UPDATED: The Ohio State defense forces five turnovers as the Buckeyes rout Ohio, 43-7.
The Buckeye defense overwhelmed the Ohio University Bobcats, forcing five turnovers, including this fumble that was scooped up by defensive lineman Cameron Heyward in front of linebacker Brian Rolle.COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio State offense could neither rest nor reflect. Just as the Buckeyes would reach the sideline to discuss ...
Turnover. Second play of the game Saturday, OSU defensive back Devon Torrence tips a pass; Tyler Moeller intercepts it.
"You're getting some water and you're extending your legs and trying to bend your knees," OSU receiver DeVier Posey said, "and before you know it, you hear the crowd screaming to get back on the field. I have to keep my eyes on the scoreboard because I don't know what's going to happen next."
When his defense is on the field, that's Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor's time to confer with quarterbacks coach Nick Siciliano and go over the defense on every play from the previous drive. But it can be . . .
Turnover. Second play of Ohio University's fifth drive, OSU linebacker Ross Homan pops Bobcats quarterback Phil Bates, and Nathan Williams recovers the fumble.
"I'm looking at the clipboard," Pryor said, "and sometimes this year we're going over it and we hear a big roar, and we have the ball right back. And we can't go over the plays. So that's great on the defense's part."
In the coaches booth at Ohio Stadium, OSU offensive coordinator Jim Bollman has his play sheets organized by situation and where the team is on the field. He'll be studying what he's planning for the next series when . . .
Turnover. Second play of OU's sixth drive, OSU defensive lineman Cameron Heyward picks up a mishandled option pitch.
"You just change gears," Bollman said. "So we've got the ball; here we go."
Five times it happened in the Buckeyes' 43-7 win over Ohio. Five times the Buckeyes' defense forced a turnover on either the second or third play of a Bobcats' drive. The No. 2 Buckeyes (3-0) entered the game leading the nation in turnover margin after forcing seven in their first two games while not turning it over themselves. Last season, OSU forced 35 turnovers in 13 games, which tied for third in the country. But after two interception and three fumble recoveries against the overmatched Bobcats, not to mention Heyward's tackle in the end zone for a safety on the first play of another drive, the OSU defenders were almost wishing they could stay on the field longer.
But they can't help themselves.
"I feel like we're relentless," OSU middle linebacker Brian Rolle said. "We have everybody on defense running and hitting hard, and you're going to miss some tackles. But when we get to it, there's going to be some havoc."
The Buckeyes got two second-half turnovers on an Orhian Johnson forced fumble that Torrence recovered and an interception by Homan, but the offense didn't convert either of them. In the first half, as Pryor was setting an Ohio State record with 16 straight completions, when the offensive players jumped off the bench, they jumped quickly on the scoreboard, taking a total of 10 plays to turn the first three turnovers into 17 points.
"It's easier when the defense can give you the ball back that many times," OSU receiver Dane Sanzenbacher said. "It's easy to find a rhythm when you have that many plays. It's completely different than having to sit around and maybe they score."
That wasn't much of a worry Saturday as the Bobcats were held to 2 yards and no first downs on 11 first-quarter plays. Ohio scored a touchdown on Ohio State's second-team defense with 6:14 left in the game, and OSU center Mike Brewster said coach Jim Tressel apologized to the defense for costing them a shutout. But for the game, Ohio State had a 439-to-158 edge in total yards and a 5-to-2 advantage in turnovers, with Pryor throwing two interceptions. Pryor completed 22 of 29 passes for 235 yards, had two touchdowns and two interceptions, and ran for a score. Tailback Dan Herron added two touchdown runs.
Two years after Ohio led the Buckeyes entering the fourth quarter, this game left no doubt.
"We didn't want that to happen," Pryor said of the 2008 game. "The games we're supposed to win, we want to win, and the games we're supposed to be in a dogfight, we want to come out on top. Any chance we get to step on the field with my brothers, we want to take full advantage and get better."
The offense had plenty of chances to get better Saturday and should again next week against Eastern Michigan. The special teams still had some problems, allowing a blocked punt and giving up a kick return for a touchdown that was called back by an obvious block in the back that created the play.
The defense dominated again, in limited action. Ohio State's offense ran 77 plays compared with 48 for Ohio.
"If they keep doing their job, I wouldn't mind playing 18 or 19 plays a game," Rolle said, "if our offense continues to score points and we continue to create turnovers."