No. 8 Ohio State vs. Indiana—5 Things To Watch For

By Luke Pashke—BlockONation.com Featured Contributor

After a slate of Top 25 matchups, the Buckeyes are in store for a change of pace this week against a 2-3 Indiana team.

That being said, the Hoosiers did play Michigan State tough this past week so they may not be quite the slouch we thought they were, though they certainly aren't Nebraska or Michigan, either.

I understand that it's difficult to get excited about a seemingly gimme, in-conference game, but there are a few things that you should keep your eye on, which may give you a reason to enthusiastically watch this game.

Progression of the Passing Game

Following the Nebraska game, it's clear that this team can run the ball effectively at anytime.

Braxton Miller and company erupted for 371 yards rushing at 7.7 yards per rush, while only managing to throw for a mere 127 yards and 7 completions.

Now, granted, there's no reason to throw the ball when you're consistently driving down the field on the ground, but sooner or later this team will have to prove they can move the ball through the air.

When watching the Indiana game, pay close attention to how Miller and his receivers fare in the passing game. Hopefully for OSU, playing against a weaker opponent can build confidence in their passing game, allowing the Buckeyes to develop a more two-dimensional offense.

Who's Playing Linebacker?

Seemingly, the Buckeyes' linebacker crew could have their own reserved section in a hospital wing.

Ryan Shazier has been struggling through a knee issue all season and now senior linebacker, Etienne Sabino, is out for the next month or so with a leg injury he received this past weekend.

With Sabino out, freshman LB Josh Perry filled in against Nebraska. Along with Perry, fellow freshman linebacker Camren Williams saw some playing time against the Cornhuskers, although it was fairly short lived.

It will be interesting to see which young LB this coaching staff trusts to fill in for Sabino. Whoever it is, they better take advantage, because this team is chock-full of hungry, talented, young linebackers.

Utilization of the Tight Ends

This past Saturday against Nebraska, the Buckeyes finally used their tight ends effectively in the passing game. To my surprise, Stoneburner was not one of these tight ends, but nonetheless it was great to see.

Heuerman hauled in a pair of big catches for 53 yards and a touchdown. Even Nick Vannett had a 32 yard reception.

A tight end can be a quarterback's best friend, and heading into the season I expected this offense to utilize the tight ends on the regular. Through five games this wasn't the case, but this past Saturday Miller seemed to be looking the TE's way much more often.

Pay close attention to see if this utilization of the tight ends was a blip or a trend. Hopefully it's a trend. This offense is much better when the tight ends get involved.

Tackling on Defense and Special Teams

The Silver Bullets have progressively improved their tackling throughout the season, but they still aren't quite there yet. This past weekend they missed about five tackles on a touchdown run by Taylor Martinez.

The poor tackling can't continue to be a trend.

Their problem has been not wrapping up the opponent. Anytime the Buckeyes have gone for highlight tackles or strips they've looked foolish and hurt the team.

Against the Hoosiers, look for the defense to tackle fundamentally and cut down on the number of broken tackles, because against better teams those type of mistakes just can't happen.

Braxton Miller's Heisman Hype and Health

There is no doubt that Braxton Miller is the main attraction of any Ohio State football game.

The sophomore QB accounts for more than 70 percent of the Buckeyes' offense and has emerged as a serious contender for the prized Heisman Trophy.

Against Indiana, Miller just needs to pad his stats as much as possible and remain healthy.

Am I the only one who constantly holds their breath on every single one of Miller's runs?

I doubt it, because without No. 5, who knows where the Buckeyes would be at this point.

While a "Geno Smith vs. Baylor" performance would be nice, as long as Miller stays out of harm's way while adding a few scores and highlight plays, his Heisman hype will only increase.

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Will Terrelle Pryor Follow in Troy Smith's Footsteps at Ohio State?

By Will Frasure—Featured Contributor

Terrelle Pryor’s Rose Bowl performance against the Oregon Ducks looked eerily similar to that of another former Buckeye QB in a BCS bowl game.

In 2006, Troy Smith led a bludgeoning over the Notre Dame defense, throwing for 342 yards en route to a 34-20 victory over the Irish.

Momentum from the game carried over into the next season—Smith led Ohio State to the national title game and took home the Heisman Trophy.

Will a great BCS performance lead to the same for Pryor?

Judging by what fans are saying after the Buckeyes’ spring practices, the answer would appear to be yes. After Pryor threw 37 times in his dominating performance against Oregon (nine more attempts than his previous season high), coach Jim Tressel has let him take the reins of the offense during spring ball

Pryor, although he has always had great confidence, has appeared more comfortable at the quarterback position this spring, which bodes well for the season. His success against Oregon proved what Pryor could do when he isn’t hesitant, a huge confidence-builder carrying over to this year.

