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12:01
[Comment From Rocket A]
Nice win by the Rockets on Saturday, but what was up with the play call for the pass to the sidelines from our own 15 yd line just before the half?
12:02
[Comment From Colman]
With Four Games In The Books, Just How Good Is This Ohio State Defense?
12:03
zsilka@theblade.com: Rocket A -- UT coach Tim Beckman addressed that very play after the FIU game, and said he regretted making that call. He said if he could do it all over again, he would have just run the ball and ran out of the clock.
12:04
mmarkey@theblade.com: Colman-- Good, likely very good. They kept Juice Williams hemmed in all day, and the weather did the rest. I think the defense has been outstanding -- maybe a bit better than expected since they lost some key guys over there. OSU has relied on great defense, and that won’t change.
12:06
[Comment From Rocket A]
I am glad to hear he acknowledged that. Next question, do you think they will try to get the ball into Eric Page’s hands more, something like the wildcat.
12:06
mmarkey@theblade.com: There were rumors that Boom Herron’s starting job was on the line against Illinois, since he had been less than impressive in the first three games, and he seemed to play like a guy who felt the need to impress. Brandon Saine also had his best game running the ball. We can all finally forget Maurice Wells.
12:07
[Comment From Colman]
How are they looking againxt Indiana? With two shutouts can we hope for three in a row??
12:07
zsilka@theblade.com:
So far, I haven’t seen or heard anything about utilizing Page in the Wildcat. But we did see Page back in the return game against FIU finally, so maybe we’ll see his role continue to expand. He’s a great playmaker and seems to always generate something special every time he touches the ball.
12:09
mmarkey@theblade.com: Colman, it will be more difficult to get a shutout against Indiana, since that seems like a team that can score points, but struggles to stop other people from scoring. Indiana will be jacked up for this one, since they took Michigan to the wire and they haven’t beaten Ohio State since just after the War of 1812.
12:09
[Comment From Tank]
So, does OSU deserve to be in the top ten again?
12:09
[Comment From Rikki Rocket]
Zach: Did the defense look improved from previous games?
12:11
zsilka@theblade.com: Rikki -- The defense definitely looked better, at least for a half. The Rockets held FIU to just one field goal in the first 30 minutes, but had a bit of a letdown in the second half. The goal this week will be putting together a full 60 minutes of solid defense against Ball State
12:11
[Comment From Rocket A]
Speaking of the return game, I would like to see the Rockets coaching staff go with a guy and stick with him. It seems like it has been a revolving door.
12:12
mmarkey@theblade.com: Tank, don’t ask me to explain the polls -- Ohio State dropped twice this season after wins, and the only real reason they moved up this week is because other teams ranked above them lost. Don’t think it was based on style points. Due to a national opinion that holds the Big Ten in fairly low regard, Ohio State only moves up when a higher-ranked team loses. The pollsters will do whatever they have to do to keep the Big Ten out of the title game.
12:12
[Comment From Brutus B. Buckeye]
Matt: Brandon Saine looks like a natural receiver. Any thoughts to OSU using him primarily in that position or will he be the back out of the backfield to catch the ball. He’s quick.
12:13
zsilka@theblade.com: Rocket A -- It’s definitely been a revolving door so far. We’ve seen DaJuane Collins, Barry Church, Eric Page, and Kenny Veal returning punts, and several others back on kickoffs. Right now Collins has seen the most punt returns and Beckman is still trying to figure out the kickoff game. Overall he said he wasn’t pleased with the special teams performance against FIU
12:15
[Comment From Ealey for HOF]
Zach: Isiaiah Ballard has played well on special teams. How soon will he return from his injury?
12:15
mmarkey@theblade.com: BBB -- Saine’s best moments have come as a receiver -- remember he was pretty effective against LSU. I don’t think OSU will consider moving him, since there are depth/experience issues at RB. After he and Boom, it’s freshmen or guys that have never played. I think Saine is another one of those guys who had to learn how to run in contact. lots of really fast guys just out-run people from fifth grade through high school, then they start getting hit a lot and lose their confidence. he seems to be free of the injuries, and learning how to navigate his way through the crush of bodies.
