Football
The Buckeye Watch
By Tony Gerdeman
What a fun game. It was exactly what I was looking and hoping for this week. Michigan State allowed the Buckeyes to go downfield, and the Buckeyes obliged.
Antonio Pittman got another 100 yards rushing and showed great vision and awareness. On the other side, Javon Ringer is going to be a star next year, if he isn't already.
Yes, the Buckeyes gave up 460 odd yards of offense to Michigan State, but they kept Drew Stanton under constant surveillance and were fortunate enough to rough him up some.
It was a game that was terribly frustrating to behold at times. Michigan State really had it moving for a while, but there is something to be said for holding them to seven points in the second half.
And then there were the special teams. At times they were "special", and at other times they were special.
It all made for a terrific day and a terrific game--especially from the 48 yard line courtesy of The Friends Of The O-Zone Ticket Program.
On to The Watch.
9:16 Pull into my parking garage.
9:17 Some dude pulls in in his truck. He's alone and I laugh to myself and say, "Who comes to the game alone?" I then remind myself that I am alone.
9:23 After getting all the way across Lane Avenue, I remember that I left my ticket in the car. I'm brilliant.
9:28 Got back to the car and grabbed my ticket. Idiot.
9:45 I swing by the hotdog vendor over at Independence Hall. I stopped by there before the San Diego State game and I was terribly disappointed in the hotdogs. This time I got a bratwurst and a hotdog, both with a "little bit" of ketchup. The hotdogs were still terrible. The brat tasted like it was deep-fried with an order of french fries. I'm not saying it was bad, but it wasn't what I expected. I'll not be buying foods with casings there again.
10:20 After walking around the new aquatic pavilion, I head for the stadium and get to my seat two hours before kickoff. I can't help it, I love to sit.
10:24 Since wins and losses no longer matter, it's almost nice to be able to just sit back and know you're going to witness a great game from the 48 yard line.
10:25 I'm kind of chilly. Lousy sun-hiding overhang here in the first row of B deck.
10:29 Anthony Gonzalez is running a lap around the field. He's always the easiest guy to recognize when he's warming up in "street clothes" because he looks like an equipment manager. Maybe Troy Smith told him to "get some work in" if he wanted the ball thrown his way this week.
11:16 You know your DVR/TiVo has taken over your life when you're watching something in real life and you immediately think to yourself, "rewind that." Some dude just took a wayward field goal attempt to the noggin. It's not quite "football to the groin", but it's still funny.
11:45 Remind me to bug The Friends Of The O-Zone for a seat cushion. This bench is unforgiving, even if the seatback is a nice respite.
12:12 Much like I expected, the Buckeyes open in the I formation. Hopefully they play with the same attitude that they had against Iowa. Just line it up and whip 'em.
12:13 Three and out. At least they got nine yards on that drive.
12:14 Terrible punt by A.J. Trapasso. I've seen better starts than this at a Mel Tillis acceptance speech.
12:17 If there is nobody open for Stanton to throw to, he's tucking it and heading upfield. He's just trying to get what he can and not put the next play in a bad position.
12:19 John L. Smith just played Tresselball and punted on fourth and short, pinning the Bucks. That was a big hold by this defense. If Michigan State goes down and scores on the first possession, the Buckeyes could have lost much of this crowd.
12:22 Troy Smith just hit Santonio Holmes for about 39 yards. Both Ginn and Holmes looked to be in one on one coverage. Why would you go one on one if you're the Spartans?
12:23 Fumble! Antonio Pittman just had a really nice 15 yard run but he didn't finish the play by handing the ball to the ref. The refs are calling him down and right now I wish Troy would get the guys to the line and spike the ball.
12:24 Here comes the replay. I'm craning my neck to see the TV replay, but I can't make it out. The crowd watching the TV voices their opinion that he was down. I guess that means we're going to see a fumble called.
12:25 Yep. Fumble. At least it wasn't in the red zone.
12:32 Michigan State's quick passes are going to force Ohio State to blitz, which will open the middle of the field even more. Which could be bad news if the defense doesn't get to Stanton, because the middle of the field is where third downs become first downs.
12:34 Spartan place kicker John Goss was missing kicks to the left when he was warming up this morning, hopefully he'll do the same thing on this field goal attempt.
