assumption that they would've lost. Pryor didn't have a big game, in fact, he was hardly noticeable. But thanks to a dominant offensive line.. you heard right, a Dominant Offensive Line, Pryor didn't have to play big. With Pryor nursing an assortment of injuries, it was very impressive that they rushed for over 200 yards against perhaps the best defense in the conference, outside of Columbus ofcourse. A defense that knew the Buckeyes would be running and they still couldn't stop it. For all the flack that this battered and injured line has taken this season, this is the 4th time that over 200 yards was amassed via the running game. Saine and Herron, both ran hard and was consistently dragging piles forward.

Despite the underperformance of the special teams, it was the special teams play that made the most significant play of the evening. He had to be nervous and dejected following his miss in regulation, but Devin Barclay, the 26 year old walk-on ultimately made the most of his moment when given that second chance. With the Defense once again playing like the Defense we have come accustomed to seeing and holding Iowa scoreless in the overtime period, everybody knew how it was gonna play out once the Buckeyes had their turn. Everybody and thier mother knew Tressel was not gonna put the ball in the air (more on that later) and was gonna take his chances running the ball and settling for the field goal. No need for Iowa to "Ice" him, because once Anderson Russell's interception in overtime, Devin knew his number would be called. And when Tressel dialed him up, Barclay - this time was ready. He nailed the 39 yarder and set the Buckeye Nation back on its axis. Following that Purdue game, one would've thought that the world had come to an end. Tressel had to go..Pryor had to go..the O-line had to go (well we could still use a line coach)..But look, here we are right where the Buckeyes had hoped and were picked to be - Big Ten Champions! and Rose Bowl Bound. My nose got a little stopped up during that 4th quarter but It cleared up and boy do the Roses smell Good!!!