12:16
zsilka@theblade.com: Ealey -- I plan on asking Beckman that very question today when I leave here for the Rockets weekly news conference. Last week Beckman said Ballard would be out only one week, meaning he would return for Ball State.
12:17
[Comment From Rocket A]
Zach, do we know the reason why the coaching staff changed the punt formation after the first week against Purdue. In that game we went with the wide splits, now we are back to the formation with only 3 linemen and 4 gunners. This was the same formation Stutz utilized, it seems to be vulnerable to the blocked punt.
12:18
[Comment From Ed]
Matt - what about OSU vs. MI? Will it be a close one?
12:20
zsilka@theblade.com: Rocket A -- And right on cue, the Rockets had their first blocked punt of the season at FIU. Beckman is the special teams coach, so the miscues are at least partially on his shoulders. And admittedly, he’s still trying to figure things out in that department four games into the season.
12:21
mmarkey@theblade.com: Ed, at this point, with the game almost two months away, I’d say Ohio State still looks like the better team. Other factors have made games in this series closer -- like weather in mid-November. If UM continues to win and improve against better competition, it might turn out to be a much closer game than most expected it would be.
12:21
[Comment From Brutus B. Buckeye]
Matt, Dane Sanzenbacher is just a darn good football player. How can someone with supposedly no speed continue to excel on the big stage of the Big Ten? He’s a play-ah
12:23
[Comment From Rocket A]
Zach, I agree with the comments earlier about the defense improving, they have played much better since the opener. They have been put in some bad situations as well. One thing that may also help is the return of Desmond Marrow, is there any word on his status?
12:24
mmarkey@theblade.com: BBB, It bothers me that his detractors still call, email and write to criticize him, when the kid has proven himself so many times. He is not a blurr, not a freak, not a specimen like so many players who get where they are primarily on physical tools. He is football smart, and sees the game with a QBs mind. He is athletic, fast enough, and can make people miss. Coaches say they tell him something once, and he does it that way from then on. Best explanation is this -- the kid’s a football player.
12:25
[Comment From Ed]
Matt - Do you think Dane could go pro?
12:25
zsilka@theblade.com: Rocket A -- The Marrow situation is quite perplexing. He was cleared to play in the week leading up to the Purdue game, but hasn’t been cleared to play by Beckman. I know Marrow wants to get on the field, but he has to prove he can contribute before the coaches let him get out there.
12:27
12:27
mmarkey@theblade.com: Ed, in the pros, the physical side means more and I am not sure that at 5-11 and 180 there is a place in the pros for him. There are other “pros” besides the NFL, so certainly he has options if he wants to play on, but I’d say the NFL is a long shot.
12:27
fcorsoe@theblade.com: As we approach halftime on this blustery Monday, Zach, Matt, give me three observations on the teams you cover.
12:29
[Comment From Rocket A]
The Rockets have had a lot of contributions from many freshmen, not just Eric Page. I have been very impressed with Jermaine Robinsonas well as Dan Molls. We have also seen a lot of Byron Best, Daxton Swanson, Robert Bell, & TJ Fatukin (sp?).
12:30
zsilka@theblade.com: 1. The Rockets offense appears to be back on track after getting shut out by Ohio State. After the Buckeyes pitched another shut out over the weekend, UT’s loss doesn’t look so bad anymore.
2. Eric Page needs more touches. He’s had three 100-yard receiving games already this season and has been the most consistent playmaker on offense.
3. Other than Alex Steigerwald, the specials teams needs to improve a lot, When you’re utilizing your starting QB as your punter and not generating much in the return game while getting a punt blocked, it’s time to look in the mirror.
12:30
mmarkey@theblade.com: 1. Terrelle Pryor at quarterback is an ongoing project
2. Aaron Pettrey might be the best long-distance field goal kicker OSU has had
3. No matter how highly recruits are rated, no matter how much they get talked up, coaches play the guys they trust. Tressel is no different -- he plays the guys he trusts.