12:35 Nope. The 32 yarder is good. 3-0 Michigan State. That's twice there has been a collective sigh of relief from the Buckeye fans regarding this Spartan offense. Ohio State can move the ball on these guys, they just have to maintain possession.
12:37 I said maintain possession! That short kickoff by the Spartans looked bad from the get go. Holmes had to run for days to get to the kick, then let it go right through his arms. That's a tough spot to put the defense in.
12:40 The Buckeyes held on third down, but Mike Kudla took too many steps before hitting the empty-handed Drew Stanton. Not a smart play, but a play that happens quite frequently to quarterbacks that can move. The defense gets so close to getting him so often, only to see him get away. So when you finally have him flat-footed, you hit him even though you know you shouldn't.
12:42 Now it looks like the Spartans will get a touchdown here. That was a terrible penalty. If the Bucks would've held there, a field goal doesn't do much damage, but spotting the Spartans ten points isn't the best way to go about this. Especially when you consider that it's this offense against that offense.
12:43 Jehuu Caulcrick gets a three yard touchdown. 10-0 Michigan State.
12:48 Two straight first downs for the Buckeyes to get it out to their own 43 yard line. If nothing else, you're giving the defense a break right now.
12:51 Touchdown! Santonio! There was the play action option pass that we saw last week, and it worked to perfection this time. Holmes and Ginn were lined up next to each other. Holmes ran for the end zone and Ginn ran a post. The safety went over to help out on Ginn and left Holmes one on one. For what it's worth, Troy could've thrown to either guy and gotten six on that because Ginn had broken open as well. I bet we see that play called again. 10-7 Michigan State.
12:54 The Buckeye cornerbacks have been playing so far off of the Spartan receivers today you'd think the Spartans had the bird flu.
12:55 It bothers me that the Spartans don't seem to have realized that the Buckeyes actually have the momentum. They aren't supposed to be traversing down the field like this.
12:56 That's the end of the first quarter and Michigan State has the ball on Ohio State's 32 yard line. The Buckeye defense is capable of settling down, but is Michigan State's? Interesting stat: Michigan State has 132 yards of total offense. The Buckeyes have 144. I think that was probably the total after three quarters last week.
1:00 Another great punt by the Spartans as they pin the Buckeyes at the 4 yard line.
1:06 Three and out for the Buckeyes.
1:07 Wow! A.J. Trapasso just nailed a 76 yard punt. Jim Tressel may give him two buckeye leaves for that one. That was Andy Groomian.
1:10 Tyler Everett is down. This doesn't look good. You know the prognosis is never positive when you have players from the other team huddled around the circle of concerned teammates. Brandon Mitchell has already been sent out onto the field to step in for Everett. Thankfully Tyler is able to walk off. He looks a bit wobbly, though.
1:18 On 4th and 1, John L. has Stanton roll out and gives him the option to pass or throw and he completes a six yard pass. What a tremendous weapon Stanton is, and John L. Smith has so much confidence in him that he'll call anything at anytime.
1:20 Jerks. Drew Stanton just hit Jerramy Scott on a post for a 36 yard touchdown. Nate Salley didn't get over there in time. I'm not even sure he saw the ball, he just saw Scott getting ready to catch the ball. There's that ten point deficit again. 17-7 Michigan State.
1:22 Mike D'Andrea is on the field with the kickoff return team.
1:26 Well, this has been about a worthless possession. Troy Smith has skipped two passes--bringing boos--and now they call a timeout to avoid a delay of game. The Buckeyes broke the huddle with about six seconds on the play clock. If that wasn't enough, some players weren't even sure of the play that was called. This is unacceptable. How can it take so long to get the play in? Are the plays written in jumble form?
1:28 Buckeyes go three and out and people are getting restless. Me too.
1:33 Drew Stanton has to be getting bored just dropping these passes over the linebackers and in front of the defensive backs every time. I know I'm getting tired of seeing it.
1:38 Bobby Carpenter brings Stanton down for about an 18 yard loss. Those were the types of sacks that Stanton was taking against Michigan.
1:40 I can't even believe what I'm seeing with these special teams "returns". Ginn just muffed the punt return and Michigan State now has the ball. Holmes has fumbled one kick, bobbled another, and now Ginn shows up at FumbleFest '05. If Michigan State scores and here and scores again to open the second half, this game is over.
