Football
The-Ozone Note and Quotebook
By John PorentasK.I.S.S. - It stands for Keep It Simple, Stupid, and it's often good advice. According to Dustin Fox, it's exactly what the Buckeyes did defensively against the Nittany Lions.
"The game plan for us was pretty simple. We didn't want to do a whole lot," Fox said.
"We played pretty much one or two coverages the whole game. We ran some stuff where we were pretty aggressive, but it was pretty simple, one of the more simple game plans that we've had since I've been here," said Fox.
Fox gave the strategy mixed reviews.
"We didn't expect them to be able to run right at us," he said.
"We need to be more physical, obviously. When they're running the ball in the trenches it's a difficult war. That beat us up front a little bit today."
Despite his disappointment over the fact that Penn State rushed for 177 net yards, he was happy to have the win. He was also anxious to place a little phone call to his brother Derek, who played defensive back at Penn State.
"I can call my brother now and rub it in a little bit," he said with a bit of a grin.
Tackling a Cat: Everybody knew Ted Ginn Jr. was fast, but his speed was showcased twice in the game in game against Penn State. Ginn blazed through the Lions with a punt return for a score, but may have demonstrated even better jets on the reverse he ran that was called back on holding a penalty.
"On that reverse, I mean, all of a sudden he got around the corner and how silly to hold," said OSU Head Coach Jim Tressel.
"I mean, they're not gonna catch him. We should just have each of our guys drop to a knee. But, gosh, I don't know what word to use, (to describe his speed)," said Tressel.
"He's fast. There's no ifs, ands or buts about it, he's fast," added defensive end Simon Fraser.
"He's able to make moves and get into the open field and really explode off the line. He's a huge weapon for us. Hopefully he keeps improving every day like he does," Fraser said.
"If he sees the slightest sliver he get through it almost untouched, he's that fast, his burst is that fast," said senior fullback Brandon Joe.
"It's like trying to tackle a cat out there. He's a heck of a player and he's got a bright future."
Be Prepared: The Buckeyes registered two interceptions against Penn State, one in the first quarter by Ashton Youboty to stop a good-looking Penn State drive, and another in the first quarter by Tyler Everett which he converted into six points by returning it for a touchdown. Both Youboty and Everett credited their interceptions to preparation.
"We saw it in their tendencies we saw throughout the week in watching film," said Everett.
"You knew when they lined up in that formation with those players what they were trying to do."
Youboty said that the OSU coaching staff drilled him all week on the very route he was able to jump for an interception.
"It was actually weird that I got an interception on that play because my coach actually challenged me on that play all week," said Youboty.
"I had that route coming at me all week. In practice I got that route thrown at me a lot."
On the other side of the ledger, Penn State's preparations didn't quite work out as well, at least in one phase of the game.
"We worried all week about the kicking game," said Penn State Head Coach Joe Paterno.
"We were scared to death of it, made that our top priority, and we got beaten badly in the kicking game."
That Swagger: The Buckeye offense did what it had to do to win the game, but it didn't exactly light up the sky with fireworks, either. According to quarterback Troy Smith, the Buckeyes need to rediscover an attitude they once had but seem to have lost.
"When I was a kid growing up watching those games with Eddie George and Terry Glenn, Shawn Springs, Big Daddy, all those guys, Ohio State was pretty much THE team. Getting that swagger back is very important," Smith said.
Smith was asked if he feels the Buckeyes have gotten that swagger back with its recent success.
"No, but every step that we take now, and everything that we go into now, is a part and a key to get it back," he said.
That Will Leave a Mark: Following it's fourth quarter field goal, Penn State kicked off to the Buckeyes, and kicker Robbie Gould hit a screaming line drive that up-man Brandon Joe caught on the fly and returned to the 40-yard line.
"He kicked a screamer at me," said Joe.
"It was either catch it or bounce off my facemask. Fortunately, I caught it," said Joe, who then pointed to his neck and said "I got a mark here on my neck. I think it might be from that.
According to Joe, the kick not only was moving fast, but was doing its best imitation of a butterfly as well.
"It was about a 90 MPH Wakefield, a Tim Wakefield knuckleball," said Joe. "It was either catch it or get embarrassed."
Joe also made a play earlier in the game when he scored the first touchdown of his Buckeye career on a four-yard plunge.
"It's been five years since I've been in that endzone. I kind of didn't know what to do," Joe quipped.
Costly Flags: The Buckeyes made some big plays against the Lions that were called back because of penalties. On one series, a 35 yard reverse to Ted Ginn was wiped out by a holding call, and later in the series a Troy Smith rush for 25 yards and a first down was wiped out by another holding call. The calls took some of the starch out of the Buckeyes.
"That was seventy-some yards, a 30 yard reverse and a 25 yard run by Troy (math example). One of the calls was maybe a little iffy on Nick Mangold. It's definitely a motivation killer. It definitely impacts us, but you have to be motivators, you have to keep going," said senior fullback Brandon Joe.
In case you are beginning to wonder if Joe's math is suspect, he was also including the 20 yards on penalties with the 55 yards in nullified gains. Mangold, who was flagged on Ginn's reverse, also took exception to that call, but diplomatically.
"Some of the holding stuff, it's there and it's not there," he said a little vaguely.
"I know they called me on one. I don't know if it was the right call, but they called me on one and you've got to keep getting after it."
Mo Motors: On a day of big plays, senior running back Maurice Hall contributed a big one with a 62 yard kickoff return that set up OSU's third touchdown. It also allowed Hall to become the Ohio State career leader in kickoff return yardage, replacing Ken Yon Rambo at the top of the heap as a returner.
"It feels great. I'm definitely thankful to God for allowing me to be in that position for four years to run it back," said Hall of his record breaking performance.
Hall, whose career has been hampered by injuries, described his technique for returning kicks.
"Before the ball's kicked I scan the field. When it's kicked I try and look at the people coming down and see exactly where they're running. Then I catch the ball, try to read the blocks, then burst through the hole," said Hall.
Sounds simple enough, but it's not something for the weak of heart. Hall, however, seems to enjoy the task, and told fellow returner Santonio Holmes just how he wanted to operate against the Nittany Lions.
"I told Santonio if the ball goes over the goal post, you get it. I get the rest," he laughed.
Hall also led OSU in rushing with 65 net-yards on 14 carries (4.6 yards per carry).
"I've always believed in myself and believed that if I do get the opportunity that I will show people that I can run the ball, so that's what I tried to do today and that's what I'm going to continue to try and do," Hall said.
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