12:33
[Comment From Rocket A]
Zach, What is your outlook for the Rockets? I think they will do pretty well in the MAC, but I think the MAC WEST is much stronger than the East. Dare we think bowling?
12:34
zsilka@theblade.com:
Rocket A -- Beckman made it clear from day one that he was going to play his best players, even if they were freshmen. Going along with that, Beckman is trying to build a program at UT, and these freshmen are his recruits. He has four years with these guys to shape them into his mold.
12:36
zsilka@theblade.com: Rocket A -- There are plenty of winnable games the rest of the way for the Rockets. The key for them, especially with a lot of younger contributors on the depth chart, will be maintaining their focus from game-to-game and not letting any cupcakes slip through their grasp. That starts this week against struggling Ball State. Let’s get a couple games into MAC play before we start talking about bowling.
12:40
[Comment From Bucks O Plenty]
Will you please assess the Bucks defense? Is it good? Is it great?
12:40
[Comment From Rocket A]
Agreed, plus Muncie has always a tough place for the Rockets. This is a big week just to get off on the right foot starting out conference play.
12:41
zsilka@theblade.com: Rocket A -- Agreed. The win over FIU was important for the Rockets because it proved to them that they can win on the road. So there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be able to get the job done at Ball State. But like you said, the track record isn’t good there, so they will need to maintain a high level of focus again this week.
12:43
mmarkey@theblade.com: Bucks O-- Not great, at least not yet. I think the shutouts are impressive, but their best work was likely holding USC to one touchdown drive. This defense is very deep on the front line -- they play seven or eight guys regularly. The linebackers have been good -- better than expected, and the corners have done their job. Bigger tests are yet to come, but right now, defense is the strength of the team,, and the defensive line is the strongest group.
12:45
[Comment From Rocket A]
Zach, Any word on Danny Noble? Saw him being carted around at FIU?
12:46
zsilka@theblade.com: Rocket A -- That’s another question on plan on asking Beckman about today. Danny has been another consistent target for Aaron Opelt, so losing him for any length of time will certainly be a blow to the offense.
12:46
zsilka@theblade.com:
I* plan
12:48
[Comment From Rrrrrocket Boy]
If you had to grade the offensive line’s performance off last game, what grade would you give?
12:50
[Comment From Rocket A]
Zach, Nice job covering the Rockets this year. Keep up the good work and keep the articles coming. For some of us out-of-towners you can never have too much Rockets coverage.
12:51
zsilka@theblade.com:
Rocket Boy -- Once again the O-line did a nice job for the Rockets against FIU. The big boys up front have done an underrated job all season. I would give them an A against FIU and an A- for the season (with the only blemish coming, understandably, against OSU).
12:52
zsilka@theblade.com:
Rocket A -- Thanks for the kind words. I’ll do my best to keep the coverage coming.
12:52
fcorsoe@theblade.com: Zach, are you related to Rocket A?
12:52
zsilka@theblade.com: I don’t believe so.
12:53
zsilka@theblade.com: Next week I might just give him my cell number though and we can do the chat that way. Save me a trip to the office.
12:54
[Comment From Rocket A]
Nope, and just to clarify, how bout that nice 7-6 win for the Knights a week ago Friday.
12:55
zsilka@theblade.com: That was very disappointing as an SJJ alum
12:55
[Comment From BBB]
Matt, how badly will Brutus; boys beat IU.
12:57
mmarkey@theblade.com: BBB-- they should win by a couple of touchdowns. Indiana is better than the Indiana that everyone has grown to love over the years (good basketball, lousy football), but still not good enough to belong in the upper echelon of the Big Ten. If Pryor doesn’t do anything silly and put the defense in a bad position, OSU should control this one.
12:57
fcorsoe@theblade.com:
Thanks to all who joined in this week. Remember, tomorrow we chat Michigan and Bowling Green. We’ll see you at noon.
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