Football
By the Numbers
By Jeff Amey

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The Northwestern Wildcats came calling to Columbus this past Saturday for the last home game of the season for the Ohio State Buckeyes. This senior class leaves the Horseshoe on a high note, on the strength of a 48-7 thrashing that avenges the loss to the Wildcats last season. This game marked the fourth straight game the Buckeyes have reached the 40 point mark, the first time that's happened in the Jim Tressel era.

Let's take a look at the game stats. Thanks goes out to Doug for helping make this complete.

Run/Pass Breakdown

69 Total Plays--415 yards--6.0 ypp

15 pass (22%)--9/15 for 105 yards 1 INT

54 runs (78%) for 310 yards 5 TD--5.7 ypc

12 Total Drives

ave. of 5.8 plays--34.6 yards

ave. start--OSU 43

1st Down--34 plays (49%) for 202 yards

8 pass (24%)--5/8 for 62 yards 1 INT

26 runs (76%) for 140 yards 1 TD--5.4 ypc

ave. gain of 5.9 yards

2nd Down--24 plays (35%) for 167 yards

3 pass (13%)--1/3 for 22 yards

21 runs (87%) for 145 yards 3 TD--6.9 ypc

ave. of 7.0 yards to go

ave. gain of 7.0 yards

3rd Down--11 plays (16%) for 51 yards

4 pass (36%)--3/4 for 21 yards

7 runs (64%) for 30 yards 1 TD--4.3 ypc

ave. of 5.6 yards to go

ave. gain of 4.6 yards

conversions--7/11 (64%)

Playaction Passing

2/4 for 41 yards

First Downs--22

6 by pass

16 by run

FORMATION BREAKDOWN

Two back formations--4 plays (6%)

0 pass (0%)

4 runs (100%) for 25 yards--6.3 ypc

Shotgun formations--22 plays (32%)

8 pass (36%)--6/8 for 81 yards 1 INT

14 runs (64%) for 94 yards 1 TD--6.7 ypc

one back/empty formations--43 plays (62%)

7 pass (16%)--3/7 for 24 yards

36 runs (84% for 191 yards 4 TD--5.3 ypc

RUN TYPE BREAKDOWN--54 attempts

counter/trap--1 (2%) for 10 yards--10.0 ypc

draw--8 (15%) for 63 yards--7.9 ypc

sweep--5 (9%) for 22 yards 2 TD--4.4 ypc

base/iso--5 (9%) for 11 yards--2.2 ypc

end around--1 (2%) for 1 yard--1.0 ypc

power--11 (20%) for 75 yards 1 TD--6.8 ypc

QB run/scramble--10 (19%) for 53 yards 2 TD--5.3 ypc

option--7 (13%) for 34 yards--4.9 ypc

stretch--6 (11%) for 46 yards--7.7 ypc

Other Stats of Note

* 4 offensive penalties for the game

* OSU started on Northwestern side of 50 four times--20 points

* 7 for 7 in red zone scoring (5 TD, 2 FG)

* 1 sack and 1 turnover (INT)

* 49 of 69 plays took place on Northwestern side of 50--(71%)

* 11 of 69 plays went for no gain or loss--(16%)

* 36 of 69 plays had 3 or more WR's lined up--(52%)

* 6 of those 36 plays ended with the ball in a WR's hands--(16%)

The game with the Wildcats this week reminded me a little bit of the game against San Diego State earlier this season. Northwestern got the ball first and went right down the field for a touchdown to give themselves a quick touchdown lead (the Aztecs took a little shorter route to do it), and never really came close to the end zone the rest of the game. For the rest of the day, the Wildcat offense was barely able to outgain that opening 80 yard touchdown drive. The Buckeyes physically dominated the Northwestern offense and virtually shut down an offense that has had a lot of success over the course of the season.

What was a little surprising was that the offense also physically dominated the Northwestern defense for most of the game. Ohio State ran the ball 54 times for the game, and averaged nearly six yards per carry doing it. It was a game that would have made Woody proud.

The tempo of the game was evident right away, with the Buckeyes moving the ball 45 yards in 11 plays, all runs, for their first touchdown of the game. Despite three of those plays actually being called passes that turned into Troy Smith scrambles, it was a very physical drive, and set the tone for the rest of the day. From that point on, the Buckeyes ran over, around, and through the Wildcats on their way to putting up over 300 yards rushing and scoring five touchdowns on the ground.

Antonio Pittman, despite going to the lockerroom for back spasms in the first quarter, managed another game of over 100 yards rushing and scored his fifth touchdown of the year. He has now put up over 1100 yards for the season, and continues to look better and better each game. His backup, Maurice Wells, looked better this week than at any other point this season, showing good vision in finding the holes in the defense to run through. Some people have questioned the wisdom of recruiting him, but he might have answered a few of those questions with his play this week. Erick Haw also got some carries in mop up duty and looked good in his limited action as well.

The passing game looked a bit lackluster this week, but was never really needed to move the ball against the Wildcats. Troy Smith ended up scrambling instead of throwing the ball several times, and only ended the day with 7 completions on 12 attempts, one of those intercepted. Overall, Troy made decent decisions with the ball, despite the interception, but was a little inaccurate when he did throw it. None of this should affect him heading into the Michigan game, however. It looks as if his confidence is through the roof right now.

No game with 300 yards of rushing happens without a good game from the offensive line, and this one was very good as far as run blocking goes. There were holes big enough to drive cars through on some plays. There's no doubt that the Northwestern defense didn't match up with the Buckeye offensive line very well, but that hasn't stopped the line from struggling in the past, especially with this Northwestern team. This game is yet another notch in the belt for a line that has put together a very good season.

How fitting was it that A.J. Hawk finished his Ohio State career at the Horseshoe the same way that he began it, with a touchdown. Hawk returned an interception for a touchdown in his first action as a Buckeye in the Horseshoe, and leaves with a touchdown on a blocked punt. Hawk was named a finalist for several awards this week, and any he wins at the end of the season will be deserved. No matter what has happened to the defense for the better part of the past four seasons, A. J. has been as solid as a rock at his linebacker spot. He will be missed next season.

Now all the Buckeyes have left on the regular season slate is the Michigan Wolverines. The way the Ohio State offense has been playing the past five games, the Wolverine coaching staff has a lot to think about. The Buckeyes have been effective from the shotgun as well as conventional formations, with and without Ted Ginn lined up in the "Shot-Ginn" spot, and with 2, 3, and 4 wide receiver sets. The Buckeye coaches have gameplanned the past few games very well, and have been more aggressive overall with the playcalling as well as keeping their foot on the gas until games have been put well out of reach.

If the Buckeyes can control the line of scrimmage and run the ball as well as they have over the past five weeks, they should be able to win this game. Michigan's best chance of winning will be to try to take away the run and force Troy Smith to throw the ball to win, but that might be a mixed bag considering how well Troy has been throwing the ball since the Penn State game, and how much trouble Michigan defenses have had stopping mobile quarterbacks over the past several seasons.

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