Ohio State vs. Colorado -- Week 4 Game Preview, History Lesson, and Prediction

After the debacle in Miami last Saturday -- which included a 2 for 14 passing performance from starter Joe Bauserman -- it's finally Miller Time -- as in Braxton Miller.

Coach Luke Fickell confirmed Miller, the true freshman QB, will get his first career start against Colorado, but much to the dismay of most Buckeye fans, added that Bauserman will also see action.

If the Buckeyes can survive the next two games (CU, MSU), this team will still have a chance to be pretty good, and yes, still compete for the Leaders Division crown and the Big Ten Championship -- but it's time to pick a starting QB (not named Bauserman) and stick with him (Miller) for the remainder of the season.

There will be growing pains, so Buckeye fans will need to show some patience with Miller if and when he makes freshman mistakes, but just remember, this move will allow Miller to gain invaluable experience, which should pay huge dividends for OSU in 2012.


Brief Game Outlook

Ohio State is now 2-1, while Colorado is 1-2.

In 2008, freshman-phenom Terrelle Pryor replaced senior Todd Boeckman after an ugly road loss, and led the Buckeyes to a 10-2 regular season record and the Big Ten title.

We can only hope, with Miller replacing Bauserman, that it's deja-vu all over again.

Besides QB Miller, RBs Carlos Hyde and Jordan Hall, and TE Jake Stoneburner are the players to keep an eyes on when the Buckeyes have the ball.

To date, Miller has seen limited action, but thus far has completed 10/16 passes for 152 yards with one touchdown and one interception and has also gained 62 yards on the ground -- Hyde and Hall have rushed for 223 and 87 yards respectively and Hyde has two scores -- and Stoneburner has eight catches for 93 yards and four touchdowns.

The Buckeye defense and the O-line are the team co-MVP's at this point and each unit should shine once again this week -- the defense in limiting Colorado's offensive output and scoring opportunities -- and the O-line in giving Miller time to pass and the running backs wide-lanes to run through.

Ultimately, the end-result will depend on how well Miller settles in and protects the ball once he gets past the anxiety and the butterflies he's sure to feel as he makes his first career start in front of 105,000 insane Buckeye fans.

Ohio State has better athletes across the board and is by far the superior team on paper on both sides of the ball.

That being said, there's no denying that this team is very young and while 2011 is not a complete rebuilding year, Colorado could keep it close and make a game of it -- well, for awhile anyway...


Ohio State—Colorado History Lesson

• Ohio State is 3-1 all-time vs. Colorado.

• Ohio State is 66-7 in Ohio Stadium since 2001.

• Ohio State is 42-8 vs. non-conference foes since 2001.

• Ohio State is 55-26-2 all-time vs. current Pac-12 member schools.

• Ohio State is 7-2 at home all-time vs. non-conference foes in the BCS era.

• Ohio State defense has held opponent to fewer than 10 points 30 times since 2006.

• Ohio State's defense has allowed just five 100-yard rushers in their last 37 games.

• Ohio State's defense has allowed just one 100-yard rusher in the past 24 games at Ohio Stadium.

• Ohio State has won 56 consecutive regular-season non-conference home games against teams not ranked in the AP Top 25.

• Colorado is 1-3 all-time vs. Ohio State (1971-Win, 1977-Loss, 1985-Loss, 1986-Loss).

• Colorado is 0-6 in road games vs. non-conference BCS opponents since 2005.

• Colorado is 1-5 in road games the week after facing CSU since 1997.

• Colorado is 14-36 against BCS conference teams since 2006.


Final Thoughts and Score Prediction

Miller has been compared to both Terrelle Pryor and Troy Smith for his ability to scramble when pressured, like Pryor, and deliver the ball accurately down field when under pressure, like Smith.

Miller is no-doubt a talented dual-threat quarterback that could potentially surpass the accomplishments of both Pryor and Smith, but if he wants to remain the starting QB for Ohio State, he must make protecting the football priority No. 1.

Priority No. 2 is getting the ball into the hands of his backs and receivers.

Priority No. 3 is to tuck the ball and run if the receivers are covered, or just do as Bauserman did all-too-often and aim for B-deck -- but please, please, please, whatever happens -- hang on to the football!


Ohio State 33
Colorado 10


"To be a champion, you have to believe in yourself when no one else will" - Sugar Ray Robinson

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Image copyright of Jim Davidson / TheOzone.net (Used with permission)

Buckeye Breakout Kings—Fresh Faces for Ohio State in 2011

Despite the stormy seas the Ohio State football program (and Buckeye fans) have had to navigate this offseason, there will indeed be football played in Columbus this year.

Gone are seven defensive starters from a year ago, plus quarterback Terrelle Pryor, while several other key players are suspended for nearly half the season.

Those losses and suspensions have....

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Video Highlights From Ohio State's 2011 Spring Game / Scrimmage

These Hi-Def highlights were produced by lednerk exclusively for BlockONation.com.




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Reload Overload: Ohio State Stacked With Young Talent AND Depth

To all you casual college football fans and/or Ohio State haters outside of the great state of Ohio—specifically those who have no idea what goes on along the banks of the Olentangy in Columbus—just thought you may want to know that those nasty rumors forecasting the demise of Buckeye football have been greatly exaggerated.

