I know the Mark May's of the world are taking their shots and I certainly am not very comfortable with USC coming to town next week,but the news was not all bad and I am not nearly as upset as most OSU fans.
Buckeye Branches
1) A win is a win and there are concerns to be sure,but the game was not as close as the score indicates,Ohio State dominated most of the contest,but simply became complacent in the fourth quarter.
2) Many are harping on Jim Tressel making the decision to go for it on 4th down with a 15 point lead instead of kicking a field goal to make the lead a three possession one.
Those are the same people that would have likely stuck to Tressel for kicking a field goal to run it up on poor Navy.
3) I liked the decision to go for it,but I hated the play call.
Navy had stuffed the last two running plays and you call a similar play for the 3rd time?
You have the best quarterback athlete in college football taking the snap,get him out in space!
Space with Terrelle Pryor gives you three options and all of them fit well in that situation.
Pryor around end or a option pitch would be good calls or a play action that leaves the tight end open all made more sense than the play that was called.
4) Brian Rolle's interception and return for two points put the game away,but Rolle was having a solid game before that as he was in on nine tackles with one for a loss.
Between Rolle and Ross Homan,the Bucks are better at linebacker than one thinks...
5) Wish I could say the same for the Buckeye secondary(Kurt Coleman being an exception) which shockingly struggled against Navy.
Anderson Russell was cleanly beat by Marcus Curry for a long TD pass and the corners were nothing to be excited about either.
If one worry came out of this game-it is the Buckeye secondary...
6) Kurt Coleman had a huge day at safety though as he forced a fumble and intercepted a pass along with nine tackles.
The senior played like one and he may need to continue to play at that level with the secondary issues....
7) One overlooked fact on Navy is their six bowl appearances in a row.
Granted they were all smaller bowls in the age where any 6 win team seems to get into one,but still.
Their offense is fun to watch and they battle you for 60 minutes,this game made me want to see more of the Midshipmen!
8) Upset special-two Saturdays from now-Navy over Pittsburgh and if the kickoff was a normal noon kickoff-I would think about attending....
9) I thought Terrelle Pryor played well (1 TD each rushing and passing),although his one interception was simply a poor pass.
The Buckeyes need to let Pryor do what he does best,move and improvise and not try to make him something that he is not....
10) Want another concern?
Boom Herron is the biggest Buckeye back and he didn't get the job done on short yardage.
That has to change and soon.
Look for the Buckeye to recruit a bigger back for next season's freshmen class....
11) If you don't like Chris Spielman in the booth-you don't like football.
I know he is an OSU guy,but his passion for the game (putting Ohio State aside) is so evident and his preparation for the game gives the viewer everything they could want from an announcer...
12) Wish I could say the same for Bob Griese,who was lost yesterday.
Between calling Daniel Herron "Tim" with his name on the screen and calling Ohio State the Buccaneers,Griese seemed more likely to be in a rest home than the press box.
13) Liked Brandon Saine's game a lot and the Buckeyes need to find a way to get Saine 15 touches a game.
14) Can you find anything better sportmanshipwise than the two teams running on the field together?
A great sight and credit to both teams for such a clean game and great day in Columbus...
Photo Credits
Rolle,Pryor:Terry Gilliam-AP Photo
Saine:Tracy Boulian-Cleveland Plain Dealer
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