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Headlines: Illinois Week
David ThurmanOct 13, 2011
Drew Thurman (12:58 pm)
The Buckeyes sit at 3-3, and the Zookster has the No. 16 Fighting Illini out to a 6-0 start. What kind of sick, messed up world is this? Well, a win this week might restore order and balance to things once again. Let's take a look at some of the headlines heading into the matchup.
Rubbing it in our faces. As someone who had the pleasure of living in Central Illinois for seven years and who has frequented Memorial Stadium on numerous occasions, I can tell you that Illinois fans are a bitter bunch. When they aren't grumbling about their own program they typically are showing disdain for most everyone else, not that I'm stereotyping or anything! I've always contended that they are so unhappy at this time of year because of where they live. After the corn and soy beans are harvested the place looks like a scene from a post-apocalyptic movie with gray skies and nothing but barren wasteland.
Well, that wasteland is where Ohio State heads this Saturday, and I can promise you the Illini are looking for blood. Their fans haven't seen a win over OSU at home in 20 years, and they do not care if the Buckeyes come in limping or not. While Ron Zook gave the typical coach speech at his press conference on Tuesday, it was junior defensive end Whitney Mercilus (and Ohio native) who probably summed up what most Illini fans feel.
“This is my bowl game,” said Mercilus, who leads the country with 8.5 sacks. “I get lot of [stuff] from people from back home. They tell me Ohio State is this, Ohio State is that every single year, every single year. I hope we come out here and beat these guys, so I can rub it in their faces and tell them we’re good, too. This year is the year to do it, definitely.”
In fact, he went onto say this.
“When we do win, I’m going to try to rub it in their faces and tell them we are good,” Mercilus said.
Is it a little rude for me to lump all Illini fans in with those comments? Probably, yes. Then again, my family sat in the stands last year as fans cheered when Terrelle Pryor got injured.
The Buckeyes sit at 3-3, and the Zookster has the No. 16 Fighting Illini out to a 6-0 start. What kind of sick, messed up world is this? Well, a win this week might restore order and balance to things once again. Let's take a look at some of the headlines heading into the matchup.
Rubbing it in our faces. As someone who had the pleasure of living in Central Illinois for seven years and who has frequented Memorial Stadium on numerous occasions, I can tell you that Illinois fans are a bitter bunch. When they aren't grumbling about their own program they typically are showing disdain for most everyone else, not that I'm stereotyping or anything! I've always contended that they are so unhappy at this time of year because of where they live. After the corn and soy beans are harvested the place looks like a scene from a post-apocalyptic movie with gray skies and nothing but barren wasteland.
Well, that wasteland is where Ohio State heads this Saturday, and I can promise you the Illini are looking for blood. Their fans haven't seen a win over OSU at home in 20 years, and they do not care if the Buckeyes come in limping or not. While Ron Zook gave the typical coach speech at his press conference on Tuesday, it was junior defensive end Whitney Mercilus (and Ohio native) who probably summed up what most Illini fans feel.
“This is my bowl game,” said Mercilus, who leads the country with 8.5 sacks. “I get lot of [stuff] from people from back home. They tell me Ohio State is this, Ohio State is that every single year, every single year. I hope we come out here and beat these guys, so I can rub it in their faces and tell them we’re good, too. This year is the year to do it, definitely.”
In fact, he went onto say this.
“When we do win, I’m going to try to rub it in their faces and tell them we are good,” Mercilus said.
Is it a little rude for me to lump all Illini fans in with those comments? Probably, yes. Then again, my family sat in the stands last year as fans cheered when Terrelle Pryor got injured.
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Keeping Braxton safe. After the sack-a-thon Michigan State put on against the Buckeyes two weeks back, protection has been a hot topic around Buckeye Nation. It was much improved last week as Mike Adams returned to left tackle and the best five offensive lineman on the roster finally saw the field together. One has to wonder though how much of that was Nebraska's much maligned defense and not the superior play of the OSU front five. This week is sure to answer that question as the offensive line tries to protect Braxton against a very aggressive and well performing Illini front seven. In fact, Adam Rittenberg has this as one of his things to watch this weekend.
"Illinois defensive coordinator Vic Koenning has pulled the right strings for most of the season, mixing fronts and formations and maintaining an aggressive style from week to week. You can bet Koenning will turn up the heat on Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller, who left the Nebraska game with a sprained right ankle but will play against Illinois. Keep an eye on Illini defensive end Whitney Mercilus, who leads the nation in sacks (8.5) and leads the Big Ten in both tackles for loss (10.5) and forced fumbles (4). Illinois also gets linebacker Jonathan Brown back from suspension. Ohio State must protect Miller and find the gaps in Illinois' defense, as it did for the first two and a half quarters at Nebraska."
