ESPN ranks Cleveland Cavaliers as #4 in NBA
September 26, 2009While We’re Waiting – Browns talent, Shaq’s impact, and the Buckeyes’ D-line
September 27, 2009Your Buckeyes take on the Fighting Illini at the ol’ Stadium at 3:30 pm so leave your comments here while you enjoy watching on ABC. I was at the game against Illinois two years ago where Juice Williams initiated the major upset over OSU that we though killed our BCS dreams. Of course, we beat Michigan and then consequently lost in the National Championship yet again, but that is for another day.
Hopefully TP and company can use the momentum coming off their impressive offensive outburst against the Toledo Rockets in Cleveland against their first Big Ten opponent of the year. Leave your hopefully good thoughts about the contest in the comments and remember to respect the ‘family friendly’ comment policy.
Check out the WWW-style list of links after the jump for previews from across the web. For starters, take a look over at Rick’s write-up from yesterday previewing today’s game and the possible preseason drama between the QB’s Williams and Pryor.
“Coming off a shut out against one of the nation’s most explosive offenses through the first two games, the Buckeye defense looks to be for real. Cameron Heyward and the defensive line have stepped up big time, getting plenty of pressure on the quarterback, enabling Luke Fickell and Jim Heacock to not have to rush extra defenders on a consistent basis. Thaddeus Gibson and Nathan Williams have been playing with their hands off the ground more often then not, giving the defense kind of a 3-4 look that has been effective in disguising linebacker blitzes.” [Alex/Eleven Warriors]
“Limit making dumb decisions, Pryor – I mentioned that offensive line improvement is a major key to improvement for the rest of the year; this is the other one. With the way our defense has been performing, as long as Pryor can limit the dumb decisions and eliminate turnovers, our team will win every game on the schedule for the rest of the year. Last week I put some pretty unrealistic numbers up (75% completions) for what I wanted to see out of Pryor, this week I will make my test of improvement much easier to pass. I want to see Pryor make less than 3 stupid decisions and a maximum one turnover. If we continue to see some of the mistakes that Pryor made last week with the ball, we may be in trouble in Happy Valley.” [Jim/The Buckeye Battle Cry]
“Williams gets fourth down because fourth down secured the Illini’s win in Columbus two years ago. Williams helped persuade Ron Zook to go for it on fourth-and-1 from the Illinois 33-yard line, Williams gained 2 yards, and then converted three third-down runs to keep the drive alive and lock up a 28-21 win. The two biggest inside runs, both for 12 yards, remain fresh…The Buckeyes now know Williams can throw. In 2007, before hitting the Buckeyes with four touchdown passes, he hadn’t proven it, throwing 17 touchdowns and 18 interceptions in 22 career games. He peaked in that win against the Buckeyes. [Doug Lesmerises/Cleveland Plain Dealer]
“While the injuries to Williams and Benn got most of the national headlines, the biggest problem for Illinois was the loss of LB Martez Wilson, the star of the defensive front who hurt his neck against Missouri and is out for the year. His loss means it’s sophomore Ian Thomas’s time to shine in the middle of the Illini defense, a position that has put up huge numbers over the years for marginal talents like J Leman and Brit Miller. Thomas came up with 17 tackles against Illinois State, and now he’ll have to play a smart, disciplined game to spy on Pryor and keep him from tearing off huge runs.” [CollegeFootballNews.com]
7 Comments
UIUC is lucky so far that Benn is such a good receiver because Juice is a flat-out abysmal passer. The Bucks would do well to force him to throw as much as possible.
I was admittedly nervous about Rolle coming into this season after losing such a solid LB corps, but he’s done nothing to disappoint over the first month of football.
Saine is looking dynamite this drive. Too bad that means the offense will do nothing to help Pryor develop as long as Saine’s effective.
Would’ve loved at least one play-fake in there. Would’ve kept UIUC from keying in on Saine inside the 30.
No points given up in seven quarters and counting… How much more painful is that USC loss?
Good running attack this game, where are all those people who say OSU plays too conservatively?
Pryor isn’t a QB yet, he fumbles too much and doesn’t seem to know the right decisions to make.
As I make my first comment we throw for it on 4th and goal with 1:18 left in the 4th. TD Dane.
Coleman will be (should be) suspended for that late hit. He absolutely led with his helmet to a defenseless player’s head on the ground. Hope that won’t hurt us against Indiana next week.