1:41 Bobby Carpenter just got another sack. This one forced the Spartans to take their last timeout with 24 seconds to go. Carpenter is unblockable right now. He's relentless. I bet Stanton can't stand him.
1:42 Just keep the Spartans in the middle of the field. Bobby Carpenter is emphatically telling the fans to get off their butts and get into the game. He actually looks like he's threatening an entire section of the stadium. They get up and start yelling, but I'm not sure if it's out of excitement or fear.
1:43 After another sack, the clock is ticking on 3rd down. They send in the field goal team. Half the team is aware of it, the other half is now running off the field. Blocked!! Pick it up, pick it up, pick it up!!! Go go go go!!! Touchdown Buckeyes. Touchdown Ashton Youboty.
1:44 - 1:46 Incoherent yelling and screaming.
1:47 Unbelievable. Of all of the amazing things I've seen in this stadium, I don't recall ever seeing anything quite like that. That was a ten point play for the Buckeyes. That was the craziest end of a half that I have ever seen. You gotta admit, though, the special teams owed us one.
1:50 Three minutes into halftime and the crowd is still buzzing. If the last couple of minutes of this half doesn't validate Jim Tressel's beliefs in the special teams, nothing will.
1:51 The halftime show is a tribute to Disney. I wonder if ABC will show some of this fifteen minute commercial.
1:53 I would like to see a second half without turnovers, just to see what our offense can do against these guys. Yes, the defense has given up 249 yards to the Spartans, but they never stopped getting after Stanton. It was their tenacity that forced that train wreck of a field goal attempt and got OSU back in this game. The score could've been 31-7 the next time the Buckeyes touched the ball. Now, not only does Michigan State only have a three point lead, but they don't have the momentum anymore, either. Although they don't really seem to care about things like that.
2:00 Both teams are very fortunate right now. It's a testament to the Buckeyes to only be down by three points despite the amount of unforgivable mistakes that they've made. The Spartans are fortunate that they're getting turnovers, but they should definitely be up by more than three. If the Buckeyes eliminate the mistakes in the second half, the Spartans will give the Buckeyes plays to work with. Be they turnovers, penalties, missed assignments, or missed tackles.
2:10 The Buckeye defense forces Michigan State to punt. I don't even want anybody back there to receive. Just get away from it.
2:12 Well that was the best punt catch I've seen in a while. I especially liked the part where Santonio let the ball hit his hands, and then he wrapped his hands around the ball in a grasping manner so as to catch the punt.
2:13 Okay, I don't understand that. They send Pittman in motion out wide, forcing the corner to take Pittman and the safety then comes up to take Holmes. So I'm thinking that this is where Holmes gets by the safety and Troy hits him for six points. Instead they run a Holmes hook and get six yards. That epitomizes the offensive mentality. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, but if you have Holmes one on one with a safety and you've only designed that play to get you six yards, you're selling your players short.
2:14 Did you just see that!? Teddy Ginn is back in the building. He took the slant, took a hit, and took it to the house for a 57 yard touchdown. As soon as he bounced off of that "tackler", you knew he was gone. Man, it's good to seem him running around again. Do those of you calling for him to be benched still want him benched? 21-17 Buckeyes.
2:19 Drew Stanton hit another receiver over the middle. I should just start copying and pasting this stuff.
2:24 On 3rd and 11, the Spartans rolled the pocket to give Stanton time and he found the open man fifteen yards downfield. I don't think they've had anything bad happen yet when they've gotten Stanton outside of the pocket.
2:27 Touchdown Jason Teague from seven yards out. See, I told you Michigan State doesn't understand the concept of "momentum". Idiots. 24-21 Idiots.
2:33 Antonio Pittman just missed a 70 yard touchdown run by about a yard. Instead he got about eleven yards on the toss sweep. He just couldn't get through the secondary hole in time to bust it all the way.
2:35 Troy Smith just rambled for thirty odd yards, but there are three flags in the backfield for holding. You know your holding was bad when three different refs threw a flag.
