Monday's Buckeye Report: Illinois Edition

And the walls…. Came tumbling down………

I’m not going to spend a great deal of time recapping Saturday’s loss. I’ve read numerous posts on other blogs bemoaning the play of Boekman, the inability to stop the run…when we knew they were going to run, some of the coaching decisions and the status of Beanie Wells. Bottom line…..we lost and they won.

Several plays/moments still burn 40 hours later.

#1 What’s the deal calling a time out before the Illinois punt in 4th quarter? I was stunned when Coach Zook sent the punting team onto the field. I didn’t think there was any question about them going for it on 4th down. I heard that OSU only had 10 men on the field for the play. So what!!! We had a chance to get the ball back with plenty of time remaining to mount a drive to tie the score. Did Tressel choke? Not sure about that call.

#2 3rd and 10 from midfield. Could be the play of the year. We know Williams is not going to attempt a pass and risk throwing an interception or an incompletion to stop the clock. Why was “Little Animal” not spying on him? The Read Option play killed us the entire game. Williams runs for the 1st down all but ending the game. Ouch!!!

#3 Boekman’s 3rd interception of the game. I’ve stated several times that Boekman has gotten too comfortable just throwing the ball up assuming that Robiskie or Hartline will come up with the catch. It was obvious double coverage with the safety reading the play the entire way. Poor decision making. I guess I had gotten a little comfortable myself because plays like that had been working the entire year.

#4 Why wasn’t there a review of their 80 yard run to the two yard line? Plays like that have been reviewed in every game all year long. It was on obvious fumble. Well…obvious after watching the slow motion replay anyway. I didn’t think too much about it even after they scored on the next play. I wonder what Tressel was being told from the guys in the booth.
In summary:

· Maybe loosing this game was a good thing. The thought of facing Dennis Dixon running the Oregon offense brought back immediate painful memories from the Florida game. We had been called overrated since we took over the #1 spot in the polls a month ago. I didn’t necessarily agree with that evaluation but I’m glad it was proven out against Illinois and not on the larger stage of a National Championship game….again.

· The game next week still has huge ramifications. The winner being the outright champion of the Big 10 and earning a spot in the Rose Bowl.

· Is Beanie Wells healthy enough to make a difference next week? What is the status of his hand? He was ineffective in the second half save for his touchdown run in the 3d quarter.

· 5 more days!!!!!

See you on Wednesday for my preview of the OSU-UM game.

Buckeye John