Ohio State looked like they were in for a wild afternoon with the upstart Northwestern Wildcats after each team scored touchdowns on their first possessions,but that was as good as it got for the Wildcats as Terrelle Pryor got revved up and Ohio State cruised to a 45-10 win in Evanston......
Buckeye Leaves-Got a better one??Lets hear it!
1) Northwestern gambled on calling blitzes and keeping 8 and 9 players in the box to control Chris Wells and perhaps slow Pryor's running game,but Ohio State did to Northwestern what they didn't do against Penn State-throw the ball down the field!
Completions of 46 and 32 opened the door to make Northwesten cover recievers and that helped Wells on his way......
2) This game was over at 7-7 when Northwestern called a run blitz and seemed to have Wells stuffed behind the line.
Wells instead broke tackle after tackle and scampered 55 yards for a touchdown.
That broke Northwestern's morale then and there....
3) Pryor looked much improved in the pocket in this one.
The off week likely helped the coaching staff work on the little things that they really didn't have time to work on in the summer camps when Todd Boeckman was the presumptive starter....
4) Northwestern QB Mike Kafka had some success running the ball,but passing the Buckeye defense was in his face all day-4 sacks and numerous hurries....
Kafka set a Big Ten record for rushing yards in a game last week vs Minnesota.
Ohio State is not Minnesota........
5) I was surprised to see Seniors James Laurinatis and Alex Boone each pick up personal fouls for late hits.
Neither were smart plays and Boone's especially was dumb.
I don't expect to see Seniors to make such stupid mistakes.....
6) Andre Ware was the color analyst for the game and seemed to have a real problem with OSU throwing the ball in the fourth quarter as well as Dan Herron's TD run with seconds to go.
I could maybe see some of his points against the throwing the ball late,but Herron's run was just one of those plays that happens in lopsided games.......
7) OSU had about 20,000 fans in attendance at Ryan Field.
What does that say for Northwestern fans when you are 7-2 ,playing a 7-2 team and have to sell that many tickets to visiting fans???
8) Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline dominated the Wildcat corners.
IF Jim Tressel really wanted to run it up,he could have-they were open all the time!!!
9) Ohio State travels to Illinois next week.
The Buckeyes have many things to play for-a share of the Big Ten title is now guaranteed with wins over Illinois and Michigan to close the season.
Illinois lost to Western Michigan yesterday,but trust me-the Buckeyes have not forgotten about the Illini's win last year and payback is coming to Champaign!
10) The Iowa upset of Penn State has good and bad things for the Buckeyes.
Good:Wins over Illinois and Michigan lock up a share of the Big Ten Title as the other two teams with one loss (Penn State and Michigan State) play each other in the last week of the season.
Bad: The Penn State loss likely means just one Big Ten team will get a BCS bid.....
Considering the head to head issues,a Penn State win in that game will likely send Ohio State to Orlando for the Capital One Bowl,but a Spartan victory would probably put the Buckeyes in the BCS.....
The overmatched New Jersey Devils played tough in Detroit against the defending champion Red Wings,but it was not enough in a 3-1 loss.....
Zach Parise scored the only Devil goal (10).
Both Brian Gionta and Bryce Salvador left the game with injuries,no word on them as of now.
Just what they need-more players out!!
The Devils return to the Rock for an evening game tonight against the Edmonton Oilers,so I will do one big Shawn's thoughts on a weekend of Devils hockey on Monday.........
Bullpen Notes
Had to like Texas Tech's crushing of number nine Oklahoma State last night.
6 TD's for Graham Harrell with three to Michael Crabtree.
Both are serious Heisman candidates,but I would bet against both.
Why?
Even thought they are deserving they will likely cannibalize each other votes......
Roy Jones dropped Joe Calzaghe in Round one and then lost the next 11 rounds on the AP scorecard as Calzaghe dominated in winning a unanimous decision....
The fight can be seen on HBO next Saturday night....
The Seattle Seahawks visit Miami and their Dolphins today.
Miami has been one of the seasons good surprises whil
e the Seahawks have been a negative one.Our Pick
Dolphins 27-14
Photo Credits
Nicol:Charles Arbogast-AP Photo
Parise:AP Photo
Boxing:Don Emmert-AFP/Getty Images
Helmets: Helmet Project
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