Football
Buckeyes Hope Offensive Experience will Counter RedHawk Defense Challenge
By John Porentas
The Miami RedHawks may not be favored to beat the Buckeyes on Saturday, but when their defense takes the field, the RedHawks will be daring the Buckeyes to beat them.

Head Coach Jim Tressel
Photo by Jim Davidson

"Miami is going to make sure that you have to pass it," said OSU Head Coach Jim Tressel.
"They're going to put nine guys in the box if they can, eight guys for sure. They're going to lock up on your receivers and make you earn every yard that you get. They're not a high blitz team, but they blitz enough that you better be good at the stuff you do against the blitz," Tressel said.
"That's a pain," said OSU center Nick Mangold describing what it's like to block an eight-man or nine-man front.
Blocking against an eight-man or nine-man front might be a pain, but fellow offensive lineman Rob Sims is hoping the experience the Buckeyes have on the offensive side of the ball will allow them to move the ball against the RedHawks.
"If they want to stop our run, our pass has to be on point, so our protection has got to be good. One thing that helps you be good in protection is experience. I think that will help us a lot up there," said Sims.
Five offensive linemen, a tight end and fullback can block seven players, but with eight or nine in the box, the math favors the defense. According to Mangold, that's where experience in the backfield comes in.

Senior center Nick Mangold
Photo by Jim Davidson

"It helps, especially with Schnittker being back there at tailback, knowing that we can block everybody but there's still going to be an extra guy somewhere and you're going to have to break a tackle. I think that really helps with his maturity level," said Mangold.
Blocking the eight or nine man front is a challenge, but if an offense can get it done, it can earn big plays. If a ball carrier can clear the line of scrimmage, there is very little left in the way of defenders, and that can lead to big plays in the running game.
Running back Antonio Pittman recognizes the opportunities to make big plays against the eight or nine man front.
"With them loading the box, if you get past the linebackers, you're gone. It's one move to a touchdown," said Pittman.
"I understand that. They (the offensive line) free everything up and it's one man. It's up to me to make him miss. If I make him miss, there's no one back there," said Pittman.
The eight or nine man front also means that the cornerbacks must man-up on the wide receivers. Buckeye wide receiver Santonio Holmes sees that as a challenge to him and the rest of the OSU receiving corps.
"I know they like to have their corners on an island," said Holmes.
"They think their corners are great, which they are good. If they put us out there with those guys on an island, we're going to have to hurt them with our explosiveness.
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