The biggest problem with Pryor last season was his indecisiveness. Pryor may have great speed and scrambling ability, but he also has a rocket arm. If he can stay in the pocket and deliver the ball to his receivers, the quarterback can turn into the dangerous weapon Ohio State envisioned when he first touched down in Columbus.

Smith was always known as a scrambler before his Heisman year, but he became calmer in the pocket his senior year, which led to his success. The same can happen with Pryor.

Tressel has always been known for his conservative play-calling, but if there was ever a year for “The Vest” to break away from his ways, this would be the year.

The Buckeyes return nine offensive starters. Brandon Saine has proven he is a dangerous pass-catching threat out of the backfield, and the emergence of Jake Stoneburner as a hybrid tight end/receiver gives Pryor another target. Tressel loosened things up the most he ever has at Ohio State during Smith's Heisman.

Expect an even bigger step this next season.

Signs point to an explosive offense for Ohio State, but what if Pryor doesn’t show progress? What if he has an early game like his abysmal Purdue game last season? If the past gives us any indication, Tressel is going to make the offense more conservative, like he always has at Ohio State. He’ll rely on his outstanding defense and won’t get creative with the offense, a la Iowa last season.

With the inconsistency Pryor has shown in the past, it’s not unreasonable to think he’ll resort to his old ways in 2010.

But after seeing such great progress against the Ducks, expectations about Pryor are ridiculously high. Against what is supposed to be the best spread offense in the land, Pryor thoroughly outdid Jeremiah Masoli and the rest of Oregon’s spread attack.

He showed what everyone had been expecting when he signed with the Buckeyes

With all the talent returning, along with the progress he’s shown, it’s not crazy to think Pryor can bring home the Heisman Trophy like Smith did in 2006.

Like Smith, his journey to the Heisman may have started during his bowl game the year before.


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Two Of A Kind? Revisiting The Terrelle Pryor To Vince Young Comparison

by HD Handshoe
Founder—Block-O-Nation



I did a short piece on this exact topic back a couple months ago, but with the season now complete for the Buckeyes, I thought the stats, and general similarities of each players' sophomore seasons, were worth a second look.

The comparisons between the two were inevitable—but physical attributes and sick, almost freakish athletic ability aside—I believe that Terrelle Pryor and Vince Young could both go down as two of the best quarterbacks that college football has ever seen.

Of course, Young is already in that club. Pryor's reservation is pending, and whether or not he ever ascends to that level of greatness remains to be seen for now.

Young's 2005 season was statistically outstanding, and capping it off by nearly single-handedly beating USC to win the BCS Championship secured Young's place in history as a college football legend, and certainly one of the best to ever play.

While Pryor is not a legend as of yet, he could very well be on his way to achieving such status. He didn't hurt his chances any on 1/1/2010 by leading the Buckeyes to the 2010 Rose Bowl Championship over high-powered and then-No. 7 Oregon.

If you disagree with the comparison, or aren't sure one way or the other, perhaps a closer look at the two will help you with your conundrum.

Young started 25 games for Texas in his second and third years in the program as a redshirt sophomore and junior in 2004 and 2005.

Pryor to date has had 22 career starts at Ohio State—nine as a true freshman in 2008, and 13 in his just completed sophomore season.

Texas went an amazing 24-1 with Young at quarterback, including the 13-0 title season of 2005. Pryor is 19-3 as a starter for the Buckeyes.

I get the feeling that not everyone believes that Pryor's stats measure up to Young's. I'm not sure if it's just bias against Pryor or Ohio State, or if they are just forming their opinion without the facts.

Fact finding can be a time-consuming, and sometimes bothersome chore, so allow me to do the work and make it simple for you.


Vince Young

Year      Comp/Att/%         Pass Yards/TD/INT  Rating  Rush Yards/TD's
====     ============        =================  ======  ===============
2004     148/250/59.2           1,849/12/11     128.4       1079/14

Terrelle Pryor

Year      Comp/Att/%         Pass Yards/TD/INT  Rating  Rush Yards/TD's
====     ============        =================  ======  ===============
2009     167/295/56.6           2,094/18/11      128.9        779/7

Here's what Vince then did statistically the following season as a junior:

Year      Comp/Att/%         Pass Yards/TD/INT  Rating  Rush Yards/TD's
====     ============        =================  ======  ===============
2005     212/325/65.2           3,036/26/10     163.9       1050/12

In addition to the stats, Young was second in the Heisman voting in 2005, and as I mentioned above, he single-handedly led Texas to the BCS Championship in the Rose Bowl over heavily-favored USC.

I'm not saying, suggesting, or guaranteeing that Terrelle Pryor will be at or near the top of the 2010 Heisman voting, or that he will put up numbers that are close to, or exceed those of Youngs'. Nor am I predicting the Buckeyes will win the 2010 BCS Championship—but I am saying that, depending on how the 2010 recruiting class shakes out between now and signing day, and what we see in the Spring game, all of those things could happen.

Believe it!

Is it September yet?


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