Make no mistake about it, this is a do-or-die game for the No. 5 Buckeyes. Win and they have at least saved some face from the embarrassment of two consecutive National Championship blowouts. In addition, they keep their hopes alive for a third appearance in the title game.
Lose and the Buckeyes stop here. There will not be a third consecutive appearance in College Football's premier event even if they go on to win the Big Ten. But worse, should they lose big to the No. 1 Trojans, pundits will question whether they are really one of College Football's premier teams like the Buckeyes of old.
Both of these teams take on the personalities of their head coaches. Nowhere is this more clearly contrasted than in their response to recent key injuries.
When USC's quarterback Mark Sanchez dislocated his knee a few weeks ago, head coach Pete Carroll immediately called in his backups but openly expressed hope that Sanchez would return and kept the media up-to-date on his quarterback's progress.
When the team doctor finally cleared Sanchez, Carroll at once announced that Sanchez would start the opener against Virginia even though Sanchez had not had any contact work in nearly a month.
Contrast, on the other hand, Jim Tressel's handling of the Chris "Beanie" Wells injury. It has been nine days now since the Heisman candidate incurred the injury against Youngstown State, and Tressel still has not announced the exact nature of the injury or its extent. In fact, he has forbidden Wells from speaking with the media.
This is the sign of man who keeps everything close to the sweater vest. It is also a sign of man who feels he needs to get every possible leg up that he can. Whether it's Beanie Wells' leg or his own.
On the gridiron, the contrast between the two is just as evident.
Pete Carroll runs open practices, not concerned that scouts will unravel USC's tendencies. He even has his own website, Pete Carroll.com , that gives an insightful look into Trojan practices and game preparations.
His theme throughout each and every season is competition. At USC, you are only as good as your last practice. Let up and you are liable to sit down come game day. His entire scheme has been built on turnovers - protecting the ball on offense and taking it away on defense.
Unlike Carroll, Tressel's philosophy is all about field position. His schemes combine a conservative offense with a tough defense and execution on special teams. The punt is Tressel's idea of the most important play in football, whereas Carroll's is the interception or fumble recovery.
How have the teams done so far this season? Ohio State beat Youngstown State 43-0 in its opener. Then last week they plodded their way to a 26-14 win over Ohio University. Both games were at the Horseshoe.
How good were their opponents? Last last week Youngstown State lost to South Dakota State 40-7, and Ohio University lost their opener to Wyoming 21-20.
In contrast, USC traveled across the country to Charlottesville, where they routed Virginia, 52-7. The Trojans had a bye last weekend while Virginia bounced back to shutout Richmond 16-0.
DEFENSE:
18 comments Last one added 9 months ago — Leave a Comment
J.C. Ayvazi 10 months ago
Nice job of setting the table for Saturday's pigskin buffet. Now, where the bar?
Edit Comment Cancel
Paul Peszko 10 months ago
Hey J.C., They got Beanie back. No excuses now.
Edit Comment Cancel
Ryan Staab 10 months ago
Dunno, this is getting scarier with each passing day.
Edit Comment Cancel
Paul Peszko 10 months ago
Enjoy the first half, Ryan. OSU should keep it close that long.
Edit Comment Cancel
Larry Sigurdson 10 months ago
Good article Paul. Well written, good read. I agree the Trojans at home, with two weeks to prepare, are going to clean the Buckeye's clock
Good job.
Edit Comment Cancel
Paul Peszko 10 months ago
Thanks for your comment, Larry. Two weeks certainly gives Pete Carroll an edge.
Edit Comment Cancel
Timothy Croley 10 months ago
I have the Trojans by 17, but see them winning by as many as 21. OSU is done. Stick a fork in 'em!
Edit Comment Cancel
Paul Peszko 10 months ago
Hi Tim! I'm a little more conservative. I have them by 13.
Edit Comment Cancel
Lisa Horne 10 months ago
I get nervous when too many people discount one team. Remember everyone saying the Bucks would kill the Gators? USC would beat the crap out of UCLA and play OSU for the title? Oops.
I am not proclaiming anything about this game. Based on the performances, a 42-19 game seems about right, but I'm a Trojan fan, and may let a little bias seep in.
But OSU may be just getting in stride. I hope USC isn't reading all their press.
Edit Comment Cancel
Paul Peszko 10 months ago
Uh, Lisa, remember what Small said about USC last weekend. "All they think about is football." So, maybe they won't know what is in all the newspapers unless their tutors read it to them.
Edit Comment Cancel
J.C. Ayvazi 10 months ago
I agree with you on this point Lisa.
As a good friend once told me, "Don't talk (crap) before you putt."
Edit Comment Cancel
Jeff Contizano 10 months ago
I can't wait to watch this game! See Johnson & Co. run by Laurenitis, and the defense obliterate whoever runs the ball. Oh, sorry, that was my wolverine alter-ego. Should be an excellent game! If USC can take off with all gears running again.. watch out.
Edit Comment Cancel
Paul Peszko 10 months ago
Guns blazing! Actually, I'm a Woverine fan, too. Well, at least, this weekend. I'm a fan of any team that plays the Irish.
Edit Comment Cancel
Thomas 10 months ago
Well, I wonder where all of you people are from?? The Michigan guy only says that because his wolverines can't beat the buckeyes anymore, as for me I bleed scarlet and gray and cannot wait to watch one hell of a football game on Sat night. O H I O..........Go BUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!
Edit Comment Cancel
Paul Peszko 9 months ago
Thanks for your comment, Thomas, and your blood as well. I assume that's type O positive Scarlet and Gray
Edit Comment Cancel
Lew Wright 10 months ago
Hey Paul,
As always, you put a great spin out there for readers to enjoy. Good stuff.
As for the game being good? Hope so.
I'm expecting the Trojans to keep the ball on the ground, the clock ticking away and knockin' the crap out of Wells or any other OSU back trying to carry the ball against the front seven of USC. Hope Coach Tressel has some play-action and rollout pass plays featured in his game plan. If not, it's going to be a very long afternoon and an even longer flight home.
Lew
Edit Comment Cancel
Paul Peszko 9 months ago
Hey, Lew, thanks. I'm sure PC has the Trojans on UA - Upset Alert, so they should do fine. But what's up with the Cougs, man. They're making the whole Pac-10 look bad. First Oklahoma State and then that 66-3 debacle last Saturday. Wow!
Edit Comment Cancel
Lew Wright 9 months ago
Hey Paul,
The kindest way to describe what's going on in Pullman is, "growing pains". To say that the program was completely upside down by the end of last season might sum up the situation.
WSU is probably going to look weak once again this weak. Thankfully they have a slightly weaker opponent in Baylor. It's fair to say that this game will be a pretty even matchup, with the edge going to Baylor because they are at home. Cougs will be putting a lot of players on the field who have never played in a college game on the road. There's an adjustment there.
Thanks for pointing out that my Cougs are clearly the armpit of the conference. Don't think we've been this far down since the early 70's. That said, I'm confident we'll be coming back to Pac-10 form before this season ends. If nothing else, we'll be doing our best to be the final game on Coach Willingham's Farewell Tour.
Lew
Edit Comment Cancel
Leave a Comment
You must register to post a comment.