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OSU's win no surprise

By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal staff writer

POSTED: 08:38 p.m. EST, Nov 21, 2009

ANN ARBOR, MICH.: Ohio State fans have got to quit hating Michigan. After all, what other game do the Buckeyes play that's a guaranteed win?

Jim Tressel says he isn't counting, but that's eight victories in nine years as OSU's coach, including a routine 21-10 triumph Saturday in the Big House with the little team that couldn't.

Asked what it means to win six in a row against the Buckeyes' fiercest rival, Tressel said: ''It means we have to come back another year. It doesn't mean anything, because in 2010, I'll be petrified. That's the way [we coaches] live.''

I know that Tressel is right. Adopting a cavalier attitude about Michigan's aptitude for football could backfire at any time. Keep in mind that before Tressel arrived on campus, Ohio State lost 10 out of 13 to the Wolverines. There are still tiny bits of dead skin lying in the corners of Ohio Stadium from all the handwringing that marked John Cooper's years as coach.

Still, beating Michigan has become the norm for the Buckeyes. It is expected. Because the Wolverines' program has fallen into disarray the past two seasons, Ohio State fans have dropped the word upset from their vocabulary.

Tressel tried to minimize the vast talent gap between the teams and never mind that the Buckeyes won by only 11 points.

''Michigan went out and played their hearts out, so did the Buckeyes,'' he said. ''We weren't comfortable until about a minute to go in the game.''

Coaches aren't comfortable until they see the final score in the newspaper the next day, but Tressel had every reason to believe his team would win.

As usual, his game plan was based on the premise that a lead is a lead is a lead. No sense trying to win by 20 when seven will do, because taking unnecessary risks (throwing the ball) can result in turnovers. Nothing worse can befall a football team, aside from having the TV networks ignore your game.

''The No. 1 concern of the offense is making sure the defense is in good position,'' Tressel said.

This will not be good news for fans who enjoy wide-open offense or even a balance between running plays and passes.

''Seldom have I been accused of being conservative,'' Tressel said factitiously. ''Yeah, we probably did [get a little conservative].''

A little conservative? If Woody Hayes had worn a sweater vest on the sidelines, it would be difficult to tell the difference between him and Tressel.

But no longer is it possible to game plan for three yards and a cloud of dust. That's because so many teams play on artificial turf. And besides, that would be understating the effectiveness of Ohio State's running attack, which averaged a healthy 4.7 yards per play.

Michigan came into the game with a reputation for having a leaky defense, particularly against the run. Tressel took advantage, piling up 251 yards on the ground: 96 for Dan Herron, 84 for Brandon Saine and 74 for quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who passed for only 67 yards.

So did Pryor's performance border on the mediocre? Hardly. One thing about the kid: aside from his wondrous legs, he has great timing. Pryor ran for six first downs, passed for two and threw a 12-yard touchdown pass on a middle screen, looping the ball just over the outstretched hands of the defense to Herron to seal the win.

Tressel emphasized the importance of Pryor's contributions, especially his judgment. On the 11-play, 89-yard touchdown march that culminated in the pass to Herron, the Buckeyes ran 10 times in a row, even though Michigan was jamming eight and nine defenders within five yards of the line of scrimmage.

The way Tressel told it, Pryor was in charge of the drive, delivering chunks of yardage by reading the defense and running the option.

''We did that a lot last year,'' left tackle Jim Cordle said. ''We got away from it this year. But we tried it a couple of times today, and they gave it to us, so we kept doing it.''

It was meant to convey high praise, indeed, when Tressel said: ''Terrelle made good decisions. He was in command of the ballgame.''

Good decisions are the key to Pryor's continuing education as a quarterback.

''We probably could have thrown a little more,'' said Tressel.

Of course, he chose not to. It's not like he forgot. And who among the Buckeyes' faithful can complain? Tressel's record speaks for itself much louder than any style of offense could.

But Oregon — or whoever Ohio State plays in the Rose Bowl — beware, because Tressel made an important announcement.

''We have to get better throwing, if we want to compete in January,'' he said.

Sometimes a forward pass or two can put the defense in good position.

Sheldon Ocker can be reached at socker@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Indians blog at http://www.ohio.com/tribematters. Follow the Indians on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ABJ_Indians.

Michigan head football coach Rich Rodriguez looks on during the fourth quarter of an NCAA football game against Ohio State in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
View more photos>>

ANN ARBOR, MICH.: Ohio State fans have got to quit hating Michigan. After all, what other game do the Buckeyes play that's a guaranteed win?

