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Ten of the Buckeyes' last 12 touchdowns have come on drives that took 1:42 or less off the clock.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
COLUMBUS — Ohio State was expected to rely on a clock-munching, ball-hogging offense this year, but the football team instead has shown a knack for reaching the end zone with very little time elapsing.
Minnesota also tends to have short possessions — but for all the wrong reasons.
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The Buckeyes needed just 70 seconds to score against Northwestern last week, getting a 42-yard touchdown pass from Todd Boeckman. And only two of their last 12 TD drives have taken longer than one minute, 42 seconds.
Instead of going back to the basics after losing so many playmakers from last year, the eighth-ranked Buckeyes are still striking with cobra-like quickness.
"I think you guys (in the media) talked about going back to basics. I don't remember using that phrase," OSU coach Jim Tressel said. "But you have to do what the defense allows you to do, and you have to do what your guys can do.
"One thing I do remember saying in the preseason is I thought Todd was throwing the ball deep well. We've had a couple interceptions deep, which we've got to eliminate. But hopefully, we can stretch the field. ... And I hope that becomes something that people are legitimately fearful of."
The Gophers tend to produce some fear when their offense takes the field, but it's usually their fans who are quaking.
After committing only 14 turnovers last season and leading the nation with a plus-18 turnover margin, they've been fleeced 16 times this year (eight fumbles, eight interceptions) with just four takeaways.
"If we just value the football and take care of the ball like we know we should, we know exactly where we could be at this point," coach Tim Brewster said. "We could very easily be a 4-0 football team. Obviously, we're not."
Senior running back Amir Pinnix — who is fourth in the Big Ten with 439 rushing yards after racking up 1,272 last year — was benched for the second half against Purdue last week after his second fumble in two games.
True freshman Duane Bennett picked up 81 yards in seven carries after halftime, and the Gophers may give him his first start today.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2125
or dharris@DaytonDailyNews.com.