If Brax Goes Down...Then Who? I don't know if I have ever seen a fanbase as concerned about the backup quarterback as we Ohio State fans are this week. Who can blame us though? After watching Bauserbombs go all over the stadium last Saturday, it seems pretty obvious that there has to be someone better on the roster if Miller goes down (namely Kenny Guiton). Guiton is getting second team reps, per Siciliano, but he refused to divulge who would be named the backup yesterday. What's the plan behind the madness? Well, according to Siciliano they want Illinois to prepare for both guys. On the surface I guess that might make sense, but let's be honest, what team not named Akron needs to spend more than 5 minutes getting ready to face Bauserman. C'MON MAN!
Bringing the BOOM! Possibly the most important headline for the Buckeyes this week is that they get Boom Herron back. Fickell has yet to say how many carries Boom will get and what his role will look like outside of being a return man, but you have to think that as the game progresses his role will increase. He had 95 yards and a touchdown last year in Champaign, and could be a huge spark to the offense this week. Not only that, but you can tell his teammates respect him as a leader and because of his work ethic. Here were some of the comments on his return.
“He's a fired up guy. You should have seen him at practice when he was on scout team with us, he was giving us the best looks that you could ever imagine coming from a guy like that,” Jackson said.
“Getting Boom back, you get a 1,000-yard-back back. I think he’s more powerful and faster and stronger than he was last year,” Brewster said.
“For me, he’s all-Big Ten. I hope he’s out there a lot making plays. I know he can do it, he’s done it. Overall, it will be a boost to our whole morale with him being out there,” Stoneburner said.
No Clarke This Week. We have yet another player who is in trouble, as Fickell told reporters today that Dominic Clarke will not make the trip for breaking university rules (arrested this week on the misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct). In his absence, Corey "Pittsburgh" Brown will slide over and Doran Grant will possibly play bigger role. The bigger implication is that if Travis Howard is unable to stick with A.J. Jenkins, it will be left up to Bradley Roby to do so.
"Illinois defensive coordinator Vic Koenning has pulled the right strings for most of the season, mixing fronts and formations and maintaining an aggressive style from week to week. You can bet Koenning will turn up the heat on Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller, who left the Nebraska game with a sprained right ankle but will play against Illinois. Keep an eye on Illini defensive end Whitney Mercilus, who leads the nation in sacks (8.5) and leads the Big Ten in both tackles for loss (10.5) and forced fumbles (4). Illinois also gets linebacker Jonathan Brown back from suspension. Ohio State must protect Miller and find the gaps in Illinois' defense, as it did for the first two and a half quarters at Nebraska."
If Brax Goes Down...Then Who? I don't know if I have ever seen a fanbase as concerned about the backup quarterback as we Ohio State fans are this week. Who can blame us though? After watching Bauserbombs go all over the stadium last Saturday, it seems pretty obvious that there has to be someone better on the roster if Miller goes down (namely Kenny Guiton). Guiton is getting second team reps, per Siciliano, but he refused to divulge who would be named the backup yesterday. What's the plan behind the madness? Well, according to Siciliano they want Illinois to prepare for both guys. On the surface I guess that might make sense, but let's be honest, what team not named Akron needs to spend more than 5 minutes getting ready to face Bauserman. C'MON MAN!
Bringing the BOOM! Possibly the most important headline for the Buckeyes this week is that they get Boom Herron back. Fickell has yet to say how many carries Boom will get and what his role will look like outside of being a return man, but you have to think that as the game progresses his role will increase. He had 95 yards and a touchdown last year in Champaign, and could be a huge spark to the offense this week. Not only that, but you can tell his teammates respect him as a leader and because of his work ethic. Here were some of the comments on his return.
“He's a fired up guy. You should have seen him at practice when he was on scout team with us, he was giving us the best looks that you could ever imagine coming from a guy like that,” Jackson said.
“Getting Boom back, you get a 1,000-yard-back back. I think he’s more powerful and faster and stronger than he was last year,” Brewster said.
“For me, he’s all-Big Ten. I hope he’s out there a lot making plays. I know he can do it, he’s done it. Overall, it will be a boost to our whole morale with him being out there,” Stoneburner said.
No Clarke This Week. We have yet another player who is in trouble, as Fickell told reporters today that Dominic Clarke will not make the trip for breaking university rules (arrested this week on the misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct). In his absence, Corey "Pittsburgh" Brown will slide over and Doran Grant will possibly play bigger role. The bigger implication is that if Travis Howard is unable to stick with A.J. Jenkins, it will be left up to Bradley Roby to do so.
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