Jim Tressel says he isn't counting, but that's eight victories in nine years as OSU's coach, including a routine 21-10 triumph Saturday in the Big House with the little team that couldn't.

Asked what it means to win six in a row against the Buckeyes' fiercest rival, Tressel said: ''It means we have to come back another year. It doesn't mean anything, because in 2010, I'll be petrified. That's the way [we coaches] live.''

I know that Tressel is right. Adopting a cavalier attitude about Michigan's aptitude for football could backfire at any time. Keep in mind that before Tressel arrived on campus, Ohio State lost 10 out of 13 to the Wolverines. There are still tiny bits of dead skin lying in the corners of Ohio Stadium from all the handwringing that marked John Cooper's years as coach.

Still, beating Michigan has become the norm for the Buckeyes. It is expected. Because the Wolverines' program has fallen into disarray the past two seasons, Ohio State fans have dropped the word upset from their vocabulary.

Tressel tried to minimize the vast talent gap between the teams and never mind that the Buckeyes won by only 11 points.

''Michigan went out and played their hearts out, so did the Buckeyes,'' he said. ''We weren't comfortable until about a minute to go in the game.''

Coaches aren't comfortable until they see the final score in the newspaper the next day, but Tressel had every reason to believe his team would win.

As usual, his game plan was based on the premise that a lead is a lead is a lead. No sense trying to win by 20 when seven will do, because taking unnecessary risks (throwing the ball) can result in turnovers. Nothing worse can befall a football team, aside from having the TV networks ignore your game.

''The No. 1 concern of the offense is making sure the defense is in good position,'' Tressel said.

This will not be good news for fans who enjoy wide-open offense or even a balance between running plays and passes.

''Seldom have I been accused of being conservative,'' Tressel said factitiously. ''Yeah, we probably did [get a little conservative].''

A little conservative? If Woody Hayes had worn a sweater vest on the sidelines, it would be difficult to tell the difference between him and Tressel.

But no longer is it possible to game plan for three yards and a cloud of dust. That's because so many teams play on artificial turf. And besides, that would be understating the effectiveness of Ohio State's running attack, which averaged a healthy 4.7 yards per play.

Michigan came into the game with a reputation for having a leaky defense, particularly against the run. Tressel took advantage, piling up 251 yards on the ground: 96 for Dan Herron, 84 for Brandon Saine and 74 for quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who passed for only 67 yards.

So did Pryor's performance border on the mediocre? Hardly. One thing about the kid: aside from his wondrous legs, he has great timing. Pryor ran for six first downs, passed for two and threw a 12-yard touchdown pass on a middle screen, looping the ball just over the outstretched hands of the defense to Herron to seal the win.

Tressel emphasized the importance of Pryor's contributions, especially his judgment. On the 11-play, 89-yard touchdown march that culminated in the pass to Herron, the Buckeyes ran 10 times in a row, even though Michigan was jamming eight and nine defenders within five yards of the line of scrimmage.

The way Tressel told it, Pryor was in charge of the drive, delivering chunks of yardage by reading the defense and running the option.

''We did that a lot last year,'' left tackle Jim Cordle said. ''We got away from it this year. But we tried it a couple of times today, and they gave it to us, so we kept doing it.''

It was meant to convey high praise, indeed, when Tressel said: ''Terrelle made good decisions. He was in command of the ballgame.''

Good decisions are the key to Pryor's continuing education as a quarterback.

''We probably could have thrown a little more,'' said Tressel.

Of course, he chose not to. It's not like he forgot. And who among the Buckeyes' faithful can complain? Tressel's record speaks for itself much louder than any style of offense could.

But Oregon — or whoever Ohio State plays in the Rose Bowl — beware, because Tressel made an important announcement.

''We have to get better throwing, if we want to compete in January,'' he said.

Sometimes a forward pass or two can put the defense in good position.

Sheldon Ocker can be reached at socker@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Indians blog at http://www.ohio.com/tribematters. Follow the Indians on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ABJ_Indians.




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RowdyZ
North Hill, OH

Posted 08:58 PM, 11/21/2009

It'll even out soon enough. Look at the last two decades: One team has 10 wins, One team has 9, and there's a single tie.

Rivalries are cyclical.


Slovensko
Canton, OH

Posted 11:14 PM, 11/21/2009

@Rowdyz: Except the Browns/Steelers rivalry. . .














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