No, in fact, surely much to your chagrin, it's quite the opposite actually.

Despite the skewed and misleading "breaking news" and "inside info" you hear and read on ESPN, ESPN.com, and CBSSports.com, just to name a few culprits, Buckeye football is alive and well, and the Buckeyes are STILL the big fish in the Big 10 pond.

But you heard that Jim Tressel cheats and that without Terrelle Pryor and the rest of the Tat-5 thugs, the Buckeyes are going to be horrible, and now the program won't be able to recruit anymore, etc, etc...Sorry kids, but you are grossly misinformed.

Whether or not QB Braxton Miller is named the starter at some point during the 2011 season makes no difference since originally he would have been a definite redshirt this season. He's here, and now he gets to learn on the job early this season which will prepare him to lead OSU in 2012, 2013, and 2014.

The general consensus on Miller is that he is already a better passing QB than Pryor, while also possessing the same dual-threat capabilities that will give opposing defenders night terrors. If you somehow don't know who Miller is, come out from under your rock and watch this:



Of course, every great quarterback needs a running game to set up the pass. With Dan "Boom" Herron suspended until October, Jordan Hall, Jaamal Berry, Carlos Hyde and Rod Smith will all be called upon to carry the load in his place.

Four reasons NOT to worry in 2011:

Jordan Hall


Jaamal Berry


Carlos Hyde


Rod Smith (also pictured top right)


And as if those guys weren't enough to excite you or scare you to death (depending on your team affiliation), check out these running backs / 2012 Buckeye commits:

Warren Ball


Brionte Dunn


Yes, but without DeVier Posey, who is also out until October, Ohio State has no wide receivers....right?

WRONG.

Corey Brown


Chris Fields


James Louis


T.Y. Williams


While many of you are in the club that was hoping for the Buckeyes to crumble in the wake of recent events, they instead continue to thrive—much to your dismay—and FYI, that won't be changing anytime soon as you can see.

In the words of Wisconsin basketball coach Bo Ryan, "DEAL WITH IT."


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Cupboard Overload: Video Spotlight on Ohio State's Returning and Incoming Future Stars

With the 2010 season in the books and as National Signing Day 2011 approaches, it seems fitting to shift the focus onto several key returning and incoming prospects on the offensive side of the ball.

Given the pending suspensions for the tat-5 (assuming they keep their word and return in 2011) and the fact that a couple of them might have the opportunity to make an instant impact because of that whole unfortunate situation.

Quarterback is obviously the most important position on the field and with Terrelle Pryor out for up to five games, let's hope that doesn't mean the beginning of the Joe Bauserman era, but rather perhaps the beginning of the Braxton Miller era instead.



If Ohio State sticks to their original plan however, which by all indications is to redshirt Miller in 2011, redshirt sophomore Kenny Guiton would be a good choice to replace Pryor until his return.



Another option at QB is redshirt freshman Taylor Graham, son of former OSU quarterback Kent Graham. Unlike Pryor, Miller, and Guiton, Graham is more of a prototypical pocket passer.



At running back, there are several young and talented guys ready to step-up in place of suspended starter Dan Herron. Jordan Hall, Jaamal Berry, and Carlos Hyde all have game experience, while 2010 late-enrollee Rod Smith dazzled his teammates and coaches during the teams' Suagr Bowl preparations. Here's a look at each of them.

Hall


Berry


Hyde


Smith


Last but not least is the wide receiver position. Dane Sanzenbacher is graduating and DeVier Posey is among those suspended, leaving the Buckeyes with a plethora of youthful inexperience. Corey Brown, Chris Fields, James Jackson, James Louis, T.Y. Williams, Devin Smith, and Evan Spencer are all candidates for significant playing time early in 2011. Here is a look at each of them.

Brown


Fields


Jackson


Louis


Williams


Smith


Spencer


Despite losing DE Cam Heyward, LBs Brian Rolle and Ross Homan, and DBs Chimdi Chekwa and Devon Torrence, Ohio State's defense will still be one of the best in the nation.

As always, there are plenty of 4-star and 5-star young guys ready for their turn.

There are not videos of all of them, but several names to know of recent OSU recruits who could end up replacing the departing starters at each of those positions include D-Linemen Melvin Fellows, Adam Bellamy, JT Moore, David Durham, Chase Ferris, Michael Bennett, & Steve Miller, LBs Etienne Sabino, Keith Sweat, Storm Klein, Scott McVey, Jordan Whiting, Jonathan Newsome, Dorian Bell, Ryan Shazier, Connor Crowell, and lastly DBs Christian Bryant, Jamie Wood, Chad Hagan, Bradley Roby, Donnie Evege, Dominic Clarke, CJ Barnett, Doran Grant, Ron Tanner, Jeremy Cash, and the other Corey (DB) Brown.

It is safe to say that the cupboard is overflowing with talent in Columbus and that the Buckeyes will continue to be one of the best teams in the nation year-in and year-out for several years to come.

As an example of the bright future for OSU beyond 2011, here are two bonus videos of Warren Ball and Brionte Dunn. These guys are two of the top running backs in the nation and both have already verbally committed to Ohio State's 2012 class.

Ball


Dunn



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