Ohio State/Wisconsin: What We Learned

• Ohio State scored first, then did nothing for awhile. Ohio State has this unique tendency to start off hot, then cool down and play down to their opponent's skill level until they are needed to crank it back on.
  
• It is very common (see games against Ohio, Troy), and it is one reason why Ohio State traditionally doesn't blow teams out. When they play teams clearly equal to/better than they are (Florida, LSU, USC), however, this strategy doesn't work.
• Ohio State's special teams were exceptional. Tressel is well-known for calling the punt the "most important play in football," and last night was an excellent demonstration of Tresselball. Buckeye punter A.J. Trapasso shanked one punt for only 30 yards, but even with that duck Ohio State's net punting average was nearly 50 yards/punt. That is devastating, if you're Wisconsin.                                                                                                             When Ohio State and Wisconsin traded punts in the third and fourth quarters, you'll note that Ohio State's field position moved from their 16 yard line to their 41 yard line. Buckeye kicker Ryan Pretorius was perfect on the night with two field goals and two extra points. Finally, Ohio State's punt and kickoff returns were much improved, and they only allowed Wisconsin 77 total return yards (on five kickoff returns and one punt return).
• Ohio State managed the clock beautifully under pressure. Ohio State burned a timeout early in the second half, leaving them with only two timeouts for the final 6:30 of the game. The commentators were speculating (as were, I bet, Buckeye fans everywhere) that Ohio State could actually get the ball back if things didn't go well the first time.                                                                                                                                                              Tressel, however, would have none of that. In the well-executed, methodical final drive, Ohio State burned 5:30 off the clock and didn't use a timeout. I'm sure some Buckeye fans were questioning the coaches' decision not to call the timeouts and preserve time, especially after a four-yard loss by Pryor, but it turns out Tressel and Co. knew exactly what they were doing. How is this vintage Tresselball? Ask a Michigan fan, or throw in the tape of the 2005 Michigan game.

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