Varejao Not Gone Just Yet
October 7, 2008The 5-Hole, CBJ News and Notes – 10/07/08
October 7, 2008Hey… Nobody said it was going to be pretty. Perhaps the team didn’t do much of anything between the first drive and the very last drive, but that is all it takes sometimes. Going to Madison, Wisconsin at night and leaving with a win? It could have been by one point and I would be alright with it.
This week, we get to gear up for Purdue while Wisconsin plays night host to Penn State. But before we dig into what’s coming up, let’s talk a bit about what we saw and how it impacts the near future…
- Say what you want about Terrell Pryor’s rawness. His tendencies to think too much instead of reacting. Even the occasional bad decision. However, this kid is a true freshman that was just in one of the most aggressive opposing stadiums that he has ever seen. He went in there and left with the win, mostly due to what he did on that final drive. Athleticism has the tendency to overcome many of weaknesses, and it’s safe to say that this kid is athletic.
- Speaking of that last drive, what was Wisconsin doing on those plays to Brian Hartline? It was like he was fielding punts. We were very fortunate that the second catch was recovered by Brian Robiske – who until that point I didn’t even know was in the game. Two much-needed, well-timed huge plays.
- And the third receiver, Dane Sanzenbacher. Dude, when you catch the ball, get the first down and then hit the deck. This is twice in a young season that you’ve been nearly decapitated and had to leave the game. I appreciate your willingness to take one for the team, but sooner or later you just have to make sure that you get the yardage you need and ensure possession of the ball. Plus, we need you for the foreseeable future – strap that chin in and let’s go.
- Wisconsin’s tight end (Beckum) is pretty freaking good. He’s going to cause some problems in the NFL, and was rightfully compared to Kellen Winslow. Get him a quarterback that throws him the ball more than a handful of times per game and you have a very dominant player.
- Another game, another 100 yards and a touchdown for Beanie Wells. His 54-yard scamper in the first quarter that was topped off by a mean stiff arm was great to see given the whole, you know, foot issue. Maurice Wells had one carry, no other running back recorded another.
- And while we’re on running backs, Dan Herron got absolutely lit up on the play that inevitably knocked him out of the game. It did look a bit dirty – he didn’t see it coming – but I think it was a lot worse when it was slowed down during the twelve replays that we saw. It appears that he’ll be alright, but man…
- Thankfully the EliteXC fight was sham and I was able to see Malcom Jenkins’ game-sealing interception. A very fitting way to and a game that went the way it did. Sure, I would have rather seen a more aggressive, higher-scoring team. But with six minutes left, driving the length of the field and scoring touchdown with 50 ticks left… Great stuff. And finally…
- A.J. Trapasso. Sixty-seven yards? Are you serious?
7 Comments
Just a small correction. It was 33-yard TD scamper in the first quarter. The 54 yard rip came in the third quarter.
Beanie @ 80% = Anyone else @ 100%.
Most importantly, halftime coincided with the Gina Carano fight against the girl who most likely had a bad incident with a potato sack full of doorknobs. That was fun to watch.
If only Teddy Ginn was covering punts that 67 yarder would have been 65 yards, downed at the 2 where it landed.
Word is Sanzenbacker and Herron are most likely out this week, Tressell said they’re “extremely conservative” in the case of head injuries in college. With Tress calling his PT judgement conservative on the two, we might see them on the field sometime after the 2012 election.
Beanie had two of the sickest stiffarms I’ve seen in this game. The one on the TD was good. The one on the swing play later in the game was downright filthy.
Negating the sacks, Pryor probably ran for 75 yard in the game. He just had a few too many scampering sacks that looked like quarterbacking in Tecmo Bowl – run backwards until you get a throw. If you don’t get rid of the ball, you’re back at least 15 years.
Scott – I too was impressed by Pryor and Beanie, but how can you write a whole post about this game and not say a word about how awful the Bucks defensive line is. Wisconsin’s second half TD drive was a joke – six straight runs up the middle. The D-Line also failed to generate any pressure at all on Wisconsin’s QB… I felt like I was watching the Browns. If this D-Line doesn’t show some dramatic improvement soon, it would surprise me if Ohio State struggled with Illinois, Michigan State, Penn State, or… (gasp!) M*chigan.
AMC, valid point. If anything, I’d have to resort to the fact that we have consistently said that the D-Line is our worst ‘portion’ of the game. As bad as the O-line has been at times, our defensive line is a huge disappointment. Just shows how much the days of Will Smith or even Vernon Gholston were taken for granted at times…
What about the 2 blatant pass interference no calls in the first half?
http://www.cfbstats.com/2007/leader/national/team/defense/split01/category14/sort01.html
Dead last 3 years in a row.
A.J. absolutely boomed that punt!!!
@Swig, that’s a great stat. People outside of Ohio always assume we’re bitching about penalties cuz they think we’re dicks. But you can’t argue with the fact that we’re last 3 years in a row. Unbelievable.