Give the Buckeyes points for consistency. Whether it's in the 'Shoe or in that drafty old barn in Champaign, the scarlet and gray always struggles more with the Illini than it should.
The Good
Offense
As always, Terrelle Pryor was money in the run game. That 66-yard run in the first quarter was amazing. What is most amazing about seeing him run is that he looks like's not even exerting himself. It was nice to see one of the running backs finally show up. Boom Herron ended up with some good numbers. I'll just say it, by the second half, it was good to see any running back get more than one yard on a carry. Oh, and it was nice to see a drive of almost 8 minutes, even if it did result in only a field goal.
Defense
The defense did what we've come to expect. It gave up only 11 first downs and 251 total yards. Ross Homan is always around the ball. You could say the same for Brian Rolle and Nathan Williams in this game. Cameron Heyward is just a lot for any offensive lineman to handle.
The Bad
Offense
Even before TP went down, that was as big a dose of Tresselball as we have seen in a while. At one point, the Buckeyes had a 1st and 22. And ran three consecutive running plays. The play calling led me to believe that the Buckeyes might as well have punted on first down. After that series, we wondered if any other FBS team (aside from the service academies and maybe Georgia Tech) would have had the same philosophy in that situation. I understand wanting to remain conservative in a place as windy as Memorial Stadium, but isn't there more than one run play in the road playbook?
Defense
Overall, the defense had a pretty good game, but the Illini seemed to have a pretty easy time of things on its TD drive. There was some poor tackling and no pass rush.
The Ugly
Offense
Aside from an abundance of 1- and 2-yard runs in the first half, there is only one thing to put here. I don't know about where you were watching the game, but at Dave and Busters in Irvine, the place went silent after TP went down in the third quarter.
Special Teams
Isn't there anyone on the OSU campus that can punt the ball more than 30 yards? Maybe teach this kid how to kick rugby style, where he gets the ball and runs to one side before kicking it.
Officials
I realize that holding can probably be called on every play. I also realize that part of being an offensive lineman is knowing how to get away with holding. It's understandable that a ref might miss an offensive lineman grabbing the front of a defender's jersey. However, I don't think I have ever seen so much holding of the back of a defender's jersey. That seemed to be the entire strategy for the Illinois offensive line. I guess if you can get away with it, why not?
Schwinderjection
You know that scene in A Christmas Story where Ralphie is holding the lugnuts in the hubcap and then the lugnuts go flying, and he says "Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuudge!" Only he doesn't really say fudge. I think that was probably the response across Buckeye Nation when Pryor went down and didn't get up immediately. Granted, he's not the best passer I've ever seen (although his completion percentage is pretty good this year), but the idea of losing him is a little horrifying simply because he has more rush yards than any running back so far.
Under the Radar player of the game
There are definitely some good candidates on defense, but this week the award goes to Nathan Williams. He had 2 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks as part of his 9 total tackles.
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Good write up. My write up on web site follows:
OHIO STATE #2 7 7 0 10 24
ILLINOIS 7 3 0 3 13
A better than advertised Illini defense and some wind were enough to slow down Ohio State, but not enough to prevent a victory. The Buckeyes used Herron to run Illinois into submission in the last 20 minutes of the game and a 24-13 victory. Pryor suffered a thigh injury in the 3rd quarter after he had already gained 108 yards running in the first half. After he came back he threw 2-3 passes and ran once (QB sneak) as Pryor said after the game: 'There was no way I could do anything but hand the ball off and maybe get a couple passes. I was in full stride and all of a sudden I felt and heard something pop and I was like ‘What’s going on?”’ Pryor said. “It was probably the worst pain I had in a while'. With windy conditions Pryor seldom passed and never threw long. For the game Pryor was 9 of 16 for 76 yards, two TD's and one interception and ran for 104 yards on 11 carries including 3 sacks for 17 yards in losses. Pryor had runs of 66 and 35 yards setting up his two touchdowns passes. Pryor accounted for 150 yards before he was injured and 30 yards after he returned.
Big question, how healthy will Pryor be next week and following week vs Wisconsin? Also lost Tyler Moller, probably for several weeks with what is a probable torn chest muscle.
The Bucks lost the turnover battle 2-1. It was the 4th time in the last 2 1/2 seasons that OSU has lost the turnover battle and they lost the other 3 games.
Herron gained 95 yards on 24 carries including 51 yards in the key 4th quarter and 35 yards in the 3rd quarter.
Ohio State has rushed for 555 yards in the last two games, the 2nd most in back to back games in the last 2 1/2 seasons. Last year against Minnesota and New Mexico the Bucks ran for 580 yards.
Ohio States total yards of 290 was the fewest in 11 games dating back to the Purdue loss last year.
Pryor is now 6th rated QB in Big Ten in passing efficiency but 14th in nation. Big Ten QB' rankings are 2-Persa 184 NW, 3- Robinson 180, Mich; 5-Stanzi 177, Iowa; 11- Chappell 167, Ind; 12- Cousins 166, Mich St, 14- Pryor 162 and 17- Tolzien 158, Wisc. As a bench mark, Troy Smith was 162 in his Heisman year in 2006.
Robinson of Michign may be having the best year in college football history. He is 3rd in nation in passing efficiency and he leads nation with 905 yards rushing. 2nd in rushing has 712 yards!!!! However, his first decent opponent is this week vs Michigan State.
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