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Ringer, Hoyer pose challenges for Buckeyes
Thursday, October 16, 2008
What's brewing today with the Ohio State Buckeyes:
Buckeyes buzz
No matter how you cut it, Ohio State has to put the brakes on Michigan State tailback and Chaminade-Julienne High School graduate Javon Ringer and quarterback Brian Hoyer.
Here's what linebacker and Wayne grad Marcus Freeman said about stopping the Spartans: "It all starts with Hoyer."
And here's what cornerback Malcolm Jenkins said: "Everything starts with Javon Ringer."
But they both agree that the Buckeyes cannot ignore either one.
"(Hoyer) is the general of that offense," Freeman said. "But Ringer is so tough, man. He's a guy who can carry it 40-plus times and he does a great job at it. He comes back every week and he says, 'I'm going to bring it again.' You look at him and you're amazed at his heart and his toughness."
Jenkins didn't disagree.
"If (Ringer) gets his run game going, then that opens it up for the pass game and Hoyer can put the ball wherever on the field," he said. "They're the leaders of their offense. They get things going. It's going to start with us trying to stop Ringer, which will be a hard job. But if we can get him down or at least slow him down, and make them throw the ball in certain situations where they don't want to, hopefully we'll have some success."
He said it
Offensive tackle Alex Boone on whether the O-line can get mean enough to make a difference midway through the season: "I'm pretty sure I can take care of that this week. I'll show them how mean I can be. Just put it down."
The Ringer
Ringer is second in the nation in rushing at 159 yards a game. But that's not nearly as impressive as his durability. He has 68 more carries — about 10 more per game — than anyone else in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
— Rusty Miller, Associated Press
