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Home > Blogs > Buckeyes Beat > Archives > 2008 > September > 27
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Buckeyes ‘pass’ first Big Ten test, but it’s no A+
If you’re an Ohio State football fan, you probably haven’t had that “MAN, WAS THAT GREAT!” feeling after a Buckeyes game this season. Could’ve had it Saturday, but the Buckeyes defense fell asleep in the fourth quarter and OSU settled for a 34-21 victory against a so-so Minnesota team.
Jim Tressel certainly didn’t do cartwheels after singing Carmen Ohio. He wants a balanced offense, and right now OSU isn’t much of a threat through the air. Terrelle Pryor might someday remind us all of Dan Marino, but he’s got some work to do.
Tressel asked in his postgame press conference how many times the Buckeyes threw the ball. Somebody glanced at the stat sheet.
“Thirteen times? Is that all we threw?” Tressel asked in amazement. “Oh, man.”
Well, Pryor threw 13 times. Completed eight for 70 yards and a touchdown. Backup Todd Boeckman was 5-for-9 for 65 yards and a TD.
Minnesota coach Tim Brewster compared Pryor to Vince Young (Pryor doesn’t like that), and the freshman looks like more of a runner than thrower. He ran for 97 yards.
“I hope we throw it more effectively down the road,” Tressel said. “It didn’t feel like we threw and caught and protected as well as we’ll have to.
“I envision us being a balanced team. Whoever we need to use to do that, we will.”
Mmm. Boeckman looked better throwing Saturday. Does that mean … nah, there’s no QB controversy. But Boeckman better be ready next week at Wisconsin. The way Pryor holds on to the ball and dances around the pocket, he’s liable to get squished like a piece of cheese by the Badgers defense.
Meanwhile, Beanie Wells got back on the field and looked good, except for that early fumble. He finished with 106 yards rushing on 14 carries.
“I felt like a freshman again,” Wells said. “I was nervous the whole day.”
Considering how angry Wisconsin will be after choking against Michigan, OSU fans will be nervous all week.
