DEFENSE KEEPS BUCKEYES IN BCS RACE

Before wags predict that Ohio State’s inexperienced linebackers will be fodder for USC next weekend, let me point out that it was James Laurinaitis’ successor who ultimately saved the Buckeyes from embarrassment Saturday at the hands of an underrated rushing powerhouse.

The Midshipmen of Navy, who have a knack for knocking off rated teams with their hard-to-defend-against triple option, led the nation the past three years in rushing yardage. They went to Columbus as a dubious three-touchdown underdog. On Saturday they “almost” added another Goliath to their tally.

 “Almost “ may count in horseshoes, but not at the big one on the Ohio State campus. The stopper was the defensive play of the day – anywhere in college football except maybe in Iowa - pulled off by middle linebacker Brian Rolle’s interception and runback of a potentially game-tying conversion attempt.

This Buckeye fan is not worried about our defense. If the offense has added a new wrinkle to its passing game, as quarterback Terrelle Pryor suggested last week, Navy did a great job of ironing it.

Pryor’s passing numbers, 14 of 21 for 174 yards for one touchdown against a so-so Navy defense, are respectable but not Heisman caliber.

On the ground, Dan Herron’s 72 yards and one TD, Brandon Saine’s 53 yards, and Pryor’s 30 yards and one TD kept the Bucks in the game – barely.

The mix of 26 passing attempts versus 38 rushes isn’t what I’d call a new wrinkle. With Pryor’s own mix being 21:6, Tressell isn’t pushing this talented athlete to his full potential, either as a passer or a rusher. Pryor's subdued attitude late in the game seemed to reflect some resentment. Let’s hope this was just a smoke screen and that the real wrinkle will unfold next week.

On the bright side, Saine’s speed, especially on kick returns, was impressive. The Bucks came away with good field position on most returns. Kicker Aaron Pettrey, who booted a 52-yarder as part of a trio of field goals, showed he will be a reliable replacement for Ryan Pretorius.

It took most of the first quarter for OSU’s defense to mount any opposition to the option. But let’s call it like it was: For most of the game, the Buckeyes kept the Middies’ potent running game in check. Last season the sailors rushed an average of 292 yards per game. The Buckeye defense held them to 186. And 85 of their 156 passing yards came on one play.

 Unfortunately, that play was one of two major defensive gaffes. The 85-yard TD toss by Navy phenomenon Ricky Dobbs to Marcus Curry came on missed coverage by Anderson Russell. Dobbs’ 24-yard run untouched up the middle for Navy’s final score was an added embarrassment.

One would think the OSU defense had only to focus on two players: Dobbs, who generated 70% of the opponents total net yardage, and Curry, who hauled in 65% of the Midshipmen’s passing yards. But the troublesome triple option has that third unknown dude to contend with, while posing the threat of the occasional pass. Hopefully the Buckeyes will be more accustomed to the Trojans’ bootleg.

In defense of Russell, he certainly isn’t slow. He stutter-stepped a few paces trying to get his balance and grab Curry, but despite that delay recovered to race Curry to the goal line. Had he not lost his balance, he might have stopped the Navy receiver well short of the goal line.

The Vegas bookmakers weren’t the only ones underestimating Navy.

With seven minutes left and holding a 15-point lead against the potentially explosive Dobbs, Tressell approved going for a first down on fourth and two. The usually reliable Herron was stopped well short of the mark.

Navy took over. Dobbs caught the defense napping on the very first play from scrimmage and completed his TD pass to Curry to begin the Navy rally.

The irony of the Buckeyes’ series of plays preceding that turnover was typical conservative play calling coupled with a risky fourth and two attempt. Following safety Kurt Coleman’s interception at the Navy 34, Pryor had completed three short passes to bring the Bucks to the Navy 16-yard line.

Then the Buckeyes reverted to Woody Hayes mode. Saine and Herron gained only one yard on the next two downs. But apparently Tressell thought the third attempt by foot would be a charm.

The result was the probable loss of three easy points had Tressell opted for a field goal. More importantly, the miscall only served to fire up the Navy defense when the Bucks finally got the ball back.

 There was another questionable move by Tressel near the end of the second quarter. Pryor, who at that time was smoking hot, had scored on a TD run. The OSU defense held on a series of plays and began a new possession on its own 38.

Instead of returning Pryor to the game, Tressell elected to substitute backup QB Joe Bauserman. To his credit, Bauserman led his team to the Navy 8 before the drive fizzled and Pettrey kicked a field goal.

Sure, the backup quarterback needs any game experience he can get. That’s especially important should Pryor become injured, a la Sam Bradford. But why interrupt the offensive momentum at a time when Pryor may have likely added more points to the lead? Why not substitute in the waning minutes when hopefully the lead would not be surmountable?

More kudos for the defense:

For not falling for Navy’s attempt to draw them offside on a fourth down attempt early in the game, causing the Middies to call timeout and then punt.

Co-captain Doug Worthington and linebacker Ross Homan recovered key fumbles that led to Ohio State touchdowns. Kurt Coleman, who is proving himself a leader, stripped the ball from a Navy receiver, which led to Homan’s recovery.

More concern for the offense:

The Bucks third down efficiency was only 25% (3 of 12).

Cable viewers got a close-up of Pryor, with the name “Vick” inked under both his eyes, where the normal grease glare would go. Please tell us fans, Terrelle, that you don’t worship an ex-convict, gambler and dog killer. On a day when a real Buckeye hero, John Glenn, dotted the “i”, wouldn’t the name “Glenn” on your cheeks been more appropriate?

Even the disgraced Maurice Clarett was a cheerleader when he was on the sidelines. Watching Pryor’s rather subdued reaction to Rolle’s game-saving run makes me wonder if TP really had his heart in this game.