GAME TWO

 

            Now that the Huskies have been house broken, preparations are underway  for the Bucks next test against the North Carolina State Wolfpack.  Towards that end OSU has scheduled a noon scrimmage at the Shoe this Saturday.  It will be open to season ticket holders and any one else willing to fork over $47. I have learned that the OSU band and cheerleaders will be present to give the scrimmage a game-like atmosphere.   It should be completed in plenty of time to allow fans to return to their living rooms to watch some pretty interesting games on TV this Saturday evening.   OU and Alabama; Florida and Miami; and Maryland and Florida State all hook up in prime time.  Check the batteries in your remote prior to kick off.

 

            As far as the scrimmage goes, we are fortunate in that San Diego State is willing to play the role of victim, er….I mean opponent. It seems that the Aztecs had a home game scheduled for this Saturday, but sold it.  Sold it to Ohio State.  So if you don’t think I’m giving the Aztecs any respect…. You got that right.  Programs that sell home games deserve no respect.  I wonder, since they gave up a home game for 3 million, if we threw in another 500,000 would they promise not to block below the waist.  Maybe for 80,000 they would agree not to hit our quarterbacks.  Maybe the Aztecs should change their names to the San Diego State Hookers, since they’ll do nearly anything for money.  Lets just hope the archeological geeks don’t want to conduct a dig at the newly-discovered  Aztec ruin along the shores of the Olentangy River Saturday night. One of the more ironic things about this whole situation is that AD who sold this game for SDSU has since resigned, due to what the NCAA considered, a lack of institutional control. The name of that AD should be a familiar one to Buckeyes….Rick Bay.  Yes, the same Rick Bay who lost  a good job by standing up for Earle Bruce back in 1987.  Seemed like Rick has learned his lesson about having principles.

 

            While the Washington game was a fairly impressive starting point, especially for the defense, there are ample opportunities for improvement.  Starting with the offense: Krenzel needs to connect more on the deep routes.  Don’t know if it was Craig or the wide-outs, but we need to get that part of the game in sync.  The fact that we are throwing the long ball is good and will impact defenses, but sooner or later we need to complete some.  In some games we won’t be able to just throw away a down  to get some vertical stretch. The pass protection looked tremendous against UW.  The QB looked terrific on the short to medium routes as well as the scrambles.  The receivers other thant the magnificent Mike Jenkins, looked nervous.  The running game looked mediocre, but I’m attributing that to the lack of practice time on the part of Modell Rosshall.    Saturday’s scrimmage should be a great opportunity to get the running game in gear before NC State comes to town.

 

            The defense tackled well, an important thing for a defense.  The secondary did not really get tested deep or even on much of   anything but the short routes.  If our pass rush continues to devastate, that might well continue. Phillip Rivers might want to come down with a migraine or something prior to kickoff next week. It would be a shame to see his Heisman campaign go the way of so many others recently.  In the last 12 months we have seen the Heisman hopes end in Ohio Stadium for Kliff Kingsbury, Jason Gesser, Cody Pickett, and of course our own beloved Maurice Clarrett(well his actually ended in a parking lot near the stadium). Get in line Phil, your turn is almost here.  The kicking game was fine except for the one KO out of bounds.  BJ made us breathe a little easier by showing that he has the punting job under control.  The KO coverage was a little disappointing and we had a dropped punt.

 

            Some things you will see in Saturday’s scrimmage, beyond improvement in the previously mentioned areas:  At least one OSU RB go over the 100 yard mark. Krenzel make his first TD pass(s) of the new season. Plenty of Scott McMullen.  Mike Nugent and Josh Huston both kick field goals.  The first innings of  what will be a season-long pitching duel between Justin Zwick and Troy Smith.  Depth on the O-Line as Doug Datish and friends earn their scholarships.  It might be interesting to count how many different people we get in at corner and the safety slots.  I’m betting we play more DB’s than SDSU scores points.  True freshman David Patterson will get a sack and not toss his cookies this time.  Ira Guilford. Have we ever had a player, let alone a running back named Ira?  We had an Elmer, but I cannot recall an Ira.  This kid is in desperate need of a nickname.   More arrests of middle-aged alums for open containers at the preliminary riots, formerly know as tailgate parties. 

 

            Some things you won’t see this Saturday: Krenzel in the second half.  #13.  Jim Brown in Andy Geiger’s suite.  Coach Tress sporting one of those way-cool hats favored by Mr. Brown.  SDSU in the end zone more than once.  A full  stadium by the middle of the third quarter.  Buckeye coaches savoring the victory, for more than 30 seconds.  Tim Spencer getting yelled at by a freshman RB after the RB fumbles.  Ticket scalpers  making any profits.  Karen Holbrook, topless, on the shoulders of Governor Taft  at Hineygate.  I know that is a disturbing thought, with which to leave you, but it would do so much for both of their images.    Bucks 48- SDSU 10.