2:37 It's 3rd and 13 and Troy throws it over the middle to Anthony Gonzalez about six yards downfield. It's incomplete, but even if it would've been completed, the Buckeyes would still be punting. I think that's got to be the most frustrating play in all of football for me to watch. I just don't understand when quarterbacks do that. It's almost enough to make you stop watching football.
2:38 Michigan State gets the ball again. First and ten from their own 15 yard line and the only thought in my mind is, "We have to hold them to a field goal here."
2:43 A.J. Hawk just gave a little nudge to Jehuu Caulcrick and as soon as he got by Hawk, Stanton hit him for about 14 yards. It looked like Hawk was spying on that play. That's about the third or fourth time that Stanton has waited for the outlet guy over the middle to clear Hawk.
2:45 That's the end of the third quarter. Michigan State leads 24-21.
2:47 Holy Cow! Stanton threw an incompletion. I didn't know he could do that.
2:50 Hey, what do you know. The Buckeyes finally got a break on one of those lousy directional punts that Michigan State's been using. Brandon Fields put it into the end zone. I think that was his first "bad" kick.
2:54 You probably won't believe me, but I called the Ginn reverse. Teddy kept looking at the quarterback and shuffling his feet before everybody got set. It just looked like he knew he was getting it and he was trying to get his steps right. Of course, the Spartan defense called it too, so it couldn't have been terribly well-disguised.
3:01 Drew Stanton just threw his second bad pass. I wonder if the pounding has gotten to him finally. Time of possession update: Michigan State 35 minutes and Ohio State 15 minutes.
3:03 There it was again! Pittman went in motion and Holmes had a safety on him and it was another comeback for Santonio. Unfortunately, Troy Smith threw the ball so hard it bounced off of Santonio's facemask. It's a wasted play to not attack the safety. Unless maybe they're setting an out and up type of play.
3:04 Troy, no. No. You cannot fumble the ball, especially in the fourth quarter when you are losing. He wasn't even hit hard. We're doing everything we can to make sure Michigan State goes home happy. The dude behind me is yelling for Justin Zwick
3:07 The Buckeye special teams comes through again with another field goal block! I think they only got a finger tip on it, but it was enough.
3:08 C'mon Buckeyes. You know there is such a thing as momentum. Now go use it. A small chant for Zwick rises up behind me. That gives way to a "Let's Go Bucks" cheer that engulfs the entire stadium. I'm trying to remind those around me that the offense would prefer us to be quiet right now
3:10 Another screen to Antonio Pittman! This is awesome. We're like freaking Screen Pass U lately. It's amazing the things we find to be excited about, y'know?
3:11 Santonio!! Touchdown Buckeyes! That was the play action option pass again. Same play as Holmes' first touchdown. Teddy Ginn took the safety with him and Holmes cut the route and broke an ankle hold and scooted on in for the touchdown. That play is so easy on the eyes when it works.
3:12 Where's your Zwick chant now?
3:16 Fumble!! Nope. The refs are calling it fourth down. The Buckeyes are treating Drew Stanton like a pharmaceutical company treats bunnies.
3:18 The Spartans are punting from the back of their own end zone. This has six written all over it.
3:19 Santonio's gone!!! Almost. I thought he was gone on that punt return, but they had the angle. Dang, that was close. As an aside, the crowd has been great all day. I don't know if The Friends Of The O-Zone are going to be so eager to donate tickets next time, because I was kind of yelly and screamy this week.
3:20 This ball will never see the air. Antonio Pittman just ripped off an 18 yard run to get the ball to the one yard line. That poor dude. He just can't score.
3:22 Troy Smith finishes the drive as all drives should be finished, making the score 35-24 after Josh Huston's extra point.
3:25 A Spartan just tried to cheap shot Bobby Carpenter. Bobby turned back around and asked him what he was doing and then told him to get off his field. (At least that's what it looked like from up here.)
3:28 Oh that A.J. Hawk. Drew Stanton went downfield to Jerramy Scott and Hawk was covering him. A.J. could've knocked the ball down, but he let Scott catch the ball so that he could get one last lick in on a Spartan. Classic stuff from A.J.
3:29 And that's the ball game. 35-24 win for the Buckeyes. What a great way to spend a Saturday. This was one of those games that make you smile for the rest of the day. Unless you're bitter.
3:30 You're probably one of those bitter types, aren't you?
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