Ohio State 2010

Ohio State (2009 Statistics)

• Jim Tressel is in his 10th year as head coach.
• The highly vaunted Terrelle Pryor is now a junior and has continued to improve his throwing motion and comfort level using his arm as opposed to his legs. He’s a great runner but some have questioned his ability to pass, including my sister who just doesn’t seem to like what she sees.  Like most people, she will concede that Pryor has improved, but there is a certain level of nervousness that comes from watching But the fact is that he plays for an Ohio State team never has wowed fans with its passing offense.  The Buckeyes won the national title in 2002 with the 92^nd ranked passing offense in the nation, so it’s obviously not a critical component. Regardless, continue to watch Pryor closely this year and observe his completion percentage, his touchdown to interception ratio and whether or not he patiently tries to pass first before running the ball.  This year is JUDGMENT YEAR for Terrelle Pryor (see historical notes below).
• This team needs to develop balance on offense. Their passing game was the 18^th WORST in the nation while their rushing game was the 18^th BEST.
• The Buckeyes play in the Big Ten where defense is a fundamental principle and they consistently represent their conference well. Last year they finished with the nation’s #5 total defense, #5 scoring defense, #5 passing efficiency defense and #7 rushing defense.  That last category is pretty impressive considering how well the Big Ten runs the ball and the fact that they had four teams in the top 25 last year in rushing offense.
• Ohio State’s defense was also very opportunistic last year with 35 turnovers gained, ranked #3 in the nation.
• Historical note: Please note that “Judgment Year” is a reference to the 2006 season when #1 Ohio State faced #2 Michigan in their last game of the regular season to determine who would be playing for the national title.  The game was called Judgment Day by ABC Sports and ESPN, who created an entire media campaign around it.  They commissioned a $10,000 stained glass window to be created for the “Judgment Day” tease before the game and taped a segment that incorporated all of the things you would expect a sermon on the end of the world to include.  However, the night before the big game, legendary Michigan Head Coach from 1969-1989, Bo Schembechler passed away.  Being sensitive to the audiences for both schools (as not only was he born in Ohio, but Buckeye fans also respected him as a coach and for his part in “The Ten Year War”) ABC/ESPN pulled the tease the morning of the game.  All that we have left to show of “Judgment Day” is that stained glass window… and I know where it is.  Ohio State won the game and an unprepared, out-of-shape Buckeye team that felt their season was won in November went on to play for (and lose) the National Championship).